Life Insurance FAQs

Life insurance is a must-have, especially if others are depending on you. It’s all about financially protecting the dreams of those you care about, in case the unexpected were to occur. A life policy can provide peace of mind by helping to relieve the financial burdens associated with these types of expenses:

Living expenses and debts: Mortgage or rent payments, childcare, credit card or loan debt, or care for an elderly or disabled relative.

Future plans: Education funds or retirement plans.

Final expenses: Memorial service costs.

Lasting legacies: Continuing the business you worked hard to build, or supporting organizations or causes with charitable giving.

Although life insurance needs vary from person to person, here’s a simple equation that can help: Resources (significant other’s income, investments, existing life insurance) – Current/Future Needs (debts, child education/daycare, income replacement) = Your Life Insurance Needs. 

That’s a good question. There are two categories — temporary and permanent life policies — and American Family Life Insurance Company offers both.

Temporary life insurance provides coverage at a lower initial cost. This includes term life insurance, which remains in effect for a specific term or length of time at a set premium.

Permanent life insurance provides lifelong protection. This includes whole life insurance, offering long-term coverage with guaranteed premium payments that remain the same regardless of health or age changes. The policy builds cash value, and may pay dividends.

Take a look at our Life Coverage Comparison Chart to learn more about your options for coverage.

As your dreams evolve, so should your life insurance. Whether you’re getting married, having a child, or buying that dream home, American Family offers flexible life insurance options. You can choose from various term durations, or plans with flexible premiums and coverage amounts to meet your changing needs.

To change your policy ownership, you’ll need to contact your agent or connect with the Life Inforce Services team by calling 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326) ext. 78084 or emailing lifeservicing@amfam.com.

For a limited view of policy information, log in to My Account, then scroll to My Insured Items. From there, go to View Details to see info about that particular policy. You can also use the Policies tab at the top of the screen to see a different view of your individual policies.

To get copies of these documents, you can print from My Account. You can also contact the Life Inforce Services team by calling 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326) ext. 78084 or emailing lifeservicing@amfam.com.

To renew or reinstate your life insurance policy, you’ll need to contact your agent or connect with the Life Inforce Services team by calling 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326) ext. 78084 or emailing lifeservicing@amfam.com.

You can view our life insurance products here and see the differences between them. To understand how much life insurance might cost you based on your needs, check out our Life Insurance Calculator. For a full understanding of American Family Life Insurance Company’s policies and rates, connect with your agent.

To surrender or cash out your life insurance policy, contact your agent or connect with the Life Inforce Services team by calling 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326) ext. 78084 or emailing lifeservicing@amfam.com.

Either one may be right for you depending on your needs.

If you’d prefer coverage for a limited length of time at a lower cost, temporary life insurance – or term coverage – might be just right for you. Term life insurance is popular among people seeking the lowest-costing options to provide the coverage they need.

Imagine having a permanent life policy with no payments after a specified period of time. That’s the advantage of having a paid-up life policy. When you choose a policy that offers a paid-up insurance option, you continue to make payments on a policy until it’s all paid for, and then the policy remains in effect permanently with no additional payments. Interested? Talk to your agent for more information.

Each policy offers different supplemental coverages that may be right for you. For instance, you might consider a Guaranteed Purchase Option, which may give you extra peace of mind by allowing you to buy additional permanent coverage in the future — regardless of health changes. There’s also an option that would waive your premium payments if you became disabled during the term of your policy and an option for adding your children to your personal life insurance policy, too. Ask your agent for details.

The nice thing about most policies is that premiums will stay the same for the entire term of the original policy. With some policies, premiums can increase once the initial term is complete. Before your policy term ends, plan ahead and talk to your agent about your changing needs.

For starters, your age and health are key factors affecting your premium. The younger and healthier you are, the lower your rates. Your gender and your job are other factors, too. And, of course, the type of plan and coverage amount will help determine your rates.

It’s all about finding the right balance between your coverage needs and affordability. You can start by using our Life Insurance Calculator to quickly and easily determine how much insurance you might need. Next, talk to your agent about the best types of insurance and coverage amounts that can protect your dreams within your budget.