Best Life Insurance for Seniors

Best Life Insurance for Seniors

Best Life Insurance for Seniors Bankrate Caret RightMain Menu Mortgage Mortgages Financing a home purchase Refinancing your existing loan Finding the right lender Additional Resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Bank Banking Compare Accounts Use calculators Get advice Bank reviews Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Credit Card Credit cards Compare by category Compare by credit needed Compare by issuer Get advice Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Caret RightMain Menu Loan Loans Personal Loans Student Loans Auto Loans Loan calculators Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Invest Investing Best of Brokerages and robo-advisors Learn the basics Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Home Equity Home equity Get the best rates Lender reviews Use calculators Knowledge base Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Loan Home Improvement Real estate Selling a home Buying a home Finding the right agent Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Insurance Insurance Car insurance Homeowners insurance Other insurance Company reviews Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Retirement Retirement Retirement plans & accounts Learn the basics Retirement calculators Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Advertiser Disclosure

Advertiser Disclosure

We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with confidence.
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.

How We Make Money

The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you. SHARE:

On This Page

Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images May 19, 2022 Checkmark Bankrate logo How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. "Expert verified" means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. Lizzie Nealon is an insurance contributor for Bankrate and enjoys making home, auto and life insurance digestible for readers so they can prepare for the future. Mariah Posey is an auto and homeowners insurance writer and editor for Bankrate.com. She aims to make the insurance journey as convenient as possible by keeping the reader at the forefront of her mind in her work. Kenneth Chavis IV is a senior wealth manager who provides comprehensive financial planning, investment management and tax planning services to business owners, equity compensated executives, engineers, medical doctors and entertainers. Bankrate logo

The Bankrate promise

At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of how we make money. Our content is backed by LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our Insurance Disclosure. Bankrate logo

The Bankrate promise

Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. All of our content is authored by and edited by , who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Our insurance team is composed of agents, data analysts, and customers like you. They focus on the points consumers care about most — price, customer service, policy features and savings opportunities — so you can feel confident about which provider is right for you. We guide you throughout your search and help you understand your coverage options. We provide up-to-date, reliable market information to help you make confident decisions. We reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible. All providers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide. And we constantly review our criteria to ensure we’re putting accuracy first. Bankrate logo

Editorial integrity

Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions.

Key Principles

We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.

Editorial Independence

Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information. Bankrate logo

How we make money

You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Bankrate logo

Insurance Disclosure

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. Each life stage comes with different needs for life insurance coverage. For instance, many middle-aged adults want coverage to pay off debts and replace income should they pass away. But adults aged 60 and up may have a different set of concerns. Seniors may want to purchase life insurance to pay for funeral costs and other final expenses or to meet estate planning goals. Luckily, there are different policy types to meet individual needs for various life stages. This advertising widget is powered by HomeInsurance.com, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 8781838) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and clickable links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Homeinsurance.com LLC in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what ads and links appear, and how, where, and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available to you as a consumer. We strive to keep our information accurate and up-to-date, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer terms from an advertiser may be different than the offer terms on this widget. All offers may be subject to additional terms and conditions of the advertiser.

Compare life insurance providers quickly and easily

See which provider is right for you. The amount of coverage you need depends on many factors, including your age, income, mortgage and other debts and anticipated funeral expenses. Whole life insurance combines life insurance with an investment component. Coverage for life Tax-deferred savings benefit if premiums are paid 3 variations of permanent insurance: whole life, universal life and variable life include investment component Term life insurance is precisely what the name implies: an insurance policy that is good for a specific term of time. Fixed premium over term No savings benefits Outliving policy or policy cancellation results in no money back Find matches Powered by HomeInsurance.com (NPN: 8781838) This advertising widget is powered by HomeInsurance.com, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 8781838) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. HomeInsurance.com LLC services are only available in states where it is licensed and insurance coverage through HomeInsurance.com may not be available in all states. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. Bankrate Why Lemonade? It's a fresh twist on life insurance: easy, accessible and affordable. See more providers in Choose from insurers in Show More Although the cost of life insurance increases as you age, it may not be as expensive as you think. The best life insurance for seniors depends on the type of coverage you need, the amount and the policy types that work best to meet those goals. However, Mutual of Omaha, New York Life, AIG Life, Transamerica and Haven Life have proven to be some of the on the market, according to our research.

The best life insurance for seniors

Seniors purchasing life insurance may want to consider with living benefits for terminal illness and other factors important to them. The following life insurance companies are among the best based on Bankrate’s analysis of market share, financial strength ratings from , customer satisfaction scores from and coverage offerings for seniors. However, the best life insurance company for you may vary based on your individual preferences and priorities for life insurance, budget or other financial considerations. Company AM Best financial strength rating 795/1,000 A+ (Superior) 777/1,000 A++ (Superior) 729/1,000 A (Excellent) 747/1,000 A (Excellent) * 782/1,000 A++ (Superior) *Score based on MassMutual, Haven Life’s underwriter

Mutual of Omaha

Why we chose it: The company caters to seniors by offering a host of senior-centric health and wellness material on their website. Mutual of Omaha underwrites its policies through United of Omaha Life Insurance Company. The company offers term, whole and universal life insurance policies. Seniors can purchase a policy up to age 80, although final expense whole life insurance is available through age 85. If you’re interested in a term life policy and you’re 70 or older, the longest term you’re eligible for is a 15-year term. Mutual of Omaha is worth considering as a senior life insurance company thanks to the recently launched . The online resource was designed to inform seniors about the topics they may be interested in, such as combating loneliness, along with health and wellness topics specific to seniors. However, if you’re tech savvy, you may be disappointed that the company doesn’t have a mobile app. The company is financially strong with an and an A+ rating from S&P. Mutual of Omaha also received a high score in the 2021 J.D. Power U.S. Life Insurance Study, with a score of 795 out of 1,000 for overall satisfaction, earning it fifth place in the study. Mutual of Omaha could be a great life insurance company for any senior looking for financial help during retirement and starting to plan for final expenses. Pros Cons Highest J.D. Power score on our list Can’t purchase a life insurance policy after age 80, although final expense insurance is available through age 85 Online resources for informing seniors about health and wellness topics specific to their age No mobile app for managing your life insurance policy

New York Life

Why we chose it: New York Life caters to seniors through its partnership with AARP, which allows members to get term or permanent life insurance up to $100,000 with no medical exam. New York Life specializes in life insurance, retirement planning and long-term care. The company offers term, whole, universal and variable universal life insurance for seniors. New York Life also offers a number of flexible policy options and compounding coverage that seniors can use as they get older. AARP members have access to exclusive pricing and coverage through a partnership with New York Life. Members can get term and permanent coverage up to $100,000 with no medical exam, though you still have to answer health questions to qualify for coverage. New York Life is a one-stop-shop for every life insurance need, with great ratings. It earned a rating of 777 out of 1,000 from J.D. Power, placing right behind Mutual of Omaha. It has an A++ rating for financial strength from AM Best and an AA+ rating from S&P. New York Life’s financial strength indicates that it has a strong history of meeting its financial obligations. Pros Cons Above-average customer satisfaction rating No mobile app for managing your policy AARP members can get term and permanent life insurance up to $100,000 with no medical exam Can’t get quotes online

AIG Life

Why we chose it: The company offers life insurance with living benefits, which means seniors can purchase add-ons such as a long-term care rider. This rider ensures that if the senior needs long-term care before they pass away, their death benefit can be used to pay for that care. AIG offers term life, whole life, guaranteed issue whole life, universal life and accidental death life insurance. It also offers a “Quality of Life” term policy, which is term life insurance with . AIG Life does not have the highest customer service ratings from J.D. Power, but it has historical financial strength according to its and an A+ rating from S&P. Pros Cons Offers living benefits such as a long-term care rider Lower than average J.D. Power score Claims to offer $250,000 of term life coverage for as low as $14 a month* Can’t get quotes online *Company claim does not specify age or gender of applicant for that price point.

Transamerica

Why we chose it: Transamerica caters to seniors by issuing immediate coverage with no waiting period after the underwriting process. Seniors looking specifically for final expense insurance might want to consider Transamerica. The company is known for offering robust and customizable final expense insurance options. In addition to final expense insurance, Transamerica also offers whole, term, universal and index universal life insurance policies. Most of Transamerica’s insurance plans require a medical exam and health questions as part of the application. The guaranteed issue final expense policy is the only plan that does not require an older adult to undergo lab tests or medical examinations. Instead, Transamerica uses proprietary underwriting algorithms to determine insurability and to issue immediate coverage with no waiting period. , with an A (Excellent) rating for financial strength from AM Best and an A+ rating from S&P. However, the company placed well below industry average in the 2021 J.D. Power U.S. Life Insurance Study, with a score of 747 out of 1,000. Pros Cons High financial strength score Lower-than-average J.D. Power score Offers a wide range of policy options Higher-than-baseline National Association of Insurance Commissioners . Many of its competitors have far fewer complaints than the baseline.

Haven Life

Why we chose it: Haven Life caters to recently retired seniors that are planning for the years to come through offering options such as the long-term care rider. Haven Life underwrites its life insurance policies through MassMutual, which received an overall customer satisfaction score just above industry average from J.D. Power. Haven Life offers comprehensive coverage at an affordable price, making it a good option for seniors who are recently retired and planning for the years to come. The one downside to Haven Life is that they only offer a policy. However, term policies with a death benefit of $100,000 to $3 million are possible for applicants up to the age of 65. Haven Life’s parent company, MassMutual, also has good financial strength, with an . Pros Cons Higher-than-average J.D. Power score Only offers term life insurance policies High AM Best score Not available in all states

What type of life insurance policy is best for seniors

There are many different kinds of life insurance for seniors to choose from, and each option comes with pros and cons. It’s important to understand the various types of life insurance so that you can make the best choice for your individual needs.

Term life insurance for seniors

covers you for a specified period of time, usually ranging from 10 to 30 years. If you purchased a conversion rider, you may be able to convert your policy to permanent life insurance before it ends. Simply put, the older you are, the more expensive a term policy will be. If you are a senior and considering a term life insurance policy, be sure to think about your future budget and if you will want to renew the policy at the end of the term. Pros: Term life insurance policies are typically much cheaper than permanent life insurance policies. Cons: If you pass away after your policy expires, your beneficiaries will not receive a death benefit.

Permanent life insurance for seniors

covers you until your death (under most circumstances) or until you choose to surrender the policy. Permanent life insurance comes in two main forms: and . Diving deeper, there are subtypes of each form, such as variable universal life insurance. Since it covers you until death in most cases, permanent insurance tends to be more expensive than a term life insurance policy, but may provide the peace of mind that the policy will be there to provide financial assistance to your loved ones after your death. Pros: Comes with a cash value account that may be used as a savings or investment account or to pay policy premiums Remains in effect for your whole life (under most circumstances) Cons: Typically much more expensive than term life insurance

Guaranteed universal life insurance for seniors

Guaranteed universal life policies are a type of permanent life insurance that has a small cash value account or no cash value portion at all. Other types of universal life insurance policies allow you to change your premium or death benefit amounts, but this is not an option with guaranteed universal life. Pros: Generally cheaper than other forms of universal life insurance Typically lasts your whole life Cons: Death benefit and premium amounts are not flexible Cash value account lacks the investment component

Guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance for seniors Final expense insurance

Guaranteed acceptance whole life, sometimes called guaranteed issue whole life or , is a whole life policy for which coverage generally cannot be denied. Coverage amounts are low, usually between $10,000 to $25,000 and are typically used to cover funeral expenses such as headstones and funeral home fees. Pros: Generally no medical exam required Coverage typically cannot be denied Cons: Premium may be high for the level of coverage you’re receiving Low level of coverage

Choosing the best senior life insurance policy for you

Seniors generally have different priorities than other generations. They may be paying off debts and phasing into retirement, helping children and grandchildren with their finances or preparing for end-of-life costs. Before purchasing life insurance, it is helpful to understand what factors you may need to consider at various ages.

Life insurance for seniors over 60

In your 60s, you may still be working and starting to think about retirement. It might be a good time to make sure your life insurance is in place because life insurance premiums are generally less expensive the younger you are. You may want to think about replacing your lost income if you were to pass away suddenly so that a spouse or other loved ones who depend on your income would be provided for. Additionally, if you have children or grandchildren (or anticipate that you will in the future), you may want to consider if you will leave them a financial gift when you pass away.

Life insurance for seniors over 70

If you are in your 70s, you are hopefully well into retirement. If you are retired, replacing lost income for your spouse or loved ones might not need to be a factor when shopping for life insurance. However, you may want to consider what your family members will be left with when you are gone. Are you still paying off a mortgage? Do you have any other debt? Do you have enough savings for your loved ones to pay for your funeral expenses and other end-of-life costs? Life insurance can help ease the financial burden of your death for your loved ones, as well as potentially leave a financial gift for them when you are gone.

Life insurance for seniors over 80

If you are 80 or older, your life insurance options may be limited. You may be considering all the same life insurance factors that you did in your 70s, but if you did not obtain insurance at a younger age, you may have fewer choices than you would have. A final expense policy may be the best option to obtain coverage, although the death benefit may be low and the premiums may be high.

How much does a senior life insurance policy cost

There are several factors that contribute to the . The main factors are age, health history, gender and lifestyle. Typically, younger people pay less for life insurance than older people. Additionally, healthy individuals will pay less for life insurance than people who have pre-existing health conditions or . When looking at a senior life insurance company, it is important to keep in mind that term life insurance is typically less expensive than a permanent policy, but those costs will increase the older you are regardless of policy type. Because the cost of life insurance is so personalized, everyone will pay a different premium based on their own specific rating factors, but rates for the same life insurance policy will not vary greatly between companies like other insurance types. Before , you may still want to shop around and from multiple life insurance companies to find the best option for you, such as varying requirements to qualify. And if you are considering buying life insurance, doing it as soon as possible will help ensure your premiums are within your budget—the younger you are, the lower life insurance premiums tend to be.

Frequently asked questions


What is the most affordable life insurance for seniors
Term life insurance is generally cheaper than whole life insurance, but the most affordable life insurance for seniors is going to be different for everyone. For example, a healthy 65-year-old woman will likely pay less for life insurance than a 75-year-old man who has a history of heart disease. You may want to get quotes to see how much you’d pay, but keep in mind that rates likely won’t vary much from one company to another for the same policy type.
What is the best life insurance company for seniors
The best life insurance company for seniors depends on the price and your coverage needs. Additionally, some companies stand out for their exceptional customer service, while others are known for offering a variety of policy options or riders. To find the best company for your needs, consider which factors are the most important and determine the type of policy you need, which will help narrow down the search.
Do seniors need to have life insurance
is not required, but it can be a smart investment for the future. Life insurance gives seniors and their families financial peace of mind and ensures they have money to cover medical debt, pay for funeral expenses and gift money to spouses and other family members. If you need help determining how much life insurance you need, Bankrate has an to help.
What is the catch with senior life insurance
Senior life insurance often refers to final expense whole life insurance. While this type of life insurance offers permanent coverage with locked-in rates, it isn’t always the cheapest option available and coverage amounts are limited. Senior life insurance typically doesn’t require a medical exam and may not have health questions, so it may be a good solution for someone in poor health or who has been turned down for life insurance elsewhere. SHARE: Lizzie Nealon is an insurance contributor for Bankrate and enjoys making home, auto and life insurance digestible for readers so they can prepare for the future. Mariah Posey is an auto and homeowners insurance writer and editor for Bankrate.com. She aims to make the insurance journey as convenient as possible by keeping the reader at the forefront of her mind in her work. Kenneth Chavis IV is a senior wealth manager who provides comprehensive financial planning, investment management and tax planning services to business owners, equity compensated executives, engineers, medical doctors and entertainers.

Related Articles

Share:
0 comments

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

Minimum 10 characters required

* All fields are required. Comments are moderated before appearing.

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!