How should long-distance couples or couples living apart handle life insurance?

Couples who live apart — whether due to military deployment, work assignments, immigration status, or personal arrangements — face practical life insurance questions around state of residence, insurable interest, and beneficiary documentation.

State of residence matters for underwriting and policy issuance. Policies are typically issued in the applicant's state of residence. If one partner lives in Nevada and one lives in another state, each may need to work with an agent licensed in their respective state.

Insurable interest between legally married couples is presumed regardless of where they live. For unmarried couples living apart, establishing insurable interest requires documenting financial interdependence — shared accounts, financial support, or co-owned assets.

For couples where one partner is deployed abroad (military) or working internationally, existing in-force policies typically remain valid worldwide. Applying for new coverage from abroad can be more complex — the application is generally best submitted while the applicant is present in their state of residence.

Beneficiary designations for couples living apart should be reviewed carefully to ensure they reflect the correct legal names and addresses. Agents in our network can help partners in different states or countries structure coverage through A-rated (A.M. Best) carriers appropriately.