Transamerica Trendsetter Term Life: Super vs. LB (2026)
Transamerica Trendsetter is Transamerica's term life insurance line. It comes in two versions: Trendsetter Super, a straightforward level term policy, and Trendsetter LB, which adds living benefits. Living benefits let you access part of your own death benefit early if you get seriously ill. Asurgo is an appointed Transamerica agent and writes Trendsetter regularly.
The Product
What Is Transamerica Trendsetter?
Trendsetter is Transamerica's term life insurance product line. Term life covers you for a set number of years at a locked-in premium. If you pass away during the term, your beneficiaries get the death benefit. If you outlive it, coverage ends. It gives you the most coverage per dollar of any life insurance type.
Trendsetter comes in two versions. Trendsetter Super is the simpler, usually cheaper option with no living benefit riders. Trendsetter LB adds accelerated death benefit riders for chronic, critical, and terminal illness, which let you access part of your own death benefit early if you get seriously ill. Both are fully underwritten.
Trendsetter is the main term product Asurgo writes. We're an appointed Transamerica agent. For the full company picture, including financial strength and complaint data, see our full Transamerica review.
The Core Comparison
Trendsetter Super vs. Trendsetter LB
Trendsetter Super is the simpler version: a level term policy with a locked-in rate and no living benefit riders. Trendsetter LB adds living benefits for an additional cost. Here's how they compare side by side.
| Feature | Trendsetter Super | Trendsetter LB |
|---|---|---|
| Term lengths | 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years (age-dependent caps) | 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years (age-dependent caps) |
| Coverage range | $25,000 to $10,000,000 | $25,000 to $2,000,000 |
| Issue ages | 18 to 80 | 18 to 80 |
| Medical exam | Fully underwritten | Fully underwritten |
| Living benefits | No | Terminal Illness ADB, Chronic Illness ADB, Critical Illness ADB |
| Best for | Maximum coverage per dollar, straightforward needs | Illness protection built into your term policy |
Trendsetter Super: Who It Fits
Super is for someone who wants the most term coverage per dollar. With face amounts up to $10 million and no living benefit rider cost, Super is the cleaner, cheaper option with the full premium going toward your death benefit.
Trendsetter LB: Who It Fits
LB is for someone who wants illness protection built into their term policy. It includes Terminal Illness ADB, Chronic Illness ADB, and Critical Illness ADB riders. The trade-off: LB typically costs more per dollar of face amount than Super, the maximum face amount is $2 million (vs. Super's $10 million), and rider availability and terms vary by state.
Get a Trendsetter quote through Asurgo
Asurgo is an appointed Transamerica agent and an independent brokerage that compares 25+ carriers. See how Trendsetter stacks up against the other term options we quote.
The Differentiator
What Are Living Benefits on Term Life?
Living benefits let you access part of your own death benefit while you're still alive. The technical name is an accelerated death benefit rider: a rider that lets you take out part of your own death benefit early if you get seriously ill, instead of your family waiting until you pass away.
Trendsetter LB includes three accelerated death benefit riders:
- Terminal Illness ADB: A diagnosis of terminal illness with a 12 to 24 month life expectancy. This typically allows you to access the largest portion of the death benefit.
- Critical Illness ADB: A qualifying diagnosis such as heart attack, stroke, major organ transplant, or invasive cancer. Specific conditions and definitions vary by state.
- Chronic Illness ADB: An inability to perform 2 or more activities of daily living (ADLs), or severe cognitive impairment. This rider is designed for long-term care situations.
What Living Benefits Are Not
Living benefits are not health insurance and not free money. Anything you take out reduces what your beneficiaries receive later. If you accelerate $100,000 of a $500,000 policy, your family's death benefit drops to $400,000. The living benefit riders are included at no additional premium cost, but the trade-off is a lower maximum face amount ($2 million vs. Super's $10 million) and a tighter substandard rating cap.
Whether LB is worth it depends on your situation. If you already have strong disability and health coverage, Super's higher face amount ceiling may be more valuable. If you don't, LB fills a real gap.
The Process
Underwriting and Approval Timeline
Trendsetter is fully underwritten. Transamerica reviews your health history, prescription records, and often lab work before issuing a policy. This is different from simplified-issue products like Express Select where you answer health questions and skip the exam.
The process: you submit an application through your Asurgo agent, and Transamerica reviews your medical history, prescription records, and lab work before issuing a policy. Expect the full underwriting process to take longer than simplified-issue products. Your Asurgo agent can give you a realistic timeline based on your specific situation.
Who It's For
Who Trendsetter Fits, and Who Should Compare First
Trendsetter is a solid fit for applicants who want mainstream term coverage from a well-known carrier, with the option to add living benefits.
Trendsetter Fits If
- You want level term coverage for 10 to 30 years with a locked-in premium
- You're comfortable with full underwriting (health review, possible exam)
- You want living benefits built into your term policy (LB)
- You want a carrier with over 100 years of history
Compare First If
- You're outside Trendsetter's issue ages (18 to 80) or coverage bands ($25,000 to $10,000,000)
- Your health conditions might price better with a different carrier's underwriting
- You want the lowest possible term rate and don't need living benefits
- You need coverage faster than full underwriting allows
This is where an independent broker matters. Asurgo quotes Trendsetter and the alternatives side by side. We're appointed with 25+ carriers, so if Trendsetter isn't the best fit, we'll show you what is.
See how Trendsetter compares
Get a Trendsetter quote through Asurgo and compare it against the other term options we quote. We're licensed in all 50 states.
Pricing
Trendsetter Rates
Trendsetter is fully underwritten, so your rate depends on your age, health class, term length, and coverage amount. A published "sample rate" would show what a perfectly healthy applicant in the best health class pays, and most applicants don't land in that class.
Call Asurgo at (855) 380-9555 or submit a quote request. We'll run the Trendsetter illustration for your profile and compare it against the other term carriers we quote. Your real rate, not a marketing number.
For a general sense of how term rates change with age, see our 2026 term life rates by age chart.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Trendsetter Super and Trendsetter LB?
Trendsetter Super is a straightforward level term policy with no living benefit riders. Trendsetter LB adds accelerated death benefit riders for chronic, critical, and terminal illness, which let you access part of your death benefit early if you get seriously ill. The living benefit riders are included at no additional premium, but LB has a lower face amount cap ($2 million vs. $10 million) and tighter substandard rating limits. Both are fully underwritten term products from Transamerica.
Does Transamerica Trendsetter require a medical exam?
Trendsetter is a fully underwritten term product. Transamerica reviews your medical history, prescription records, and lab work before issuing a policy. Expect the full underwriting process to take longer than simplified-issue products. Your Asurgo agent can give you a realistic timeline based on your specific situation.
What are living benefits on term life insurance?
Living benefits let you access part of your own death benefit while you're still alive if you're diagnosed with a qualifying chronic, critical, or terminal illness. The money comes from your policy's face amount, so anything you take out reduces what your beneficiaries receive later. It is not health insurance and not free money. It is a way to use coverage you already own when you need it most.
How long does Trendsetter approval take?
Trendsetter is fully underwritten, so the approval process involves a medical history review, prescription records, and lab work. This takes longer than simplified-issue products. Your Asurgo agent can give you a realistic timeline based on your specific situation.
Is Transamerica Trendsetter a good policy?
Trendsetter is a solid mainstream term life product from a carrier with over 100 years of history. The LB version's living benefits are a genuine differentiator. Whether it's the right policy for you depends on your age, health profile, and how Trendsetter prices against the other term carriers Asurgo quotes. The best way to find out is to get a quote and compare.
Related Pages
Get a Trendsetter Quote Through Asurgo
Asurgo is an appointed Transamerica agent and an independent brokerage that compares 25+ carriers. Get a Trendsetter quote and see how it stacks up against the other term options we quote. We're licensed in all 50 states.
Get a Trendsetter Quote Or call (855) 380-9555
Nicholas Norminton, Licensed Insurance Specialist
Nicholas is a nationally licensed insurance specialist who places Transamerica Trendsetter policies regularly and reviews carrier products based on firsthand underwriting experience. He built Asurgo into an independent brokerage serving clients in all 50 states with access to 25+ carriers.
Sources
NAIC Consumer Insurance Search (complaint index data) · AM Best (financial strength rating).