American General Life Insurance Company is the main issuing company of Corebridge Financial, the former AIG life and retirement business that became fully independent of AIG in 2026. Known for term and universal life sold through independent agents and brokers, and for older policies bought when American General was an AIG brand. Life Insurance Policy Desk is not American General. We are an independent brokerage that helps policyholders of any carrier, and the review costs nothing.
Your policy may be issued under a related name such as American General Life Insurance Company or AIG or Corebridge Financial. The help on this page applies to those policies too.
Looking for American General customer service or a phone number?
Many people who search for American General customer service or an American General life insurance phone number want one of two things: a straight answer about a policy, or coverage like it. Life Insurance Policy Desk is not American General and cannot see or change your account with the company. For a free, independent review of the policy, or to compare American General with other carriers, call a licensed agent at (888) 000-0000.
Shopping for burial or funeral coverage instead? Read American General final expense insurance: what to know.
Why people with American General policies call us
- A premium notice that is higher than expected
- Updating a beneficiary after a marriage, divorce, birth or death
- Finding an old policy, or confirming one is still in force
- Questions about cash value, loans, dividends or surrender
- A missed payment, billing problem or lapse notice
- Deciding whether to keep, change or replace the policy
Specific to American General policies
- Older policies originally issued by companies American General absorbed, such as Franklin Life and Old Line Life
- Universal life policies whose insurance charges rise with age
- Term conversion deadlines stated in the policy
- Correspondence that changed from the AIG name to Corebridge
Policyholders often bought years ago through an agent or a bank and call about premium changes, the company's name change and how to find or update an older policy.
What to have ready before you call
- Your policy number, from a premium notice, annual statement or the policy document
- The insured person's full name and date of birth
- The most recent statement or premium notice, if you have one
No paperwork? That is common with older policies. The insured's name, date of birth and last known address are usually enough to start a search with American General, and our guide to finding a lost life insurance policy covers the other places to look.
Thinking about canceling your American General policy? Read this first
Canceling is usually permanent, and replacing coverage later means new underwriting at an older age. Depending on your policy, one of these options may keep some protection in place:
- Reduced paid-up coverage: stop paying premiums and keep a smaller death benefit funded by the cash value
- A policy loan or partial withdrawal instead of a full surrender
- Using dividends or cash value to cover premiums for a while, where the policy allows it
- Lowering the face amount to bring the premium down
- A 1035 exchange into a different policy, which avoids a taxable event when done correctly
Before you change anything, find out what the policy is worth today, what you would give up, and what replacing it would cost. A licensed agent can lay those numbers out side by side.
How a free independent policy review works
- Call. Tell us what you own and what you want to find out. Ten minutes is usually enough to start.
- Review. We go through the policy with you: coverage amount, premium, cash value, riders, beneficiaries, and how it fits your situation now.
- Options. You get a plain-English summary and your choices, which may simply be to keep the policy as it is. No obligation.
Frequently asked questions about American General policies
How do I find out whether my American General policy is still in force?
Start with your most recent premium notice or annual statement; an active policy keeps generating them. If you have nothing on paper, American General can usually locate a policy from the insured's full name, date of birth and address. We can also help you confirm the policy's status and what it is worth today.
My old policy says Franklin Life or Old Line Life. Who services it now?
Those companies were merged into American General Life Insurance Company, now part of Corebridge Financial, which services the policies under their original terms. The policy number usually stays the same. If you have no recent statement, the insured's name, date of birth and address are usually enough to locate it, and a licensed agent can help with the search.
How do I change the beneficiary on my American General policy?
The policy owner requests a beneficiary change form from American General, completes it with the new beneficiary's full legal name, relationship and date of birth, signs it and returns it. If a beneficiary was named as irrevocable, that person must consent. Keep a copy and ask American General for written confirmation that the change was recorded.
Can I borrow against or cash out my American General policy?
If your American General policy is a permanent policy with cash value, you can usually take a policy loan or a partial withdrawal, and you can surrender the policy for its cash value. Loans accrue interest and reduce the death benefit until repaid, and surrendering ends coverage and can create taxable income. Term policies have no cash value.
Why did my American General premium go up?
Common reasons include a term policy reaching the end of its level period or moving into a new age band, a universal life policy whose cost of insurance has risen, a rider added to the policy, or a change in payment frequency. Your premium notice should show which applies. A policy review can confirm the cause and whether a lower-cost option exists.
Can you take a payment or fix a billing problem on my American General policy?
No. We are independent and cannot access your American General account or take payments on its behalf. We can explain what the notice means, how the grace period works, what happens if the policy lapses and how reinstatement usually works, so you can sort the billing issue out with American General directly and with less stress.
Should I cancel my American General policy?
Only after you know what you would give up. Canceling is usually permanent, replacement coverage costs more at an older age, and permanent policies may have cash value or guarantees you cannot get back. Compare the current policy, the alternatives above and a replacement quote before deciding. A free review puts those numbers side by side.