Do I need to talk to an agent, or can I do everything online?

For decades, buying life insurance meant sitting across a desk from an insurance agent, having awkward conversations about your mortality, and dealing with high-pressure sales tactics. The process was time-consuming, uncomfortable, and often left people feeling like they'd been sold something rather than having made an informed choice.

Today, that's completely changed. You can research, compare, apply for, and purchase life insurance entirely online—without ever talking to an agent, attending a meeting, or dealing with sales pressure. But is that the right approach for you? And when might talking to an agent actually be helpful?

The fully online experience: How it works

Modern instant-issue life insurance platforms have streamlined the entire process into a digital experience you can complete from your phone or computer, on your schedule, without any human interaction required.

Here's what the fully online process looks like:

Step 1: Research and education

You visit the insurance company's website and find educational content about life insurance basics, coverage amounts, term lengths, and pricing. You read at your own pace, without someone watching or pushing you to make a decision.

When Marcus started exploring life insurance, he spent an evening reading blog posts, watching explainer videos, and using coverage calculators. He educated himself on his timeline, free from sales pressure.

Step 2: Get instant quotes

You enter basic information (age, health status, coverage amount, term length) and receive real-time quotes. You can adjust the variables and see how different choices affect your premium. This transparency lets you find the coverage that fits your budget before committing to anything.

Marcus played with the coverage calculator, comparing a $500,000 policy to a $750,000 policy, looking at 20-year versus 30-year terms, and seeing exactly how each choice affected his monthly premium.

Step 3: Complete the application

When you're ready, you complete the application entirely online. You'll provide the necessary information—personal details, health history, beneficiary information—through a guided form that takes 10-20 minutes.

Smart forms only ask relevant follow-up questions based on your answers, so you're not wading through dozens of irrelevant questions. The system saves your progress, so you can complete it across multiple sessions if needed.

Step 4: Receive instant decision

For qualifying applicants, the underwriting decision happens in real-time. Within minutes, you know whether you're approved, what your exact premium is, and when your coverage begins.

Marcus received his approval 18 minutes after submitting his application. No waiting weeks, no scheduling medical exams, no follow-up calls.

Step 5: Activate coverage

You review the policy terms, provide payment information, and activate your coverage. Your policy documents are delivered electronically, and you have immediate access to your policy information through an online dashboard.

From start to finish, Marcus went from knowing nothing about life insurance to having a $750,000, 20-year term policy in place—all in less than two hours of total time, spread across two evenings, without talking to a single person.

The advantages of going fully online

The online-only approach offers several significant benefits, especially for digitally-savvy young professionals:

Convenience and flexibility: Apply at 10 PM on a Sunday in your pajamas. Take breaks whenever you want. Review information at your own pace. There's no need to schedule appointments, take time off work, or coordinate with anyone's schedule.

No sales pressure: You're never in a position where someone is pushing you to "sign today" or trying to upsell you on features you don't need. You make decisions based on information and your own analysis, not someone's commission incentive.

Transparent pricing: Online platforms show you exact pricing upfront. You can compare different coverage amounts and terms instantly, seeing exactly how choices affect your premium. There are no hidden fees or surprise costs.

Speed: The entire process can be completed in less than an hour for straightforward applications. There's no back-and-forth, no scheduling delays, no waiting for an agent to get back to you with information.

Privacy: For many people, discussing health conditions, medications, or family medical history feels invasive. Completing everything online provides privacy and removes the social discomfort of these conversations.

Easy comparison shopping: You can get quotes from multiple companies in quick succession, compare offerings side-by-side, and make informed decisions without feeling obligated to any particular agent.

Emma, who has social anxiety, found the online process enormously relieving. "I could think through my answers carefully, review everything multiple times, and never felt rushed or judged. It was perfect for me."

When agent assistance might be valuable

While many people prefer the fully online experience, there are situations where talking to an agent or insurance advisor might be helpful:

Complex medical history: If you have multiple health conditions, take several medications, or have had serious medical issues, an experienced agent can help you understand which insurers are most likely to approve your application and offer competitive rates. They know which companies specialize in certain conditions and can save you time and frustration.

David, who has well-controlled Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, worked with an agent who knew which insurers offered the best rates for his profile. The agent's expertise saved David hours of research and likely got him a better rate than he would have found on his own.

Very high coverage amounts: If you need $5 million, $10 million, or more in coverage, the underwriting process is more complex and typically involves financial underwriting in addition to medical underwriting. An experienced agent can guide you through the additional documentation and requirements.

Business-related coverage: If you need life insurance for business purposes—buy-sell agreements, key person insurance, executive benefits—these situations often require specialized knowledge that an agent or insurance advisor can provide.

Estate planning integration: If you're working with estate planning attorneys and need life insurance as part of a sophisticated estate plan (irrevocable life insurance trusts, wealth transfer strategies, etc.), an agent who specializes in estate planning can be invaluable.

Comparing permanent vs. term insurance: If you're genuinely uncertain whether term or permanent life insurance better fits your needs, an agent can walk through the tradeoffs and help you understand the long-term implications of each choice.

You prefer personal interaction: Some people simply feel more comfortable discussing important financial decisions with a real person. If you have questions, want to talk through scenarios, or just prefer human interaction to digital forms, working with an agent is perfectly fine.

The hybrid approach: Online with support available

Many modern insurance companies, including Evoro Life, offer a hybrid model that combines the convenience of online applications with optional human support.

This means you can:

• Research and learn entirely online
• Get instant quotes without talking to anyone
• Start your application on your own
• Reach out to a support team if you have questions (via chat, email, or phone)
• Complete the application online, with help available if needed
• Talk to someone if your situation is complex or you're declined online

This approach gives you control and convenience while ensuring you're not stuck if you run into questions or complications.

Sofia started her application online late one evening but had a question about how to report a surgery she'd had several years ago. She sent a quick chat message, got a response within minutes, completed the application with the clarification she needed, and never felt pressured to do anything other than what she wanted.

What about ongoing service and claims?

Another consideration is what happens after you purchase coverage. Do you need an agent for ongoing service?

With modern digital platforms, most ongoing service is easily handled online:

Policy changes: Updating beneficiaries, changing your address, or reviewing your coverage can typically be done through an online portal.

Premium payments: Set up automatic payments and manage your billing entirely online.

Policy information: Access your policy documents, coverage details, and payment history anytime through your account.

Claims: While you hopefully never need to file a claim, the process is typically managed through a dedicated claims team (whether you bought online or through an agent). Your beneficiaries will work with the claims department directly.

Most routine service needs don't require an agent at all. And for more complex situations, customer support teams can handle questions and issues just as effectively as an agent could.

Cost considerations: Does buying online save money?

In many cases, yes. Digital-first insurance companies have lower overhead than traditional companies with extensive agent networks. Without commissions to pay, office space to maintain, and administrative staff to support agents, these savings often translate to lower premiums for customers.

Additionally, online platforms eliminate the markup that agents might add to policies (either through higher premiums or reduced coverage for the same price).

That said, a good independent agent who represents multiple insurance companies might find you a better rate than you'd find on your own, especially if you have a complex profile. It depends on your specific situation.

Making the choice: Online vs. agent

Ask yourself:

Are you comfortable researching and making decisions independently? If you enjoy learning, comparing options, and making informed choices on your own, online is probably perfect for you.

Is your situation straightforward? If you're young, healthy, don't smoke, and want standard coverage, online will be fast and easy. Complex situations may benefit from expert guidance.

Do you value convenience over personal interaction? If you'd rather complete everything on your schedule without coordinating with anyone, online is the clear winner.

Do you feel confident understanding insurance terminology? Good online platforms explain everything clearly, but if you prefer someone to walk you through concepts, an agent might be helpful.

Do you dislike sales environments? If high-pressure sales tactics bother you, online removes that concern entirely.

The Evoro Life difference

At Evoro Life, we've designed our platform to be completely self-service—you can do absolutely everything online without ever talking to anyone. Our interface is intuitive, our educational content is comprehensive, and our application process is as simple as we could possibly make it.

But we also recognize that sometimes you have questions or need clarification. Our support team is available via chat, email, and phone to answer questions, provide guidance, and help troubleshoot any issues—all without sales pressure or commission incentives.

You're in control of how you want to interact with us. Whether that's entirely online or with occasional support when you need it, we're here to make getting coverage as easy as possible.

For most young professionals seeking straightforward term life insurance, the fully online experience is faster, more convenient, and more comfortable than working with a traditional agent. But you're never on your own if you need help.

Get your quote in 18 minutes