Best Life Insurance Companies in Washington (2026)


MoneyGeek researched the best life insurance companies in Washington to help you find the best policy for your needs and budget.

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Best Life Insurance Companies in Washington

Washington residents can choose from many life insurance companies, but some providers offer stronger value based on cost, coverage flexibility and customer satisfaction. After analyzing thousands of quotes, policy features and consumer reviews from more than 30 insurers, MoneyGeek identified the best life insurance companies in Washington state.

For affordable term coverage, Legal & General offers policies that average under $50 per month. Mutual of Omaha ranks highly for guaranteed acceptance coverage with no medical exam or health questions. For permanent life insurance, North American and Ethos lead the Washington market with whole, universal and indexed universal policies.

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)
Indexed Universal
Ethos
5
$328 (men)
$275 (women)
$3,935 (men)
$3,297 (women)
Term
Legal & General
4.7
$44 (men)
$35 (women)
$523 (men)
$415 (women)
Guaranteed Acceptance
Mutual of Omaha
4.7
$40 (men)
$30 (women)
$482 (men)
$365 (women)
No-Exam
Pacific Life
4.5
$47 (men)
$39 (women)
$566 (men)
$464 (women)

* The rates shown above are average premiums for 40-year-old nonsmokers buying $500,000 in coverage. Your actual cost will vary based on factors like your health background, lifestyle choices and personal risk characteristics.

Best Permanent Life Insurance: North American

Company Image

North American

MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage Points
  • Average Whole Life Monthly Cost

    $691 (men), $602 (women)
  • Average Universal Life Monthly Cost

    $295 (men), $251 (women)

Best Indexed Universal Life Insurance: Ethos

Company Image

Ethos

MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage Points
  • Average Monthly Cost

    $328 (men), $275 (women)

Best Term Life Insurance: Legal & General

Company Image

Legal & General

MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.7/5Affordability
4.7/5Customer Experience
4.7/5Coverage Points
  • Average Monthly Cost

    $44 (men), $35 (women)

Best Guaranteed Life Insurance: Mutual of Omaha

Company Image

Mutual of Omaha

MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.9/5Affordability
4.5/5Customer Experience
4.8/5Coverage Points
  • Average Monthly Cost

    $40 (men), $30 (women)

Best No-Exam Life Insurance: Pacific Life

Company Image

Pacific Life

MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
4.5/5Customer Experience
4.7/5Coverage Points
  • Average Monthly Cost

    $47 (men), $39 (women)

Personalized Washington Life Insurance Picks

Use the customizable table below to compare life insurance options tailored to your profile. Premium estimates change based on your age, gender, health history, coverage amount and policy length.

Data filtered by:
Select
Male
$500,000
10 years
Lincoln Financial$24$285
North American$29$349
Midland National$29$349
Protective Insurance$29$350
Transamerica$30$359
Principal National$31$372
CoreBridge$32$381
Securian$32$383
Guardian Life$33$396
Legal & General$33$397
Pacific Life$33$397
Cincinnati Life$33$399

* The displayed premiums reflect average term life insurance quotes for nonsmokers in average health. Your actual price will depend on your personal profile and the specific policy you choose.

How to Find the Best Life Insurance in Washington

The best life insurance policy in Washington is not simply the least expensive or the one with the largest coverage amount. The best policy should align with your budget, health profile and long-term financial goals.

  1. 1
    Determine how much coverage you need

    To decide how much life insurance you need, add up your outstanding debts, income replacement needs and future expenses like college tuition or mortgage payments. A general rule is 10 to 12 times your annual income.

  2. 2
    Choose the right policy type

    There are several different types of life insurance policies. Term life works well for temporary needs like income replacement during working years, while permanent policies are better if you're focused on lifelong coverage or cash value accumulation.

  3. 3
    Compare quotes from multiple insurers

    Rates vary widely between companies for the same coverage amount and term length. Get at least three quotes for a realistic picture of what you should expect to pay.

  4. 4
    Check financial strength ratings

    An AM Best rating of A or higher tells you the insurer can pay claims reliably over the long term. Washington's guaranty association covers up to $500,000 per insured if a company fails, but choosing a financially strong carrier is still your best protection.

  5. 5
    Review riders and conversion options

    Riders like accelerated death benefits, child coverage and guaranteed insurability add value at little or no extra cost. Conversion options matter too, especially if you want the flexibility to move from term to permanent coverage later.

  6. 6
    Understand the underwriting process

    No-exam policies offer faster approvals but have higher premiums and lower coverage limits. If you're healthy, a fully underwritten policy will get you better rates.

Washington Life Insurance Regulations

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner regulates life insurance in Washington, setting consumer protection standards and overseeing insurers operating in the state:

  • Free Look Period: New individual life insurance policies include at least a 10-day review window. If you cancel during this period, the insurer must refund your full premium within 30 days.
  • Grace Period: Policies provide a 31-day grace period for missed premium payments. Coverage remains active during this time, and any unpaid premium may be deducted from the death benefit if a claim occurs.
  • Contestability Period: During the first two years, insurers may contest claims based on misstatements in your application. After that period, policies can't be challenged except for nonpayment of premiums.
  • Suicide Provision: Most policies include a two-year suicide clause. If suicide occurs within that period, the insurer returns premiums paid with any interest, instead of paying the full benefit.
  • Premium-to-Benefit Safeguards: Early policy structures must must keep the death benefit above cumulative premiums paid when adjusted by a benchmark interest rate during the first 10 years.
  • Guaranty Association Protection: The Washington Life and Disability Insurance Guaranty Association protects policyholders if a licensed insurer becomes insolvent, with coverage up to $500,000 per insured individual.
  • Denial and Cancellation Disclosure: Insurers must provide a clear and specific reason if they deny, cancel or refuse to renew your policy. General or vague explanations are not sufficient.

Best Life Insurance in Washington: Bottom Line

Based on our comprehensive market review, North American, Ethos and Legal & General are the top life insurance providers in Washington. Mutual of Omaha and Pacific Life are strong alternatives.

Before you commit to a policy, take the time to calculate how much coverage your family needs. Once you have that number in mind, compare quotes from multiple insurers so you can get the right coverage at a price that fits your budget.

Compare Life Insurance Rates

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

Washington Life Insurance: FAQ

How much does life insurance cost in Washington?

Do I have to take a medical exam to get life insurance in Washington?

What types of life insurance are available in Washington?

Our Review Methodology

We analyzed thousands of quotes from major life insurance providers to show which companies deliver the best combination of affordable rates and reliable service for Washington residents.

How Life Insurance Rates Vary by Profile

Life insurance companies price policies differently based on your profile. A company offering the cheapest rates for a healthy 30-year-old may charge much more for a 55-year-old with moderate health issues. We tested multiple profile variations to identify which insurers consistently deliver competitive rates across different customer segments.

Our scoring system weighs five factors to calculate each company's final MoneyGeek score out of five points:

  • Affordability (50%): Based on monthly premium quotes from real customer data.
  • Customer experience (30%): Considers online tools, quote access, payment options, financial ratings, and consumer reviews.
  • Coverage options (10%): We considered each provider's range of policy types, riders and other add-on options.

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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