Best life insurance companies in Atlanta

We picked the best life insurance companies available in Atlanta by comparing cost, customer satisfaction, transparency, and financial strength.

Headshot of Brian Acton

By

Brian ActonContributing WriterBrian Acton is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where he covers insurance and finance. His work has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal, TIME, USA Today, MarketWatch, Inc. Magazine, and HuffPost. 

Edited by

Julia KaganJulia KaganContributing EditorJulia Kagan is a contributing editor at Policygenius, where she specializes in life insurance. Previously, Julia was the senior personal finance editor at Investopedia for nearly a decade, a vice president and editorial director at Consumer Reports, the editor of Psychology Today, and the vice president of content at Zagat Surveys.

Updated|5 min read

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Atlanta residents are free to buy life insurance from any insurance carrier doing business in Georgia, but you shouldn’t just go with the first company you come across. The best life insurance company offers the most competitive rates that fit your medical history and lifestyle. 

We used industry data, pricing from Policygenius carrier partners, and third-party ratings like A.M. Best and J.D. Power to pick the best insurers on the market. Our independent recommendations will help you get life insurance coverage with confidence.

Here are the best life insurance companies available in Atlanta today, along with everything you need to know about buying life insurance in the state of Georgia. 

Best life insurance companies in Atlanta

Methodology: How we chose the best life insurance companies in each state

We dont get paid for our company reviews and use an extensive rubric of criteria covering policy details, price, financial confidence, third-party ratings, and customer experience to assign unbiased ratings out of five stars. Any recommendations we make are based on internal and external expert opinions and data from our Policygenius Price Index, which uses real-time rate data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends. Our ratings and reviews can help point you to an insurer you can rely on for your family’s financial protection, but the best life insurance company for you is dependent on multiple factors. A licensed agent at Policygenius can work with you through the application process so you’re getting coverage from the best insurer for your circumstances at the most competitive price.

Best overall life insurance

We named Banner Life the best life insurance company in Atlanta because of its low rates, flexibility when choosing term lengths, and the ability to fit a variety of applicants with different health conditions and lifestyles. Most applicants in Atlanta will find an affordable policy with the coverage they want at Banner Life. 

Cheapest life insurance

Banner Life provides the most affordable rates in Atlanta for the greatest variety of applicants. Whether you’re a young adult in the picture of health or you’re older and have certain health issues, you can likely find an inexpensive policy with the company. 

Best term life insurance

Term life insurance extends coverage to the policyholder for a set number of years at an affordable rate, making it the best life insurance option for most Atlanta residents. Banner Life offers many term length options, for up to 40 years of coverage.

Best no-medical-exam life insurance

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2023 Policygenius award winner

Brighthouse Financial

Brighthouse Financial logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange star

5.0

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

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No-medical-exam option

Why we chose it

Brighthouse Financial offers competitive rates, comprehensive coverage, and application decisions in as little as 24 hours, making it a great choice for people who want to get life insurance coverage without having to take the medical exam.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Extremely affordable

  • Instant-decision applications

  • Best-in-class no-med option

Cons

  • Traditional term life not available in CA, IL, LA, ME, or NY

  • Term life applicants limited to ages 25-50

No-medical-exam policies let you use past medical records to determine how much your policy will cost, skipping the medical exam portion of the application altogether. Brighthouse Financial offers the lowest no-medical-exam rates in Atlanta and can turn around applications in as little as a single day. 

Best whole life insurance

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2023 Policygenius award winner

MassMutual

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starHalf orange star

4.9

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A++

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

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All 50 states

Why we chose it

MassMutual’s whole life insurance plan provides a lifetime coverage option that builds cash value with the potential to earn dividends.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Strong financial stability ratings

  • Higher potential for dividends for whole life policyholders than many competitors

  • Good customer experience ratings

Cons

  • High term life premiums

  • Term life not available through Policygenius

Atlantans who want their life insurance policy to cover them for their entire lives can choose whole life insurance, but it's significantly more expensive than term life. Whole life insurance also allows some policyholders to build cash value and earn dividends based on the company’s financial performance. MassMutual pays larger dividends to policyholders than the competition. 

Best for seniors

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2023 Policygenius award winner

Prudential

Prudential logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starEmpty gray star

4.1

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A+

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

All 50 states

No-medical-exam option

Why we chose it

With nearly four million policyholders and 150 years to its name, Prudential offers competitive coverage options for seniors, as well as people with some of the most common medical conditions, including asthma, depression, and fibromyalgia.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Good for people over 60

  • More flexible income requirements than some other insurers

  • Considers applicants with a variety of immigration statuses (visas and green cards)

Cons

  • Younger applicants will likely find better prices elsewhere

  • No-med option can end up requiring a medical exam most of the time

Atlanta seniors who are 60 years old and above can find low rates with Prudential, even if they have certain pre-existing conditions that are associated with older age. 

Best for young adults

Brighthouse Financial

Young adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s can get better life insurance rates all over, but Brighthouse Financial offers some of the best rates for young adults, with quick application decisions and flexible income requirements for students enrolled in college.

Best for people with pre-existing conditions

award icon

2023 Policygenius award winner

Lincoln Financial

Lincoln Financial logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starHalf orange star

4.8

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

No-medical-exam option

Why we chose it

Lincoln Financial offers a diverse array of life insurance policies, including competitive no-med and high-net-worth options.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Affordable rates

  • Good for many existing health conditions, including depression, stroke, and heart conditions

  • Good for marijuana users, including daily users

Cons

  • Term life not available in New York

Atlanta residents who have health conditions like arthritis, diabetes, or high blood pressure can expect to pay more for life insurance coverage than applicants without pre-existing conditions. But among its competitors, Lincoln Financial offers the best rates to people with pre-existing conditions

Best for marijuana users

Lincoln Financial

Many life insurance companies automatically classify marijuana users as smokers, meaning they’ll pay much more for life insurance than they would otherwise. But Lincoln Financial offers non-smoker rates and affordable coverage to marijuana users. 

Best for smokers

Atlanta smokers will have to pay double or even triple the rates that non-smokers pay for life insurance, simply because of the health risks involved with smoking. But Banner Life offers lower rates to smokers than their competitors, and policyholders can request a rate reduction after they quit smoking for just one year. 

Ready to shop for life insurance in Atlanta?

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Comparing the best life insurance companies in Atlanta

Company 

Policygenius rating

Best for

Types of policies 

Brighthouse Financial

5.0 / 5

No-medical-exam life, young adults

Term life, no-medical-exam life, whole life, short-term life, universal life

Banner Life

4.9 / 5

Overall, cheapest, term life, smokers

Term life, no-medical-exam life, universal life

MassMutual

4.9 / 5

Whole life

Term life, no-medical-exam life, whole life, universal life, variable universal life

Lincoln Financial

4.8 / 5

Marijuana users, people with pre-existing conditions

Term life, no-medical-exam life, indexed universal life, variable universal life

Prudential

4.1 / 5

Seniors

Term life, no-medical-exam life, short-term life, universal life, indexed universal life

What is the average cost of life insurance in Atlanta?

Based on Policygenius data from June 2023, the average monthly premium for a healthy 35-year old in Atlanta buying a $500,000, 20-year term life insurance policy is $30.79 for men and $25.76 for women.

What happens if a life insurance company goes bankrupt in Atlanta?

When a life insurance company becomes insolvent, the Georgia Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association covers affected Atlanta residents assuming they continue to pay for the policy. 

Atlanta residents who hold a policy with a bankrupt life insurance company will be notified by the receiver and/or the guaranty association. The guaranty association provides coverage for up to $300,000 in death benefits and $100,000 in cash surrender value. 

If a policyholder moves out of state, they will get coverage from the guaranty association of the state they reside in when the life insurance company goes bankrupt. 

How to find a lost life insurance policy in Atlanta

When someone in Atlanta dies, their family or the person managing their estate can look for life insurance policies and annuity contracts with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Life Insurance Policy Locator Service

The Georgia Unclaimed Funds website can help individuals locate unclaimed property including life insurance benefits that were turned over to the state

Georgia life insurance laws

Life insurance companies selling policies in Atlanta must follow Georgia guidelines that provide consumer protections and define how policies must work in the state. 

Free look period

Georgia residents can cancel a new life insurance policy and receive a no-strings-attached refund of all premium payments within 10 days of receiving the policy.   

Guaranty Fund protection

The Georgia Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association covers Georgia residents for up to $300,000 in death benefits and $100,000 in cash surrender value when a life insurance company can no longer meet its financial obligations.  

Contestable period

The contestable period is the time frame during which life insurance companies are allowed to investigate and deny a claim if they discover the policyholder lied or made misstatements during the application process. In Georgia, the contestable period lasts for the first two years the policy is in effect. 

Time allowable to settle a claim

Life insurance companies must pay claims against Georgia policies within two months of receiving proof that the insured has died. Death benefits accrue interest starting the date of death and ending when the claim is paid. 

Grace period for missed payments

Georgia guarantees policyholders a 30-day grace period when they miss a premium payment. This gives policyholders 30 days to make up for an unpaid premium before they can lose coverage.

Frequently asked questions

What is the number one life insurance company in Atlanta?

Banner Life is our number one pick for the best life insurance company in Atlanta. With competitive rates and term lengths that can meet a variety of coverage needs, it offers the most affordable policies to the widest range of life insurance shoppers.

What is the life insurance free look period and grace period in Atlanta?

Atlanta residents can return their life insurance policy within 10 days of receiving it to get a full refund. They also have 30 days to make a missed payment before the life insurance company may terminate their policy.

What types of life insurance are available in Atlanta?

Atlantans can buy term life policies and whole life policies, the most widely available forms of life insurance. They can also purchase no-medical-exam insurance with accelerated underwriting and final expense insurance policies, as well as additional types of life insurance.

Author

Brian Acton is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where he covers insurance and finance. His work has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal, TIME, USA Today, MarketWatch, Inc. Magazine, and HuffPost. 

Editor

Julia Kagan is a contributing editor at Policygenius, where she specializes in life insurance. Previously, Julia was the senior personal finance editor at Investopedia for nearly a decade, a vice president and editorial director at Consumer Reports, the editor of Psychology Today, and the vice president of content at Zagat Surveys.

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