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 year over year 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.