Choosing the right life insurance policy is essential, so it’s important to learn about all your options and consider your unique situation. One option is indexed universal life (IUL) insurance, which can give you more options with how to manage the cash value of the policy. While Aflac doesn't offer IUL insurance, we do offer whole, term, and final expense life insurance policies with coverage that can fit your needs. Read on to learn more about what indexed universal life insurance is and the pros and cons so you can decide whether this policy is right for you.
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Indexed universal life insurance (IUL) is a type of permanent life insurance policy with a savings component. Unlike some traditional life insurance plans, IUL insurance allows the policyholder more input on how the cash value grows. With indexed universal life insurance, you can place part of your savings in a standard, tax-deferred, cash value account and segment another portion into an account that grows based on a chosen index.
Indexed universal life insurance works similarly to a standard universal plan with a death benefit, but it allows the policyholder to grow their cash value based on a certain equity index.1 When the policyholder passes away, the beneficiary only receives the death benefit, and the cash value goes back to the insurance company.2
When you pay a premium for indexed universal life insurance, a portion of the funds goes to the basic functioning of the plan, and the other part goes into the savings account and earns interest based on an equity index. None of this money is physically invested in the stock market, but it is used as a gauge for interest payments.1
The chosen index’s performance determines how much interest will be added to the total cash value in your indexed universal life insurance plan. This is typically reevaluated at the start of each month, but it varies depending on the company you are working with.
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Get StartedBefore committing to indexed universal life insurance, here are some pros and cons to consider.
Some of the pros of indexed universal life insurance include:
There are also some cons of indexed universal life insurance, like:
The cost of indexed universal life insurance can vary based on several factors, such as the policy type, insurer, your age, and health. However, since this type of policy is more complex and has an investment component, it can often come with higher premiums than other policies like whole life or term life insurance.
If you don’t think indexed universal life insurance is right for you, here are some alternatives to consider:
Term life insurance is a temporary policy that typically offers coverage for 10 to 30 years. Aflac offers term life policies with customizable coverage and reasonable premiums.
Whole life insurance is a permanent policy that can offer coverage for your entire life. Typically more straightforward than indexed universal life insurance, this policy comes with fixed premiums and a cash value component that grows tax-deferred at a fixed rate.
Final expense insurance is a small permanent life policy that can help your loved ones cover end-of-life expenses, such as funeral and burial costs. This type of policy comes with a lower death benefit and typically doesn’t require a medical exam.
When deciding whether indexed universal life insurance is right for you, it’s important to consider all your coverage options. Whole life insurance may be a better choice if you are looking for more stability and consistency. On the other hand, term life insurance may be a better fit if you only need coverage for a certain period of time. If you decide to get indexed universal life insurance, we recommend looking into the plans and reviews at the companies you are considering.
Indexed universal life insurance is a type of policy that offers more control and flexibility, along with higher cash value growth potential. While we don’t offer IUL insurance, we can provide you with more information about our whole, term, and final expense life insurance policies. We recommend exploring all your options and chatting with an Aflac agent to discover the best fit for you and your family.
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1 Investopedia. What Is Indexed Universal Life Insurance (IUL)? Updated November 25, 2024. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/insurance/09/indexed-universal-life-insurance.asp. Accessed January 29, 2025.
2 Investopedia. What Is Universal Life (UL) Insurance? Updated November 26, 2024. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/universallife.asp. Accessed January 29, 2025.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.
Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
Aflac life plans - B60000 series: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma & Virginia, Policies: ICC18B60C10, ICC18B60100, ICC18B60200, ICC18B60300, & ICC18B60400. Not available in Delaware. B61000 series: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma & Virginia, Policies: ICC18B61JWO & ICC18B61JTO. In Delaware, Policies B61JWO, B61JTO. Q60000 series/Whole: In Arkansas & Delaware, Policy Q60100M. In Idaho, Policy Q60100MID. In Oklahoma, Policy Q60100MOK. Not available in Virginia. Q60000 series/Term: In Delaware, Policies Q60200CM. In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Policies ICC18Q60200C, ICC18Q60300C, ICC18Q60400C. Not available in Virginia.
Aflac Final Expense insurance coverage is underwritten by Tier One Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Aflac Incorporated and is administered by Aetna Life Insurance Company. Tier One Insurance Company is part of the Aflac family of insurers. In California, Tier One Insurance Company does business as Tier One Life Insurance Company (NAIC 92908).
In AR, DE, ID, OK and VA: Policies ICC21-AFLLBL21 and ICC21-AFLRPL21; and Riders ICC21-AFLABR22, ICC21-AFLADB22, and ICC21-AFLCDR22. Aflac Final Expense policies are not available in New York. Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to DE, ID, NJ, NM, NY, VA or VT.
Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations, and exclusions.
Aflac does not offer Universal life insurance, but we can point you toward our Whole life insurance policy if you have different coverage goals in mind. Chatting with an agent about your options may make this decision easier.
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