U.S. life insurance application activity saw double-digit Year-over-Year (YOY) growth in February 2026 compared to February 2025, with activity up +16.2%, the highest YOY growth rate for any February on record. When comparing February 2026 to the same month in prior years, activity was up +14.0% compared to 2024 and up +17.7% compared to 2023. On a Month-over-Month (MOM) basis, February 2026 was up +3.1% compared to January 2026.

⁠All ages saw growth in February 2026, in the double digits for ages 40+. Activity for ages 0-29 was up +3.2%, ages 30-39 up +6.1%, ages 40-49 up +13.7%, ages 50-59 up +20.9%, ages 60-69 up +32.8%, and ages 70+ up +53.8%.

Based on information reported to MIB by our members, all face amounts saw growth in February 2026, in the double digits for amounts 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 including age bands, ages 0-29 saw growth for face amounts from $100K up to but not including $5M, 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, and declines for all other face amounts, in the double digits for amounts $5M and over. Ages 30-39 saw growth for face 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, flat activity for amounts from $100K up to but not including $1M, and declines for amounts from $1 up to but not including $100K. Ages 40-49 saw growth for face amounts $100K and over, in the double digits for amounts from $500K up to but not including $2.5M and for amounts $5M and over, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M, and flat activity for amounts from $1 up to but not including $100K. Ages 50-59 saw growth for all face amounts, in the double digits for amounts from $100K up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits growth for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M. Ages 60-69 saw growth for all amounts from $1 up to but not including $5M, in the double digits for amounts from $1 up to but not including $250K and 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 amounts $5M and over. Ages 70+ saw double-digit growth for amounts from $1 up to but not including $100K and amounts $250K and over, and triple-digit growth for amounts from $100K up to but not including $250K.

February 2026 saw double-digit YOY growth across all product types. Term Life was up +24.6% YOY, Whole Life was up +27.0%, and Universal Life was up at +32.2%. Term Life saw double-digit YOY growth for ages 0-69 and triple-digit growth for ages 70+. Whole Life saw YOY growth for all ages, in the double digits for ages 30+. Universal Life saw YOY growth for all age bands, in the double digits for ages 30-69, and in the triple digits for ages 70+.

Methodology Change for 2026:

MIB has revised our methodology to fine tune our 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.

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