rpenmanparker 

Once they are into wealth distribution (spendiing) rather than the earlier wealth accumulation (earning and saving), many folks find life insurance unnecessary. In fact either Mrs. rpen or myself will be better fixed financially if/when we find ourselves alone. Just a fact of life. I would urge folks with life insurance policies after retirement age to investigate the value of using them to provide more income while alive. Anyone who watches any cable news TV these days should know that policies can be sold for immediate income. One exception, of course, is when life insurance would replace a pension annuity when the insured dies. Complicated issues.