Term life pays your beneficiaries if you die during a set number of years. Key things to compare: how long a term you can lock in, whether you can later convert to permanent coverage without a new medical exam, and how you apply. Facts below come from each insurer's own product pages, plus California's official complaint ratios. We don't show prices or give quotes.
- Term options
- Select Term: 10, 20 or 30 years, level premium
- Longest term
- 30 years
- Issue ages
- Issue ages 18–75 (10-yr), 18–65 (20-yr), 18–45 (30-yr)
- How to apply
- Online quote; buying is mostly through State Farm agents
- Convert to permanent?
- Yes, to permanent coverage during the level term and before age 75, regardless of health (State Farm conversion page)
- Complaints (California 2025, life)
- 0.1 per 100,000 policies (1 justified complaint; State Farm Life Insurance Company)
- Quotes
- We don't sell insurance or give quotes
Product details can vary by state and change; confirm on the insurer's site before applying.
Source: State Farm Select Term page (checked 2026-10-12)
- Term options
- Level Term: 10, 15 or 20 years
- Longest term
- 20 years (Level Term)
- Issue ages
- Not found on the insurer's page
- How to apply
- Through New York Life agents
- Convert to permanent?
- Yes, to permanent coverage; the conversion window depends on the policy (New York Life term conversion page)
- Complaints (California 2025, life)
- 0.7 per 100,000 policies (4 justified complaints; New York Life Insurance Company)
- Quotes
- We don't sell insurance or give quotes
Product details can vary by state and change; confirm on the insurer's site before applying.
Source: New York Life term life page (checked 2026-10-12)
- Term options
- Term life for a set period
- Longest term
- Not found on the insurer's page
- Issue ages
- Not found on the insurer's page
- How to apply
- Through Northwestern Mutual financial advisors
- Convert to permanent?
- Yes, some or all of it into whole life
- Complaints (California 2025, life)
- 0.0 per 100,000 policies (0 justified complaints; Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company)
- Quotes
- We don't sell insurance or give quotes
Product details can vary by state and change; confirm on the insurer's site before applying.
Source: Northwestern Mutual term life page (checked 2026-10-12)
- Term options
- Term Essential: 10, 15, 20 or 30 years; premiums rise yearly after the level period, to age 95
- Longest term
- 30 years
- Issue ages
- Not found on the insurer's page
- How to apply
- Not found on the insurer's page
- Convert to permanent?
- Yes, without a new medical exam. Issue age 59 or under: by the end of the level period or the anniversary after age 65, whichever is earlier; ages 60–75: by the 5th anniversary
- Complaints (California 2025, life)
- 0.0 per 100,000 policies (0 justified complaints; Pruco Life Insurance Company)
- Quotes
- We don't sell insurance or give quotes
Product details can vary by state and change; confirm on the insurer's site before applying.
Source: Prudential Term Essential brochure (checked 2026-10-12)
- Term options
- 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years, plus annually renewable term
- Longest term
- 30 years
- Issue ages
- Not found on the insurer's page
- How to apply
- Through a financial professional (no direct online application on its page)
- Convert to permanent?
- Yes, most policies, without medical questions or exams, generally through age 65
- Complaints (California 2025, life)
- 1.3 per 100,000 policies (2 justified complaints; Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company)
- Quotes
- We don't sell insurance or give quotes
Product details can vary by state and change; confirm on the insurer's site before applying.
Source: MassMutual term life page (checked 2026-10-12)
- Term options
- Classic Choice Term: 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40 years
- Longest term
- 40 years
- Issue ages
- Not found on the insurer's page
- How to apply
- Yes, online or by phone
- Convert to permanent?
- Yes; an optional Conversion Choice rider (not in CA or NY) lets you convert without underwriting, up to 2 years before the term ends
- Complaints (California 2025, life)
- 1.7 per 100,000 policies (3 justified complaints; Protective Life Insurance Company)
- Quotes
- We don't sell insurance or give quotes
Product details can vary by state and change; confirm on the insurer's site before applying.
Source: Protective Classic Choice Term page (checked 2026-10-12)
- Term options
- 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40 years
- Longest term
- 40 years
- Issue ages
- Ages 20–75
- How to apply
- Online quote tool
- Convert to permanent?
- Yes, option to renew or convert to a permanent policy
- Complaints (California 2025, life)
- 0.7 per 100,000 policies (1 justified complaint; Banner Life Insurance Company)
- Quotes
- We don't sell insurance or give quotes
Product details can vary by state and change; confirm on the insurer's site before applying.
Source: Legal & General America term life page (checked 2026-10-12)
- Term options
- 10, 15, 20 or 30 years; benefit $100,000 and up
- Longest term
- 30 years
- Issue ages
- Issue ages 18–80 (varies by term)
- How to apply
- Online quote or agent
- Convert to permanent?
- Yes, to a cash value plan
- Complaints (California 2025, life)
- 0.9 per 100,000 policies (2 justified complaints; United of Omaha Life Insurance Company)
- Quotes
- We don't sell insurance or give quotes
Product details can vary by state and change; confirm on the insurer's site before applying.
Source: Mutual of Omaha term life page (checked 2026-10-12)
- Term options
- 10 or 20 years with no medical exam up to $1.5 million; Guaranteed Level Term up to 30 years
- Longest term
- 30 years
- Issue ages
- Not found on the insurer's page
- How to apply
- Yes, completely online for 10- or 20-year coverage up to $1.5 million
- Convert to permanent?
- Yes (Guaranteed Level Term can be renewed or converted to a permanent policy)
- Complaints (California 2025, life)
- Not shown: Nationwide's term policies may be issued by a different Nationwide company than the one in California's list
- Quotes
- We don't sell insurance or give quotes
Product details can vary by state and change; confirm on the insurer's site before applying.
Source: Nationwide term life page (checked 2026-10-12)
State Farm, New York Life, Prudential and MassMutual pages blocked our automated browser, so their facts come from the insurer's own pages and brochures as shown in search results (linked). John Hancock, Pacific Life, Lincoln, Guardian, USAA and Primerica pages didn't load or have moved, so they're not included yet. Financial-strength ratings (AM Best etc.) aren't free to republish. Complaint ratios are California-only and use the legal company named.
Facts copied from each provider's own page on the date shown; “not found” means we couldn't confirm it there. Prices change, so check the provider before you sign up. No paid placement.