Yes, it's very easy to compare rates. I have the rates of every company on my computer, and it is as simple as a click of the mouse.
Also, dgoldenz is incorrect that John Hancock has been priced lower than mutual companies for years. 2 mutual companies, Mass Mutual and Guardian--- have better pricing than John Hancock's current rates pre rate increase. Now that John Hancock is increasing its pricing structure, Mass Mutual and Guardian will be significantly less expensive than John Hancock. The only mutual company that was priced higher than John Hancock was Northwestern. John Hancock really hasn't had tremendous pricing since 2000-2002. Genworth is the one company that has had competitive pricing consistantly for the past decade.
John Hancock is revising its pricing on policies opting for 5% compound benefit increases due to the low interest rate environment and the reserve requirements.
It will be interesting to see how Genworth, Mass Mutual, and Guardian react to Hancock's move over the next 2-4 years. Met Life also changed it's pricing on policies including 5% compound increases 1 year ago. So the trend is going in this direction.
It will be also interesting to see how the brokers react because mutual companies like Guardian and Mass Mutual do not pay as high of a commission as companies like Genworth and John Hancock. Genworth of course should beenfit with the brokers, but if consumers are looking to be with A+/A++ companies, Guardian and Mass Mutual should see business pick up. If the brokers, of course, want to take a commission hit.