How Tavenza calculates its estimates
Every Tavenza calculator runs entirely in your browser using authoritative, published average-rate data — never invented figures. Results are estimates, not quotes, and not insurance, legal or financial advice. Your actual price always depends on the carrier and underwriting.
Life insurance needs
The DIME method (Debt, Income, Mortgage, Education), minus existing coverage and earmarked savings, with a 10–12× income cross-check. Open calculator
Term life premiums
Published average monthly rates for a $500k/20-year policy by age, gender and tobacco use, scaled by coverage amount and term length. Open calculator
Car insurance cost
2026 average annual premiums by state for a standard driver profile, adjusted by an age factor. Open calculator
Home & renters insurance
2026 average premiums by state, scaled by dwelling or personal-property coverage. Open calculator
ACA health subsidy
2025 federal poverty levels and the 2026 applicable-percentage schedule against an age-rated benchmark Silver premium. The enhanced subsidies expired for 2026, so the 400%-of-poverty cliff applies. Open calculator
Disability insurance
Income replacement at the typical ~60%-of-gross individual-policy cap, less existing coverage. Open calculator
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute — How much life insurance do I need? (DIME method explainer) (2025)
- NerdWallet — How Much Life Insurance Do I Need? (DIME method) (2025)
- MoneyGeek — Life Insurance Cost: 2026 Average Rates by Age & Policy (2026)
- Policygenius — Term Life Insurance Rates ($500K policies) (2024)
- NerdWallet — Average Life Insurance Rates (data via Quotacy/LifeStein) (2026)
- MoneyGeek — Car Insurance Rates by State: Average Cost in 2026 (2026)
- MoneyGeek — Average Car Insurance Rates by Age and Gender (2026) (2026)
- NerdWallet — How Much Is Homeowners Insurance? Average 2026 Rates (2026)
- NAIC / Insurance Information Institute — Facts + Statistics: Homeowners and renters insurance (NAIC HO-4, 2022 data) (2022)
- NerdWallet — The Average Renters Insurance Cost for 2026 (2026)
- IRS — Rev. Proc. 2025-25 — 2026 Premium Tax Credit applicable percentages (IRB 2025-32) (2025)
- HHS / ASPE — 2025 HHS Poverty Guidelines (used for 2026 marketplace coverage) (2025)
- KFF — Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator & 2026 benchmark premium analysis (2025)
- CMS / CCIIO — Final Guidance Regarding Age Curves and State Reporting (default standard age curve) (2016)
- Insurance Information Institute — Disability insurance — how much income replacement you need (2025)
- Council for Disability Awareness — Individual disability insurance typically replaces ~60% of gross income (2024)
Compiled by Colson (Founder & insurance-data researcher, ColsonSuperApps LLC). Last updated June 13, 2026. Figures are checked against the cited primary sources before publishing — see our editorial policy for our sourcing, review and corrections standards.