Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) today introduced Prudential Protection IUL, the newest indexed universal life insurance policy from its Individual Life Insurance (ILI) business. Protection IUL delivers a lifelong death benefit, with the flexibility to access cash value over time for goals such as covering unexpected expenses or addressing future health-related needs.
The launch comes at a time when more Americans are rethinking what life insurance can do for them. According to the 2026 Insurance Barometer Study from LIMRA and Life Happens, 74 million American adults say they need life insurance and another 24 million say they need more coverage than they currently have. At the same time, 40% of consumers say they want a policy that does more, including features tied to retirement income, customization, and self-directed changes over time. Protection IUL is designed to help meet that demand.
“What sets Protection IUL apart is the flexibility customers get while they are still living,” said Salene Hitchcock-Gear, president, Individual Life Insurance at Prudential. “Our BenefitAccess Rider, for example, gives people access to a portion of the death benefit if they become chronically or terminally ill, with no restrictions on how the money is used.”
At its core, Protection IUL is built around a lifelong death benefit that beneficiaries can use to manage both life’s expected and unexpected expenses. Customers can also build cash value over time through indexed accounts linked to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100, or through a fixed account that earns a declared interest rate. A 0% floor on the indexed accounts protects cash value from negative market returns, and a dialable no-lapse guarantee can be set for up to lifetime coverage when premium requirements are met.
“Life insurance is one of the most important financial decisions a family will ever make, and our role is to make sure that decision continues to pay off long after the policy is signed,” added Hitchcock-Gear. “Protection IUL reflects how we are evolving our portfolio to keep pace with what customers and financial professionals want from us.”
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with approximately $1.6 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees help make lives better and create financial opportunity for more people by expanding access to investing, insurance, and retirement security. Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise, and innovation for over 150 years. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.
Prudential Protection IUL is issued by Pruco Life Insurance Company and, in New York, by Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, both Prudential Financial companies located in Newark, NJ (ICC26-IULPR, ICC26-IULPR-CD, IULPR-2026, IULPR-CD-2026).
The S&P 500® Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“SPDJI”) and has been licensed for use by The Prudential Insurance Company of America for itself and affiliates including Pruco Life Insurance Company and Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey (collectively “Pruco Life”). Standard & Poor’s®, S&P®, and S&P 500® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by Pruco Life. Pruco Life’s products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, or their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of purchasing such product(s), nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the S&P 500® Index. S&P 500® index values are exclusive of dividends.
Nasdaq®, Nasdaq-100®, and Nasdaq-100 Index® are registered trademarks of Nasdaq, Inc. (which with its affiliates is referred to as the “Corporations”) and are licensed for use by The Prudential Insurance Company of America for itself and affiliates. The product(s) have not been passed on by the Corporations as to their legality or suitability. The product(s) are not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations.
The Corporations make no warranties and bear no liability with respect to the product(s).
The BenefitAccess Rider is available for an extra premium. Additional underwriting requirements and limits may also apply. Receiving benefits under the terms of the rider will reduce and may eliminate the death benefit. ICC18 VL 145 B6-2018 or VL 145 B6-2018.
Benefits paid under the BenefitAccess Rider are intended to be treated for federal tax purposes as accelerated life insurance death benefits under IRC §101(g)(1)(b). Tax laws related to the receipt of accelerated death benefits are complex, and benefits may be taxable in certain circumstances. Receipt of benefits may affect eligibility for public assistance programs such as Medicaid. Accelerated benefits paid under the terms of the Terminal Illness portion of the rider are subject to a $150 processing fee ($100 in Florida). Please consult your tax and legal advisors before initiating a claim.
To qualify for chronic illness benefits, you (the insured) must be certified as chronically ill by a licensed health care practitioner and not be expected to recover from the condition. To qualify for terminal illness benefits, you must be certified as terminally ill by a licensed physician. Chronic illness claims will require recertification by a licensed health care practitioner. Other terms and conditions may apply. This rider is not Long-Term Care (LTC) insurance, and it is not intended to replace LTC. The rider may not cover all of the costs associated with chronic or terminal illness. It is a life insurance accelerated death benefit rider and is generally not subject to health insurance requirements. The availability of the rider as well as terms and conditions may vary by state.
This material is being provided for informational or educational purposes only and does not take into account the investment objectives or financial situation of any clients or prospective clients. The information is not intended as investment advice and is not a recommendation about managing or investing a client’s retirement savings. Clients seeking information about their particular investment needs should contact a financial professional.
Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.
© 2026 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities.
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