Free, no pressure. If your policy still fits, we’ll tell you to keep it.
We work only with insurance companies rated A or better by AM Best.
Life changes, and a policy bought years ago may not have kept up. Share any life insurance policy you have, whether it’s term, whole, or universal life, bought on your own or through work. A licensed CBIS agent looks it over ahead of time, then goes through it with you on a short phone call. We’ll explain in plain words what it pays, how long it lasts, who it goes to, and where there may be gaps.
CBIS is a family-owned independent agency, so we aren’t tied to one insurance company and can give you a straight answer. Based in Santee, serving San Diego County, and helping people across California by phone.
Good Times for a Review
A quick look makes sense when something in your life has changed:
- You just had a baby or adopted a child
- You bought a home or took on a new mortgage
- You changed jobs, or plan to leave one
- You got married or divorced
- Someone new depends on your income
- You bought your policy years ago and haven’t looked at it since
- Your term ends in the next few years
- You aren’t sure what your policy covers
What We Look At
We go through your policy point by point and explain each one in plain words.
Coverage amount vs. today’s needs
Does the amount still fit your mortgage, your debts, your income, and the people who count on you today?
When your term ends
The date your coverage stops, and what the price would be after that.
Beneficiaries
Are the people you named still the right people? Old names on a policy are easy to miss after a marriage, divorce, or new child.
What you pay, now and later
What the policy costs today, whether that’s set to change, and what you’re getting for it.
Coverage through work
Coverage through a job often ends when you leave it. We check how much you have and whether you could keep it. The window to do that is often short, about 31 days after you leave, so it helps to check before you go.
Switching to lifelong coverage
Whether your term policy lets you switch to lifelong coverage later without new health questions, and the deadline for doing it.
For whole and universal life:
Universal life basics
We’ll go over the coverage amount, who it goes to, and whether it has living benefits. For a look at how the policy is projected to perform over time, your insurance company can send you an updated statement.
Whole life: cash value and loans
We’ll look at how much cash value it has and whether there are any loans against it.
Does Your Policy Help While You’re Still Here?
Many policies, especially older ones, don’t include living benefits. This feature lets you use part of your coverage early if you’re diagnosed with a qualifying critical, chronic, or terminal illness. We’ll tell you whether yours has it and what it covers.
Good to know: using a living benefit lowers what your loved ones receive later. Which illnesses qualify, how much you can use, and any cost vary by policy and insurance company.
Learn more about living benefits →
What You’ll Get
An honest answer, with no pressure and nothing to sign.
- A written summary you keep, whether or not you buy anything: what your policy pays, how long it lasts, what it costs, and who it goes to.
- A straight answer. If your current policy is a good fit, we’ll tell you so.
- Clear options if there’s a gap, such as adding coverage alongside what you already have. The choice is always yours.
- Answers to your questions, like what happens when the term ends or how to update your beneficiaries.
Please keep your current policy.
Don’t cancel or stop paying any policy because of a review. If you ever decide to apply for new coverage, keep your current policy active until the new policy is approved and your coverage has started.
What We’ll Need
Just the paperwork you have. Any of these helps:
- Your policy, or your most recent annual statement from the insurance company
- For coverage through work, your benefits summary or a screenshot of your benefits page
- A rough idea of your mortgage balance, other debts, and who depends on your income
After you book, we’ll reach out to get a copy of your policy before your call, so we can look it over ahead of time. Please don’t email documents that show your Social Security number. Can’t find your policy? Book anyway. We can help you request a copy from your insurance company.
How the Free Review Works
Free, with no obligation.
You don’t have to buy anything, now or later.
- Book a callPick a time online or call us at (858) 283-7575. The review is a short phone call.
- Share your policy before the callAfter you book, we’ll reach out to get a copy of your policy before your call, so we can look it over ahead of time. Your annual statement works too. Please don’t email documents that show your Social Security number.
- We look it overBefore your call, a licensed CBIS agent reads through your policy and notes questions to ask about your situation today.
- Phone call and written summaryOn the phone, we explain what we found in plain words, answer your questions, and give you a written summary to keep. You decide what, if anything, to do next.
Policy Review Questions
Is it really free?
It’s free. If you ever choose to buy a policy through us, the insurance company pays us. The review itself never costs you anything.
Will you try to sell me something?
No pressure. If your policy is a good fit, we’ll tell you so. If we see a gap, we’ll explain your options in plain words, and the choice is yours.
Should I cancel my old policy?
No. Please don’t cancel or stop paying any policy because of a review. Sometimes the answer is “keep what you have.” Switching can cost you in ways that aren’t obvious. A new policy starts a new two-year period when the insurance company can contest a claim, and the suicide exclusion starts over. On whole and universal life, ending a policy can mean surrender charges (fees for ending it early) or losing cash value you’ve built up. A new policy also means a new health review, and your age and health today affect whether you’re offered coverage and what it costs. If you ever apply for new coverage, keep your current policy active until the new policy is approved and your coverage has started. California has rules for replacing a policy, including written notices, and we’ll walk you through them before you decide anything.
Can you review a policy I have through work?
Yes. Coverage through a job often ends when you leave it, and many people don’t know how much they have. Share your benefits summary before the call and we’ll explain what you have, what happens if you change jobs, and whether you could keep it. The window to keep or convert coverage after you leave is often short, about 31 days, so it helps to check before you go.
What kinds of policies can you review?
Any life insurance policy, whether it’s term, whole, or universal life, bought on your own, through another agent, or through work. You don’t need to be a CBIS client.
Do I need to live in San Diego County?
No. We’re based in Santee and help people across California by phone.
Get an honest second look.
CBIS has served San Diego County since 1982. A licensed agent will review your policy with you on a free phone call.
Other questions? Contact us.