Life insurance can help your family cover final expenses, education fees, lost income, or any other financial need.
Below, you’ll find our pick of the best life insurance companies for October 2022. We’ve mentioned their distinctions, along with the various policies and premiums provided.
Reading: What are the best term life insurance companies
our top picks for the best life insurance companies
- grant – the best life insurance without exam
- ethos: the best for guaranteed coverage
- policygenius: the best broker online
- haven life: the best term life insurance
- ladder: best for flexible coverage
- state farm: the best for customer satisfaction and stability
- new york life: the best for whole life insurance
- Across the Country: Best for Discount Packages
- northwestern mutual – best for policy customization
- Simplified Subject: Simplified Subject policies require you to answer questions about your health and medical history, but medical exams are not required.
- Guaranteed Issue: With guaranteed issue policies, you cannot be denied based on your health or medical history.
- Fully Underwritten: Fully underwritten policies require medical exams and blood tests.
- The death benefit, also called face value, refers to the lump sum of money the insurer agrees to pay to designated beneficiaries upon the policyholder’s death.
- premiums are payments made by the policyholder to the insurer in exchange for the policy. Life insurance premiums are determined by the projected life expectancy of the insured. High-risk individuals, or those who purchase higher amounts of death benefits or a permanent life insurance policy, typically pay higher premiums.
- as a savings account in which cash is accumulated tax-deferred, and which the insured can normally access during his life. Some policies may restrict withdrawals, depending on how the withdrawn money will be used.
- Cash value can also be used to cover premiums or purchase additional coverage.
- what is term life insurance? it has a predetermined duration (typically 10, 15 or 20 years) and then expires
- what is whole life insurance? a policy that covers the insured for their entire life, as long as the premiums are paid. includes a guaranteed cash value component and fixed monthly premiums
- what is universal life insurance? similar to whole life, it protects the insured for the duration and life as long as premiums are paid, and includes a value component cash. the cash value component of this policy is not guaranteed and will fluctuate with the market
- what is no-exam life insurance? a policy that does not require a medical exam for approval. is a good option for those with pre-existing medical conditions who will have difficulty getting approved for a traditional underwriting policy.
- the ability to pay claims on time
- customer experience and product offerings
- customer satisfaction and ratings reported on j.d. the last usa power uu. life insurance satisfaction study and the best morning financial strength ratings
- the number of complaints regarding your individual life insurance policies, according to data from the national insurance association (naic)
- the selection of insurance plans and related products
- subscription simplicity
- grant – the best life insurance without exam
- ethos: the best for guaranteed coverage
- policygenius: the best broker online
- haven life: the best term life insurance
- ladder: best for flexible coverage
- state farm: the best for customer satisfaction and stability
- new york life: the best for whole life insurance
- Across the Country: Best for Discount Packages
- northwestern mutual – best for policy customization
reviews of the best life insurance companies
Why We Chose You: Writes term life insurance faster and easier than most companies, and offers an unusually high death benefit for policies that don’t require an exam doctor.
bestow is our choice for people who want life insurance coverage but don’t want to go through the hassle of a medical exam. The company sells term insurance policies (and only those), so you can apply online and buy a policy without visiting a doctor or taking tests like blood tests. you can get up to $1.5 million in coverage, a higher maximum than other no-exam policies.
The company uses your personal information and responses about your medical history, hobbies and lifestyle to determine your eligibility for life insurance and your rates. granting claims you can get a quote and buy a policy in a matter of minutes, all online.
The policies granted are issued by one of the best insurance companies in North America for life and health insurance. Additionally, Grant Life Insurance is now integrated into the Lemonade app and website. grant also offers a whole library of useful information.
read full review>>>
why we chose it: ethos stands out as a life insurance provider to accommodate a wide range of potential applicants, including those who may have had trouble qualifying for insurance in the past like older people. . plus, potential clients can receive a quote within minutes without the need to speak to an insurance agent.
ethos offers three types of subscription:
ethos uses the simplified issue and fully insured methodology for its term policies, and guaranteed issue underwriting for its whole life insurance policies (no companies we know of offer term policies with guaranteed coverage).
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Guaranteed Issue Whole Life is available to people ages 65-85. Applicants can get instant approval for up to $25,000 of coverage, regardless of their medical history.
Most policies include an accelerated death benefit rider that allows policyholders to take advantage of a portion of their benefits if they are diagnosed with a terminal illness.
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Why We Chose You: As a complete online life insurance marketplace, policygenius offers one-stop access to life insurance products from a wide range of partners, including some of the best insurance companies in the world. life insurance mentioned in our list. Unlike other comparison sites, this one promises not to sell your information to third parties.
policygenius is ranked #1 as the best online life insurance comparison tool and broker for its successful one-stop-shop provision from a variety of insurers. PolicyGenius partners include names like AIG, Banner Life, Brighthouse, John Hancock, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Principal, Protectial, Prudential, SBL, and Transamerica.
This online marketplace also offers an extensive library of educational resources for those new to life insurance, including life insurance tips for people suffering from depression and diabetes. Along with its wide range of coverage options, such as term or permanent coverage policies, these resources make policygenius a standout option for comparing life insurance quotes.
If you need help choosing the right policy or coverage amount, policygenius agents can provide personalized assistance. They’re paid by salary rather than commission, the company says, so they’re not incentivized to oversell or direct you to certain products that can earn them a higher commission.
read full review>>>
Why We Chose It: Haven Life offers an unusually wide variety of term life insurance options, including plans with especially high death benefits. Additional benefits, such as online services to create a will, are also available.
haven life gets our nod for best term insurance coverage due to its impressive variety (10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years) of policy terms, along with coverage amounts ranging from $100,000 to $3 million.
Haven Life offers two types of term life insurance policies: Haven Term and Haven Simple. the term haven includes haven life plus, a rider that provides access to an online service for developing a will or trust, fitness and sleep tracking apps, and an online storage vault for important documents.
Applicants under the age of 64 can get up to $3 million of coverage through the refugee period. Haven Simple is only available to applicants ages 20-55 and includes the Accelerated Death Benefit Rider.
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Why We Chose It: True to its name, the ladder’s appeal is its adjustability. As your needs change, you can decrease or request an increase in your coverage. Plus, your premiums start at just $5 a month, so you can buy a policy even if you’re on a tight budget.
despite writing term policies only for relatively young applicants, ladder is the best life insurance company with a flexible option we have found. uses a simple three-step online application and offers affordable policies starting at $5/month. The company also doesn’t charge cancellation fees, which means you can cancel your coverage at any time, with no strings attached.
See also: How long can you go without health insurance between jobs
Another attractive feature of ladder is that, unlike other insurers, it allows policyholders to change their coverage amount online at any time, with corresponding changes in premiums, of course. this benefit can help policyholders keep an affordable policy at all times, and can be especially attractive to those concerned about possible changes in their financial circumstances in the future.
*Based on a 20-year-old female with a preferred-plus rating for a $100,000 policy with a 10-year term.
read full review>>>
Why We Chose You: If a satisfying consumer experience is paramount to you, state farm should be a leading choice. has an excellent reputation for customer service, along with an outstanding track record of financial stability.
state farm is a leading insurance company and our choice as the best insurer for customer satisfaction and reliability. In 2021, it was ranked by j.d. power as the top life insurance company based on consumer responses. outperformed 21 other life insurance companies based on product offerings, communication, pricing, and customer interactions.
The company has an a++ (superior) rating from am best, the highest possible rating, indicating that it is very financially stable. and state farm received fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
state farm sells term, whole and universal life insurance policies. Although most of your plans require medical exams, you do have some simplified issuance options.
read full review>>>
Why We Chose You: New York life insurance options include term and permanent life insurance policies. their term policies include a conversion option if you decide you want permanent coverage later. it also underwrites the aarp life insurance program.
Although they also sell term life insurance, New York Life is the best company for people looking for a permanent life insurance policy, including whole life. (Permanent life insurance is more expensive but builds a cash value in addition to your death benefit.) The company offers multiple permanent options, including universal and variable universal life insurance plans. it also has several optional riders you can add to plans to customize your coverage.
new york life has a strong reputation, and because it is a mutual insurance company, policyholders own a portion of the company’s stock. Depending on the type of policy you have, you may be eligible to receive dividends.
however, new york life does not allow customers to obtain quotes online. for details on their policies and fees, you must work with an agent.
read full review>>>
Why We Chose: It’s relatively rare to get a reduction in your life insurance rates by combining it with other types of coverage offered by a company, but such discounts are offered across the country. writes term, whole life, and universal policies, and has strong customer satisfaction and financial stability ratings.
Nationwide is a leading insurance company that is well regarded by third parties such as AM Best, which rates financial stability, and J.D. power, which scores customer satisfaction. offers multiple life insurance options, including term, whole, and universal life coverage. It also has several optional riders that you can use to tailor your policy to your needs.
Although nationwide policies generally must be purchased through an agent, the company has one important advantage over other companies: It offers a multi-policy discount when you bundle life insurance with home insurance and insurance. automobile, which makes your premiums more affordable.
read full review>>>
Why We Chose You: Insurance riders allow you to get coverage for your loved ones, access your benefits in special circumstances, or even waive your premiums if you get sick. northwestern mutual has more optional riders available than most insurers, allowing you to customize your policy to your liking.
Like most insurers, Northwestern Mutual offers a wide range of life insurance types, including term, whole, universal and variable universal life insurance. its distinction in its long list of riders that, when added to your policy, allow you to expand and customize your coverage to meet your unique needs.
As a mutual company, Northwestern Mutual also pays dividends to policyholders. if you purchase insurance through the company, you may be eligible for annual dividend payments.
northwestern mutual is a reputable company that often ranks near the top of industry rankings. was third out of 21 companies in the j.d. energy 2021 usa uu. study of individual life insurance, and has historically received fewer complaints than is typical for a company of its size.
read full review>>>
other life insurance companies we consider
We evaluate life insurance companies based on customer service, product offerings, simplicity of underwriting, ability to pay claims on time, and high ratings.
The following companies have competitive bids, but are not part of our top picks because they didn’t excel at any of our requirements.
lemonade
lemonade offers term life insurance without a medical exam. customers can complete the full online application in about five minutes and purchase policies from 10 to 30 years with coverage of up to 1.5 million. Policyholders must download the Lemonade mobile app to manage their policy, submit claims, and access customer service.
See also: How to claim on life insurance – Confused.com
The company is not part of our major insurers due to its limited insurance offerings and the lack of rider and policy information on its website.
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sproutt is a life insurance broker connecting customers with companies offering No Exam, Guaranteed Issue, Universal and Whole Life policies. the company uses the “five pillars for a better life” (movement, sleep, nutrition, balance and emotional health) to provide personalized policies and link clients with an insurance broker.
sproutt didn’t make our top list because their quality of life subscription tends to benefit a healthy, younger population (ages 30-45). In addition, the company’s website lacks information on insurance coverage, riders, and term options.
health IQ
health iq partners with more than 25 national insurers to offer term life insurance for people with a healthy lifestyle. customers can get quotes online but have to purchase coverage through an agent. terms, policies, and riders vary by insurance provider. this company is not on our top list due to their limited online service and lack of information on their website.
massmutual
massmutual’s insurance portfolio includes term and permanent life insurance, including a term life policy that can be purchased online. clients can also convert their term life insurance to a permanent policy without a medical exam.
massmutual introduces a life insurance calculator to help prospective customers assess their insurance needs. this company is not on our top list because their policies have few or no optional clauses.
guardian of life
The guardian life insurance portfolio includes term, whole and universal life policies. Those interested in a term life policy can get a quote online at Guardian Life’s website, but must contact an agent or provider to purchase any policy or get quotes for permanent life insurance.
jd power’s below average guardian rating and limited information on policies and passenger offerings kept it off our top list.
united states
usaa offers term life policies starting at $12 a month. customers can access online quotes for term and permanent policies. Although it was not included in the latest JD Power study or rated by rating agencies, it has a low complaint ratio of 0.11 and a strong reputation in the insurance industry. it’s not part of our main list because it’s only available to military members and their families.
omaha mutual fund
mutual of omaha stands out as one of the few companies on this list that offers online quotes for whole life and term life insurance policies. however, this company did not make our top list because their premiums are higher than the industry average for healthy and/or older applicants. application and processing times are also slower than other insurance providers.
mutual freedom
liberty mutual insurance offerings include whole life and term life policies. Customers can file claims by phone, online, or through Liberty Mutual’s mobile app. This company is not one of our top life insurance carriers, in part because it lacks detailed policy information and does not offer a variety of term insurance options.
life insurance guide
We created this life insurance guide to answer questions related to life insurance, its different types of policies, and policy options to help you select the best life insurance policy.
what is life insurance?
Life insurance is a contract between the policyholder and an insurer, in which the latter agrees to pay an amount of money to the beneficiary of the life insurance upon his death. This sum of money, known as the death benefit, is financed by the premium payments made by the insured throughout his life.
how does life insurance work?
Life insurance is intended to protect dependents and loved ones from financial hardship following the death of the primary breadwinner. however, life insurance is not exclusively available to adults and seniors. Many companies also offer life insurance for children, which can cover any expenses in the event of death, help with future insurability, and provide financial support through the cash value component of the policy. The life insurance experts at money have also put together a list of the best life insurance for seniors and the best life insurance for young adults.
In its most basic form, life insurance has two main components, a death benefit and a premium.
Permanent and whole life insurance policies also include a cash value component that can serve two functions:
It is important to note that the cash value is a living benefit that remains with the insurance company when the policyholder dies. any outstanding loans will reduce the policy’s death benefit.
what are the different types of life insurance?
what is the difference between term, whole and universal life insurance policies?
Both whole and universal are considered permanent life insurance policies, meaning they can last a person’s lifetime. If you’re not sure which is best for you, check out our in-depth look at term and whole life insurance.
Most frequent causes of death
The life expectancy of a person born in 2020 was 77 years, with a difference in life expectancy between men and women of 5.7 years. Men tend to die sooner than women, which could explain why, on average, life insurance for men is more expensive.
When it comes to coverage, there are several factors that affect your premiums or even your insurability. A history of medical conditions can increase your premiums, especially serious illnesses like heart disease or cancer. a family history of illnesses could also increase the cost of your coverage.
Insurance is all about the likelihood of a covered event occurring, so a family history that includes some of the most common causes of death could cause insurers to take a closer look at whether or not to provide coverage .
according to the centers for disease control and prevention, heart disease and cancer were the first and second most common causes of death in the us. uu. in 2020. The table below shows the other most common causes of death.
glossary of life insurance
latest life insurance news
Cash value earnings in a permanent life insurance policy can be used to pay for college tuition, supplement retirement income, or for a down payment on a mortgage. If you’re interested in having cash value in your life insurance policy, check out our pick of the best whole life insurance companies of 2022.
Are you interested in coverage to help reimburse for your care needs during the last years of your life? long-term care insurance may pay for it. Check out our pick of the best long-term care insurance and find out if and when you should buy one of these policies.
how we choose the best life insurance companies
As part of our methodology for building our list of top life insurance companies and products, we look at:
See also: What is whole life insurance and how does it work? | Money