⚠️ Group Life Conversion Window: When a group life insurance plan ends, employees typically have 31 days to convert their group coverage to an individual policy — without a medical exam. This window is very short. If you had Spirit group life insurance, act now.
What Happened to Spirit Airlines Group Life Insurance
Spirit Airlines provided group life insurance as part of its employee benefits package — typically 1–2× annual salary in basic coverage, with options for supplemental coverage. When Spirit ceased operations and terminated its employee benefits in January 2025, this group life coverage ended for all employees.
Your Two Paths: Conversion vs. New Policy
| Option | How It Works | Medical Exam | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group-to-Individual Conversion | Convert existing Spirit group coverage to individual whole life within 31 days | Not required | Employees with health conditions who might not qualify otherwise |
| New Individual Term Policy | Apply for a new term policy with competitive rates | Usually required (or accelerated UW) | Healthy employees — much better rates and coverage |
| Portability (if available) | Keep group term coverage at group rates for limited time | Not required | Short-term bridge only |
Why a New Term Policy Is Usually Better Than Conversion
Group-to-individual conversions typically convert to whole life insurance at expensive premiums. For a healthy former Spirit employee, a new term life policy almost always provides:
- Significantly lower monthly premiums
- Much higher coverage amounts
- A fixed rate locked in for 20–30 years
- Portability — it's yours regardless of future employment
Sample Term Life Rates: Former Spirit Employee, Healthy
| Age | Coverage | 20-Year Term (Male) | 20-Year Term (Female) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | $500K | ~$18/mo | ~$15/mo |
| 32 | $500K | ~$22/mo | ~$17/mo |
| 38 | $500K | ~$30/mo | ~$24/mo |
| 44 | $500K | ~$55/mo | ~$42/mo |
| 50 | $500K | ~$95/mo | ~$70/mo |
Don't leave your family exposed: The average Spirit Airlines employee supported a household. A $500K–$1M term policy costs less than a streaming subscription for most Spirit employees under 40. Lock in your rate while you're still young and healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Spirit Airlines group life insurance terminated when the company ceased operations and ended its employee benefits in January 2025. Employees who had basic or supplemental group life coverage through Spirit are no longer covered and need to obtain individual policies.
Group life insurance from Spirit may have a conversion privilege allowing you to convert to an individual whole life policy within 31 days — without a medical exam. However, conversion rates are typically expensive. For healthy employees, a new individual term policy will usually provide better coverage at lower cost.
Not necessarily. Many carriers offer accelerated underwriting that approves healthy applicants without a paramedical exam in hours. Healthy former Spirit employees can often get $500K–$2M in coverage with just a questionnaire and database check. A licensed broker can identify which carriers are most likely to approve you quickly.
A common formula: 10–12× annual income + outstanding mortgage + other debts. For a Spirit gate agent earning $45K with a $200K mortgage, that suggests $650K–$740K in coverage. For a Spirit pilot earning $120K with a $400K mortgage, the number is $1.6M–$1.8M. A broker can help calculate the right amount.