Based on MoneyGeek's analysis. Protective Insurance offers the best life insurance in New York and nationwide, earning a MoneyGeek score of 4.7 out of 5 for customer service, affordability and coverage options. While this is the best company overall, your top choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and priorities. Other MoneyGeek recommendations include Guardian Life, Lincoln Financial and Prudential.
Best Life Insurance Companies in New York (2025)
Updated: October 13, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
Protective Insurance offers the best life insurance in New York. Lincoln Financial provides the cheapest life insurance in New York based on average quotes MoneyGeek collected from major insurers.
The best life insurance companies in New York vary based on individual needs. Guardian Life ranks highest for customer experience, while Prudential stands out for coverage options.
The type of life insurance policy influences your best choice: North American for whole and universal life, Gerber Life for guaranteed acceptance and Legal & General for term.
To get the best life insurance in New York, we recommend deciding on coverage beforehand, researching costs and companies, and comparing multiple providers.
In addition to national insurers, regional or state-focused life insurance companies in New York can also provide competitive rates and personalized service.
What Is the Best Life Insurance in New York?
Overall | Protective Insurance | 4.7 | $44 (men) $36 (women) | $532 (men) $443 (women) |
Customer Experience | Guardian Life | 4.6 | $51 (men) $40 (women) | $612 (men) $480 (women) |
Affordability | Lincoln Financial | 4.5 | $35 (men) $30 (women) | $417 (men) $359 (women) |
Coverage Options | Prudential | 4.1 | $61 (men) $48 (women) | $735 (men) $578 (women) |
Rates reflect average quotes for 40-year-old nonsmokers buying a 20-year term policy with $500,000 in coverage. These costs are based on MoneyGeek’s analysis and serve as general estimates. Actual premiums depend on personal factors such as age, health, lifestyle and insurer underwriting criteria. To get an accurate rate, request personalized quotes directly from insurers.
Best Overall: Protective
Protective
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
4.6/5Customer Experience
4.3/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Cost
$44 (men); $36 (women)Based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$532 (men); $443 (women)Based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best Customer Experience: Guardian Life
Guardian Life
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
4.6/5Affordability
4.9/5Customer Experience
4/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Cost
$51 (men); $40 (women)Based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$612 (men); $480 (women)Based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best for Affordability: Lincoln Financial
Lincoln Financial
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
5/5Affordability
3.6/5Customer Experience
4.5/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Cost
$35 (men); $30 (women)Based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$417 (men); $359 (women)Based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best Coverage Options: Prudential
Prudential
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4.2/5Affordability
3.4/5Customer Experience
4.8/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Cost
$61 (men); $48 (women)Based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$735 (men); $578 (women)Based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best Life Insurance in New York by Policy Type
While we've identified the top life insurance company for most, your ideal match might differ based on the type of life insurance that you buy. Below, we've broken down the best options for various policy types to help you find the right fit.
Whole and Universal | North American | 5 | Whole: $691 (men) $602 (women) Universal: $295 (men) $251 (women) | Whole: $8,287 (men) $7,221 (women) Universal: $3,535 (men) $3,016 (women) |
Term | Legal & General | 4.7 | $44 (men) $35 (women) | $523 (men) $415 (women) |
Guaranteed Acceptance | Gerber Life | 4.7 | $44 (men) $44 (women) | $531 (men) $529 (women) |
These rates are estimates based on MoneyGeek's analysis and may not reflect your actual premium. Individual rates vary based on health, lifestyle, and other underwriting factors. Contact insurers directly for personalized quotes.
Best Whole and Universal: North American
North American
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Cost
Whole: $691 (men); $602 (women) Universal: $295 (men); $251 (women)Based on a $500,000 life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
Whole: $8,287 (men); $7,221 (women) Universal: $3,535 (men); $3,016 (women)Based on a $500,000 life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best Term: Legal & General
Legal & General
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.7/5Affordability
4.7/5Customer Experience
4.7/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Cost
$44 (men); $35 (women)Based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$523 (men); $415 (women)Based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best Guaranteed Acceptance: Gerber Life
Gerber
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
4.9/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Cost
$44 (men); $44 (women)Based on average quotes for a $10,000 guaranteed life policy for 50-year-old nonsmokers.Average Annual Cost
$531 (men); $529 (women)Based on average quotes for a $10,000 guaranteed life policy for 50-year-old nonsmokers.
Compare Personalized Best New York Life Insurance Picks
To help you find the top life insurance companies in New York, we've added a filterable table below, making it easy to see recommendations that fit your profile perfectly.
Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Select
Age:40
Select
Gender:Male
Select
Term:20 years
Select
Coverage Level:$500,000
| Lincoln Financial | $38 | $452 |
| North American | $43 | $517 |
| Midland National | $43 | $517 |
| Protective Insurance | $44 | $532 |
| Transamerica | $46 | $551 |
| CoreBridge | $47 | $560 |
| Principal National | $47 | $564 |
| Legal & General | $47 | $566 |
| Pacific Life | $47 | $566 |
| SBLI | $48 | $579 |
| Cincinnati Life | $49 | $593 |
| Guardian Life | $51 | $612 |
| Equitable Life | $52 | $626 |
| Columbus Life | $53 | $632 |
| Securian | $53 | $634 |
| Gerber Life (Fabric) | $53 | $638 |
| Assurity | $55 | $663 |
| AAA | $56 | $671 |
| Nationwide | $56 | $677 |
| Fidelity Life | $59 | $705 |
| Life Insurance Co of The South West | $59 | $708 |
| National Life Group | $59 | $708 |
| Ameritas | $59 | $708 |
| John Hancock | $59 | $713 |
| Prudential | $61 | $735 |
| Foresters Financial | $62 | $740 |
| Royal Neighbors of America | $108 | $1,300 |
Rates in this table are based on a term life insurance policy 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 New York
Here's a breakdown of essential tips to help you secure the ideal life insurance policy in New York
- 1
Decide coverage beforehand
Finding out how much life insurance coverage you need is important before purchasing. This ensures you can compare prices fairly and avoid being oversold by agents.
- 2
Research costs for your profile
Check average life insurance costs based on your coverage level and personal profile. This helps determine if you're getting a fair deal. Your location usually doesn’t impact life insurance rates, so focus more on personal factors.
- 3
Compare company reputations
While life insurance rates typically don’t change by state, a company's reputation can vary. Use resources like J.D. Power, online forums and independent agents to compare life insurance companies in New York.
- 4
Compare quotes through multiple avenues
Compare quotes to secure the best value. Pricing can differ depending on where you acquire quotes, whether from an independent agent, an online source, or a captive provider agent.
CALCULATING YOUR COVERAGE NEEDS
How much life insurance do you need in New York? Use the DIME method to calculate your needs: Debt + Income replacement + Mortgage + Education costs. A quick rule of thumb suggests 10-12 times your annual income, but New York's higher cost of living may require additional coverage for expenses like childcare and housing.
New York Life Insurance Laws and Regulations
Life insurance in New York comes with specific legal protections that work in your favor. Knowing these regulations helps you make better decisions and know your rights as a policyholder.
Free Look / Right to Return
Under New York regulations, insured individuals receive a “free-look” period of 10 to 30 days from policy delivery to cancel and obtain a full premium refund. The policy must include a “free-look” notice on the cover page.
Grace Period for Premium Payments
For scheduled premium policies (such as most term or whole life policies), life insurance companies in New York must provide a 31-day or one-month grace period after the premium due date.
For flexible premium policies, where the amount or frequency of premiums can vary (such as universal or variable universal life insurance), the law requires a 61-day grace period.
Death Benefit Interest Requirement
If payment of a death benefit is delayed, New York’s Insurance Law requires interest to accrue daily from the date of death to the date of claim, at the rate currently paid by the insurer for proceeds left under the interest settlement option.
Life Insurance Guaranty Protection (LICGC)
The Life Insurance Guaranty Corporation of New York (LICGC) protects policyholders if an insurer becomes insolvent. The guaranty covers up to $500,000 aggregate for life, annuity, and accident & health claims in most non-employer contracts.
Insurer’s Claims Investigation Conduct
The Department of Financial Services has issued a Circular Letter emphasizing that life insurance companies in New York must not withhold claim payments during the contestability period in the absence of actual misrepresentation.
Best Life Insurance in New York: Bottom Line
Protective Insurance, Lincoln Financial, Guardian Life, Prudential, North American, Gerber Life, and Legal & General are the best life insurance companies in New York, according to MoneyGeek's analysis. While these are our recommendations, we encourage you to assess your coverage needs and compare quotes.
New York Life Insurance: FAQ
Below are expert answers to common questions about life insurance for residents of New York.
What is the best life insurance in New York?
In New York, Protective Insurance offers the best overall life insurance with top-rated customer service nationwide, affordable rates of $44 (men) and $36 (women) monthly, and solid term life coverage options.
How do you get the best life insurance in New York?
To secure the best life insurance in New York, start by determining your coverage needs, then thoroughly evaluate policies from reputable insurers and compare their premiums.
Do life insurance rates differ by state?
No, life insurance rates are consistent across states, but policy features and additional benefits can differ based on the location.
How does New York's free look period work?
New York law provides a minimum 10-day free look period after you receive your policy, but some insurers extend this to 30 days. During this time, you can cancel your policy for any reason and receive a full refund of premiums paid. The period begins when you physically receive your policy documents, not when you sign the application.
Do I need a medical exam for life insurance in New York?
Most traditional term and permanent life insurance policies in New York require a medical exam. The state doesn't currently permit fully underwritten no-exam term policies offered in other states. Simplified-issue and guaranteed-issue life insurance, usually small-coverage or final-expense plans, are available without an exam, though they have lower coverage limits and graded benefits.
How We Decided the Best Life Insurance in New York
Finding the right life insurance in New York shouldn't feel overwhelming, especially when you're protecting your family's financial future in one of the most expensive states. We designed our research specifically for New York residents, focusing on companies that operate in the state and offer competitive rates despite the higher cost of living.
Our Scoring Framework
We evaluated life insurance companies in New York using a three-category system, with each company earning up to five points per category.
- Our affordability weighting of 55% reflects what matters most to New York families: getting adequate coverage without straining already tight budgets.
- Customer experience accounts for 30% because dealing with claims shouldn't add stress during difficult times.
- Coverage options represent 15% since most families need straightforward term life protection.
What We Measured
Our analysis incorporated real data from multiple sources:
- Cost comparisons through direct online quotes from each insurer
- Financial stability using AM Best ratings and years in business
- Customer satisfaction from NAIC complaint data and J.D. Power studies
- User experience including online tools and payment flexibility
- Product variety across term and permanent life insurance options
Our Sample New York Customer
We used a 40-year-old nonsmoker with average health as our baseline, representing the demographic most actively shopping for family protection. We then adjusted for different ages, health ratings, tobacco use, and coverage amounts to capture how rates vary across New York's diverse population.
This approach gives you apples-to-apples comparisons based on what actually drives your life insurance costs in New York.
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
- Department of Financial Services. "Circular Letter No. 1 (2017)." Accessed October 11, 2025.
- Department of Financial Services. "Life Insurance: FAQ." Accessed October 11, 2025.
- Department of Financial Services. "Policyholder Protection and the LICGC in New York." Accessed October 11, 2025.