The Good
Fortune 500 Company • AAA Ratings from A.M. Best, Moody’s, S&P’s and Fitch • Largest Mutual-Life Insurance Company in the U.S.A. • Several Types of Flexible Life Insurance Plans • Numerous Customer Service Awards WinnerThe Bad
Quote Not Available OnlineOverview
n/aPolicies / Plans 
Basically, the New York Life Insurance Company offers 4 types of life insurance plans:
Term Life Insurance Plan
New York Life Insurance offers convertible term life insurance policies, where customers may choose their own coverage level by paying level guaranteed premiums for 5, 10, 15 and 20 year periods or have the premiums revised annually. Customers may also opt to insure the family (for two adults) under one policy. At the end of the term, customers may renew their coverage at a higher premium without any medical verification. This type of insurance plan can also be converted to a permanent life insurance policy which accumulates cash value and may earn dividends. Thus, this is the ideal plan to meet a young family’s life insurance needs.
Whole Life Insurance Plan
Besides the usual whole life insurance policy where death benefit is guaranteed through lifetime protection, New York Life Insurance offers customers a chance to accumulate cash value and the potential to receive dividends at a level premium. Their Custom Plan is where customers can select how long they would like to pay premiums; and the Modified Premium Plan permits customers pay a lower initial premium for the first five years with premiums increasing thereafter but still remain level.
Universal Life Insurance Plan
This particular insurance plan from New York Life is all about flexibility. Customers choose their own coverage level, payment frequency and amounts (either by increasing premium amount or making lump sum payments) and allows for full customization of policy features to suit individual needs.
Variable Universal Life Insurance Plan
A permanent life insurance plan designed for investment-minded individuals that can potentially accumulate more cash value than offered by most fixed insurance products albeit still providing death benefits in exchange for premium payments. However, this carries some risk as do all investment-linked products where principal funds depend on market risk and thus will fluctuate in value.
Pricing / Rates 
Yearly premiums can start from as low as US$ 450 for a simple Term Life Insurance Plan for adults to at least US$ 10,000 a year for Universal Life Insurance Plan for an adult 18 years and above. The premiums will be subject to such factors as age, gender and annual income. However, since New York Life Insurance plans are flexible, the range of premiums will suit most budgets and needs.
Getting A Quote
Quotes can only be obtained directly from New York Life Insurance agents. Since their network in the U.S.A. (and internationally) is a wide one, this should not be too difficult. However, their quotes cannot be obtained online and thus could be a hindrance to those who are pressed for time.
Customer Service
The New York Life Insurance Company has recently won First Place in the insurance industry for Customer Loyalty Engagement for 2011. Also, for the 55th consecutive year, they have emerged as the leader for the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), a leading international association for financial professionals reflecting that New York Life agents are ethical, trusted and knowledgeable, committed to serving their clients with the highest standards at all times.
Summary
Based on the factors stated, New York Life Insurance scored what it did primarily because their quotes are not conveniently available. Aside from that, they are indeed a leading insurance company.