The best life insurance for mental health conditions in 2025 includes Protective, Gerber Life, and Guardian Life.
Find out if you're overpaying for life insurance below.
Updated: November 4, 2025
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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 | Accelerated underwriting for mild, stable conditions; fair pricing | $35
| $422
|
Gerber Life
| No medical exam | 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.
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.
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.
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 medical records from psychiatrists or therapists, details of hospitalizations or treatment programs, and a complete list of medications with dosages and treatment dates.
Compile a summary of your mental health journey, including therapy frequency, major diagnoses, current health status and positive outcomes such as ongoing treatment compliance or periods of stability.
Life insurers often ask about diagnoses like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder, prescribed medications, and therapy or hospitalizations in the past five years. Answer truthfully, as insurers verify information through the Medical Information Bureau (MIB) and health care records.
Expect the process to take four to eight weeks, during which insurers will review your medical and prescription history, request records from your providers, and conduct interviews about your daily health and lifestyle.
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.
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.
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.
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!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
