Glossary

Attained age

The insured's current age on a given date, used to price renewals, conversions and the rising monthly charges inside universal life.

Attained age is how old the insured is now, as opposed to issue age, the age when the policy was bought. Insurers usually measure it on the policy anniversary, using either the insured's nearest birthday or last birthday depending on the company.

Several costs are tied to attained age. Annual renewable term premiums, and the premiums many term policies charge after their level period ends, rise each year with attained age. In universal life, the monthly cost of insurance charge per $1,000 of coverage at risk increases as the insured gets older. And when you convert a term policy to permanent coverage, the new premium is usually based on attained age at conversion, though some policies credit the original issue age.

Hypothetical example: a 40-year-old buys a 20-year level term policy. Her premium stays flat through age 59 because it was set at issue age 40. If she keeps the policy after year 20, the renewal premium is based on her attained age of 60 and may be many times higher. Knowing which age drives your cost explains sudden jumps; see what happens when your term life policy expires and age nearest vs last birthday: why your insurance age rounds up.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

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Related terms

Issue age The age an insurer assigns you on the policy date to set your premium, counted from your nearest or your last birthday depending on the company. Cost of insurance (COI) The monthly charge a universal life policy deducts to pay for its death protection, based on the insured's age, rate class and the amount at risk. Conversion privilege A term policy feature that lets the owner switch to permanent coverage with the same insurer without new medical underwriting, within set deadlines. Guaranteed renewable A provision giving you the right to renew coverage at the end of each term without new medical underwriting, at a higher age-based premium. Level premium A premium that stays the same each year for a set period or for life, with early overpayments offsetting the rising cost of coverage at older ages.

Related guides

Age nearest vs last birthday: why your insurance age rounds up Many insurers price on the age nearest your birthday, so you can count as a year older up to six months before turning that age. How it works and how to use it. Annual renewable term (ART) life insurance ART covers you one year at a time, renewable without a medical exam, with a premium that rises every year. Where you'll meet it, what it costs and who it suits. Converting term life to permanent: how the conversion option works A conversion swaps term coverage for whole or universal life with no new medical exam. How deadlines, pricing and partial conversions work, and when it pays. Renewing term life insurance after the level period ends Most term policies renew after the level period with no health check, but premiums climb every year. What to expect, what it costs, and what to do instead. Supplemental (voluntary) life insurance at work Voluntary group life lets you buy extra coverage through payroll, often with no exam up to a limit. How pricing, evidence of insurability and portability work. What term life insurance costs by age Why term premiums climb with age, with dated government rate schedules (VGLI, IRS Table I) as illustrations of the slope and what they do and do not tell you.