Attained age is how old you are on the day a life insurance carrier calculates a new price. A new term policy, the annual renewal after a level term ends, and most conversions to permanent insurance use attained age. The premium rises because the age in the calculation rose. The birthday you had when you bought the original policy does not freeze that new price.
Issue age is the age locked on the policy you already own. Attained age is the age used for the next calculation.
Where attained age shows up
Three moments use it.
- A new application is priced at the age you are now, under that carrier’s age-nearest or age-last rules.
- After a level term ends, renewal premiums are recalculated at the attained age each year and climb from there.
- A conversion rider lets you move to permanent coverage without a new exam, and the permanent premium is priced at the attained age on the conversion date.
Waiting until the month the term ends means the attained age, and sometimes the next age band, is already in the price. Starting a few years earlier keeps a younger age in the new contract.
Age nearest versus age last
Carriers do not all count birthdays the same way. Age last means your age at your last birthday. Age nearest means they round to the closest birthday, so you can be priced as a year older up to six months before that birthday. Two quotes on the same day can use different ages. Ask which rule the offer uses before you compare the premiums.
What attained age does not change
The premium on a level term policy does not step up every birthday during the level period. Whole life premiums that were guaranteed at issue do not rise because you attained a new age. Attained age matters when something is being newly priced: a new policy, a renewal, or a conversion.
How those prices sort into rate classes is on the life insurance rate classes page.
Price the new policy at today’s age
If a term is within a few years of the end, or you are within six months of a birthday, get the attained-age premium now. The quote expires as the age rule moves.
Conclusion
We price the next policy at the attained age the carrier will actually use, including age-nearest when that is the rule, instead of quoting the issue age on the policy you already own. Renewal and conversion both get more expensive as that age moves. Shopping 30+ A-rated carriers still has to happen at the age you are, not the age you were.
Our agents will tell you when waiting past a birthday changes the band, and when converting this year beats applying next year.
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