A Return of Premium Rider (ROP) is available on some term insurance policies.  This rider returns the sum of all annual premium paid(including base policy fee and ROP rider premium) at the end of the initial term period, provided the policy owner is still living and the policy remains in force. If the policy is surrendered before the end of the initial term period, less than 100 % of the premium will be returned.  The longer you wait the higher percentage you will get back.  Adding the return of premium rider will increase the overall cost of the policy.

To determine if the additional cost is worth it, you need figure out what you would earn if you invested the difference.  To make a fair comparison, you need to compare this with other guaranteed investments such as fixed annuities or CD’s, because the return on a return of premium policy is also guaranteed.  However, if you are an aggressive investor you can use a hypothetical rate of return for your analysis, assuming you would invest the difference in a non-guaranteed vehicle.

Keep in mind that if the policy owner dies at any time during the term period, simply buying traditional term coverage and investing the difference will always provide the greatest return, because the policy owner’s estate would receive the death benefit and can also distribute the invested cash.

One of the most common reasons people buy life insurance is for income replacement.  PacLife has a handy insurance calculator that you can use as a guide http://www.pacificlife.com/Channel/Educational+Information/Calculators/How+much+life+insurance+do+I+need.htm

There is also a version of term life insurance that will return one hundred percent of premiums paid to the owner, if the insured is still alive at the end of the term period.  This is called return of premium term life insurance.  Return of premium term life insurance is typically available for 10, 15, 20 or 30 yrs.