A lot of factors go into choosing the right life insurance company for your family. To make shopping for a policy as seamless as possible, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of our life insurance carrier reviews with links to in-depth policy breakdowns. Choosing between just a few companies? We also have helpful comparison guides for some of our most popular carriers.
With access to agents, partner carriers, and industry data, our reviews include the unique details of each carrier’s main product, complete with breakdowns of all the pros and cons specific to that company. We lay it all out for you so you can feel comfortable choosing the best policy long before your first premium payment.
→ Learn more about how we rate life insurance carriers
Our life insurance carrier reviews
On this page, you’ll find links to every life insurance carrier review written by our editors. The table and summaries below are a brief overview of our providers, their ratings, and what or who we recommend them for, so you can browse quickly and easily.
This page is updated continuously, so you can always find the most up-to-date, unbiased information on what different carriers offer, their pricing, and more.
AAA
3.5
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
AAA provides a range of life insurance products, some of which don’t require a medical exam.
Pros
Variety of term, whole, and universal products
No medical exam for some policies
AAA members can receive discounts
Cons
High premiums
Low whole life coverage limits
Some policy changes can’t be made online
AAA offers many policy options, including term, whole, and universal life insurance. The company offers existing AAA members discounts on some policies. While term life coverage amounts range from $50,000 to $5 million, AAA’s whole life policies only offer coverage up to $75,000.
AIG
4.6
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
With competitive pricing, AIG is a solid option for many life insurance shoppers, especially people with common health conditions.
Pros
Competitive pricing for all ages
Customizable term policies
More affordable premiums for people with common health conditions
Strong financial confidence
Cons
Below-average customer ratings
Carrier website is hard to navigate
AIG has lower term life insurance pricing than the industry average, even for applicants in their 60s. The company has high financial confidence ratings from trusted third-party agencies such as A.M. Best and Moody’s. AIG also offers competitive rates for people with common health conditions like asthma and ADHD.
Banner
4.7
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Long term lengths and competitive rates make Banner a top contender for smokers and people with complicated health issues.
Pros
Very competitive rates
Covers many health conditions
Term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Strict temporary coverage qualifications
Rate reconsideration is paid for by the applicant
Banner was founded in 1949 and has insured more than 1 million people since. The company offers some of the longest term lengths and life insurance rates compared to other carriers we reviewed. People with a history of medical conditions, including a family history of cancer, may be able to find more competitive rates with Banner than other carriers.
Bestow
4.9
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Bestow is a digital-first life insurance company offering no-medical-exam life insurance with a quick application process.
Pros
No medical exam required
Instant approval
Online claims filing
30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
Low coverage amounts
Not available for seniors
No riders available
No policy conversion
Founded in 2016, Bestow offers no-medical-exam term life insurance with an online application and claims system. Bestow states that application approval can take as little as five minutes. Policies do come with some restrictions, particularly around age (maximum applicant age is 59) and riders (none are currently available).
Brighthouse Financial
4.6
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Brighthouse Financial offers several life insurance options, including a low-cost no-medical exam term life policy available through Policygenius.
Pros
Very affordable term life insurance
No-medical exams for SimplySelect term life product
Fast approval
Convertible options are available
Cons
Only a few term lengths available
No rate reconsideration
Brighthouse Financial is one of our top picks for no-medical-exam term life insurance. Coverage is available at competitive rates, with application decisions possible in 24 hours or less. Covered ages are limited to age 25 to 49.5. Brighthouse also offers permanent life insurance: whole life insurance and an indexed universal life insurance plan meant for people who also need long-term care coverage.
Fidelity Life
3.3
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Fidelity Life offers term and whole life insurance policies, including some no-medical-exam policy options.
Pros
No medical exams for some policies
Unique accidental death benefit policy
30-day trial period
Cons
Higher-than-average rates
More consumer complaints than average
Whole life limited to age 50 and above
Fidelity Life (which is not associated with Fidelity Investments) was founded in 1896 and was one of the first carriers to sell life insurance policies to both women and men. The company offers term life insurance and no-medical-exam permanent life insurance. Rates are higher than average, but the many options make it one of our recommendations for older applicants seeking burial insurance.
Gerber
3.5
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Gerber offers term, whole, and guaranteed issue life insurance for children, adults, and seniors.
Pros
No medical exam for seniors
Discount for setting up automatic payments
Cons
High rates for low coverage
Only one rider available
Gerber Life Insurance is a subsidiary of the baby food manufacturer. The company is most known for its whole life insurance for children, but also offers term and permanent life insurance for adults. Term coverage amounts are low — only up to $300,000 where many providers offer millions in coverage. However, Gerber term life insurance policies don’t require a medical exam unless you’re over age 51 and buying more than $100,000 in coverage.
Globe Life
3.4
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Globe Life provides no-medical-exam life insurance with a short application and quick turnaround, but high rates and low coverage.
Pros
No medical exam required
Short application
30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
Very high monthly rates
Only 5-year terms available
Low coverage amounts
Poor customer ratings
Misleading website
Lackluster customer service
Globe Life doesn’t require medical exams for any of its policies and has a short online application for all coverage types. However, its term life insurance policies only last for five years (most carriers offer terms between 5 and 30 years) and top out at $100,000 in coverage. Rates are also higher than industry average, even compared to carriers offering higher death benefits.
Guardian Life
3.5
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Guardian Life has strong financial ratings, pays dividends to whole life customers, and term life insurance coverage up to $5 million.
Pros
Strong financial ratings
Online quote tool available
Convertible options available
Dividends for whole life customers
Cons
Higher-than-average rates
No online application
Guardian Life has been in the insurance business for more than 160 years and has high third-party financial confidence ratings. Guardian’s term life insurance rates are higher than the industry average. However, permanent life insurance owners may want to work with Guardian because the company pays dividends to cash value policyholders.
John Hancock
3.6
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
John Hancock has competitively priced term life insurance for applicants in their 50s and 60s, plus benefits for healthy exercisers.
Pros
Decent rates for seniors
Discounts based on healthy lifestyles
Specific coverage for people with diabetes
Cons
Expensive for younger people
No temporary coverage
Customer service could be better
John Hancock provides unique perks to policyholders who log their exercise, doctor’s visits, and other healthy habits in a digital app. Consumers are eligible for retail discounts, policy discounts, and a free fitness tracker. While rates are competitive for people in their 50s and 60s, applicants age 40 and below may find lower prices elsewhere.
Liberty Mutual
3.1
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Liberty Mutual offers simplified issue whole and term life insurance and additional term life insurance options through a partner carrier, Protective.
Pros
No-medical-exam options are available
High financial and third-party ratings
Guaranteed convertible policy
Cons
Very high premiums
Overall lack of options
Can't apply online
Liberty Mutual is the third-largest property and casualty insurance company in the U.S. The company offers no-med options, including a simplified issue term life insurance policy that promises approval in as little as 10 minutes. Rates are higher than industry average.
Lincoln Financial
4.7
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Lincoln Financial offers a no-medical exam term life policy with quick decisions, plus affordable rates for shoppers of all age ranges.
Pros
Affordable for older applicants
No-med option available
Very fast turnaround
Benefits marijuana users
Cons
Expensive permanent policies
Few online tools
Lincoln Financial is one of our top choices for no-medical-exam term life insurance. Lincoln’s TermAccel plan offers high coverage at competitive rates for applicants up to age 60. People who don’t qualify for a TermAccel policy are still eligible for Lincoln’s standard term life insurance or whole life insurance policies.
MassMutual
3.8
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
MassMutual provides term and whole life insurance, plus a free term life insurance option for low-income families.
Pros
Immediate term policy available
Financially stable
Potential to earn dividends on whole life
Unique free policy for low-income families
Cons
Very high premiums
All policies require medical exam
No online application
MassMutual has very high financial confidence ratings from expert third-party agencies. These high ratings and the potential for dividends make MassMutual our top pick for whole life insurance. MassMutual also offers a quick-decision term life insurance policy, but rates are less competitive.
Mutual of Omaha
3.4
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Mutual of Omaha has competitive underwriting for a range of health conditions and strong financial and customer ratings.
Pros
Better rates for a range of health conditions
No-medical-exam options for older applicants
Strong financial and customer ratings
Cons
Policies are more expensive than the average
Slow turnaround time
Mutual of Omaha may offer lower rates to applicants with complex health conditions, like arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, term life insurance rates for healthier people are higher than average across all age groups. Mutual of Omaha’s burial insurance policies are recommended for people age 80 to 85 because of their more flexible coverage amounts and availability.
Pacific Life
4.6
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Pacific Life offers competitive rates at every age and solid coverage options for people with mental health concerns.
Pros
Affordable prices at every age
Strong financial ratings
Cons
No accelerated underwriting
Confusing carrier site
Pacific Life’s term life insurance rates are lower than many competitors’, even into older age groups. Pacific Life offers several permanent life insurance options in addition to its term life insurance policies. However, the company does not offer no-medical-exam life insurance at this time.
Principal
4.2
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Principal has competitive rates at every age bracket and favorable underwriting for a number of medical conditions. (Note: As of September 30, 2021, Principal no longer offers life insurance.)
Pros
Very competitive rates
Financially strong
Cons
Fewer customization options
Can’t update all policy information online
Principal no longer sells life insurance policies as of September 2021, but is maintaining its existing customer policies. Current customers will enjoy lower rates than the industry average. Principal also has high ratings across both financial ratings companies and customer service sites like the Better Business Bureau.
Protective
4.9
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Competitive rates, ease of use, and up to $50 million in coverage make Protective a top-tier choice for a straightforward life insurance policy.
Pros
One of the best values on the market
Variety of coverage amounts and term lengths
Cons
Slow application approval
Zero no-medical-exam options
Protective is our top life insurance company for 2022. Compared to other top carriers, Protective offers some of the most affordable term life rates, plus comprehensive coverage options like death benefits up to $50 million. However, Protective doesn’t offer any no-med exam policies.
Prudential
3.4
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Prudential has competitive underwriting for a range of medical conditions and is recommended for people age 60 to 65.
Pros
High financial ratings
Competitive underwriting for a range of medical conditions
Comprehensive online resources
Cons
Very high premiums
Mixed customer ratings
Cumbersome quote tool
Prudential has nearly 4 million policyholders and is almost 150 years old. Prudential is a great choice for people with common medical conditions like asthma, depression, and osteoporosis. However, applicants with fewer health issues are likely to find lower rates at another company.
SBLI
4.3
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
SBLI’s term life insurance and no-med options are competitively priced for healthier people under age 50.
Pros
No medical exams for Level Premium Term product
Fast turnaround time
Can apply, get a quote, and file claims online
Cons
High rates for applicants in their 50s
Few third-party customer ratings
SBLI offers lower-than-average rates for younger applicants, and people with few health concerns may qualify for a no-exam policy. However, older applicants may find more competitive pricing elsewhere. SBLI also provides several online policy management options, including an option to file claims online.
State Farm
3.6
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
State Farm offers term, whole, and universal life insurance options, including some policies that don’t require a medical exam.
Pros
Wide range of products available
No medical exams for some policies
Wide variety of riders
Cons
High rates
Few term lengths available
Policy changes must be made through agents
State Farm is one of the largest life insurance carriers in the U.S. and has 8 million life insurance customers. The company offers one no-med term life insurance policy for people age 16 to 45, but coverage tops out at $50,000. Expect higher term life insurance rates than the industry average.
Symetra
3.6
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Symetra’s term life insurance comes with high coverage amounts, ample rider options, and better-than-average rates for people with a history of cancer.
Pros
High coverage amounts
Excellent financial ratings
Can reconsider rates
Preferred rates for people with a history of cancer
Cons
Pricier than average
Few third-party ratings
Symetra’s high term life insurance coverage (up to $10 million) makes it worth considering for high-earning applicants, even with its higher-than-average rates. However, Symetra offers more competitive rates to people with a history of non-invasive or low-grade cancer. The company also offers some permanent life insurance options.
Transamerica
4.4
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
Transamerica may offer competitive term life insurance rates to people with common health conditions and no-med options for coverage under certain coverage amounts.
Pros
Competitive rates for term life insurance
No medical exam for people under a certain age or coverage amount
Former smokers may be eligible for lower rates
Cons
Uneven customer experience
Most policy changes require a paper form
Transamerica is one of the oldest and largest insurance companies in the U.S. and has been in business since 1906. Applicants can skip the medical exam if they're under age 70 and buying $100,000 to $250,000 in coverage or less. Transamerica may offer lower rates than other carriers if you have some health concerns like depression and kidney stones.
TruStage
3.1
Policygenius rating
How we score: Policygenius’ ratings are determined by our editorial team. Our methodology takes multiple factors into account, including pricing, financial ratings, quality of customer service, and other product-specific features.
TruStage offers no-exam policies with quick decisions, but term policies come with high premiums and short, five-year coverage periods and low coverage limits.
Pros
No medical exam requirement
Instant approval
Quick application
Cons
Premiums rise every five years
Very high premiums
Low coverage limits
Few riders available
TruStage has a simple, online application that promises fast decisions and no medical exam requirement to get covered. However, TruStage’s term life insurance coverage only lasts five years (compared to decades with other carriers) and coverage is only available up to $100,000 if you apply online ($300,000 if you apply through an agent or partner). Rates are also much higher than industry average, despite lower coverage amounts.
How to compare life insurance carriers
There’s no one-size-fits-all life insurance carrier. Depending on the kind of coverage you need and your health history, the best provider is unique to you. But sometimes you need a little help to weigh the pros and cons.
We looked at some of the top carriers side-by-side so you can easily compare and choose the right company for your situation. Still have questions? A Policygenius agent can help you make a decision based on your needs.
Our life insurance company ranking methodology
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.
At Policygenius, we want affordable and robust life insurance coverage to be easy to find, for everyone. Some of the carriers above are Policygenius partners that offer coverage through our insurance marketplace, while others aren’t. You’ll see a disclaimer on any reviews for our partner carriers.
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.
