Mutual of Omaha, Gerber, Physicians Mutual and Ethos Life are among the best guaranteed acceptance life insurance companies in 2025.
Find out if you're overpaying for life insurance below.
Updated: October 30, 2025
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Mutual of Omaha is the overall best guaranteed acceptance life insurer, offering fast claims, an easy online application and wide availability.
Physicians Mutual offers the cheapest guaranteed life insurance, making it the best company for those seeking low-cost policies.
Gerber offers the best customer experience, while Ethos is the top choice for an easy online application.
Guaranteed acceptance policies require no medical exams or health questions, making them ideal for people with health issues seeking quick coverage.
Coverage amounts are typically limited to $25,000 or less, although some insurers offer up to $75,000. Premiums are higher based on age and gender, and a graded death benefit applies in the first two years.
Mutual of Omaha stands out as the best overall guaranteed acceptance life insurance company, offering comprehensive coverage with reliable service. Other insurers excel in specific categories.
Compare age ranges, coverage options, waiting periods and average costs to find the right fit for your needs:
Mutual of Omaha | Overall | 45–85 | $2,000 to $25,000 | If death occurs from natural causes in first 2 years, beneficiaries receive premiums paid plus 10% | 4.7 |
Gerber | Customer Experience | 50–80 | $1,000 to $25,000 | 24-month waiting period. If death from natural causes occurs in the first two years, beneficiaries receive all premiums paid plus 10% interest. Full payout applies for accidental death. | 4.7 |
Physicians Mutual | Affordability | 45–85 | $5,000 to $15,000 | 24-month waiting period if death occurs within first two years, beneficiaries receive premiums paid plus 10% interest | 4.3 |
Ethos | Easy Online Application | 55–85 | $1,000 to $20,000 | Graded death benefit if death occurs from non-accidental causes within first two years, beneficiaries receive 100% of premiums paid plus 30% | 3.8 |
*The rates above are based on average quotes for guaranteed life insurance policies with a $10,000 coverage amount for 50-year-old male nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
**Quote is for 55-year-olds, the minimum age accepted for Ethos' guaranteed life insurance.
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We compared age limits, coverage amounts, waiting periods and premium costs to help you choose a guaranteed acceptance life insurance policy that matches your needs, even if you've been denied coverage before.
Guaranteed acceptance life insurance rates depend only on your age, gender and coverage amount, unlike traditional life insurance that considers health and lifestyle factors. Rates vary by carrier, so get at least three quotes to compare.
| $1,000 | $5 | $57 |
| $5,000 | $24 | $283 |
| $10,000 | $39 | $464 |
| $15,000 | $69 | $831 |
| $20,000 | $97 | $1,163 |
| $25,000 | $121 | $1,454 |
| $30,000 | $133 | $1,592 |
Guaranteed acceptance life insurance is permanent whole life insurance with level premiums and death benefits up to $25,000. Rates depend on age, gender and coverage amount, not health. Smokers and nonsmokers pay the same, with no health questionnaire or medical exam required. If you're within the eligible age range and can pay premiums, you're guaranteed approval.
This policy builds cash value and provides lifetime coverage, making it ideal for people who can't qualify for traditional life insurance due to medical conditions. Coverage is easy to obtain, but premiums are higher because insurers accept all applicants without health screening. Many online life insurance carriers offer quotes and purchases entirely online.
The terms "guaranteed acceptance" and "guaranteed issue" mean the same thing in life insurance. Both describe whole life policies that accept all applicants without medical underwriting. Insurance companies use these terms interchangeably, though "guaranteed issue" appears more commonly in industry documentation. These policies work identically, providing permanent coverage with simplified applications.
Most guaranteed acceptance life insurance policies include graded death benefits with two- to three-year waiting periods. During this time, beneficiaries receive only premiums paid plus interest if death occurs from natural causes. Some insurers offer no waiting period guaranteed life insurance options.
Policies with waiting periods are more common and offer:
No waiting period policies provide immediate full benefits but come with trade-offs:
Deaths from accidents qualify for full benefits immediately with both policy types, even during graded periods.
Guaranteed acceptance life insurance has advantages and disadvantages worth considering before purchasing.
No health questions or medical exams make applications quick and simple, taking just minutes with immediate approval if you meet eligibility criteria.
Most policies build cash value over time that you can borrow against, but outstanding loans reduce the death benefit paid to beneficiaries.
You're guaranteed acceptance once you apply. Policies stay in force until death as long as you pay premiums on time. Some companies offer paid-up ages where premiums end but coverage continues.
Death benefits are capped at $25,000, though some companies like MetLife offer up to $50,000. GEICO offers up to $75,000.
Most policies include graded death benefits. If you die from non-accidental causes in the first few years, beneficiaries receive only premiums paid plus 10% to 30% interest, with full benefits available after the waiting period.
All applicants are treated as high-risk, resulting in the highest life insurance rates compared to underwritten products.
Guaranteed acceptance life insurance works for people who can't qualify for traditional coverage due to health issues. While premiums are higher and coverage lower, guaranteed approval offers financial protection. Mutual of Omaha stands out with fast claims processing, easy online applications and nationwide availability.
Have questions about guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance? Here are our answers to these common questions to help you make the right decision.
Guaranteed acceptance life insurance is best for people with serious health conditions like cancer, heart disease, diabetes or other chronic illnesses or those denied other coverage. These policies require no health screening, making them ideal for high-risk applicants. It's suitable for seniors wanting to cover final expenses without burdening family members. Most are whole life final expense insurance designed for seniors.
If you're healthy, guaranteed acceptance isn't cost-effective. Healthy people can qualify for more affordable life insurance that requires a medical exam but offers higher benefits and lower costs.
Applying is straightforward since there are no medical requirements. Contact insurers directly, work with licensed agents or apply online. You'll provide basic information like age, gender, state and desired coverage amount. Most applications take just minutes to complete, with instant approval. Once accepted, coverage begins within 30 days of your first premium payment.
Guaranteed acceptance life insurance is worth it if you can't qualify for traditional coverage and need protection for final expenses. The high premiums and low coverage limits make it expensive, but it serves an important purpose for people with serious health conditions. Before purchasing, compare quotes from multiple insurers and consider whether simplified issue might work for your situation.
Most guaranteed acceptance life insurance is designed for people aged 50 to 85, though some insurers accept applicants as young as 45. If you're younger and have health problems preventing you from getting traditional coverage, look into simplified issue policies or work with an agent who specializes in high-risk applicants. Some insurers offer guaranteed acceptance products for younger people with specific conditions.
Guaranteed acceptance requires no health information, while simplified life insurance requires answering basic health questions but skips the medical exam. Simplified issue offers higher coverage amounts, lower premiums and immediate full death benefits. You can be declined for simplified issue if you have serious health problems. Guaranteed acceptance can't turn you down if you meet the age requirements.
Guaranteed approval life insurance skips medical exams and health questions, but companies vary significantly in their coverage options, rates and service quality. We designed our research to identify which insurers offer the best combination of competitive pricing, reliable coverage and customer support for people who need simplified underwriting.
We created a scoring system across three key categories that matter most when you can't qualify for traditional coverage. Here's how we weighted each factor:
Our Sample Customer Profile
We used a standard profile to collect quotes across all companies:
We then modified this profile by age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use and health rating to gather quotes for different customer types. This approach lets us identify the best guaranteed approval life insurance companies across various demographics.
Coverage Analysis
We collected quotes for guaranteed acceptance life insurance with varying coverage amounts. Our research revealed pricing patterns that helped us calculate projections and extend our analysis beyond the initial data collection.
This methodology ensures our recommendations work for real people facing real health challenges, not just theoretical "perfect" customers who don't need guaranteed approval coverage in the first place.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like 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.
