Actuarially speaking, most whole-life policies are actually endowment
at age 95 or 100. That is, they are based on life tables whose oldest
age is 95 or 100. So, if you live to that age, you can actually
collect your "whole life" insurance at that time while still alive. Of
course, most insurance companies are willing to keep the endowment
proceeds (usually at a nominal rate of interest) until applied for by
your beneficiaries after your death.
Verify that your beneficiaries are still alive.
Izzy Cohen (seriously), CLU, FLMI
ex-actuarial analyst, Gulf Life Insurance Co.