Life Insurance Activity Flat In October, MIB Index Reports

U.S. life insurance application activity was flat in October 2021 compared to October 2020, according to the MIB Life Index, with year-over-year  activity at -1.5%. While YOY comparisons are impacted by fluctuations in 2020 activity due to COVID, when comparing October 2021 results to 2019, activity continues to be relatively flat at +1.0%. On a year-to-date basis, the industry remains at growth with October 2021 up +4.4% over October 2020 and up +8.3% over 2019.

Activity for ages 71+ was at growth YOY, while all other age bands were flat or declined. Activity for ages 0-30 was down -1.6%, ages 31-50 down -0.5%, ages 51-60 down -3.2%, ages 61-70 down -5.1% and for ages 71+ up by +4.8%. Age band patterns have been an interesting trend to watch due to fluctuations during 2020 driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affect the YOY comparisons. When comparing age band activity in October 2021 to pre-pandemic levels in October 2019, we see growth across ages 0-50 while ages 51+ show declining activity.

Activity YOY for face amounts of $250K up to and including $500K declined, while amounts over $5M grew in the double digits. Growth for all other face amounts was relatively flat YOY. When examining age bands, YOY activity for ages 0-30 was flat for amounts up to $250K, at growth for amounts over $500K up to and including $2.5M, and declined for all other face amounts. Worthy of noting, YOY activity for ages 0-30 declined in the double digits for amounts over $5M. Ages 31-50 saw YOY growth for amounts up to and including $250K and double-digit growth for amounts over $5M, with declines or flat activity in all other face amounts. Ages 51-60 saw double-digit growth in YOY activity for face amounts over $5M and declines or flat activity in other categories. Ages 61-70 saw YOY declines for face amounts up to and including $250K, double-digit declines for amounts over $250K up to and including $2.5M and double-digit growth for face amounts over $2.5M. Ages 71+ saw YOY growth for amounts up to and including $250K and amounts over $500K up to and including $1M with significant double digit growth (over 25%) for amounts over $2.5M and declines in all other categories.

October 2021 saw growth in Whole Life application activity YOY of +7.1% while Term Life and Universal Life declined by -5.8% and -7.7% respectfully. Activity for Term Life and Universal Life declined for all age groups, in the double digits for ages 61+ for Term Life and for ages 51+ for Universal life. Whole Life saw growth across all age bands, in the double digits for ages 0-50.