Looking for life insurance with fast approvals, even if you enjoy cigars or chew tobacco? Cincinnati Life might be for you.
In this review, we cover Cincinnati’s life insurance policies and insurance underwriting.
Company Overview
Cincinnati Life Insurance Company is part of the Cincinnati Financial Corporation, a Fortune 500 company founded in 1950. While known for auto, home, and business coverage, Cincinnati also offers individual life insurance policies with unique advantages.
They serve customers across the U.S. (except California and New York for some products) and are best known life insurers for their strong financial stability and tobacco-friendly underwriting.
Financial Strength
Cincinnati Life holds top-tier ratings from major financial agencies, showing they’re a reliable company to back your coverage:
- AM Best: “A+”
- Fitch: “A+”
- Moody’s: “A3”
- S&P: “A+”
These ratings indicate that Cincinnati Life is financially strong and has a solid track record of meeting its claims obligations.
Product Review
Cincinnati Life offers a full lineup of term and permanent life insurance, with options for both low-cost coverage and cash value growth.
Termsetter – Level Term Life Insurance
Cincinnati’s flagship term product, Termsetter, offers flexible coverage and a strong underwriting program.
Their product competes against top term companies, including Banner Life, Protective, Pacific Life, and Symetra.
Highlights include:
- Minimum face amount – $25,000
- Term lengths – 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years
- Conversion available
- Underwriting rate classes:
- Preferred Plus
- Preferred
- Standard Plus
- Standard
- Preferred Smoker
- Standard Smoker
- Riders:
- Accelerated Benefits
- Children’s Term Life Insurance
- Accidental Death
- Disability
Sample Cincinnati Term Life Insurance Rates
How competitive are term life insurance rates from Cincy? Rates tend to be in the top 10 for most categories.
Male – Sample Quotes – Annual Rates – 20-year term life insurance – CA – Preferred Plus rate class.
| Age | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | $162.50 | $265.00 | $485.00 |
| 45 | $322.50 | $585.00 | $1075.00 |
| 55 | $797.50 | $1500.00 | $2875.00 |
| 60 | $1462.50 | $2835.00 | $5425.00 |
Female – Sample Quotes – Annual Rates – 20-year term life insurance – CA – Preferred Plus rate class.
| Age | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | $140.00 | $230.00 | $395.00 |
| 45 | $265.00 | $460.00 | $835.00 |
| 55 | $587.50 | $1100.00 | $2045.00 |
| 60 | $1037.50 | $1985.00 | $3735.00 |
Termsetter ROP is a return of premium term life policy available in 20, 25, and 30-year term lengths.
Permanent Life Insurance
Cincinnati Life also offers several permanent life insurance products:
- Guaranteed Whole Life
- Heritage UL
- Lifesetter Flex UL
The Guaranteed Whole Life policy offers several premium options:
- Level pay for all years
- 10 Pay
- Single premium
- Paid up at 65
You may purchase additional paid-up life insurance with additional riders.
If you’re looking for whole life, I recommend comparing rates to MassMutual, Guardian, New York Life, Northwestern Mutual, and Penn Mutual.
Heritage Universal Life
The Heritage Universal Life policy offers guaranteed insurability to age 121, and the Lifesetter policy provides the potential to accumulate cash value.
- Riders:
- Accelerated Benefit
- Children’s Term Life Insurance
- Chronic and Terminal Illness Accelerated (Heritage)
- Accidental Death Benefit (Heritage)
- Disability Waiver of Monthly Deduction (Heritage)
- Insured Insurability (Heritage)
The Insured Insurability rider is pretty unique. Foresters, Assurity, and Nationwide are companies that offer similar riders.
For any permanent life insurance policy, we’ll provide full company illustrations and comparisons to other companies such as North American and United of Omaha.
Underwriting Review
Cincinnati Life offers several types of life insurance for you to consider.
Life insurance is easy with the Rapid Review accelerated underwriting program.
You may be approved in as little as three days if you qualify.
Accelerated underwriting highlights:
- Issue ages 18-50
- Face amounts from $100,000 – $1,000,000
- Term lengths – 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year terms. ROP Term 20, 25, and 30 years.
- Underwriting class – Standard non-smoker or better
- Residency – All states except CA and NY.
- Cigar, pipe, dip, snuff, chewing tobacco, and marijuana use (12x per month) are okay.
Insureds who use cigarettes, e-cig/vape, hookah, gum, or patches cannot use accelerated underwriting.
Non-Medical Disqualifications from Accelerated Underwriting
If any of the following apply to you, accelerated underwriting with Cincinnati Life is unavailable.
- Private Aviation
- Bankruptcy in the past ten years
- DUI or reckless driving in the past five years
- Previously rated or declined for life insurance.
- Felony convictions in the past 15 years.
Medical Disqualifications from Accelerated Underwriting
If you have these high-risk life insurance conditions, you’ll have to go through the fully underwritten process with Cincy.
- Autoimmune Disease
- Most Cancers
- Diabetes
- Heart Attack
- Hepatitis
- HIV Positive
- Sleep Apnea
- Ulcerative Colitis
The above is not a complete list of impairments that remove you from accelerated underwriting. There are other companies available that will consider accelerated underwriting for some of the above health issues.
The accelerated application process involves the following:
- Submitting preliminary info electronically.
- Completing a phone interview with underwriting.
- You’ll be approved in as little as three days if you qualify.
- If not, your application will go through traditional underwriting.
Accelerated underwriting does not require a paramed exam.
Cincinnati is one of the best life insurers underwriting cigars, pipes, and chewing tobacco.
They offer non-tobacco rates for individuals with positive urine samples.
Others that offer this are Prudential, John Hancock, and Lincoln National.
Customer Service
- Phone: 800-783-4479
- Online: customer service
- Address: 6200 S. Gilmore Street – Fairfield, Ohio 45014
FAQ
Yes. They hold A+ ratings from AM Best, S&P, and Fitch, and an A3 from Moody’s.
Cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and marijuana (up to 12x/month) can still get non-tobacco rates. Cigarettes and vaping disqualify you.
Yes. Termsetter policies are convertible to permanent insurance, with deadlines based on your age and term length.
Final Thoughts
Cincinnati Life Insurance stands out for its competitive term rates, excellent treatment of cigar and chew users, and fast underwriting process for healthy applicants.
While it’s not the biggest name in the market, it’s a strong contender, especially if you value financial strength and straightforward coverage.
Want help comparing quotes from top-rated insurers—including Cincinnati Life?

