What are the benefits of a whole life insurance policy?

7 reasons to get whole life insurance

Whole life insurance coverage, sometimes called permanent insurance, is long-term coverage designed to last a lifetime. Unlike term life insurance products that offer coverage for a specific period of time, whole life insurance guarantees a death benefit to beneficiaries as long as the premium continues to be paid. And it comes with living benefits like a cash value component.

Permanent life insurance policies can serve you and help financially protect your family. Here are a few other benefits of a whole life policy:

1. Policy premiums remain constant across the years

With a whole life policy, your premium will not increase. And as you begin to think about retirement planning, you’ll find comfort in having a fixed-price or a policy that could be fully paid for before you even reach your senior years.

2. Accumulates cash value

A whole life policy also offers a feature where you can accumulate cash value that you can borrow against in the form of a loan.^*

3. May offer the potential for dividends

Although not guaranteed, you may benefit from a whole life policy that offers the potential for dividends. These dividends can be used to help:

Reduce the amount of premiums due on your policy
Provide paid-up additions to your life insurance coverage amount
Accumulate interest from the dividends
Spend any way you wish, as they can be paid out to you in cash

4. Guaranteed Purchase Option

If your policy contains a Guaranteed Purchase Option or you’ve bought a Guaranteed Purchase Option Benefit Rider, you’ll be allowed to purchase extra permanent life insurance without a medical exam — or even medical questions. Purchase is limited to specific dates and life events, so be sure to refer to your policy or rider for details.^**

5. Tax-deferred growth

With a whole life policy in place, the cash value that accumulates over the life of the policy is tax-deferred.

6. Policy remains in-force regardless of changes in health status

Offering real peace of mind with the knowledge that you’ve helped protect your beneficiary’s financial future, whole life policies won’t be canceled if your health should decline.

7. Lifelong coverage

Unlike term life coverage, whole life policies are typically in force for the entire life of the insured, as long as the policy’s premium payment is made.

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Benefits of whole life insurance vs. term life insurance

When you select life coverage, you’ll usually have the freedom to choose a policy that best suits you and your family. If you currently have a term life policy, you may be able to convert it to a whole life insurance policy. Take a look at this term vs. whole life comparison chart to get a better idea of which American Family Life Insurance Company option works best for you:

Life products	Term life insurance	Whole life insurance
Temporary coverage	Yes	No
Permanent coverage	No	Yes
Cash value	No	No
Streamlined purchase process	No	Yes
Other key features	Some customers will not need a medical exam.***	Many customers will not need a medical exam.***†

Consider whole life insurance for better peace of mind

When it comes to life insurance, remember — you’ve got options. With whole-life coverage, you may find more peace of mind knowing that the cash value you build can have a variety of uses later in life, and your coverage is lifelong. Compare your life insurance options to find a policy that works for you.

Protect your loved ones’ financial futures and get a quote for whole life insurance today. Need more info? Connect with an American Family Insurance agent or learn more about life insurance.

This is a brief description of coverage and is subject to policy and/or rider terms and conditions which may vary by state. Fixed and guaranteed premiums are statements about the policy as determined at issue, and any changes made to a policy may affect the premium and are subject to our underwriting rules. The words lifetime, lifelong and permanent are subject to policy terms and conditions. DreamSecure Whole Life policies mature at age 121. Please check with an American Family agent for details on coverages and restrictions.

*Any loans taken from your life insurance policy will accrue interest. Any outstanding loan balance (loan plus interest) will be deducted from the death benefit at the time of claim or from the cash value at the time of surrender. If the loan balance grows too large for the cash value to support it, the policy could terminate.

**The Guaranteed Purchase Option may be exercised only at specified dates and life events and is subject to benefit amount limitations. See rider for additional details.

*** According to company underwriting guidelines.

† Children ages 0-17 won't need a medical exam — they'll simply answer some health questions to determine eligibility.

Policy and rider forms: ICC18-33 (10), ICC18-33 (15), ICC18-34 (20), ICC18-35 (30), L-33 (10)(ND), L-33 (15)(ND), L-34 (20)(ND), L-35 (30)(ND), L-33 (10)(SD), L-33 (15)(SD), L-34 (20)(SD), L-35 (30)(SD), ICC18-36 (10), ICC18-36 (15), ICC18-36 (20), ICC18-36 (30), L-36 (10)(ND), L-36 (15)(ND), L-36 (20)(ND), L-36 (30)(ND), L-36 (10)(SD), L-36 (15)(SD), L-36 (20)(SD), L-36 (30)(SD), ICC17-225 WL, L-225 (ND) WL, L-225 WL, ICC17-227 WL, L-227 (ND) WL, L-227 WL, ICC17-223 WL, ICC17-224 WL, ICC17-228 WL, ICC17- GPO WL, L-GPO WL