> If they seriously expected people to stop dying then the estimated value of life insurance policies would drop to zero. I think it's (not im)possible that ra

> If they seriously expected people to stop dying then the estimated value of life insurance policies would drop to zero. I think it's (not im)possible that rates would go up! Here's why: The most risky (largest) life insurance policies aren't taken out by people who fully expect to reach old age; rather, they are taken out by people in their prime with young families or other dependents. So you have people taking out large policies from ages 25 - 50 or so, and then going back to small policies or no policy at all. The risk pool is now very different -- lots of very pofitable policies, but also a lot of risk. The existential risk to the insurance company might actually increase in that case, and rates would have to be increased to accomodate this risk. Probably not, and IANAA, but it'd be interesting if an actual actuary familiar with life insurance could chime in.