National Life Life Insurance Review 2026


National Life has a coverage cap of over $10 million for some policies, suitable for families with high coverage needs. It also offers EZ Underwriting that doesn't require medical exams for eligible applicants.

Read our National life insurance review below.

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Updated: January 26, 2026

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At a Glance: National Life Insurance

Company Image
National Life Group
MoneyGeek Rating
4.0/ 5
4.3/5Affordability
3.7/5Customer Experience
3.6/5Coverage Points
  • Average Monthly Cost

    $48 (F), $59 (M)
  • Average Annual Cost

    $576 (F), $708 (M)
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MoneyGeek’s Take: Is National Life Right for You?

National Life offers both term and permanent life insurance policies with different coverage structures. It has high coverage caps of over $10 million for some policies, making it a good fit for those with large insurance needs. The company also offers simplified issue policies, referred to as EZ Underwriting, that don't require medical exams for eligible applications up to age 65.

National Life doesn't offer final expense insurance. Consider other top final expense insurance companies if you're looking for small coverage only for end-of-life expenses.

National Life Insurance Products

National Life issues many different policy types, including term and permanent life insurance plans. Its EZ Underwriting program, which simplifies the underwriting process, is available for term and permanent policies.

Life insurance policies don't have deductibles like other insurance types. You pay premiums for guaranteed death benefit coverage.

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance offers a guaranteed death benefit for a defined coverage period. The premiums are fixed for the length of the policy, which doesn't have any cash value.

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    Term lengths and maximum coverage amounts vary by product and underwriting class, but the insurer offers 10-, 15-, 20-, and 30-year policies. National Life issues some term policies through EZ Underwriting, which allows eligible applicants to qualify without a medical exam, while higher coverage amounts require full underwriting.

    National Life’s term life insurance includes a conversion feature that allows you to exchange term coverage for a permanent life insurance policy during the conversion period without new medical underwriting.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance is one of several permanent life plans offered by National Life. Compared to other types of permanent life insurance, whole life policies may offer less cash value growth and flexibility.

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    National Life offers participating whole life insurance that provides lifelong coverage, level premiums and guaranteed cash value growth. Cash value grows at a guaranteed rate and becomes accessible through policy loans or withdrawals, subject to policy terms.

    National Life's whole life policies support EZ Underwriting for people who qualify. Coverage limits and age eligibility vary by product.

Universal Life Insurance

National Life offers three forms of universal life insurance. Each provides permanent coverage with flexibility in premiums or death benefits, depending on policy design.

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    Universal Life

    Traditional universal life credits interest at rates declared by the insurer and includes a guaranteed minimum, which limits downside risk.

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    Indexed Universal

    Indexed universal life insurance credits interest based on the performance of a market index, subject to caps, participation rates and floors that limit losses during negative index periods.

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    Variable Universal

    Variable universal life allows you to invest cash value in market-based subaccounts, which increases growth potential but also exposes cash value to market risk.

National Life’s Life Insurance Riders

Life insurance riders are extra benefits that you can include on your policy if you're looking for more protection, usually at an additional cost. National Life offers Living Benefits in the form of Accelerated Benefits riders, which enable you to access a portion of the death benefit early if you're diagnosed with a qualifying terminal, critical or chronic illness.

Contact National Life or a licensed agent to confirm riders available for you. Rider availability varies by state and product type.

How Much is a National Life Insurance Policy?

Your life insurance premium depends on age, health, coverage amount and policy type. Insurers assess your medical history, lifestyle habits and family health background through underwriting. Younger applicants in good health pay less than older applicants or those with health conditions. Term life costs less than permanent coverage because it only lasts a set period.

National Life's rates vary based on underwriting class, which reflects your risk level. The table below shows term life policy rates for people with average health and weight. These are estimates for comparison purposes and don't reflect actual premiums, which require a personalized quote from National Life.

Data filtered by:
20 years
Select
Male
No
$100,000$22$264
$250,000$33$396
$500,000$59$708
$750,000$85$1,020
$1,000,000$111$1,332
$1,500,000$164$1,968
$2,000,000$216$2,592
$3,000,000$318$3,816

Life insurance rates and availability vary by state, age, health and other factors. Rates shown are estimates based on our survey of publicly available data from insurance companies and may not reflect your actual premium, which depends on your specific circumstances and underwriting.

How to Buy Life Insurance From National Life

You must work with an agent to apply for National Life coverage. The application process includes underwriting, which may require a medical exam depending on coverage amount and age. Your agent walks you through each step and answers questions about policy terms before you make your first payment.

  1. 1
    Do Your Research

    The best place to start is by doing some research on different types of policies to determine what best fits your needs. The National Life website offers an overview of the available plans and what they include. For more information, request a call with an agent.

  2. 2
    Compare Quotes

    Compare prices from different providers. Many variables, including age, health status, gender and lifestyle, can impact rates, and every company has its own underwriting process, so you may get a lower quote elsewhere.

  3. 3
    Health Check

    Depending on the policy you're applying for and your age, you may need to undergo a health check. This usually involves a phone call, a physical examination or both. You may need to provide additional documents throughout the process for an underwriter to accurately perform a risk assessment.

  4. 4
    Approval

    If National Life approves your application, you'll receive your policy details and be able to make your first payment. Go over your policy terms with your agent if you have any questions or doubts.

National Life's Insurance Claims Process

Life insurance beneficiaries file a death claim with National Life by phone, mail or through the online form at https://www.nationallife.com/Contact/Claims/Death-Claim. You'll need the death certificate, policy number and beneficiary identification. The insurer reviews submitted documentation and contacts beneficiaries if additional information is needed.

Beneficiaries can choose to receive the death benefit as a lump sum, installment payments or through an interest-bearing account. For questions about the claims process, contact National Life at https://www.nationallife.com/Contact-Claims or call 1-800-732-8939.

National Life vs. Other Life Insurance Companies

MoneyGeek Score
4/5
4.7/5
4.5/5
4.7/5
4.6/5
Policy Types
Term, Whole, Universal, IUL, VUL
Term, Whole, Universal, IUL
Term, Whole, Universal, IUL
Term, Whole, IUL
Term, Whole, Universal
No-Exam Policies?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
NAIC Complaint Index
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.08
J.D. Power Score
641 (14th)
653 (ninth)
666 (fifth)
N/A
685 (second)
A.M. Best Rating
A+
A+
A+
A+
A++
Customer Sentiment
28.36% positive, 71.64% negative
82% positive, 18% negative
77% positive, 23% negative
95.33% positive, 4.67% negative
90% positive, 10% negative

National Life Group Insurance Review: Bottom Line

National Life offers term and permanent life insurance with high coverage limits that exceed $10 million for some policies. Its EZ Underwriting program allows eligible applicants under 65 to qualify for up to $3 million in coverage without a medical exam, which speeds up the application process.

The company doesn't have an online quote tool and requires all applications through licensed agents. While this provides personalized guidance, it limits your ability to quickly compare rates independently.

National Life's participating whole life policies pay annual dividends to eligible policyholders, adding potential value beyond the guaranteed cash value growth. Consider National Life if you need high coverage amounts or prefer working directly with an agent throughout the buying process.

Compare Insurance Rates

Ensure you are getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.

National Life Insurance Policies: FAQ

Can you borrow from your National Life insurance policy?
What’s the maximum amount of life insurance coverage available from National Life?
Do life insurance policies from National Life pay dividends?

How We Rated National Life Insurance

We analyzed National Life's pricing across different ages, health profiles and coverage amounts to show you exactly where costs spike and where they stay reasonable.

What We Evaluated

For this National life insurance review, we gathered quotes for three rating factors that matter most when comparing term life policies:

Affordability (55%)

Customer Experience (30%)

Coverage Options (15%)

Sample Profile Testing

We started with a baseline: 40-year-old male nonsmoker, 5'9", 160 pounds, average health rating. Then we adjusted each variable one at a time, by age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use and health status, to see how National prices policies as circumstances change.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.


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