Insurance Products and Services |
Athena Universal LifeSM
Permanent Life Insurance
Premium Flexibility
No Lapse Guarantee Rider
Potential Cash Value Accumulation
Choice of Two Death Benefit Options
This page highlights some of the features and benefits of this product. For more complete details, please download the product fact card, above.
- Key Features
- Next Steps
Permanent Life Insurance Protection |
Athena Universal Life (Athena ULSM) is flexible premium, universal life insurance policy that offers both the opportunity for lifetime insurance protection with a No Lapse Guarantee (NLG) Rider automatically included1 and the potential accumulation of cash value if the policy is funded appropriately. The No Lapse Guarantee Rider, which has no cost to the policyowner, guarantees that your policy will not terminate before a certain date if certain specified amounts of premium are paid and any policy loan plus accrued loan interest do not exceed the Policy Account Value. The length of your policy's guarantee period will range from 5 to 40 years, depending on the Insured's age when we issue the policy. |
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Interest Rate and Non-Guaranteed Interest Rate Bonus |
The interest rate that AXA Equitable credits to the Athena ULSM Policy Account Value is declared periodically. | |
Premium Flexibility |
Premium payments are flexible. After the initial payment, you can choose the amount and timing of your premium payments (subject to certain minimums and maximums). | |
Access to Cash Values2 |
You can access your cash value, through loans and withdrawals, potentially free of current income tax as long as the policy stays in force until the Insured’s death. A loan may be taken anytime after issue. There is a minimum loan amount of $500. |
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Death Benefit Options |
Athena ULSM has two death benefit options:
Under either option, a higher death benefit may apply if the value in the policy account reaches a certain level relative to the Face Amount. Changes to the death benefit option are available at no charge after the second policy year. |
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Choice of Riders3 |
Depending on your current or anticipated future needs, you can tailor your Athena ULSM policy by taking advantage of a selection of policy riders that are available for an additional cost. |
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1 The NLG Rider is not included with policies that elect the Return of Premium Death Benefit Rider. In Illinois, the NLG Rider is called the "Death Benefit Protection Rider."
2 Under current federal tax rules, you generally may take income-tax-free partial withdrawals under a life insurance policy that is not a Modified Endowment Contract (MEC), up to your basis in the contract. Additional amounts are includible in income. The IRS places a limit on how much money can go into life insurance premiums for the policy and how quickly such premiums can be paid in order for the policy to retain all of its tax benefits. If certain limits are exceeded, an MEC results. MEC policyholders may be subject to taxes on distributions on an income-first basis, that is, to the extent there is gain in the policy and penalties on any taxable amount if they are not 59½ or older. Loans taken will be free of current income tax as long as the policy remains in effect until the insured’s death, does not lapse, and is not an MEC.
Please note that outstanding loans accrue interest. Income-tax-free treatment also assumes the loan will eventually be satisfied from income-tax-free death benefit proceeds. Loans and withdrawals reduce the policy’s cash value and death benefit and increase the chance that the policy may lapse. If the policy lapses, is surrendered or becomes an MEC, the loan balance at such time would generally be viewed as distributed and taxable under the general rules for distribution of policy cash values. In addition, withdrawals, policy loans and any accrued loan interest may cause your policy to lapse even if you are in a period of coverage under the No Lapse Gurantee Rider. Speak to your financial professional before taking any withdrawals or policy loans.
3 All of the riders are subject to the terms and conditions of the rider. Not all riders may be available in all jurisdictions. Some states may vary the terms and conditions. There may be an additional charge associated with obtaining certain riders. Some riders may not be available in combination with other riders and/or policy features.
The material is not a complete description of all the material provisions of the Athena Universal LifeSM policy. Please refer to the product brochure and the actual policy for more complete information.
All guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company.
Please be advised that this content is based on our general understanding of federal income tax rules for U.S. individuals and is not intended as legal or tax advice. Accordingly, any tax information provided in this content is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The tax information was written to support the promotion or marketing of the transaction(s) or matter(s) addressed and you should seek advice based on your particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
Athena ULSM is a flexible premium universal life insurance policy. These policies have limitations. Certain types of policies, features and benefits may not be available in all jurisdictions or may be different. For costs and complete details of coverage, contact your financial professional.
Athena Universal LifeSM and Athena ULSM are service marks of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10104.
Athena ULSM is issued by AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (AXA Equitable), New York, NY.
Policy form #09 – 400
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, (212) 554-1234
GE-48619 (3/09)
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