Corebridge Direct life insurance: who issues it and how it works

Overview

Corebridge Direct is the direct-to-consumer agency of Corebridge Financial, the former life and retirement arm of AIG. It sells life insurance by phone and online from San Diego. The business was founded in the 1990s by Ron Harris and Laura Huffman as an independent direct-response agency; according to its history page, it built and ran direct term life operations for insurers affiliated with Transamerica, AIG and Protective Life before becoming part of AIG. It sold for years as AIG Direct and was renamed Corebridge Direct in July 2024.

Unlike a broker that shops many insurers, Corebridge Direct is owned by an insurer. Its legal footer says it is a subsidiary of American General Life Insurance Company (AGL) of Houston and an affiliate of The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York (US Life), all wholly owned by Corebridge Financial, Inc.

A change is coming at the parent level. Corebridge and Equitable Holdings agreed in March 2026 to merge; stockholders of both companies approved the deal on July 30, 2026, and it is expected to close by year-end 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. The combined company will use the Equitable name. Existing policies stay with the insurance companies that issued them.

Who issues the policy

Policies sold through Corebridge Direct are issued mainly by American General Life Insurance Company in every state except New York, and by The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York for New York residents. Those companies, not the agency, pay claims. Corebridge Direct's footer says it "offers policies on behalf of affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies," but its product pages describe only American General products, and it does not name any unaffiliated insurers.

The ownership link shapes the advice you get. The agency's compensation disclosure says that, as an affiliated agency of AGL and US Life, it receives "additional compensation to defray the expense of marketing" their products, on top of commissions. That is legal and disclosed, but it means you are buying from the insurer's own sales arm, not from an independent comparison shopper. Our guide to captive vs independent life insurance agents explains the difference.

How buying works

You can request a quote online or call the quote line and work with a licensed agent, or buy two products entirely online through the "do-it-yourself" platform:

• Term life: You answer demographic and health questions in an online application that the company says takes 30 to 45 minutes and can be paused and resumed. Depending on age, amount and health, American General may require a paramedical exam, or may approve you without one under its accelerated underwriting program (see accelerated underwriting: approval without an exam).
• Guaranteed issue whole life: No medical exam and no health questions. Corebridge Direct says coverage can typically be finalized within 48 hours of the application.

After the policy is issued, AGL or US Life bills you and handles service. Your state's free-look period lets you return a new policy for a refund.

Products and limits

• Term life: American General's term products, with level terms typically 10 to 30 years. The online quote tool offers coverage from $100,000 to $2 million; larger amounts can be discussed with an agent. Corebridge's main term product, Select-a-Term, offers 18 term lengths.
• Quality of Life: term or universal life with built-in or rider living benefits that let you access part of the death benefit for a qualifying critical, chronic or terminal illness.
• Guaranteed issue whole life: for ages 50 to 80, $5,000 to $25,000 of coverage (the total of all such AGL policies on one person cannot exceed $25,000). Premiums do not rise. It has a graded death benefit in the first two years. Issued by AGL in all states except New York and Maine. Corebridge Direct markets this as its final expense option.
• Universal life, whole life and accidental death coverage.

Reputation

American General Life and US Life hold AM Best ratings of A (Excellent), along with A+ (Strong) from S&P, A2 (Good) from Moody's and A+ (Strong) from Fitch, per Corebridge's ratings page updated April 8, 2026. After the Equitable merger was announced, S&P placed the ratings on CreditWatch with negative implications and AM Best put them under review with developing implications, so they could change when the deal closes.

In the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Individual Life Insurance Study, released in October 2026, Corebridge ranked last of 23 brands for customer satisfaction, with 581 points against a study average of 649. That study covers Corebridge's life customers generally, not Corebridge Direct alone. We found no regulatory actions specific to Corebridge Direct Insurance Services in public sources.

Who it suits

Corebridge Direct suits buyers who are comfortable going straight to one insurer's agency, want to buy term or a small guaranteed issue policy online without an agent, or prefer talking to an agent by phone during long weekday and Saturday hours. Seniors aged 50 to 80 looking for a few thousand dollars of no-questions coverage for final expenses are a core market.

It suits less well people who want quotes from many insurers side by side, since you will mainly see American General products, or those who would rather avoid a parent company in the middle of a merger.

Strengths

• Buy term or guaranteed issue whole life entirely online, or with an agent
• Issuers rated A (Excellent) by AM Best
• Guaranteed issue whole life with no health questions for ages 50 to 80
• Separate New York insurer (US Life)

Weaknesses

• Captive to American General and US Life; not a multi-insurer comparison
• Parent's 2026 J.D. Power satisfaction score was the lowest of 23 brands
• Guaranteed issue coverage capped at $25,000 and not sold in New York or Maine
• Ratings under review pending the Equitable merger

How to contact Corebridge Direct

• Sales: 800-294-4544 (Monday to Thursday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific)
• Corebridge Direct customer service: 888-517-9797 (Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific)
• American General Life policy service (billing, claims, beneficiary changes): 844-452-3832
• Office: 9640 Granite Ridge Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92123; 858-309-3000