What type of life insurance provides pure death protection?

Term life insurance is designed specifically to provide pure death protection for a specified period or "term." Unlike whole life, universal life, or variable life insurance, which combine an investment component with life coverage, term life focuses solely on providing a death benefit to the designated beneficiaries if the insured passes away during the policy term.

Because term life does not accumulate cash value or provide permanent coverage, it is considered "pure" insurance. This structure often makes it more affordable than other life insurance types, as the premiums are typically lower for the same coverage amount compared to policies that include savings or investment elements.

Whole life, universal life, and variable life policies provide benefits that include saving or investment components, which means they serve broader purposes beyond just providing a death benefit. This distinction highlights that term life is purely about death protection without additional financial features.