Term Life Insurance FAQs

You can complete our application online on your computer, tablet, or phone in about 15–20 minutes. We'll ask questions about your identity (which we will verify), contact information, job, prescriptions, medical conditions, smoking status, and activities you enjoy. Honest and complete answers help speed up the review process. Start with our term life quote tool to find out how much you may need and estimate the cost. Then select the Start application button to begin.

We ask you to log in to your Fidelity account for enhanced security. If you don't have an existing account, we'll prompt you to create one, which you can also use to access Fidelity's suite of digital planning tools.

You'll need to answer all required fields, including your medical history, prior to submitting your application. It's a good idea to have your medical details ready before you start.

You might still qualify for a term life policy even if you have medical conditions. Medical history is just one factor in deciding if you can get coverage and how much it will cost. We'll figure out your eligibility through the application and underwriting process.

Underwriting is a process where we review your application, medical information, and other third-party data to determine your "risk class." This helps us give you a personalized cost for the coverage you chose.

Usually, you'll need a medical exam so we can understand your health and give you a personalized rate. A paramedic will do the 30-minute exam. It's safe, secure, and free. You can choose a convenient time and place. They'll check your blood pressure, weight, and height. They'll also take blood and urine samples.

In some cases, we may approve your application right away and display your policy offer onscreen. More often, though, we'll need more information, starting with a medical exam. Look for an email and text from us, usually within 3–5 business days of submitting your application, with instructions on how to set up your appointment. Following your medical exam, your application and exam results will be sent to underwriting for review, which generally takes 4–6 weeks. If your application is approved, we'll send you your policy offer by email. You do not pay anything until you decide to proceed. If your application is declined, you'll receive a letter in the mail explaining why.

Log in to your Fidelity account and use our online tracker to view the status of your term life insurance application 24/7. You'll also find any actions you may need to take to move your application forward and, if your application is approved, how to activate your coverage. You can also access the tracker from our term life insurance overview page.

If your application is approved, we'll let you know your premium cost in one of two ways—usually by email within 4–6 weeks or sometimes onscreen right after you submit your application. Once you accept the offer and make your first payment, your policy will start, and you are protected.

The applicant and the insured person must be the same.

In most cases, we save your progress, and your application is available for you to complete within 30 days from when you started. We'll email you a secure, personalized link to return to where you left off. If you live in California, Florida, or South Carolina, this feature is not yet available, and you'll need to complete the application in one session. Right now, Fidelity Term Life Insurance policies are not for sale in New York.

Right now, Fidelity Term Life Insurance policies are not for sale to residents of New York. Policies are available to residents in all other states.

If you have applied for life, health, or disability insurance before, you might have received a "rating." This is a health classification based on your application details. If you have complex health conditions or high-risk hobbies, you might have received a rating.

If you plan to do any high-risk activities listed on the application, we may have follow-up questions. We consider ballooning, parachuting, hang gliding, vehicle racing, scuba diving, mountain climbing, and similar sports to be high-risk activities.

Health ratings are based on several risk factors. After you complete the application, we may ask for an additional medical exam. Our underwriting team will review all the information you submitted, along with the medical records from your doctor.

Our quote tool gives you an idea of what to expect based on a few health-related questions. Your final price is based on your application answers and everything else reviewed during underwriting, which may include your medical exam results.

We're sorry you're having trouble filling out your application. Not to worry—in most cases, we securely saved your progress, and you can finish your application within 30 days. Please check the email we sent you from FidelityTermLife@Fidelity.com to try again later. If you live in California, Florida, or South Carolina, you’ll need to complete the application in one session.

We can help! Please call us at 844-996-5433 Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. ET, and Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET.

You're not required to buy a term life insurance policy after you sign and submit the application. Signing allows us to start our review to give you your final rate. If you're approved and once you get your final rate —usually by email within 4–6 weeks or sometimes onscreen right after you submit your application— you can decide if you want to accept the policy and get protected. You won't pay anything until then.

In most cases, we securely saved your progress, and you can finish your application within 30 days. Use the link in the email we sent you from FidelityTermLife@Fidelity.com to pick up your progress from the last page you finished.

In most cases, you can use the link in the email we sent you from FidelityTermLife@Fidelity.com to cancel your application. If you did not receive an email, please call us at 844–996–5433 Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. ET, and Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET.

You can view, download, and print your full policy documents online 1 business day after your coverage starts. If you pay your first premium with a credit or debit card, your coverage starts right away. If you pay with a bank account, your coverage starts after your payment is processed, which usually takes 3 business days.

In most cases, you can find your policy details online if you bought your policy on or after October 10, 2022. Log into your Fidelity account and go to the Portfolio Summary page. Look for your policy information under Protection Accounts. Policy details are usually available online within 1 business day after we issue your policy. If your policy was issued in New York, please call us at 844–996–5433 Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. ET, and Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET. We can mail you a copy of your policy documents.

If you pay annually, your premium payments are usually lower than if you pay every six months (semiannually) or every month.

After you're approved for a Fidelity Term Life Insurance policy, we'll send your offer email with a secure link for making your first premium payment. Once the payment goes through, your coverage starts. Right now, you can pay online via credit card or by electronic funds transfer (EFT) from your bank. To pay from your Fidelity Brokerage® account, you'll need to complete and return the Billing Form—Term Life Insurance form found on the Forms & Applications page. Select Term Life Insurance from the Choose Topics drop-down

Yes, you may request billing frequency changes at any time, and the change will take effect on your next policy anniversary. For example, if your policy anniversary date is January 31, you will keep paying at the current interval until it changes on January 31 of the next year. To update your billing frequency, fill out and return the Billing Form—Term Life Insurance form found on the Forms & Applications page. Choose Term Life Insurance from the drop-down menu.

If you bought your policy on or after October 10, 2022, you can change your payment method online. Log in to your Fidelity account and go to the Portfolio Summary page. Look for your policy information under Protection Accounts to update your payments. If you bought your policy before October 10, 2022, you can change your payment method by filling out and returning the Billing Form—Term Life Insurance form. You can find this form on the Forms & Applications page. Choose Term Life Insurance from the drop-down menu. For policies issued in New York, please call us at 844-519-5433, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. ET.

The policy owner is responsible for paying the premiums on the policy. Premiums can be paid by direct deposit via electronic funds transfer (EFT) or by credit or debit card. If necessary, a power of attorney (POA) can also be added to make payments on the owner’s behalf. An owner can name a POA by completing the Durable Power of Attorney, Affidavit and Indemnification—Term Life Insurance form found on the Forms & Applications page. Select Term Life Insurance from the Choose Topics drop-down.

If you need assistance setting up payments for a new policy, call us at 844-996-5433 Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. ET and Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET. For questions about managing payments for an existing policy, review the Billing Form—Term Life Insurance form on the Forms & Applications page or call us at 844-519-5433 Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. ET.

A beneficiary is someone who receives the benefit from an estate, trust, retirement account, life insurance policy, or account with a transfer on death (TOD) designation. Choosing your beneficiaries carefully can help your family avoid probate later. Most importantly, you can feel confident that your loved ones will receive the assets you intend for them to have.

When you choose your beneficiaries, you can pick one or more primary beneficiaries to receive the policy payout. You can also choose one or more contingent beneficiaries to receive the payout if the primary beneficiaries pass away. The primary and contingent beneficiaries cannot be the same person, and the insured cannot be listed as a primary or contingent beneficiary.

If your beneficiaries pass away while you're still living, you can update your beneficiaries at any time. If you pass away and there are no living beneficiaries, the policy funds would go to your estate.

You can update your beneficiaries any time after your policy is issued. If you bought your policy on or after October 10, 2022, you can do this online by logging in to your Fidelity.com account. If this option is not available, you can complete and return a Term Beneficiary Change form on the Forms & Applications page. Select Term Life Insurance from the Choose Topics drop-down.

A will does not affect the term life policy. The insurance money will go to the beneficiaries listed on the term life policy.

Acceptable beneficiaries can be a person, estate, charity, or trust—but not yourself. If you have more than one beneficiary, the total must add up to 100%. We suggest giving as much information as possible about each beneficiary, like their name, date of birth, and Social Security number. This will make it easier for the beneficiary to make a claim if the insured person passes away.

Usually, a custodian or guardian will manage the money for a minor until they reach legal age. The money is guaranteed to the minor. If you leave assets directly to your minor children, the custodian or guardian must follow state rules on how the money is spent and invested until the children become adults. Explore more about choosing a guardian for minor children.

We're sorry for your loss and are here to help you. For policies issued prior to October 10, 2022, please call 888-343-8376 (select option #3). For policies issued on or after October 10, 2022, please call 844-519-5433.

You can cancel your policy at any time. If you recently purchased a policy, we offer a free-look period. This means you can start your coverage and have 30 days (in most states) to review it. You can cancel during this time without penalty. If you cancel before the free-look period ends, we'll refund any premium you paid. If you've had your policy longer than 30 days, please call us at 844-519-5433. For all policies issued before October 10, 2022, please call 888-343-8376 (select option #3).

Term life insurance covers you for a specific number of years or term. For example, if you buy a 10-year term policy, you pay a fixed amount for those 10 years. At the end of the term, you can end your policy. If you choose to extend your policy, your premium would increase significantly.

If you want to decrease your coverage amount, contact Fidelity any time during the life of the policy. If you want to increase the coverage amount, you will need to submit a new application.

Once your term life policy has been issued, you can update your name, address, phone, email, payment method, payment frequency, and beneficiaries at any time. You may be able to make most, if not all, of these changes online through your Fidelity profile. If this option is not available, you can complete and return the appropriate form on the Forms & Applications page. Select Term Life Insurance from the topic drop down.

You can apply for a premium (rate) change if your health status changes. If you stop using tobacco, you can apply for a new premium amount any time during the policy. Other health changes can be considered in the first year after the policy is issued.

Generally, you'll have a 30-day grace period to make your payment (60 days for policies issued in California). If we don’t receive payment before the end of your grace period, your policy will lapse. When your policy lapses, you won’t have coverage until you make your payments. To make a payment to bring your policy up to date, please call us at 844-519-5433, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. ET, if you bought your policy on or after October 10, 2022. For policies issued before October 10, 2022, please call us at 888-343-8376 (select option #3).

Your policy is lapsed if we didn't receive your payment within a 30-day grace period after its due date (60 days for policies issued in California). You may be able to reinstate your coverage depending on how long ago your policy lapsed. If it's been 60 days or less since your due date (90 days for policies issued in California), you may reinstate your coverage by paying all missed payments. If it's been more than 60 days (90 days for California), you'll need to do reinstatement paperwork and additional underwriting. We're happy to walk you through the process. For policies issued on or after October 10, 2022, please call us at 844-519-5433, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. ET. For policies issued before October 10, 2022, please call us at 888-343-8376 (select option #3).

Visit our Forms & Applications page. Select Term Life Insurance from the Choose Topics drop-down. You'll find a full list of PDFs you can print and mail to us.

Changes you make to your name, address, email, or phone number on your Fidelity.com profile will carry over automatically to your term life insurance profile.