First, consider how long you want the life insurance to last.
If your need for life insurance will expire in 10, 15, 20 years, then term life insurance is what you want.
If it won't ever expire, and you do not want to "invest the difference" so you can afford to self insure, then you want whole life insurance to provide lifetime protection.
You can contact a local licensed life insurance agent, who can walk you through this process. Anoger option is to compare life insurance rates and plans online from several leading insurance companies to get acquainted with the types of coverage and pricing that may be available to you.
Here's how you can learn more and find out how you may purchase up to $500,000 life insurance policy. Keep in mind, term life insurance costs a lot less than whole life insurance, and may provide protection for up to 20 years, or more.