Compare the best life insurance companies in California. We've organized our list by the most common types of life insurance policies:
Best Life Insurance Companies in California (2025)
Explore the best life insurance companies in California based on MoneyGeek's analysis of thousands of quotes, coverage options, and reviews.
Discover affordable life insurance in California below.
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Updated: November 24, 2025
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Key Takeaways
The best life insurance in California depends on policy type. Legal & General leads for term life insurance. Pacific Life offers the best no-exam policy, while North American tops whole and universal life insurance.
For specialized policies, Ethos and Mutual of Omaha lead for indexed universal and guaranteed acceptance life insurance in California.
Best Life Insurance Companies in California
North American | $38 (M), $31 (F) | Term, Whole, Universal, IUL | 5 | |
Ethos | $72 (M), $54 (F) | Term, IUL, No-Exam, Guaranteed Whole | 5 | |
Legal & General | $44 (M), $35 (F) | Term, IUL | 4.7 | |
Mutual of Omaha | $60 (M), $49 (F) | Term, Whole, Universal, IUL, Guaranteed Whole | 4.7 | |
Pacific Life | $47 (M), $39 (F) | Term, Universal, IUL, No-Exam | 4.5 |
*Rates are estimates based on MoneyGeek's analysis of 20-year term policies at $500,000 coverage for 40-year-olds in average health. Individual rates vary significantly based on health, lifestyle, and other underwriting factors. Contact insurers directly for personalized quotes.
Best Whole and Universal: Northern American
North American
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage
Avg. Monthly Cost (Whole)
$691 (M), $602 (F)Avg. Monthly Cost (Universal)
$295 (M), $251 (F)
Best Indexed Universal: Ethos
Ethos
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage
Avg. Monthly Cost (IUL)
$328 (M), $275 (F)
Best Term: Legal & General
Legal & General
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.7/5Affordability
4.7/5Customer Experience
4.7/5Coverage
Avg. Monthly Cost (Term)
$44 (M), $35 (F)
Best Guaranteed Acceptance: Mutual of Omaha
Mutual of Omaha
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.9/5Affordability
4.5/5Customer Experience
4.8/5Coverage
Avg. Monthly Cost (Guaranteed)
$40 (M), $30 (F)*Based on average quotes for 50-year-old nonsmokers with $10,000 coverage amount.
Best No-Exam: Pacific Life
Pacific Life
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
4.5/5Customer Experience
4.7/5Coverage
Avg. Monthly Cost (No-Exam)
$47 (M), $39 (F)
Compare Personalized Best California Life Insurance Picks
Find the best life insurance in California using the filterable table to see recommendations tailored to your unique needs and profile. Rates vary based on coverage, age, gender, health and term:
Data filtered by:
Select
Female
$1,000,000
10 years
| Lincoln Financial | $19 | $252 |
| North American | $24 | $281 |
| Midland National | $24 | $281 |
| Protective Insurance | $25 | $301 |
| Foresters Financial | $26 | $321 |
| Assurity | $27 | $332 |
| Cincinnati Life | $30 | $354 |
| Securian | $29 | $358 |
| Guardian Life | $32 | $378 |
| Principal National | $32 | $385 |
| CoreBridge | $32 | $388 |
| SBLI | $32 | $391 |
*Rates in this table are based on average quotes for nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings. Individual costs will vary based on policy type and your profile.
How to Find the Best Life Insurance in California
California life insurance shopping gets easier when you know what to look for. These tips help you navigate options and choose coverage fitting your family's needs:
- 1Decide coverage beforehand
Calculate your life insurance coverage needs before shopping to compare prices fairly and avoid agent overselling. Aim for 10 to 12 times your annual income, including mortgage obligations, outstanding debts and major family expenses.
- 2Research costs for your profile
Check average life insurance costs for your coverage level and personal profile. Rates depend on age, health, gender and coverage amount. Your personal profile drives most costs. Location doesn't affect premiums.
- 3Compare company reputations
Personal factors drive rates, but company reputation matters too. Check J.D. Power ratings and California Insurance Commissioner complaint ratios. California life insurance companies with ratios below 1.0 beat the average. Look for local agent availability to handle complex claims and policy changes.
- 4Compare quotes through multiple avenues
Pricing varies by source (independent agent, online platform or insurance agent), so explore multiple options. Online platforms compare quickly but may lack personalized underwriting. Independent agents offer multiple options and local expertise. Verify agent licenses through the California Department of Insurance.
- 5Prepare for Medical Exam Requirements
Most applications require medical exams, but preparation improves results and approval odds.
Schedule morning appointments and skip caffeine 24 hours beforehand. Fast 8 hours if blood work is needed. No-exam policies cost more but approve faster, often within days.
California Life Insurance Regulations
California provides strong consumer protections for life insurance policyholders. Knowing these safeguards helps you make informed decisions and understand your rights:
- Free Look Period: You have at least 10 days to review a new policy. If you’re 60 or older, this free look period extends to 30 days. You can cancel during this time for a full refund of premiums paid.
- Grace Period: For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023, insurers must allow at least 60 days before canceling a policy for missed payments. Coverage continues during this grace period.
- Contestability Period: Insurers can only contest claims within the first two years of a policy and only for material misrepresentations on your application.
- California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association: If your insurer becomes insolvent, this association provides financial protection for your policy up to 80% of the contractual obligation, capped at $250,000 in death benefits and $100,000 in cash surrender or withdrawal values per insured life.
- Death Benefit Payment: Insurers must pay valid death claims promptly. If benefits aren't paid within 30 days after receiving the required documentation, interest accrues on the amount owed.
Your Rights as a California Policyholder
Financial Protection Guarantees
Tax Benefits
Life insurance death benefits are generally income tax-free for California beneficiaries, consistent with federal law. Cash value growth inside a policy accumulates tax-deferred, though loans or withdrawals may trigger tax consequences. A tax professional can provide guidance for your specific situation.
Best Life Insurance in California: Bottom Line
In California, our top life insurance recommendations are Protective Insurance, Guardian Life, Lincoln Financial, Prudential, North American, Ethos, Legal & General, Mutual of Omaha and Pacific Life based on MoneyGeek's analysis. To find the right fit, determine a coverage level and compare quotes for the best deal.
California Life Insurance: FAQ
We answer common questions about life insurance for Californians:
What is the best life insurance in California?
Protective provides the best life insurance in California, with top-rated customer service nationwide, affordable pricing around $44 monthly for men and $36 for women and comprehensive life insurance options.
How do you get the best life insurance in California?
Finding the best life insurance in California means setting coverage goals, analyzing costs and evaluating insurer reputations before comparing quotes.
Do life insurance rates differ by state?
Life insurance rates are consistent across states, but coverage options and available riders may vary.
Our Review Methodology
California families balance the state's high cost of living with financial protection needs. We designed our research to help residents find the best life insurance companies in California for their specific financial circumstances.
Companies earn up to five points in weight categories that we then average together to create a final score out of five:
- Affordability (50%)
- Customer Experience (30%)
- Coverage Options (20%)
Sample Profile
We used the following standard profile for California life insurance quotes when scoring providers:
- 40-year-old nonsmoker
- 5'9" and 160 lbs for men, 5'4" and 120 lbs for women
- Average health rating
We collected quotes for different policy types with varying coverage amounts, then modified our sample by age, gender, health factors and smoking status. For guaranteed acceptance life insurance, we compared quotes for 50-year-olds with $10,000 coverage.
When we identified clear patterns in our rate data, we used those trends to project costs for additional profiles, giving us comprehensive coverage of what different California residents can expect to pay. This reveals which companies offer competitive rates while maintaining the financial strength and customer service standards that matter when your family files a claim.
Related Pages
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Mark earned a master's degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor's degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
sources
- California Department of Insurance. "Bulletin 2021-8." Accessed September 23, 2025.
- California Department of Insurance. "Bulletin 96-02." Accessed September 23, 2025.
- California Department of Insurance. "Life Complaint Composite Report." Accessed September 23, 2025.
- California Department of Insurance. "Life Insurance Guide." Accessed September 23, 2025.
- California Legislative Information. "Insurance Code - INS Division 2. Classes of Insurance - Part 2. Life And Disability Insurance Article 4. Payment And Proceeds [10172.5]." Accessed September 23, 2025.