If you’re a dentist, life insurance can be an important part of financial planning, especially if you have any dependents who rely on your income. Not sure where to start? We used industry data, pricing from our partners, and third-party ratings like AM Best and J.D. Power to pick the best life insurance companies for dentists.
Best term life insurance: Legal & General America
Best whole life insurance: MassMutual
Cheapest life insurance: Legal & General America
Best no-medical-exam life insurance: Brighthouse Financial
Best final expense life insurance: Mutual of Omaha
If you’re ready to compare life insurance quotes and find the right coverage, Policygenius can help.
Methodology
Why you can trust our picks
Our recommendations are based on internal and external expert analysis, as well as our Policygenius Life Insurance Price Index, which uses real-time data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends. When reviewing a life insurance company, our editorial team uses a proprietary scoring rubric with five factors — price, policy details, financial strength, transparency, and customer experience — to assign an unbiased rating between one and five stars. These ratings are also taken into consideration as part of our company recommendations. We don’t get paid for our reviews.
Our reviews and recommendations can help you find a reliable insurer for your family’s financial protection, but the best life insurance company for you depends on multiple factors. A licensed agent at Policygenius can support you during the application process to ensure you get the right coverage for your circumstances at the most competitive price.
Best term life insurance for dentists: Legal & General America
2024 Policygenius award winner
Legal & General America
4.9
30+ year terms
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn, has some of the longest term lengths — up to 40 years — and most competitive life insurance rates available, even for people with a history of medical conditions.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for a variety of health conditions
Fast instant-decision option for qualifying applicants
Variety of term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Application underwriting can take longer than average
Does not have the most competitive rates for older applicants
The best term life insurance company for dentists is Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn in some states. We like that Legal & General America offers policy terms up to 40-years and coverage amounts of up to $10 million — great if you’re a high earner.
Best whole life insurance for dentists: MassMutual
2024 Policygenius award winner
MassMutual
4.9
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 satisfaction ratings
Cons
High term life premiums
Term life not available through Policygenius
MassMutual has the best whole life insurance for dentists, thanks in part to its high financial strength ratings. MassMutual received an A++ rating for financial stability from AM Best, which is especially important for permanent life insurance.
Cheapest life insurance for dentists: Legal & General America
2024 Policygenius award winner
Legal & General America
4.9
30+ year terms
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn, has some of the longest term lengths — up to 40 years — and most competitive life insurance rates available, even for people with a history of medical conditions.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for a variety of health conditions
Fast instant-decision option for qualifying applicants
Variety of term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Application underwriting can take longer than average
Does not have the most competitive rates for older applicants
We found that Legal & General America has the cheapest life insurance rates for dentists. While you’re likely to find cheap rates from Legal & General if you’re in good health, you may also be able to find affordable coverage if you have a pre-existing condition, like diabetes or heart disease.
Best no-medical-exam life insurance for dentists: Brighthouse Financial
2024 Policygenius award winner
Brighthouse Financial
5.0
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-exam option
Cons
Traditional term life not available in CA, IL, LA, ME, or NY
Term life applicants limited to ages 25-50
Brighthouse Financial has the best no-medical-exam life insurance for dentists. If you’re in good health and can qualify for life insurance without a medical exam, you may be able to get up to $3 million in coverage — in as little as one phone call.
Best final expense life insurance for dentists: Mutual of Omaha
Mutual of Omaha
4.5
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Mutual of Omaha is a reputable company that offers a variety of life insurance products — including a no-medical-exam option — so that you can select the type of life insurance that best suits your needs.
Pros and cons
Pros
No-medical-exam options for older applicants
Strong financial and customer ratings
Cons
Policies are more expensive than average
Slow turnaround time
We found that Mutual of Omaha is the best life insurance company if you’re a dentist looking for final expense coverage. You can choose between two coverage levels depending on your health: up to $25,000 in coverage for simplified coverage or up to $40,000 for preferred coverage.
Why dentists need life insurance
It’s worth having life insurance if you’re a dentist, but if you’re not sure about it, here are some of the benefits of private life insurance:
Replacing your income: If you die unexpectedly, life insurance can help replace your salary and allow your family to keep up with their expenses.
Paying off existing debt: Life insurance can help your family pay back debts like student loans so you don’t leave them to your loved ones.
Improving employer-provided coverage: You probably have life insurance through your employer, but this coverage by itself usually isn’t enough to take care of your family.
If you’re not sure about how much life insurance you need or what coverage is right for you, we can help.
How working as a dentist will affect getting life insurance
Being a dentist may lead to higher rates, but only because dentists tend to have high incomes, which means more coverage. By itself, being a dentist won’t affect your options for life insurance or lead to higher rates.
There are some exceptions, however. If you travel for work to some countries outside of the U.S. or are a medical missionary, your eligibility for life insurance could be impacted.
Also, remember that any prescription medicine you’ve taken will show up on a prescription history check. When you apply, be honest and thorough with the agent you’re working with about medications you’ve taken. That way you apply with the right company and you don’t jeopardize your family being able to collect benefits after your death.
When should dentists purchase life insurance?
The younger you are when you apply, the cheaper your life insurance rates will be. Later on, if you need more coverage, you can always ladder a supplemental policy.
If you’re a dentist or in dental school, you should get life insurance as soon as possible. “Dentists often begin their careers later in life due to the extensive education and training required,” says Cecil Staton, President & Wealth Advisor at Arch Financial Planning, LLC. “This delayed start can delay obtaining life insurance coverage.”
The total amount of coverage you can apply for is usually based on your income. But if you’re still in dental school, you can justify the amount you’re applying for with your projected future income.
How much does life insurance cost for dentists?
We found that the cost of life insurance for a dentist with one or two minor, well-managed health conditions is about $46 per month for a 20-year term life policy with a $1 million death benefit payout.
That said, your exact premiums depend on several factors, including your gender, age, and health. If you have limited or well-maintained health issues, you’ll likely be able to get the coverage you need at an affordable rate.
Term life insurance rates for dentists
Here’s what a dentist can expect to pay for a 20-year term life insurance policy with a $1 million death benefit payout.
Age | Gender | $1 million coverage amount |
|---|---|---|
20 | Female | $32.38 |
Male | $44.72 | |
30 | Female | $35.48 |
Male | $45.94 | |
40 | Female | $58.49 |
Male | $71.45 | |
50 | Female | $131.18 |
Male | $174.90 | |
60 | Female | 354.88 |
Male | $500.52 |
Methodology: Average monthly estimated rates are calculated for male and female smokers and non-smokers in the Preferred health classification, obtaining a 20-year $1,00,000 term life insurance policy. Life insurance rates are based on policies offered by Policygenius from Brighthouse Financial, Corebridge Financial, Foresters Financial, Legal & General America, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Protective, Prudential, Symetra, and Transamerica, and may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 01/01/2024.
Whole life insurance rates for dentists
Here’s what a dentist can expect to pay for a whole life insurance policy with a $1 million death benefit payout.
Age | Gender | $1 million coverage amount |
|---|---|---|
20 | Female | $545 |
Male | $639 | |
30 | Female | $801 |
Male | $920 | |
40 | Female | $1,161 |
Male | $1,372 | |
50 | Female | $1,826 |
Male | $2,117 | |
60 | Female | $3,065 |
Male | $3,556 | |
70 | Female | $5,580 |
Male | $6,198 |
Methodology: Average monthly estimated rates are calculated for male and female insureds obtaining a whole life insurance policy of $1,000,000 from MassMutual. Life insurance rates are based on policies offered by Policygenius and may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 01/01/2024.
Final expense life insurance rates for dentists
Here’s what a dentist can expect to pay for a $25,000 final expense life insurance policy.
Age | Gender | $25,000 coverage amount |
|---|---|---|
50 | Female | $74.47 |
Male | $98.96 | |
60 | Female | $105.21 |
Male | $140.69 | |
70 | Female | $158.19 |
Male | $215.16 |
Methodology: Average monthly estimated rates are calculated for male and female insureds obtaining a final expense life insurance policy of $25,000 from Mutual of Omaha. Life insurance rates are based on policies offered by Policygenius and may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 01/01/2024.
Life insurance for other occupations
Frequently asked questions
Should dentists get life insurance?
It’s a good idea to get life insurance if you’re a dentist. If you have large debts or any dependents, you should get life insurance to protect your loved ones. Term life insurance will usually be your best option if you’re eligible.
Do dentists have life insurance?
Most employers offer some life insurance to full-time employees as part of a standard benefits package. But it’s usually a much lower amount than what financial advisors recommend, it’s not a guaranteed benefit, and you lose the coverage when you leave that employer.
How much life insurance should a dentist get?
There’s not one amount of life insurance that every dentist needs. Your coverage depends on your personal financial needs, like how much you make, your debt, savings, budget, health, and other factors.
