Some Life Insurance Rates Remain at All-Time Lows as Prices Increases Continue

DARIEN, Ill., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Life Quotes, Inc. (Nasdaq: QUOT) today announced the results of a new life insurance pricing survey that concludes many term life insurance rates remain at all-time lows amidst a market of widespread price increases. This data is the result of a Life Quotes, Inc. survey of 25 leading life insurance companies' rates for new applicants effective January 1, 2010."Despite the frenzy of re-pricing activity that has taken place in the term life insurance market this year, there are still some incredibly low premiums to be had," said Kat Zeman, editor for Life Quotes, Inc. "We found that females wanting $250,000 or $500,000 of coverage are faring better than males in terms of dodging the price increases."The December 1, 2009 Life Quotes survey of term life insurance prices revealed that rates for the following categories of life insurance buyers remain at all-time lows: -- Females, age 30-35, $250,000, 30 year initial rate guarantee -- Females, age 45, $250,000, 20 year initial rate guarantee -- Females, age 50, $250,000, 10 year initial rate guarantee -- Females, age 30-35, $500,000, 20 year initial rate guarantee -- Females, age 50, $500,000, 10 year initial rate guarantee -- Males, age 50, $500,000, 20 year initial rate guarantee -- Females, age 50, $1 million, 30 year initial rate guarantee "In 2009, many life insurance companies raised their rates, but a few of them, such as American General and Genworth, are actually bringing them back down again," remarked Phil Young, a market reporter at Life Quotes, Inc. Young continued, "We've been tracking life insurance rates for 25 years and can confirm that the cost of basic term life insurance has fallen by about 50 percent over the last decade. The long price war that dates back to the 1990's is continuing, which is terrific news for life insurance shoppers."Today's cost for a 10-year, $250,000 term life policy for a healthy 40-year-old man or woman is only $140 per year (see chart for more examples).Katherine Lovesee, a Wisconsin resident who recently applied for a $50,000 no-exam term life policy from Fidelity Life Association through Life Quotes, Inc., said that good rates are one of the reasons she has decided to shop around for insurance right now - along with the fact that her term life policy is set to expire soon. "I wanted to get a better rate before they go up," Lovesee said.Tonya Lugo, a 42-year-old mother of five in Virginia, decided to shop around for $1 million of coverage with a 20-year initial rate guarantee. While her husband has military life insurance, she wanted more coverage to protect her family. Lugo shopped rates at www.lifequotes.com and found her best buy to be a policy costing $685 per year from Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. "I just felt it was time to get some more insurance for myself and my children... so we could have that added security," Lugo said. $250,000 Term Life Sampler Female Annual Premiums Male Annual Premiums Age 10 Year 20 Year 30 Year Age 10 Year 20 Year 30 Year 30 $115 $155 $200 30 $115 $158 $240 35 $115 $162 $228 35 $115 $162 $262 40 $140 $215 $290 40 $140 $205 $355 45 $202 $272 $435 45 $202 $345 $535 50 $248 $382 $588 50 $280 $518 $810 55 $358 $590 $1,172 55 $458 $778 $1,676 $500,000 Term Life Sampler Female Annual Premiums Male Annual Premiums Age 10 Year 20 Year 30 Year Age 10 Year 20 Year 30 Year 30 $170 $224 $335 30 $170 $254 $405 35 $170 $235 $400 35 $170 $265 $465 40 $205 $310 $530 40 $220 $360 $644 45 $310 $489 $790 45 $345 $614 $999 50 $435 $705 $1,075 50 $500 $944 $1,565 55 $650 $1,125 $2,115 55 $855 $1,495 $2,960 $1,000,000 Term Life Sampler Female Annual Premiums Male Annual Premiums Age 10 Year 20 Year 30 Year Age 10 Year 20 Year 30 Year 30 $260 $384 $575 30 $260 $440 $700 35 $265 $420 $715 35 $270 $450 $820 40 $345 $565 $955 40 $365 $660 $1,195 45 $545 $905 $1,465 45 $595 $1,164 $1,915 50 $795 $1,325 $1,935 50 $895 $1,824 $3,030 55 $1,195 $2,135 $3,930 55 $1,605 $2,925 $5,620 Market survey methodology Life Quotes, Inc. polled 25 leading U.S. life insurance companies to find the best rates available for coverage amounts of $250,000, $500,000 and $1 million term life insurance policies as of December 1, 2009. Each of the companies examined have top-notch ratings, meaning they are rated either "Excellent" or "Superior" by A.M. Best Company, an independent rating organization. A total of 108 different "cells" of varying age, sex and coverage amounts were examined for hypothetical California residents, ranging in age from 30 to 55, who do not use tobacco products. The tables above reveal the lowest possible rates found for the 10, 20 and 30-year level term life policies and assume that each applicant is free of any medical history that could affect their final rate.Notes to tables Final premiums and coverage availability will vary depending upon age, sex, state availability, hazardous activities, personal and family health history. The sample, California non-tobacco use premiums shown above may include: American General Life Insurance Company, Houston, TX, form 07007; Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Company, Lynchburg, VA, forms 1420(96) et al & 1421 et al; Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Fort Wayne, IN, form TRM5065; Reliastar Life Insurance Company, Minneapolis, MN, form 1177R; Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts, Woburn, MA, forms B36 and B46 series; Transamerica Life Insurance Company, Cedar Rapids, IA, forms 1-304 11-107, and 1-334 11-107. Actual policy forms may vary by state. California and Utah dba Life Quotes Insurance Services, Inc.: CA #0827712, #OA13858; UT #90093. Some premiums shown may be graded premium life policies. Term life premium rates always escalate after initial rate guarantee period. All sample rates shown are effective January 1, 2010 and subject to change, state availability or withdrawal without notice.About Life Quotes, Inc.Originally founded in 1984 as Quotesmith Corporation, Life Quotes, Inc. owns and operates a comprehensive consumer information service and companion insurance brokerage service that caters to the needs of self-directed insurance shoppers. Visitors to the Company's Web site www.lifequotes.com, are able to obtain free, instant car insurance quotes, instant life insurance quotes, home, business and health insurance quotes from leading insurers and have the freedom to buy online or by phone from any company shown. Life Quotes, Inc. generates revenues from receipt of industry-standard commissions, including back-end bonus commissions and volume-based contingent bonus commissions that are paid by participating insurance companies. We also generate revenues from the sale of Web site traffic and insurance leads to various third parties. Shares of the Company's common stock trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol QUOT.SOURCE Life Quotes, Inc.