Best life insurance companies in Georgia

We picked the best life insurance companies in Georgia with the most affordable rates that meet your coverage needs.

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By

Brian ActonBrian 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

Adam MorganAdam MorganEditorial DirectorAdam Morgan is an editorial director at Policygenius who leads the life insurance team. Previously, he led editorial teams matrixed across multiple financial publications at Red Ventures — including Bankrate, NextAdvisor, Million Mile Secrets, and others. As a journalist, his work has appeared in Esquire, Scientific American, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere.

Updated|5 min read

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Georgians have a wealth of options when choosing a life insurance company, but it's still crucial to find the insurance carrier that’s right for you. The best insurance company offers you the lowest rates and policies that match your health history and lifestyle. 

We compiled the best life insurance companies for Georgians, along with the average cost of life insurance for Georgia residents and the state laws that define how your policy works.

Best life insurance companies in Georgia

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

We don't 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

Banner Life is our top overall pick for the best life insurance company in Georgia thanks to its competitive rates, variety of term length options, and suitability for a wide range of applicants. Most Georgians will have no trouble finding an affordable policy with the coverage they need, and applicants with certain types of health conditions can still access great rates. 

Cheapest life insurance

Banner Life provides the most affordable life insurance rates to Georgia for applicants with a variety of lifestyles and pre-existing conditions. Whether you’re a young adult with no health conditions or an older adult with certain medical issues, you may find an affordable policy with Banner Life. 

Best term life insurance

Term life insurance is the best option for most Georgia residents, with affordable coverage extended to the policyholder over a set amount of time. Banner Life has many term length options available and the best rates for the greatest range of applicants. 

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 

A.M. 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 skip the life insurance medical exam and use past medical records to determine how much the applicant will pay for coverage. Brighthouse Financial has the best no-medical-exam rates in Georgia and will make an application decision in as little as 24 hours. 

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 

A.M. 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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$

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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

Whole life insurance covers policyholders for their entire life and may allow some policyholders to build cash value and earn dividends over time, but it costs five to 15 times as much as term life coverage. MassMutual pays higher dividends to policyholders than its competitors. 

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 

A.M. 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

Georgia seniors age 60 and over can get great rates with Prudential, even with certain health conditions that go along with old age. 

Best for young adults

Brighthouse Financial

Georgia applicants in their 20s, 30s, and 40s can get some of the best life insurance rates with Brighthouse Financial. While young adults can usually find affordable coverage anywhere, Brighthouse has some of the best rates and offers lower income requirements for college students. 

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 

A.M. 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

Georgia residents with health conditions including arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and more can get life insurance but should expect to pay more for life insurance coverage than applicants without any pre-existing conditions. Lincoln Financial has the best rates for people with pre-existing conditions.

Best for marijuana users

Lincoln Financial

Lincoln Financial gives non-smoker rates to occasional marijuana users in Georgia. This is huge for marijuana users because they can get coverage 200% to 300% cheaper than if they had to pay smoker rates, which many insurance companies automatically quote to marijuana users.

Best for smokers

Georgia smokers generally pay two to three times more for life insurance rate than non-smokers, which is an unavoidable reality of life insurance. But Banner Life has lower rates for smokers than competing insurance companies, and policyholders can apply to lower their premiums after they quit smoking for one year. 

Comparing the best life insurance companies in Georgia

Company 

Policygenius rating

Best for

Types of policies 

Banner Life

5.0 / 5

Overall, cheapest, term life, smokers

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

Brighthouse Financial

5.0 / 5

No-medical-exam life, young adults

Term life, no-medical-exam life, whole life, short-term 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 Georgia?

Based on Policygenius data from April 2023, the average monthly premium for a healthy 35-year old in Georgia buying a $500,000, 20-year term life insurance policy is $30.81 for men and $25.78 for women.

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

Life insurance companies don’t usually go into financial insolvency and become unable to pay their claims. But if they do, the Georgia Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association provides coverage to affected Georgia residents as long as they keep making their payments. 

When an insurance company is no longer able to meet its financial obligations, affected residents will receive a notification from the receiver and/or the guaranty association. The guaranty association extends coverage for up to $300,000 in death benefits and $100,000 in cash surrender value. 

When a policyholder moves out of Georgia, they will receive coverage from the guaranty association of the state they reside in if their life insurance company fails.

How to find a lost life insurance policy in Georgia

When someone dies, their family members or estate administrator can search for life insurance policies and annuity contracts using the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Life Insurance Policy Locator Service.

The Georgia Unclaimed Funds website can help individuals search for unclaimed property in the form of unclaimed life insurance benefits turned over to the state.

Georgia life insurance laws

Life insurance companies operating in Georgia must follow state laws that protect policyholders and dictate how policies must be run in the state. 

Free look period

Georgia gives residents 10 days to cancel a new life insurance policy and receive a full refund of all premium payments.  

Guaranty Fund protection

The Georgia Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association will cover residents for up to $300,000 in death benefits and $100,000 in cash surrender value when a life insurance company cannot fulfill its financial obligations to policyholders.  

Contestable period

The contestability period for life insurance is the time frame during which life insurance companies can investigate and challenge a claim if they discover evidence of fraud or misrepresentations on the application. In Georgia, the contestability period for life insurance starts the day the policy takes effect and lasts two years. 

Time allowable to settle a claim

In Georgia, life insurance companies must pay claims within two months from receiving the proof of death. Death benefit proceeds will accrue interest from the date of the insured’s death to the date of payment. 

Grace period for missed payments

Georgia has a 30-day grace period when policyholders miss a premium payment. This gives policyholders 30 days to make up for a missed payment before the life insurance company can terminate their policy.

Frequently asked questions

What is the number one life insurance company in Georgia?

Banner Life is the number one life insurance company for Georgia residents. It offers great rates and meets coverage needs across a wide range of applicant types. The company also features many term length options for term life insurance.

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

Georgia residents have 10 days to cancel their new life insurance policy within the free look period and receive a full refund. They also get 30 days to make up for a missed payment before their coverage can be canceled.

What types of life insurance are available in Georgia?

Georgians can buy all of the main types of life insurance, including the two most popular: term life insurance and whole life insurance. They can also purchase no-medical-exam policies with accelerated underwriting, as well as final expense insurance.

Corrections

No corrections since publication.

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

Adam Morgan is an editorial director at Policygenius who leads the life insurance team. Previously, he led editorial teams matrixed across multiple financial publications at Red Ventures — including Bankrate, NextAdvisor, Million Mile Secrets, and others. As a journalist, his work has appeared in Esquire, Scientific American, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere.

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