It’s 3am. The baby finally fell asleep. And that thought is back again.
“I really need to figure out life insurance.” You’ve been saying it since the pregnancy test. Maybe since the baby shower. Definitely since you brought them home. Life got busy. We get it. Let’s make this the easiest thing you do all week.
Why this matters now more than ever
Before the baby, life insurance felt abstract. Something your parents had, maybe. Something you’d “get around to.” But now there’s a tiny human who depends on you for literally everything — food, shelter, the ability to grow up without financial hardship.
Life insurance isn’t about you anymore. It’s about making sure that if something unexpected happens, your child’s life doesn’t get harder than it already would be. It’s about keeping the house. Paying for daycare. Making sure your partner doesn’t have to choose between grieving and working three jobs.
What you probably need (and it’s simpler than you think)
The insurance industry loves making things complicated. Here’s the version for someone running on four hours of sleep:
Term life insurance
This is what most new parents need. It covers you for a specific period — usually 20 or 30 years. By the time it expires, your kids are grown, the mortgage is paid down, and your financial picture looks completely different. It’s straightforward, affordable, and does exactly what you need right now.
How much coverage?
A common starting point is 10–12 times your annual income. If you earn $75,000, that’s $750,000 to $900,000 in coverage. That sounds like a lot, but think about it: that needs to replace your income for years, cover childcare, potentially pay off a mortgage, and fund your child’s education. The number makes more sense when you break it down.
Both parents need it
Even if one parent stays home, their contribution has enormous financial value. Childcare, household management, meal preparation — replacing those costs between $30,000 and $60,000 per year. A stay-at-home parent needs coverage too.
It costs less than your diapers
A healthy 30-year-old can typically get a $500,000, 20-year term policy for $25–$35 per month. That’s less than a single box of diapers per week. Less than that streaming service you forgot to cancel.
And here’s the thing most people don’t realize: the younger and healthier you are when you apply, the cheaper it is. Every year you wait, the price goes up. That 3am thought you keep having? Acting on it now literally saves you money.
Your employer’s plan probably isn’t enough
“Oh, I have life insurance through work.” We hear this constantly. And yes, employer-provided life insurance is great — but it’s usually one or two times your salary. If you make $70,000, that’s $70,000–$140,000 in coverage.
That sounds like a lot of money until you think about what it actually covers. A year or two of lost income. Maybe some of the mortgage. It’s not going to fund 18 years of raising a child.
Two more problems with employer coverage:
- It disappears when you leave. Change jobs, get laid off, or go part-time after the baby — and your coverage vanishes. Right when your family needs it most.
- You can’t take it with you. Your own term policy follows you regardless of where you work. It’s yours, and it stays in place no matter what happens with your career.
You don’t need to have it all figured out
You don’t need to know the difference between term and whole life. You don’t need to have a number in mind. You don’t even need to know the right questions to ask.
That’s what we built Covian for. A private conversation that walks you through what matters for your specific situation — your income, your family, your goals. No phone calls, no one trying to upsell you, no pressure to buy anything.
Just clear answers so you can finally cross this off your list and get back to what matters. Like sleeping. Or trying to.
You’ve been meaning to do this.
It takes about 10 minutes. No account required. No phone number. Just a guided process that helps you understand what your family needs — on your terms, on your schedule.
Start the conversationNo calls · No pressure · No commitment