Why nurses need life insurance
Nurses typically make significant financial contributions to their households. If you die, your family could suffer financially. Getting a life insurance policy can help you protect your income and anyone who depends on you.
Nurses often have multiple reasons to consider life insurance.
Protecting your family from loss of income. Nurses often contribute significantly to their households through their income. Life insurance can help replace your salary in case you die, easing or eliminating the financial burden on your family.
Student debt. Many nurses have student debt. Life insurance can help your beneficiaries pay back your student loans and any other debts you have if you pass away.
Employer insurance coverage. Your employer may offer some life insurance as part of your benefits package — but the coverage is typically only one to two times your annual salary. A private policy can supplement your group coverage and provide your loved ones with the financial safety net they need.
There’s nothing about being a nurse alone that will alter the rates you’re eligible for, but your occupation may determine how much life insurance you need and how long your coverage should last.
Working with a licensed agent through Policygenius is the best way to determine the amount of life insurance coverage that you need and get connected to the insurer that will be best for you. At Policygenius, our experts are licensed in all 50 states and can walk you through the entire life insurance buying process while offering transparent and unbiased advice.
→ Learn more about how your job affects your life insurance rates
Best life insurance companies for nurses
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing which life insurance company to apply with, including price, how easy it is to apply, how long the underwriting process is, and the maximum coverage you can apply for.
We used industry data, pricing from Policygenius carrier partners, and third-party ratings like AM 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.
A licensed agent at Policygenius can help you weigh these factors to find the best insurer for you.
Best term life insurance: Banner Life
Best whole life insurance: MassMutual
Most affordable life insurance: Banner Life
Best instant decision life insurance: Brighthouse Financial
Best final expense insurance: Mutual of Omaha
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 nurses
2023 Policygenius award winner
Banner Life
4.9
30+ year terms
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Banner Life 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
Banner Life insurance offers some of the largest coverage amounts on the market: up to 40 times your income based on your age, which makes it a great choice for nurses
Banner also allows you to apply without taking the medical exam (normally a standard part of the life insurance application).
Best whole life insurance for nurses
2023 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 offers lower premiums and higher dividends than other insurers. It also maintains consistently high scores for financial stability and customer satisfaction.
Most affordable life insurance for nurses
Banner Life
Why we chose it
Banner Life has some of the most competitive premiums on the market — especially if you only have one or two minor and well-controlled health conditions. It also offers cheap rates for several pre-existing conditions, including diabetes and heart disease.
Best instant decision life insurance for nurses
2023 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
If you’re eligible for instant decision life insurance, Brighthouse Financial may approve your application and put your policy in force on the same phone call.
→ Learn more about instant decision life insurance
Best final expense insurance for nurses
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
Mutual of Omaha offers the most competitive rates when it comes to final expense life insurance. For most people, for most people, approval is guaranteed and coverage lasts for life.
Best types of life insurance for nurses
Two of the most common types of life insurance are term life insurance and permanent life insurance. For most working professionals, including nurses, term life insurance will be the best option to cover financial obligations.
If term life isn’t a good fit for you, whole life and final expense life insurance are two other types of policies worth considering.
Term life insurance
Term life insurance is almost always the most affordable type of insurance available, and the most practical type of insurance for income protection as it only lasts for a set term and comes with few rules and tax restrictions.
Term life is also the best option for most people looking to provide their family with a financial safety net to cover any debts — including a mortgage or any other types of personal loans.
Most people get term life insurance long enough to cover them through retirement age. This will ensure that your beneficiary will receive the financial support they need if your income is lost.
Whole life insurance
Aside from replacing your income, you might be considering life insurance as a way to diversify your investment portfolio or to cover long-term financial obligations or coverage needs, like dependents who require lifelong care. If that’s the case for you, whole life insurance can be a good fit.
Whole life never expires and comes with a cash value that earns interest in addition to the death benefit payout. If you’re already maximizing your contributions to tax-advantaged accounts like a Roth IRA or a 401(k) and are seeking another investment option, whole life insurance might work for you.
Final expense life insurance
If you’re not eligible for standard coverage but need assistance to cover your end-of-life costs, like a funeral, final expense life insurance will be your best option.
Final expense is a type of permanent insurance that usually offers death benefit amounts between $10,000 and $40,000. You need to be between 45 and 85 years old to be eligible for final expense insurance.
Permanent life insurance policies like whole life or final expense insurance are appealing because they last for the rest of your life. However, on average, permanent life insurance policies cost about five to 15 times more than a term life insurance policy with the same face value would.
How much does life insurance cost for nurses?
A 35-year-old nurse with one or two minor, well-managed health conditions can expect to pay about $46 per month for a 20-term life policy with a $1 million death benefit payout.
The premiums you pay ultimately 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.
You can consider applying for coverage that’s 10 to 12 times your annual income, coupled with a term that will take you through retirement age as a starting point. Your ideal coverage will depend on your budget and personal financial circumstances.
Term life insurance rates for nurses
The rates below offer an estimate for what a nurse 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 Banner Life, Brighthouse Financial, Corebridge Financial, Foresters Financial, 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 07/01/2023.
Whole life insurance rates for nurses
The following is an estimate for what a nurse 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 07/01/2023.
Final expense life insurance rates for nurses
The following is an estimate for what a nurse 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 07/01/2023.
→ Learn more about life insurance rates
When should nurses purchase life insurance?
If you’re a nurse or in nursing school, you should get life insurance as soon as possible. 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.
The amount of coverage you’re able to apply for is usually based on your income. But if you’re in nursing school, you can justify the amount you’re applying for with your projected full-time income.
A licensed agent can help you determine how much coverage you need and make sure you’re getting a policy that will protect your family financially within the means of your current budget.
→ Learn more about the life insurance ladder strategy
Benefits of life insurance for nurses
The main benefit of life insurance is to protect your income. Income protection is key for anyone who makes a significant financial contribution to their household, like many nurses do.
Getting the right amount of life insurance will allow your family to replace your income, make sure your debts are paid off, and receive the financial support they will need even if you die unexpectedly.
Life insurance considerations for nurses
While being a nurse alone won’t limit your options for life insurance coverage or increase your rates, some activities might.
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, keep in mind that any medication you’ve been prescribed will show up on a prescription history check.
As a licensed agent, I helped multiple healthcare professionals apply for life insurance. In several cases, a prescription medication they had tried in the past affected the offer they received from the insurance company — even if that medication wasn't fully representative of their overall health.
When you apply, be thorough with the agent you’re working with to make sure they consider any medications you’ve taken so they can make sure you’re applying with the right company.
Life insurance for other occupations
Frequently asked questions
Should nurses get life insurance?
For most nurses, life insurance is crucial to their financial planning. If you anticipate earning a significant income, have large debts or any dependents, you should consider getting life insurance. Term life insurance will be your best option if you are eligible.
Do nurses have life insurance?
A majority of employers offer a small amount of life insurance coverage to full-time employees as part of a standard benefits package. However, a lot of nurses work part-time, are independent contractors, or expect to change employers someday, so even this small amount of insurance isn’t guaranteed. A licensed agent at Policygenius can help you determine if there’s an individual policy that can be a better option to meet your needs.
How much life insurance should a nurse get?
Nurses should consider buying life insurance coverage equal to about 10 to 12 times their annual income, but the exact amount they need will depend on their personal financial circumstances. A Policygenius agent can help give you a personalized recommendation.
