The Best Life Insurance Companies: How to Choose The Right Insurer

Finding the best life insurance company can be complicated if you don’t know what to look for.

Not all life insurance companies evaluate applicants the same way. You may see similar pricing among companies and think they are all the same, when in reality, one company may be far better for your situation.

That’s where we can help you!

How We Evaluate Life Insurance Companies

Every company review on RiskQuoter focuses on factors that matter to real applicants.

  • Pricing Competitiveness
  • Underwriting Flexibility
  • Policy Options
  • Financial Strength

When we review your life insurance needs, we’ll match you to the best companies based on your unique situation.

Life Insurance Companies Reviewed

We continue to update our site regularly with life insurer reviews of companies that are part of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI).

Here are some of the companies we have reviewed.

CompanyWhy We Like It
Banner Life InsuranceAffordable term life, accelerated underwriting, instant approvals.
Protective Life InsuranceStrong term and universal life options, long-term value.
PrudentialBest for high-risk health conditions, strong term, and universal life.
Lincoln Financial GroupGreat for index universal life insurance and underwriting impairments.
Corebridge FinancialCompetitive term life and final expense insurance.
Pacific LifeGreat ratings and guaranteed universal life; top pick for individuals with HIV+.
John HancockFlexible underwriting, unique wellness programs, good for older applicants.
Mutual of OmahaFlexible underwriting, unique wellness programs, and good for older applicants.
Mass MutualIndustry leader for whole life insurance and dividends, strong financial strength
Northwestern MutualIndustry leader for whole life insurance and dividends, with strong financial strength

Types of Life Insurance Companies

Some of the main types of companies include:

  • Mutual Life Insurance Companies
  • Stock Owned Life Insurers
  • Fraternal Insurance Companies

Each type has its own set of objectives.

Best Life Insurance Companies

Here are some of your best options based on the type of life insurance you need.

Best for Term Life Insurance

CompanyAccelerated
Underwriting
Instant
Approvals
Accelerated
Illness Benefits
BannerYESYESTerminal
CorebridgeYESYESTerminal, Chronic
John HancockYESNOTerminal
Lincoln NationalYESNOTerminal
Pacific LifeYESNOTerminal
ProgressiveYES?Yes?Unknown
ProtectiveYESYESTerminal
PrudentialYESYESTerminal, Chronic
SBLIYESNOTerminal
SymetraYESYESTerminal
TransamericaYESNOTerminal, Chronic

In addition to these companies, we’ve also reviewed Japanese life insurance companies that have bought American companies.

Best Companies for Whole Life Insurance

If you’re looking for a dividend-paying whole life insurance policy, the best companies available include:

The best whole life insurance policies offer you the ability to customize coverage by adding riders, choosing how your dividends are applied, and offering you the ability to blend whole life and term insurance.

Best Companies for Universal Life Insurance

Other companies that offer universal life include Allstate and Augustar.

If you are looking for index universal life insurance policies with performance tied to stock indexes, consider these companies:

Best Final Expense Life Insurance Companies

Final expense insurance is heavily marketed to consumers, but many of these policies are overpriced and offer poor value for the money. You may qualify for a better-underwritten policy instead. You may want to read our guide – Are Final Expense Insurance Policies Worth It?

Companies offering these simplified policies include:

Mutual of Omaha also offers final expense insurance.

Best Companies for High-Risk Applicants

We specialize in high-risk life insurance for people with medical conditions, dangerous jobs, or risky hobbies such as adventure sports.

Prudential – Best for health risks like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, HIV+

Pac Life – The best company for HIV+, does very well with height/weight cases

John Hancock – Friendly for older ages and height/weight

Corebridge (AIG) – One of the best companies for ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, and diabetes.

Other companies that we reviewed include:

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right life insurance company is just as important as choosing the right policy.

Different companies specialize in underwriting, product types, and pricing.

Taking the time to compare companies will ensure you choose the best one to meet your insurance needs.

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