Buying Life Insurance Online

For much of the history of the life insurance industry, policies have largely been purchased in person. But that has been quickly shifting in recent years, especially in the wake of the pandemic.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, only 17% of consumers preferred internet or online sales in 2011. But by 2020, that group had grown to 29%. In person sales are becoming less and less popular, with consumers preferring to go with other options such as over the phone or online.

The internet plays a big role even for consumers who end up still buying life insurance in person, as many people go online to learn more about their options, study up on different companies and identify the plan best suited to them.

Given the way things are trending, online sales are likely to continue to become a more significant part of the life insurance industry.

One of the main benefits of purchasing life insurance online is the convenience. You can identify and buy a policy without ever leaving your home, and the overall process may be much faster. According to NBC News, purchasing a policy in person can be a weeks-long process while buying one online can be virtually immediate.

If you are not in great health or do not want to have to take a medical exam, buying online may be your best option because that part of the process is excluded in many cases. Life insurance policies bought online can instead assess you by collecting online data.

On the flip side, it may make more sense to go through the process of purchasing a policy in person if you are in good health since you will likely be offered a cheaper option if you undergo an exam and prove you are healthy.

Another potential downside of buying online is a less personalized experience. A broker can offer advice and provide insight and information specifically to your situation and needs. That may not be the case if you opt for the streamlined process of finding and buying a policy online.

The first step to buying life insurance online is to research the companies and options available to you. Many of the major companies offer all the information you need on their websites.

You can buy life insurance and receive immediate quotes through many of their sites, with some of them offering portals to do so. It will typically give you an application to fill out.

Since the process can be fairly streamlined, it’s important to have all of your information at hand and be ready to make a decision once you open a portal or request an application to buy life insurance.

The time that it takes to purchase life insurance online can vary by the company and the type of policy you are buying.