Fortunly's Guide
Advertiser Disclosure

Best Life Insurance Companies in 2024

Written By
Julija A.
Updated
July 15,2023
Some or all of the products/services listed on this page are from our affiliate partners from which we receive commissions. This, however, does not influence the evaluations in our reviews. Learn more by reading our Advertiser Disclosure.

Regardless of how old you are, getting life insurance is one of the most important investments you can make because it provides a safety net for your loved ones after you’re gone, especially if you’re the main breadwinner of your family.

Still, before you find the right insurance policy to suit your lifestyle and wallet, you’ll also need to find a company you can trust. We’re here to help you with that.

Our list of life insurance companies was carefully tailored to provide customers with reliable insurance carriers that offer a variety of products and have a long history of transparent business dealings. Read on to find the one that suits you best.

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Top Life Insurance Providers for March 2024

Everyday Life Insurance Logo

Everyday Life Insurance

Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

4.5 stars
Overview

Created in 2018, Everyday Life Inc. is a reputable online insurance provider aggregator offering term, whole life, and accidental death insurance. Instead of simply offering a static quote, the company uses a calculator to crunch the numbers and provide custom-based coverage that best fits your needs and budget.

Read Full Review
AM Best: A+
Standard & Poor’s: A+
Fitch: N/A
BBB: A+

Coverage Amount:

$5,000 - uncapped

Get a Quote
AIG Logo

AIG

Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

5 stars
Overview

With roots dating back to 1919, AIG is one of the older companies in the United States. Thanks to its no-nonsense approach and diverse product offer, you can rely on this life and health insurance company for quality insurance.

Read Full Review
AM Best: A
Standard & Poor’s: A+
Fitch: A-
BBB: F (not accredited)

Coverage Amount:

$50,000 – $2 million

Get a Quote
Haven Life Logo

Haven Life

Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

4.5 stars
Overview

Haven Life is an up-and-coming agency founded in New York, in 2014. It’s a young company and one of your best bets if you’re looking for cheap term life insurance.

Read Full Review
AM Best: A++
Standard & Poor’s: AA+
Fitch: AA+
BBB: A+

Coverage Amount:

$100,000 – $3 million

Get a Quote
Mutual of Omaha Logo

Mutual of Omaha

Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

5 stars
Overview

Mutual of Omaha prides itself on its commitment to the consumer. Its high customer satisfaction scores and history of transparent business dealings make it one of the leading life insurance companies in the US.

Read Full Review
AM Best: A+
Standard & Poor’s: AA-
Fitch: Not listed
BBB: A+

Coverage Amount:

$100,000 – $1 million

Get a Quote
Lincoln Financial Logo

Lincoln Financial

Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

4.5 stars
Overview

Founded in 1905 and named after Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Financial is one of the most reputable life insurance companies on our list. It excels at providing life insurance to older customers and customers with complex health conditions such as diabetes.

Read Full Review
AM Best: A+
Standard & Poor’s: Not listed
Fitch: A-
BBB: Not Rated

Coverage Amount:

$100,000 - $1 million

Get a Quote
SBLI Logo

SBLI

Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

4.5 stars
Overview

SBLI offers competitive prices and quick underwriting processing, and based on our life insurance company ratings, this is one of the most affordable companies for individuals across all age groups.

Read Full Review
AM Best: A-
Standard & Poor’s: A-
Fitch: Not listed
BBB: A+

Coverage Amount:

$100,000 – $50 million

Get a Quote
John Hancock Logo

John Hancock

Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

4 stars
Overview

The history of John Hancock dates back to 1862. This life insurance company is one of the biggest globally. The thing that makes this company unique is that it ties its policies to the John Hancock Vitality Program.

Read Full Review
AM Best: A+
Standard & Poor’s: AA-
Fitch: A+
BBB: A+

Coverage Amount:

$25,000 – $65 million

Get a Quote
Sproutt Logo

Sproutt

Our Rating

Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.

4.3 stars
Overview

Sproutt is an online insurance marketplace that harnesses technology to make life coverage more accessible. Although focused on young and healthy individuals, the provider still offers solid options to older applicants with existing health conditions.

Read Full Review
AM Best: N/A
Standard & Poor’s: N/A
Fitch: N/A
BBB: A+

Coverage Amount:

$50,000 - $5 million

Get a Quote
Quick Breakdown

8 Best Life Insurance Companies for 2024:

  • AIG: Best premium rates
  • Haven Life: Best for simple application
  • Everyday Life Insurance: Best for no medical exam applications

  • Mutual of Omaha: Best for customer service
  • Lincoln Financial: Best for seniors
  • SBLI: Best for fast policy turnaround
  • John Hancock: Best for customers with certain medical conditions
  • Sproutt: Best for young and healthy applicants

Detailed Reviews of Life Insurance Companies

Everyday Life Insurance

Everyday Life Insurance Logo Get a Quote

On Official Website

AM Best:
A+
Standard & Poor’s:
A+
Fitch:
N/A
BBB:
A+
  • No health exam from over 90% of the applicants
  • Policies from trusted underwriters
  • Rapid approval

Overview

Everyday Life Insurance is a digital life insurance company with a twist that’s licensed to operate in all 50 states. The company offers policies designed to lower coverage and costs as your demands change over time, instead of providing the same coverage for the duration of a client's life and thus charging a higher monthly premium.

Everyday Life aims to make life insurance more affordable and accessible by avoiding unnecessary coverage add-ons and using technology to streamline the process.

Financial Security and History of the Company

Everyday Life Inc. is a digital life insurance advisor and brokerage founded in 2018 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

The company boasts an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and is backed by the Financial Health Network. Everyday Life Inc.’s list of insurers includes: FidelityLife, William Penn, Bestow, Assurity, BannerLife, and SBLI.

As one of the best-rated life insurance companies, Everyday Life offers its users a unique online calculator equipped with its proprietary Predictive Protection™ Technology, to determine exactly how much coverage they need within minutes, without any paperwork.

Not only will you get your quote in no time, but you'll be able to sign up just as swiftly, since 90% of applicants won't need to go through a health exam. Finally, you'll be 80% more likely to get approved at the quoted price, which is double what you can expect from other providers.

Product Range

The company has several types of policies: term life insurance, whole life insurance, and accidental death insurance. Everyday Life reviews whether you need temporary coverage or a more permanent solution, and matches you with the best option.

Accidental death insurance is a flagship product of Everyday Life Inc. It is a policy that pays out a death benefit if the policyholder dies as a result of an accident. Its coverage ranges from $50,000 to $350,000 for ages 18 through 60, and it's renewable until the age of 80.

This package doesn't require a medical exam and boasts a quick and easy application process that takes just two business days.

Term life insurance provides coverage for a set period. Everyday Life’s partners have policies lasting 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 years; the amount can range from $25,000 and might not have an upper cap, depending on your plan.

Everyday Life will review your term life insurance application as long as you’re between 18 and 75 years old. You won’t need to undergo a medical exam either, and you'll get Instant coverage upon approval.

Finally, whole life insurance is the most comprehensive plan, but it also comes with a higher price tag. Everyday Life offers whole life insurance policies from $5,000 to $35,000 for applicants ages 50 through 85.

You can get perks such as cash value accumulation, RPU, and automatic premium loans. Everyday Life guarantees level premiums for the life of the policy, so you'll never have to worry about your rates going up.

Monthly rates start at as little as $6.91 per month, depending on your chosen policy, which is lower than most companies on our list.

Customer Satisfaction

Judging by Trustpilot, Everyday Life Inc. might be one of the best life insurance companies in the US. Namely, the company boasts a high 4.4-star rating (out of 5), with most of the customers praising the swift and easy application process, as well as the honest and straightforward approach to quotes.

The company has also acquired an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and all of its underwriters boast ratings with BBB and AM Financial Strength that span from A- to A+.

Bottom Line

Everyday Life Inc. is an online insurance brokerage that connects its applicants with reputable underwriters. It's a one-stop shop for all your life insurance needs, with comprehensive coverage options and competitive rates.

As one of the best life insurance companies with ratings from customers and juries to back up its financial stability and customer service, Everyday Life Inc. offers an excellent value proposition to most people looking to get insured.

You can get a quote and apply for coverage in just minutes, and you're likely to be approved at the quoted price. All in all, applying to Everyday Life is a no-brainer for those in need of affordable long-term insurance policies.

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AIG

AIG Logo Get a Quote

On Official Website

AM Best rating:
A
Standard & Poor’s:
A+
Fitch:
A-
BBB:
F (not accredited)
  • Competitive rates
  • High financial security
  • Various policy riders

With roots that date back to 1919, AIG is one of the older life insurance companies in the United States. It has a long history of customer satisfaction and prosperous business dealings. You can rely on this life and health insurance company for quality insurance products.

Expect to see the most competitive rates in the industry and experienced insurance agents who will make sure you pick the product that’s right for you.

AIG should be the first choice for customers who have complex health histories and are worried that they might not be able to get a good deal on monthly premiums. AIG will provide you with excellent term insurance options at great rates.

Financial Security and History of the Company

AIG is the fifth US insurance company by total assets, and it has been around for over a century. This life insurance company has an A rating by AM Best, indicating that it’ll be around for a long time to come. You can apply for insurance with it and feel safe knowing that, when the time comes, it’ll cash out.

Product Range

AIG offers both term life insurance and whole life insurance, plus several policy riders for consumers who want to customize their policy. When it comes to term insurance, here are the riders you can expect: child protection rider, accelerated death benefits, and disability waiver of premium.

A child protection rider provides insurance for children from 15 days to 19 years of age, and it allows for $500-$25,000 worth of coverage.

An accelerated death benefit lets you speed up your death benefit by 50% if you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and a disability waiver of premium lets you waive all premiums if you become completely disabled.

You can expect some of the cheapest life insurance policies in the industry from AIG. The company’s average monthly premiums for healthy people in their twenties are about $25, compared to the industry standard of $26. Those in their fifties can expect the quotes to be tripled.

When it comes to whole life insurance, AIG offers guaranteed issue insurance. You won’t have to subject yourself to a medical exam, but the policy is very expensive.

As for payment, AIG accepts bank checks, automatic account drafts, and credit card drafts (for the first payment only).

Customer Satisfaction

While AIG is often found among the highly rated life insurance companies, consumer reviews are quite mixed. There’s a huge number of satisfied customers who have left positive reviews over the years, but nonetheless, AIG only earned a 2/5 J.D. Power rating.

The most common complaint is that it takes a long time for applications to get processed - in fact, AIG is one of the slowest companies on our list.

Despite this, consumers are satisfied with payment terms, and the sheer number of customers makes it obvious this is a trustworthy company.

Bottom Line

AIG offers some of the most favorable life insurance rates on the market. If you’re looking for competitive pricing, this company should be your very first choice.

+ Show more

Haven Life

Haven Life Logo Get a Quote

On Official Website

AM Best:
A++
Standard & Poor’s:
AA+
Fitch:
AA+
BBB:
A+
  • Simple application process
  • Affordable rates
  • Special features with every policy

Overview

Haven Life is an up-and-coming agency founded in New York in 2014. The company is one of your best bets if you’re looking for cheap term life insurance.

Despite being new in the market dominated by venerable centenarians, Haven Life is a fairly secure insurance provider backed by MassMutual, a Springfield-based company that’s been in business for over 160 years.

Haven Life’s main aim is to make the hassle of insurance shopping as straightforward and easy as possible. Everything is managed online through a simple interface.

Financial Security and History of the Company

According to the AM Best rating, Haven Life is a secure company you can trust your money with. Their biggest downside is the fact it doesn’t have a long record - with not even a decade in business, it doesn’t have the experience larger companies have acquired over the years.

However, it’s backed by a much larger company, MassMutual. MassMutual has more than a century and a half in business, and the fact that it’s backing Haven Life makes it obvious that the company is worth your time.

It’s one of the most financially secure term life insurance companies on the market, and its youth only means it’s eager to gather a good client base by offering competitive rates.

Product Range

Haven Life doesn’t offer permanent insurance. Its product range is limited to term insurance only. According to the company, this is what its client base demands the most, so it specializes in it and offers some of the most affordable rates on the market.

It also has a special feature called Haven Life Plus you can add to your policy. This feature enables several benefits:

  • 15% discount on one CVS MinuteClinic service
  • An online deposit box for you and five family members
  • A digital service to create an online will with no charge for the first year

Haven Life earns its high life insurance ratings due to the company’s competitive rates based on your application and third-party data that it gathers during the underwriting process.

Customer Satisfaction

Haven Life has excellent customer service, and consumers are generally satisfied with its insurance products. Its 3/5 J.D. Power score is average. On the one hand, most reviewers praise Haven Life’s quick policy turnaround and an easy online application process.

On the other hand, everything is done online, so you won’t get in contact with agents who could help you. However, the company’s website offers a live chat option you can access at any point.

Bottom Line

Haven Life is a new insurer, but it offers cheap life insurance and is backed by MassMutual, which has a long, successful history. Everything here is done online, so if you’re looking to avoid insurance salesmen and need something affordable, this is a great option to test.

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Mutual of Omaha

Mutual of Omaha Logo Get a Quote

On Official Website

AM Best:
A+
Standard & Poor’s:
AA-
Fitch:
Not listed
BBB:
A+
  • Transparent fees
  • Great customer service
  • Wide variety of products

Overview

Mutual of Omaha is the kind of company that prides itself on commitment to the consumer. Its high customer satisfaction scores and a history of transparent business dealings make it one of the top life insurance companies in America.

They are generally oriented toward younger customers, and if you’re currently in good health, you could get some of the most competitive rates on the market.

Mutual of Omaha is also great for people with specific health conditions. Since different companies treat various health conditions differently, it’s often worth shopping around to see who will give you a better rate.

Sometimes one company will give you better life insurance deals if you have diabetes than another one would, and Mutual of Omaha offers competitive rates for some of the more common health conditions.

Financial Security and History of the Company

The company has been in business for more than a century. You don’t need to worry about whether it’ll be around when you need it the most, and more than half a million customers can confirm it’s the real deal.

Mutual of Omaha is easily the top choice for US life insurance if you’re on the hunt for straightforward insurance contracts where all of the important details are clearly outlined. It has an A+ rating with AM Best and a long list of insurance products to suit your needs.

Product Range

Mutual of Omaha has a great range of products to choose from. It offers both term and whole life insurance and various riders to help you customize your policy.

The most straightforward term life insurance is called Term Life Answers, and you can choose from five riders: child protection rider, other insured rider, disability waiver, unemployment waiver, and accelerated death benefit. Overall, this is one of the finest life insurance policies in regards to premium rates.

Mutual of Omaha also offers Term Life Express, which gives a no-exam option to customers who are applying for a policy that starts at $25,000 and goes up to $300,000. Term Life Express offers the same types of riders as Term Life Answers.

Mutual of Omaha’s whole life insurance is called Living Product, and it doesn’t require a medical exam. It’s a very costly policy. You can expect accelerated death benefit and accidental death benefit riders.

Customer Satisfaction

Overall, customers are very satisfied with Mutual of Omaha. Complaints are mostly related to the fact that you can’t update your insurance policy online and the fact there’s a slower turnaround for activating the policy.

Other than this, customers are happy. A lot of reviews claim this is one of the best choices of life insurance companies for independent agents.

Bottom Line

Mutual of Omaha is a great company, but the policies are better suited to either healthy people or those with common health conditions such as cancer, sleep apnea, or high cholesterol. The company offers great rates to customers with these conditions.

+ Show more

Lincoln Financial

Lincoln Financial Logo Get a Quote

On Official Website

AM Best rating:
A+
Standard & Poor’s:
Not listed
Fitch:
A-
BBB:
Not Rated
  • Best choice for seniors
  • Excellent for people with complex health histories
  • Many life insurance policies offered

Overview

Founded in 1905 and named after Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Financial is one of the most reputable life insurance companies on our list.

It excels at providing life insurance to older customers and those with complex health conditions such as diabetes. It offers them some of the most competitive rates. If you think your chronic health problems make you ineligible for cheap insurance, then this company could be just the one for you.

Financial Security and History of the Company

With over 17 million customers, Lincoln Financial is a reliable company that most certainly won’t go bust. When the time comes for your beneficiaries to make use of this investment, they’ll be fully covered.

Lincoln Financial offers good life insurance products, and its AM Best rating is A+, meaning this is a certified and trustworthy carrier.

Product Range

Lincoln Financial offers the following products: term life insurance, universal life insurance, variable universal life insurance, and indexed universal insurance. Indexed universal insurance offers cash-value opportunities linked to the market’s index performance.

When it comes to term life insurance, these are the riders you can choose from: child protection rider, accelerated death benefit, and disability waiver. You can expect affordable life insurance for seniors, but slightly more expensive premiums for younger individuals than is the industry standard.

Premiums can be paid through automatic bank withdrawals or checks on a monthly basis, but you can also use your credit or debit card for the very first payment. If you want to change your policy, you won’t be able to do it online — a phone call is required.

Customer Satisfaction

Lincoln Financial’s J.D. Power rating is 3 out of 5, meaning this company could be doing a little better. The company has a lot of customers, and complaints mostly involve the overly long application process. We included Lincoln Financial in our list because consumers are generally very satisfied with its policies.

Bottom Line

Lincoln Financial is one of the largest insurance companies in the United States, and it’s a great choice for senior customers and customers with complex medical histories. If you’re young and healthy, other companies could give you better rates, but otherwise, this is a great choice.

+ Show more

SBLI

SBLI Logo Get a Quote

On Official Website

AM Best:
A-
Standard & Poor’s:
A-
Fitch:
Not listed
BBB:
A+
  • Company with over a century of experience
  • Fast turnaround
  • Online processing

Overview

SBLI offers competitive prices and quick underwriting processing, and based on our life insurance company listings, it’s one of the most affordable companies for individuals across all age groups as long as they are in good health.

SBLI is a smaller carrier, so it hasn’t been graded by J.D. Power or Consumers Advocate. Expect a faster turnaround time than usual, good insurance agents to help you out, and added benefits such as online processing.

Financial Security and History of the Company

SBLI has been around for over a century. It has more than half a million customers. The company is financially stable and reliable and has an AM Best rating of A, meaning that it can easily handle demands and meet the obligations of policyholders.

This life insurance company is likely to be able to pay out any amount for death benefits after your passing, so you’ll be putting the future of your family in very safe hands.

Product Range

SBLI offers both term and whole life insurance, and finds itself among the life insurance company choices on our list because it offers competitive rates along with transparent terms and conditions.

SBLI offers the following riders to its customers: child protection, disability rider, accelerated death benefit, and accidental death benefit.

SBLI also offers a unique insurance product - SmartTerm 360. Since customers sometimes end up overpaying for their life insurance, SmartTerm 360 was designed to evolve over time as your needs change during your lifetime.

You still get a federal income tax-free death benefit, but the insurance provides more specific coverage and makes sure you save money by keeping you from being overinsured.

SBLI offers competitive rates to policyholders of all ages, but only if they’re in good health. If you have common conditions such as diabetes or high cholesterol, you might end up having to pay more for your monthly premiums.

If you don’t have any health conditions, then this is an excellent choice for a term life insurance policy. SBLI term life products are available in all the states except for New York.

Customer Satisfaction

Customers generally praise SBLI’s fast application process and turnaround time, and the company gets good reviews across the board. Its fast turnaround process is due to accelerated underwriting you can apply for, which doesn’t require an attending physician statement.

To apply for fast underwriting, you must be under 60, a nonsmoker, in good health, and live a low-risk lifestyle.

Bottom Line

This is the right company for life insurance for people who don’t have any serious medical conditions and want a reliable, professional agency to handle their insurance.

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John Hancock

John Hancock Logo Get a Quote

On Official Website

AM Best:
A+
Standard & Poor’s:
AA-
Fitch:
A+
BBB:
A+
  • Financially secure company
  • Great for applicants with certain medical conditions
  • Online processing

Overview

The history of John Hancock reaches all the way back to 1862, and the company is now regarded as one of the leading life insurers in the world.

The thing that makes John Hancock unique is that it ties all its types of life insurance policies to a health and lifestyle program called the John Hancock Vitality Program. It comes with a free FitBit and encourages you to lead a healthy life.

John Hancock is owned by a Canadian company called Manulife Financial.

Financial Security and History of the Company

John Hancock holds an A+ AM Best rating, meaning that it’s financially strong and will be around when the time comes for your beneficiaries to collect insurance death benefits. The company has been in business for over a century and a half, and it’s not likely to go belly up any time soon.

Product Range

You can easily get life insurance policy quotes on John Hancock’s website. It has a useful calculator that makes it easy to get approximate rates if you answer a few questions about your age, sex, and lifestyle.

John Hancock offers term life insurance, permanent life insurance, and guaranteed-issue whole life insurance. Compared to other agencies, it has competitive pricing, even for customers who are dealing with health issues.

Life Insurance company ratings indicate that John Hancock offers excellent coverage for heart attack patients, high cholesterol patients, high blood pressure patients, and even former tobacco users.

This company allows for electronic applications, but you can’t make too many amends to your policy online. To do things like changing your beneficiaries or change your address, you’ll have to give them a phone call and provide a few paper forms.

Customer Satisfaction

John Hancock is widely regarded as one of the leading life insurance companies in the US, but a number of policyholders have had issues with its customer service in the past.

Some of the biggest complaints about John Hancock is that it has long, complex application forms and that it takes longer than average for applications to get approved.

Bottom Line

If you have a health condition and you’re worried about the cost of insurance, check John Hancock’s life insurance quotes. The company offers competitive prices and is both reliable and financially solvent.

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Sproutt

Sproutt Logo Get a Quote

On Official Website

AM Best:
N/A
Standard & Poor’s:
N/A
Fitch:
N/A
BBB:
A+
  • Connects prime candidates with low rates
  • Medical exam isn’t always required
  • Access to human advisors if necessary

Overview

Sproutt is a fintech lending marketplace that promises to match your needs and budget with the right life insurance products taking into account your lifestyle choices such as your sleeping pattern and how much time you spend with your family.

Although primarily geared toward young and healthy people, Sproutt also caters to high-risk applicants who may struggle to find affordable options from other life insurance companies.

Financial Security and History of the Company

Unlike most other operators on our list, Sproutt is an insurance marketplace that connects life insurance policy seekers with the most suitable carriers.

Launched in December 2019, this platform is a part of the insurtech network, a new wave of insurance startups that aim to simplify the process of buying insurance by using proprietary technology to match applicants with suitable vendors.

Product Range

Types of life insurance offered on Sproutt’s website include term, whole life, universal, variable, simplified issue, and guaranteed issue life insurance. Coverage amounts range between $50,000 and $5 million.

Requesting a life insurance quote takes about 10 to 15 minutes. To start the procedure, you’ll be prompted to fill out a health assessment questionnaire.

In addition to sharing your personal and contact details, annual income, and the number of dependents, you’ll also be asked to provide information about your basic health history and lifestyle, including travel plans and potentially hazardous hobbies.

Note that Sproutt also inquires about recent traffic violations and felony convictions.

After filling out the form, you’ll receive your Quality of Life (QL) Index score, which will be used to match you with the most suitable provider based on your preferences, budget, and lifestyle.

The cost of online life insurance provided by Sproutt will ultimately depend on your preconditions, term, and coverage amount and may vary between $10 and $90.

Customer Satisfaction

Accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2019, Sproutt currently holds an A+ rating for interaction and customer support. At the time of writing this review, there were no reviews or complaints recorded by the BBB.

On Trustpilot, the insurance marketplace earned 4.8 out of 5 stars based on a few hundred reviews. Satisfied customers commented on the speed and simplicity of the buying experience, particularly praising the team’s response time.

Those few who weren’t so happy with Sproutt’s life insurance policies mentioned they received incorrect information about third-party vendors.

Bottom Line

Although one of the newest online life insurance companies, Sproutt has already managed its place in the competitive market. Given its quick and easy application process and affordable policies provided by reputable insurers, this tech-based insurance startup seems to be heading in the right direction.

The only problem may be that the company doesn’t offer as many options for older and unhealthy people as it does to young and healthy individuals.

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5 Reasons You Need Life Insurance

You might be wondering why you even need life insurance and whether insurance companies are just lying to you when they claim it’s a necessity. We’re here to answer, and we’ll be straightforward - life insurance is generally a good idea.

It’s not necessary, and there are other ways to cover for your family and make sure they’re settled, but insurance does make it easier. As long as you pick the right life insurance, you’ll benefit.

We’ve decided to outline the reasons we think insurance is good for you:

It Makes Sure Your Family Is Covered

This is the main reason people buy life insurance plans. In the case you suddenly pass away, your family could be left stranded. No one expects great misfortunes to befall them, and yet they do sometimes happen. While most families have family members who live well into old age, not everyone is so lucky.

Disease and accidents also happen, and if you’re caught completely off guard, you might have a very hard time taking such a hit. Your family could be left with more household and childcare expenses and no financial backing.

If you check life insurance quotes online, you’ll see that insurance can actually be quite affordable, especially for younger people in good health. It’s a small price to pay for something that’ll ultimately give you and your family a strong safety net.

It Gives You Peace of Mind

No matter what happens, you’re covered. Your family is covered. Everyone is safe. There’s a lot of comfort in knowing that you’ve done all you could to keep your loved ones out of harm’s way and provide for them.

If you find the right term insurance option, you’ll be able to sleep better at night because everything will practically be arranged. If you start investing in this while you’re still young, it definitely won’t eat too much into your monthly budget, and you’ll get plenty of benefits for a small price.

It Helps You Pay Off Debt

Funerals are expensive, car loans are more expensive, and mortgages are yet even more expensive. Debt can pile up, and if you’re not there to pay it off, the burden will fall onto your family. When it comes to life insurance, a good company won’t let this happen.

Don’t allow your children and spouse to suffer a financial burden in addition to an emotional burden in the case of your sudden death.

It Improves Your Children’s Financial Security

As your child grows up, they’ll start having dreams about how they want to live their life. Perhaps they’ll want to get into a pricey college and get the best education in the world, or maybe they’ll want to start their own business.

Maybe they’ll meet the love of their lives and want to organize a grand wedding. With the right term life insurance company, you could make their dreams come true.

Until they grow up and become fully independent, extra money could help them get the financial backing to pursue successful careers and relationships.

It Helps You Leave An Inheritance

If you don’t have any assets to leave to your children, life insurance could actually help you create an inheritance. Once you choose the right policy and find the life insurance company that best suits your needs, you can name your family members as your beneficiaries.

Pay your premiums regularly, and your children will still have some solid financial backing even after you’re gone.

Evaluation Criteria

Our Methodology for Reviewing Life Insurance Companies

At Fortunly, we never leave our readers in the dark. We believe that everyone should have a firm grip on their finances, and knowing what you’re getting into when you buy a financial product is the first step toward that goal.

As with every review, we’ll provide you with each and every detail of how we picked the most reliable life insurance companies.

In addition to our methodology, we’ve also decided to include a little guide. If you want to pick a suitable life insurance company in the USA, then you need to understand what life insurance is in the first place.

We’ll explain the difference between whole life insurance and term life insurance and tell you what the companies consider when deciding which quote to give you. To read the explanations, just scroll past the review section.

Now, to get back to the methodology. Here are the things we took into consideration when making our list of life insurance companies.

Company History and Financial Strength

There are a lot of startup insurance companies popping up every year. They offer great deals made to draw new customers in, and you might be tempted to jump at a good opportunity.

However, caution is advised here. You’re committing to something that you’ll have to keep paying for decades to come, and you want to find the kind of company that can really pay its claims many years down the road.

You’ll find the right life insurance policy only if you carefully consider the company’s history and its financial strength. We’ve done just that for you.

We made sure to research the history and financial backing of every company on our list. These companies won’t scam you or waste your money.

AM Best Rating

AM Best is a global agency that provides credit ratings for insurance companies. It’s internationally recognized for its analysis of a company’s creditworthiness and financial strength. If you want to know which places are worth their salt, AM Best can tell you.

You’ll find reliable life insurance only with companies that are rated B or higher with AM Best.

J.D. Power

J.D. Power is an agency that rates companies on customer satisfaction and reviews provided over the years. J.D. Power uses a scale from 1 to 1,000, and it can help you find good term life insurance companies based on consumer reports. Good companies generally have a score higher than 700.

Customer Satisfaction

In addition to the official J.D. Power scores, we’ve also examined a randomized assortment of reviews we found online.

We’ve looked through reviews from the Better Business Bureau along with a few other sources - just to make sure we get a more complete picture. In our experience, it’s not a good idea to only trust one extremely positive or extremely negative rating.

Product Selection

There are many types of life insurance. We gave the highest life insurance company ratings to agencies that offered a wide variety of products to their consumers.

Every individual’s needs are unique, and you’ll need to find the kind of place that is both reliable and has the type of life insurance that you can afford. We also want you to know what kind of options you can expect to find.

Here’s a rundown of the types of life insurance you can find:

  • Term life insurance
  • Whole life insurance
  • Permanent life insurance
  • Universal life insurance
  • Variable life insurance
  • Universal variable life insurance
  • Final expense insurance
  • Group life insurance
  • Guaranteed life insurance

Term Life Insurance 

Term life insurance is the most straightforward kind of insurance. You’re paying exclusively for the death benefit that goes toward your beneficiaries after you pass away, and all of the largest life insurance companies offer this type of product.

This benefit is usually paid out as a lump sum, but it can also be paid in monthly payments or annuities.

These policies are usually aimed toward young, healthy people, and they are paid over a period of 20-30 years. The premiums for young, healthy people are usually around $30-$40.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance is about six to 10 times more expensive than term life insurance. It stays in effect as long as you pay your premiums, and it’s a financial product that’s supposed to be a mix of insurance and investment.

Your beneficiaries will still get a death benefit after you pass, but there’s also a cash value component to whole life insurance. Cash value is basically a savings account.

In general, this isn’t a great way to get the lowest rates for life insurance because you’ll have to pay much more toward your premiums than with term insurance, and for the first five to 10 years, most of the premiums will go toward the death benefit instead of the cash value.

After you start paying more toward the cash value, you might get dividends, depending on the terms of the company where you purchase insurance.

Universal Life Insurance

Similarly to whole life insurance, universal life insurance comes with both a death benefit and a cash value. Its main selling point is that policyholders can change the premium and death benefit amounts without having to get a whole new policy. 

You will have to pay a premium minimum to keep the policy in force, but you can use the cash value to pay off your minimum. When comparing life insurance companies, we found that a lot of the best ones offer this financial product in their repertoire.

Universal life insurance changes according to the market. The current market interest rates will influence the insurance interest rates, making this a tricky financial product to manage.

Variable Life Insurance

Variable life insurance is also similar to whole life insurance, but the cash-value component is different. The cash-value is placed on the stock market, so it varies a lot and can cause both potential gains and losses.

This is a series of mutual fund-like subaccounts, and you can only choose from the investment options available through your policy. The rest of the stock market investments won’t be available to you.

This insurance product is risky because it requires some stock market knowledge to make it work. However, if you have investment experience, this can be a great choice. Just make sure to pick life insurance carriers that will outline the terms of this product transparently.

Variable Universal Life Insurance

Take variable life insurance, universal life insurance, and voila, you get the mishmash that is variable universal life insurance. This product takes adjustable premium and death benefit amounts from universal life insurance and the investment options from variable life insurance. 

It’s kind of a jack of all trades and master of none. You get life insurance, but it can be pricier than term life insurance, and you get investment options, but it’s a lot more complicated than simply investing in the stock market separately.

However, it can be a good choice for people who want to keep everything in one place. If you like this type of product, read our life insurance reviews to find out which companies offer it.

Final Expense Insurance

Final expense insurance is all about your literal final expense - the funeral. This product covers everything from medical stays to cremation, which can pile up to $8,000.

This insurance can be attractive to older people who haven’t applied for insurance of other types and don’t want to burden their families with the cost of their funeral. It’s relatively expensive given the low coverage and high premiums you’ll have to pay.

However, every good life insurance company for seniors will almost always offer this type of product, and it’s a great option to consider if funeral costs are your only worry.

Bear in mind that this type of product often has a cash value component that grows over time, and that you’ll have to fill out a health questionnaire.

Simplified Issue Life Insurance

The biggest benefit of simplified issue life insurance is that it lets you skip the medical exam that’s usually required by insurance agencies.

Medical exams are standard procedures that help agencies determine what kind of premium to set, and they’re usually not an issue for people who are young and healthy.

Simplified issue life insurance lets you skip exams entirely, but you’re still required to fill out a questionnaire that contains questions about your health and lifestyle.

You’ll be asked whether you’re a smoker, whether you’ve been diagnosed with a serious illness, and whether you exercise regularly.

Every senior life insurance company with an AM Best rating will offer this type of service but bear in mind that it comes at a cost.

Premiums will generally be more expensive by default, and it’s not guaranteed that you’ll get better rates than you would with simple term life insurance.

Guaranteed Life Insurance

Guaranteed life insurance is similar to simplified life insurance, but you get to skip even the health questionnaire. All you need to tell your insurer is your age, sex, and state of residence, and they’ll cover you for a pretty hefty price.

This is an expensive financial product, but it’s a good option for older people who have a hard time finding life insurance. Basically every life insurance company will offer it as an option if you’re a senior citizen and don’t mind paying higher premiums.

Just to make sure this really pays off, try getting quotes for regular term insurance first before opting for this product.

FAQ

What is term life insurance?

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Term life insurance is the kind of insurance that lasts for a predetermined period of time - a term. It’s among the most affordable insurance products, and all of the life insurance companies offer it in their repertoire of products.

Term insurance is there to create a safety net that’ll help you cover unexpected costs or debt, and if you die before the term is up, your beneficiaries (usually family members), will get the death benefit that is usually paid in the form of a lump sum.

This lump sum can be used to cover the costs of the funeral, to pay the bills, to pay college for your children, or in any other way your beneficiaries want.

What is the best life insurance for seniors?

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Lincoln Financial is one of the top companies for senior life insurance. It offers affordable premium rates and several policies where no medical examination is required.

What is whole life insurance?

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Whole life insurance covers you throughout your whole life, but it’s a lot more expensive than term insurance. You’ll be paying more on a monthly basis to get the benefits of coverage, but you’ll also enjoy some cash value benefits that term insurance doesn’t have.

Usually, the worst life insurance companies will try to convince you that whole life insurance is a better idea, but in reality, both whole and life insurance have their benefits and drawbacks.

What is the difference between whole and term life insurance?

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Term insurance covers you for anywhere between 10 and 30 years. Whole life insurance covers you for your entire life. Whole life insurance is more expensive and more difficult to adjust, but it gives you some cash value which functions as an investment tool. Large life insurance providers usually have both of these products, though life insurance rates will be different.

Which is better, term or life insurance?

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For most people, term insurance is a better option because it’s cheaper, and generally speaking, it covers everything it needs to cover. With whole life insurance, you could end up paying a lot more and ending up overinsured. Check our reviews to find which companies offer the best conditions to cover you.

Which company is the best for life insurance?

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AIG made it to the very first spot on our list of the leading life insurance companies. It’s a company with a long history of successful business dealings that treats its customers with respect and openness. With AIG, expect some of the best rates and insurance products in the industry.