Dayforward life insurance: who issues it and how it works

Overview

Dayforward was a New York-based life insurance startup, founded in 2019 by chief executive Aaron Shapiro, that sold an unusual form of term life insurance. Instead of a single lump sum, its policy replaced the insured person's income: beneficiaries received a twice-monthly payment until the youngest child reached a chosen age, plus $10,000 for funeral costs. It launched in Texas in January 2021 and, after a $25 million funding round led by AXA Venture Partners in January 2023, expanded to 38 states and Washington, D.C.

Dayforward no longer sells to consumers. Coverager reported on February 6, 2025, that dayforward.com had begun redirecting to the company's enterprise site, dayforward.io, with a message for policyholders trying to reach their accounts; the company had turned to selling technology to insurers and distributors. On September 28, 2026, Fortitude Re announced it had bought substantially all of Dayforward's assets, including its technology platform, distribution agreements, intellectual property, licensed insurance agency and employees, through a new subsidiary to be called Fortitude Life. The deal did not include Dayforward's insurance companies or "the legacy policies and liabilities associated with them." Both dayforward.com and dayforward.io now point to fortitudelife.com.

Who issues the policy

Unlike most online brands, Dayforward was a full-stack insurer: it owned its own insurance companies rather than acting as an agent for others. Coverager reported that it owned two licensed carriers:

• Dayforward Life Insurance Company, which issued its first policies in 2021. Coverager reported those policies were reinsured by Munich Re Life US.
• Commercial Travelers Life Insurance Company, bought from National Guardian Life in January 2023 to expand nationally.

The insurer named on your policy owes the benefit, and that obligation stays with it regardless of what happened to Dayforward's technology business. Reinsurance by Munich Re means part of the risk is shared with a large reinsurer, but your contract is with the issuing company, not the reinsurer. Neither Dayforward carrier had a published AM Best rating that we could find. If an insurer cannot pay, the state guaranty association where you live covers life benefits up to state limits.

How buying works

New applications are not available. Dayforward's income-style payout is uncommon; if you need new coverage, ordinary term life can be structured the same way by choosing a coverage amount based on years of income (see How much life insurance do I need? and income replacement: the 10x rule and better ways), and beneficiaries can often choose installment payouts. Compare current options in online life insurance companies and agencies explained.

Products and limits

Dayforward sold one product: income-replacement term life. At its Texas launch, Coverager reported that it paid a twice-monthly benefit until a child turned 21, plus $10,000 for funeral expenses, and charged a $5 monthly subscription fee on top of the premium to cover the cost of issuing and managing the policy. Payment durations, income levels and state availability changed over time; your policy contract sets your benefit, payment schedule and end date.

Reputation

We found no published regulatory enforcement action against Dayforward or its insurers in sources searched in October 2026. Exiting the consumer business and selling the technology arm are business decisions, not regulatory actions. The open question for policyholders is the long-term ownership and servicing of the two insurers that were left out of the Fortitude Re deal; public reports we found do not say who will own them.

Who it suits

This page is for current Dayforward policyholders and their beneficiaries. Your policy stays in force as long as premiums are paid.

• Strengths for existing customers: the insurer's obligation under the contract is unchanged; policies were reinsured by Munich Re; state guaranty associations back life insurers.
• Weaknesses: no new policies; brand websites now point to an unrelated annuity business; the issuing insurers had no published AM Best rating we could find; the income-style payout is harder to replace with another insurer if your health has changed.

Keep paying premiums and keep your policy documents where your beneficiaries can find them. Tell them the claim goes to the insurer named on the policy, Dayforward Life Insurance Company or Commercial Travelers Life Insurance Company, not to Fortitude Re.

How to contact Dayforward

Dayforward no longer publishes a consumer service line that we could verify; its websites now redirect to fortitudelife.com. Use the phone number and address printed on your policy or premium notices. If you cannot reach the insurer, your state insurance department can confirm the company's status and current contact details, and the claims guide explains what beneficiaries need.