Life insurance application activity sees record-breaking Q1

U.S. life insurance application activity showed double-digit growth of +14.3% year-to-date in Q1-2026, representing the highest Q1 growth on record and achieving the highest total volume for any quarter on record, according to the MIB Life Index. March also saw double-digit year-over-year growth, with activity up +17.7%. When comparing activity through Q1-2026 YTD to prior years, activity was up at +15.5% compared to both 2024 and 2023. Additionally, activity for Q1-2026 was up +10.2% compared to the previous quarter (Q4-2025).

⁠March 2026 saw YOY growth for all age bands, in the double digits for ages 40+. When comparing Q1-2026 to Q1-2025, activity was at growth for ages 30+, in the double digits for age 40+ and flat for ages 0-29. Activity in Q1-2026 for ages 0-29 was flat at -0.5%, ages 30-39 up +5.2%, ages 40-49 up +13.9%, ages 50-59 up +21.6%, ages 60-69 up +29.9%, and ages 70+ up +46.3%. When comparing Q1-2026 to the previous quarter (Q4-2025), all age bands saws growth, in the double digits for ages 0-29 and 60+.

Based on data reported to MIB by our members, March 2026 saw YOY growth for all face amounts, in the double digits for face amount from $1 up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M. When comparing Q1-2026 to Q1-2025, we also saw YOY growth for all face amounts, in the double digits for face amount from $100K up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M.

When including age bands comparing Q1-2026 to Q1-2025, ages 0-29 saw declines for amounts from $1 up to but not including $100K, flat activity for amounts from $100K up to but not including $250K, and growth for amounts $250K and over, in the double digits for amounts from $1M up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M.

Ages 30-39 saw declines for amounts from $1 up to but not including $100K, flat activity for amounts from $100K up to but not including $1M, and growth for amounts $1M and over, in the double digits for amounts from $1M up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M.

Ages 40-49 saw flat activity for amounts from $1 up to but not including $100K and growth for amounts $100K and over, in the double digits for amounts from $500K up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M.

Ages 50-59 saw growth for amounts from $1 up to but not including $5M, in the double digits for amounts from $100K up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M, and flat activity for amount $5M and over.

Ages 60-69 saw growth for amounts from $1 up to but not including $5M, in the double digits for amounts from $1 up to but not including $250K and for amounts from $500K up to but not including $5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $250K up to but not including $500K, and declines for amount $5M and over.

Ages 70+ saw growth for amounts from $1 up to but not including $5M, in the double digits for amounts from $1 up to but not including $100K and for amounts from $250K up to but not including $5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $100K up to but not including $250K, and declines for amount $5M and over.

When examining product types as reported to MIB by its members, all product types saw double-digit YOY growth in March. Term Life was up +29.7%, Whole Life up +29.6% and Universal life up +19.6%. Additionally, when comparing Q1-2026 to Q1-2025, all three product types showed double-digit growth. Term Life was up +27.0%, Whole Life up +24.3%, and Universal Life up +28.5%. When including age bands and comparing Q1-2026 to Q1-2025, Term Life and Universal Life saw growth for all age bands, in the double digits for ages 30-69 and in the triple digits for ages 70+. Whole Life saw growth for ages 30+, in the double digits for ages 40+, and flat activity for ages 0-29.

Methodology Change for 2026:

MIB has revised methodology to fine tune age and face amount bands to better meet industry needs, while also incorporating more precise filtering to isolate new business application activity and define applicant country. Please see the main MIB Life Index page on our website for details on our methodology change. All historical data in this report has been restated based on our new methodology, however, historical reports archived on our website reflect the methodology in place at the time of publication.