Mutual of Omaha, Gerber, Physicians Mutual and Ethos Life are among the best guaranteed acceptance life insurance companies in 2026.
Find out if you're overpaying for life insurance below.
Updated: January 12, 2026
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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 often 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 ranks first for guaranteed acceptance life insurance, backed by strong coverage options and dependable service. Several other insurers shine in their own right depending on what you need most.
Compare age ranges, coverage options, waiting periods and average costs to find the right fit for your needs:
Mutual of Omaha | Overall | 45 to 85 | $2,000 to $25,000 | If death occurs from natural causes in first two years, beneficiaries receive premiums paid plus 10% | 4.7 |
Gerber | Customer Experience | 50 to 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 to 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 to 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 |
*These rates 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 identical rates, with no health questionnaire or medical exam required. If you're within the eligible age range and can pay premiums, you get approved.
This policy builds cash value and provides lifetime coverage, which works well for people who can't qualify for traditional life insurance due to medical conditions. You can get coverage easily, but premiums cost more because insurers accept all applicants without health screening. Many online life insurance carriers offer quotes and let you buy policies 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 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 offers fast claims processing, simple online applications and coverage in all 50 states, making it the best guaranteed acceptance life insurance company in our study.
Have questions about guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance? We answer common questions to help you make the right decision.
This coverage works well if you have cancer, heart disease, diabetes or other chronic conditions that get you turned down elsewhere. You won't answer any health questions or take a medical exam.
Many seniors choose these policies to pay for funeral costs and final bills so their families don't have to. Most policies are whole life final expense insurance built specifically for older adults.
If you're healthy, skip guaranteed acceptance. Healthy people qualify for cheaper life insurance that requires a medical exam but delivers higher benefits at lower costs.
Applying is easy with no medical requirements. Contact insurers directly, work with licensed agents or apply online. You'll share basic information like age, gender, state and desired coverage amount. Most applications take minutes and you get approved instantly. Coverage starts within 30 days of your first premium payment.
Guaranteed acceptance life insurance makes sense if you can't qualify for traditional coverage and need protection for final expenses. High premiums and low coverage limits make it pricey, but it works for people with serious health conditions. Before buying, get quotes from several insurers and see whether simplified issue might be an option for you.
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 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 adjusted this profile by age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use and health rating to collect quotes for different customer types. This helps us find the best guaranteed approval life insurance companies for various demographics.
Coverage Analysis
We gathered quotes for guaranteed acceptance life insurance with different coverage amounts. Our research uncovered pricing patterns that let us calculate projections and expand our analysis past the initial data we collected.
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. 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.
