Updated: August 11, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Protective ranks best for people with mental health conditions, earning an overall MoneyGeek score of 88 out of 100.
Gerber Life is the best company for no-exam life insurance, with an average monthly rate of $42 ($506 per year) for a 20-year term life insurance policy with $500,000 coverage.
Guardian Life offers the best customer experience, ranking first in the category. It has an overall MoneyGeek score of 86.
Mental health history doesn't automatically disqualify you from life insurance. Insurers consider stability, treatment history and condition severity during underwriting.
Well-managed conditions like anxiety or mild depression may have little impact on your eligibility or premium, especially if you disclose your history and follow treatment plans.
Protective, Gerber Life and Guardian Life are the top life insurers for people with mental health conditions. While mental health can affect life insurance eligibility or premiums, well-managed symptoms often have minimal impact.
Compare coverage, underwriting and pricing across top insurers below.
Protective
| Overall coverage with mental health
| Accelerated underwriting for mild, stable conditions; fair pricing | $35
| $422
|
Gerber Life
| No medical exam option
| Accelerated underwriting; rapid issue term policies | $42
| $506
|
Guardian Life
| Customer Experience
| Accelerated underwriting for well-managed conditions (including anxiety and depression) | $51
| $612
|
Founded in 1907, Protective Life brings over a century of experience to its life insurance offerings, which include term, whole and universal policies. The company is a strong choice for people with mental health conditions, especially those with mild or well-managed diagnoses like anxiety or depression.
Protective's underwriting process considers mental health history, but applicants with stable conditions and no recent hospitalizations or severe symptoms may still qualify for standard or preferred rates. Most policies require medical underwriting, though some applicants may be eligible for Protective's accelerated process, which can waive the medical exam depending on responses to health questions.
*Rates are based on 20-year-term life insurance policies with $500,000 coverage for a 40-year-old male.
Gerber Life is the best choice for people with mental health conditions seeking life insurance without a medical exam. Its simplified issue term policy provides up to $1 million in coverage without requiring lab work or a physical exam, making it accessible for applicants managing conditions like anxiety or depression. For people with more serious mental health histories or those over age 50, Gerber's guaranteed issue whole life policy offers coverage up to $25,000 with no health questions asked.
Applicants aged 18 to 70 may qualify for term coverage through a streamlined process that includes a health questionnaire but avoids exams. Those aged 50 to 80 (75 in New York) can apply for guaranteed issue whole life coverage regardless of their condition.
Product Offerings
*Rates are based on 20-year-term life insurance policies with $500,000 coverage for a 40-year-old male.
Guardian Life ranks among the top insurers for customer satisfaction, making it a strong option for people with mental health conditions who want both attentive service and long-term reliability. The company's underwriting approach considers each applicant's health history individually, and those with mild or well-managed mental health conditions may still qualify for competitive rates. Guardian's extremely low complaint index and A++ financial strength rating reinforce its reputation for dependable coverage and claims handling.
Guardian offers a unique Charitable Benefit Rider at no added cost. This rider pays an additional 1% of your policy's death benefit (up to $100,000) to a charity of your choice, without reducing the benefit paid to your beneficiaries. Other rider options include waiver of premium and guaranteed renewability, adding flexibility and long-term value to your policy.
Product Offerings
*Rates are based on 20-year-term life insurance policies with $500,000 coverage for a 40-year-old male.
Finding life insurance when you have a mental health condition may feel overwhelming and stressful. The good news: having a mental health history doesn't automatically disqualify you from coverage. Here's what you need to know to navigate applications, compare options, and secure a plan that fits your medical history, financial goals and coverage needs.
Applying for life insurance when you have a mental health history requires careful preparation to improve your approval chances and secure affordable rates. Insurers review your medical background, treatments and medications, so organizing these details ahead of time streamlines the process.
Collect documents related to your mental health treatment, including:
This information allows you to answer application questions accurately and ensures underwriters have the full picture.
Compile a summary of your mental health journey, including therapy frequency, major diagnoses and current health status. Highlight positive outcomes such as ongoing treatment compliance or periods of stability, as these can improve your chances of approval.
Life insurers often ask:
Answer truthfully. Insurers verify information through the Medical Information Bureau (MIB) and health care records. Misrepresentation can lead to denied claims.
Expect the process to take four to eight weeks. Insurers will:
Accelerated underwriting may be available for those with mild or well-managed conditions. This process uses digital health records, prescription databases and automated risk assessments instead of traditional medical exams, allowing approvals in days rather than weeks.
You're protected from discrimination based solely on mental health conditions under state and federal laws. If coverage is denied or rates seem unfair, contact your state insurance department or file a formal complaint.
If you're managing a mental health condition like anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder, you're probably wondering how it will affect your life insurance options. While these conditions can influence both eligibility and premium rates for life insurance, many people with mental health histories successfully obtain affordable coverage. Understanding how insurers evaluate these conditions puts you in control of the application process.
Applicants with mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety can still qualify for life insurance, but premiums may be higher or coverage may be denied if the condition is severe or not well-managed.
Life insurers consider mental health disorders because, like other health conditions, they can affect overall health and life expectancy. Insurers may reject an application or deny coverage based on mental health.
Be honest on your application and disclose your full medical history, even for mild anxiety or depression. Failing to do so can result in your beneficiary's death benefit claim being denied.
For life insurance purposes, a mental health disorder includes conditions that affect mood, behavior, or cognitive function and may influence an insurer’s risk assessment. Common examples include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), eating disorders and schizophrenia.
Illness | Description |
|---|---|
Depression | A mood disorder that causes prolonged sadness and loss of interest in activities. It affects how a person feels, thinks and behaves, leading to emotional and physical issues. Depression may lead to higher premiums or coverage exclusions. |
Anxiety | Can cause fear or dread in response to specific situations or objects and may lead to panic attacks. This makes risk assessment challenging for insurers. |
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD) | Can lead to disruptive behavior at home, school, work or social settings. This may increase perceived risks for insurers. |
Eating disorders | Conditions that involve extreme attitudes, behaviors or emotions related to food and body weight. The physical health risks can raise concerns during underwriting. |
Schizophrenia | A psychotic disorder that can lead to delusions, hallucinations and symptoms like suicidal thoughts. Severe symptoms can significantly affect policy terms. |
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | Can cause fear or stress after a traumatic event, such as a serious accident, rape, abuse or involvement in war or a natural disaster. The potential for ongoing psychological instability may lead insurers to adjust coverage terms. |
Bipolar disorder | Causes extreme mood swings, including periods of deep depression and elevated mania. The severe fluctuations in mood can make it hard for insurers to predict long-term health outcomes. |
Insurers classify mental health conditions based on their severity and stability, which directly affects premiums and policy approval:
Treatment compliance and medical documentation demonstrating progress or stability are often key factors that can reduce risk ratings.
If you have severe mental health disorders or are at increased risk of suicide, some insurers may deny coverage. However, companies like Protective, Gerber Life and Guardian Life offer flexibility under certain conditions. If you're denied life insurance due to mental health, consider a simplified issue or guaranteed acceptance policy.
If your life insurance application is denied, you can take steps to improve your chances of approval or appeal the decision:
If you're rejected for life insurance due to mental health disorders, consider no-medical-exam life insurance. While these options may have higher premiums and lower coverage limits, they offer a safety net when traditional policies are not available. Simplified issue and guaranteed acceptance life insurance fall under this category. These policies can be more expensive and offer less coverage than traditional life insurance, but they're better than having no financial protection.
If your workplace offers employer group life insurance, this is another accessible option. While coverage amounts may be limited, group life insurance can be combined with a supplemental policy for more comprehensive financial protection.
This type of life insurance doesn't require a medical exam, but the application has health questions. Your answers determine if you're eligible and what the rate will be. Since there's no medical exam, you can typically get a response within two days of applying. Coverage limits are higher than guaranteed acceptance policies, and rates are slightly more affordable.
Best for: Applicants with stable or well-managed mental health conditions who want faster approval.
This policy doesn't require health questions or medical exams, and you receive an instant decision after submitting the application. Coverage amounts are lower, often capped at $25,000 or less, and there's typically a two to three-year waiting period before the full death benefit applies. It's also the most expensive option since your health doesn’t help lower the rate.
Best for: Applicants with severe or recent diagnoses who may not qualify for traditional coverage.
Many employers offer group life coverage with minimal or no health questions. While coverage limits are modest, it’s an affordable starting point. Some plans also allow conversion to an individual policy if you leave your job.
Best for: Employees seeking basic coverage without medical underwriting, especially those who have been denied traditional policies.
If you’re considering no-exam life insurance, we’ve analyzed and ranked the best no-medical-exam providers.
Getting life insurance with a mental health condition is possible, especially when your symptoms are well-managed and you work with insurers that evaluate each case individually. Protective stands out for flexible underwriting and strong rider options, while Gerber Life and Guardian Life offer competitive rates and options for various mental health histories.
Comparing underwriting criteria, coverage limits and support features will help you find a policy that offers financial protection for you and your loved ones.
Getting life insurance when you have a mental health condition may be difficult, but not impossible. Here are answers to the most common mental health and life insurance questions.
The best life insurance companies for people with mental health disorders are Protective, Gerber Life, and Guardian Life. Your health condition and other factors will help determine the best insurer for you.
You can still get life insurance if you have mental health problems. The type of condition, the severity, how long ago it was diagnosed, the treatment protocol and other factors will determine what you qualify for and at what cost.
If you're denied life insurance due to mental health, you still have options. Guaranteed acceptance life insurance requires no health questions or medical exam, and everyone is approved as long as they meet age and coverage amount requirements.
Mental health and life insurance are closely connected. A mental health condition can lead to altered policy terms to manage perceived risks, and in some cases, you may be denied coverage. How mental health affects life insurance depends on your diagnosis, severity and treatment plan.
Any condition affecting your health and life expectancy may be considered a mental health condition for life insurance purposes. These can include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.
You can get life insurance with an anxiety disorder, but your condition can affect your policy options and premiums. Insurers will assess the severity and treatment to determine eligibility and rates.
ADHD can affect life insurance policies due to behaviors that insurers may consider risky, which can influence the underwriting process.
Depression affects life insurance. Applicants with depression might face higher premiums or exclusions depending on the severity and management of their condition.
Insurance companies must follow state and federal anti-discrimination laws. While insurers can adjust rates based on medical risk, they can't deny coverage solely due to a mental health diagnosis without underwriting evidence. If you suspect unfair treatment, you can file a complaint with your state insurance department.
Yes. Mental health conditions can impact both eligibility and pricing. Applicants with well-managed conditions may receive standard rates, while those with severe, untreated or recently diagnosed conditions might face higher premiums or limited coverage options. Insurers evaluate the type of condition, treatment history and overall stability when determining costs.
Finding life insurance when you have a mental health condition feels overwhelming, especially when you're worried about higher premiums or coverage denials. We designed our research to identify which insurers offer the best combination of competitive rates, fair underwriting practices, and comprehensive coverage for people managing mental health conditions.
Why This Research Matters for Mental Health Coverage
Traditional life insurance methodologies focus on healthy applicants, but people with mental health conditions face unique challenges: stricter medical underwriting, potential coverage exclusions, and limited product options. Our analysis specifically evaluated how insurers performed across different mental health scenarios to find companies that treat these conditions fairly.
Our Scoring Framework
We created a weighted scoring system that prioritizes what matters most when you have pre-existing mental health conditions:
Each company earned up to five points per category. Scores were calculated based on the weighted scoring system, creating an overall MoneyGeek score out of 100 points.
Our Analysis Included
We gathered cost data through online quotes, then validated each company's approach using AM Best financial strength ratings and National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint data. We also evaluated application tools, payment flexibility, and product variety to ensure comprehensive coverage options.
Standard Profile Details
Our base quotes used a 40-year-old male, nonsmoker, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 160 pounds, with average health ratings. We then modified age, gender, health ratings, and geographic location to capture how mental health conditions affect pricing across different customer profiles and term lengths.
This approach revealed pricing patterns that extend beyond our original data collection, helping us identify which insurers consistently offer fair rates regardless of your specific mental health history.
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!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
