How Much Optional Life Insurance Do I Need? 
You might want to consider purchasing a private policy instead of the optional life insurance offered by your employer . You may be getting the first $ 50,000 of life insurance at work for free , and the first $ 50,000 is usually a nontaxable benefit . But the amount beyond that , which is called `` optional '' life insurance , does not generally involve those perks . While the price may seem good , most life insurance policies offered through work do not stay that same price , and many end when you leave that job . If you are older or have developed a health condition when your employment ends , you may find that the prices are far higher than you could have locked in through a private policy while you were working . 