Nationwide and MassMutual are the best life insurance companies for young adults, but the right pick depends on your profile. Young women get the lowest monthly rate with MassMutual at $16, while men get the lowest rate with Nationwide at $33. Smokers and applicants with health conditions should look past the top two picks entirely. State Farm's low smoker rates and agent network and Fidelity Life's underwriting flexibility make them the stronger fits for those profiles.
Best Life Insurance for Young Adults (2026)
Nationwide, MassMutual, State Farm, Fidelity Life and Pacific Life have the best life insurance for young adults in 2026. Buy life insurance in your 20s for lower premiums, better coverage and easier approval.
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Updated: May 22, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Nationwide is the best life insurance for young adult men, at $33 per month for a healthy 25-year-old, while MassMutual leads for young women at $16 per month.
State Farm has the lowest smoker rates among MoneyGeek's recommended carriers at $52 per month for women and $65 for men with a $500,000, 20-year term policy.
Fidelity has the best life insurance for young people with poor health, averaging $23 per month for women and $35 for men.
Pacific Life's coverage flexibility comes at almost no added cost. Its $28 rate for women and $33 rate for men puts it within $1 of Nationwide's rates, but it adds five term length options and no-exam coverage up to $3 million.
Buying in your 20s locks in your rate before a health change affects your eligibility or moves you to a worse underwriting tier.
Why You Can Trust MoneyGeek
We analyzed 248,399 life insurance quotes from 29 insurance companies covering ages 18 to 30 for smokers, non-smokers, men, and women at various heights, weights, and health levels across a range of term limits and coverage levels. MoneyGeek maintains editorial independence and doesn't receive compensation from insurance companies for life insurance rankings or recommendations. For more information, read our full methodology.
Best Life Insurance Companies for Young Adults
Nationwide | $27 (F), $33 (M) | 21 | 10-30 years | No | 4.6 | |
MassMutual | $16 (F), $44 (M) | 18 | 10-30 years | No | 4.6 | |
State Farm | $33 (F), $40 (M) | 18 | 10-30 years | No | 4.5 | |
Fidelity Life | $23 (F), $35 (M) | 18 | 10-30 years | Yes | 4.5 | |
Pacific Life | $28(F), $33(M) | 18 | 10-30 years | Yes | 4.3 |
Rates shown here are for healthy, non-smoking 25-year-olds of average height and weight at $500,000 coverage on 20-year terms. Your rates will vary by state, health profile, coverage needs and other factors. Compare personalized quotes from multiple providers to get the best rates.
Best Life Insurance for Young Men
Nationwide
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
4.8/5Customer Experience
3.8/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Rate
$27 (F), $33 (M)Minimum Supported Age
21Term Lengths
10-30 years
Best Life Insurance for Young Women
Mass Mutual
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
5/5Affordability
4/5Customer Experience
4.3/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Rate
$16 (F), $44 (M)Minimum Age Supported
18Term Lengths
10-30 years
Best Life Insurance for Smokers
State Farm
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
5/5Affordability
4/5Customer Experience
3.9/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Rate
$33 (F), $40 (M)Minimum Age Supported
18Term Lengths
10–30 years
Best Life Insurance for Young Adults with Poor Health
Fidelity Life
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.9/5Affordability
4.2/5Customer Experience
4/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Rate
$23 (F), $35 (M)Minimum Supported Age
18Term Lengths
10-30 years
Best Life Insurance Coverage Options for Young Adults
Pacific Life
MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
4.7/5Affordability
3.6/5Customer Experience
4.5/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Rate
$28(F), $33(M)Minimum Supported Age
18Term Lengths
10-30 years
Average Cost of Young Adult Life Insurance
Average term life insurance costs $28 to $39 monthly for young adults, depending on your age and gender, with women paying less than men across all insurers. There's only a $3 monthly difference in average rates from ages 18 to 30 for both women and men. For smokers, the gap is more pronounced. A male smoker pays $92 per month at 18 and $111 at 30, a difference of $19 per month or $228 annually over a 20-year term. Locking in your rate early matters most if you smoke or expect your health to change.
18 | $28 (F), $36 (M) | $67 (F), $92 (M) |
20 | $30 (F), $36 (M) | $71 (F), $96 (M) |
25 | $30 (F), $38 (M) | $79 (F), $107 (M) |
30 | $31 (F), $39 (M) | $84 (F), $111 (M) |
What Type of Life Insurance is Best for Young Adults?
Term life insurance is the right starting point for most young adults. It's cheaper than permanent coverage, and a 20- or 30-year term covers the period when your financial obligations are highest, like covering a mortgage, young children or student loans.
A 25-year-old nonsmoker can get $500,000 in term coverage for $16 to $33 per month, depending on gender and carrier. Permanent coverage costs more but builds cash value and lasts your entire life, which matters if you have lifelong dependents or estate planning needs.
Guarantees a death benefit | Yes | Yes |
Allows access to living benefits | Limited (accelerated death benefit only) | Yes (multiple options) |
Coverage length | 10–40 years | Your entire life |
Premium cost | Affordable | More expensive |
Change in premium cost | May remain the same or may increase over time, depending on what type you get | Remains the same over time |
Earns cash value | No | Yes |
Eligible for dividends | No | Yes, depending on the insurer |
Allows for withdrawals while active | No | Yes, but unpaid loans reduce the death benefit |
Requires a health exam | Depends on the insurer | Depends on the insurer |
Most young adults should start with term. If you're healthy, under 30 and buying coverage primarily to protect a spouse or replace your income for dependents, a 20-year term policy at $500,000 covers the most common financial exposure at the lowest cost. Consider permanent coverage if you support a dependent with a long-term disability, plan to use life insurance as part of an estate strategy, or want to lock in lifelong coverage before a potential health change.
Is Life Insurance Necessary for Young Adults?
Life insurance for young adults comes down to whether anyone depends on your income or would inherit your debt if you died.
When Young Adults Need Life Insurance
Have financial dependents
If a partner, child, or aging parent relies on your income, life insurance replaces your earnings if you die unexpectedly.
Carry co-signed debt
Student loans, mortgages or personal loans with a co-signer may require the co-signer to assume responsibility if you die, though federal student loans are typically discharged upon death. Life insurance covers these balances so your family isn't stuck with your debt.
Consult with legal and financial professionals about specific debt obligations, as laws vary by state and debt type.
Planning a family
Buying coverage before marriage or children arrive locks in low rates while you're young and healthy.
Own a business
Business owners need life insurance to fund buy-sell agreements or cover key person losses.
When Young Adults Can Skip Life Insurance
Single with no dependents or debt
If no one depends on your income and you don't have co-signed loans, you can skip life insurance for now.
Have enough employer coverage
Group life insurance through work might cover your needs if you're single or have minimal obligations. Group policies end when you leave your job.
Building emergency savings first
Focus on a three- to six-month emergency fund before buying life insurance if your budget is tight.
This general guidance doesn't replace personalized advice from a licensed insurance professional who can assess your specific situation
Best Young Adult Life Insurance: Bottom Line
Term life insurance is the right fit for most young adults. $500,000 over a 20-year term is a reasonable starting point for anyone with dependents or co-signed debt. Nationwide is our top pick for young men at $33 per month, while MassMutual leads for young women at $16 per month. If you smoke, State Farm's agent network gives you the best shot at a competitive rate. Fidelity Life is the strongest option for applicants with health conditions, despite its NAIC complaint index running above average. Pacific Life works best when term length flexibility matters more than finding the single lowest rate. Buy sooner rather than later, as rates increase with age.
Life Insurance for Young Adults: FAQ
Why should you get life insurance at a young age?
Buying life insurance in your 20s locks in lower rates while you're healthy and more likely to qualify without complications. A 25-year-old pays $8 to $16 less per month than a 35-year-old for the same coverage. If you choose a permanent policy, buying earlier gives your cash value more time to grow.
How young can you get life insurance?
The earliest age at which you can get your own life insurance is 18 years old, based on the companies we reviewed, though some insurers offer policies to younger applicants with parental consent.
For those under 18, parents can get life insurance coverage for children through either individual policies or child riders on their existing policy.
Is life insurance cheaper when you’re younger?
Yes. A healthy 25-year-old woman pays $16 per month for $500,000 in coverage with MassMutual. The same profile at 35 pays $24 per month, a 50% increase for waiting 10 years. Rates rise because older applicants are statistically more likely to die during the coverage period.
Also read: Cheapest Life Insurance for Young Adults
Can I get life insurance if I have student loans?
Student loans don't prevent you from getting life insurance. Buy enough coverage to pay off co-signed loans so your parents or spouse don't inherit your debt.
Also read: Best Life Insurance for College Students
What happens if I buy life insurance and then get married?
Your existing life insurance stays in force when you get married, but you'll need to increase your coverage. Most term life policies let you add coverage through riders or by buying a second policy. You can also update your beneficiary from your parents to your spouse.
Marriage often triggers the need for more coverage, especially if your spouse relies on your income or you plan to have children.
Our Review Methodology
We evaluated insurers using three key factors, weighted to reflect what matters most to young adults:
- Affordability (50%): How do rates stack up against other providers for the same coverage?
- Customer Experience (30%): We looked at customer complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), J.D. Power customer satisfaction index, A.M. Best financial strength ratings and what people say in online reviews. We also checked out digital tools and payment flexibility. Young adults want to manage everything online and pay however works best for them.
- Coverage Options (20%): We examined plan types, coverage limits, age restrictions, term lengths, riders and ways to customize policies.
Each company got up to five points per category. We converted those scores into a weighted total out of five points based on our percentages.
Sample Profile Details
To determine the best life insurance for young adults, quotes were pulled using a baseline profile: healthy, non-smoking 25-year-olds of average height and weight. All rates in this article reflect this profile unless stated otherwise.
For average life insurance costs for young adults, we used quotes for ages 18 to 30, nonsmoker, average health, coverage amounts from starter policies to family protection, across multiple term lengths.
We varied that profile by age, gender, health rating and location to map how rates shift across the young adult demographic.
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About Patrick Bryant
Patrick Bryant is the Vertical Lead for Life and Health Insurance at MoneyGeek, where he researches insurance products, writes consumer guides and maintains the scoring methodologies behind our provider comparisons. He analyzed more than 50 life insurance carriers across multiple policy types, collecting thousands of quotes nationwide to evaluate rates, coverage options and underwriting factors. His methodologies are reviewed quarterly to reflect current market conditions and carrier data.