At $14 per month for women and $18 per month for men, Lincoln Financial leads the market for young adult term life insurance. These rates apply to a $500,000 policy with a 20-year term for healthy nonsmokers.
Cheapest Life Insurance for Young Adults (2026)
Compare the cheapest life insurance for young adults. We researched low-cost policies with flexible coverage and easy applications.
Compare rates from top insurers.
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Updated: February 2, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Lincoln Financial is the overall cheapest term life insurance provider for young adults, with rates averaging $18 per month for men and $14 per month for women for a 20-year $500,000 policy.
Columbus Life offers the cheapest whole life insurance for young adult men at $258 per month. North American and Midland National have the lowest whole life insurance rates for young adult women at $220 per month.
Young adults get the lowest life insurance premiums because of longer life expectancy.
Cheapest Term Life Insurance for Young Adults
Young Adult Men | Lincoln Financial | $18 |
Young Adult Women | Lincoln Financial | $14 |
Rates are based on MoneyGeek’s survey of major insurers using our sample profile. Actual premiums depend on your age, health, lifestyle and coverage amount. Individual quotes may vary.
Term life insurance provides financial protection for a set period, usually 10 to 30 years. Your monthly premium stays fixed for the entire term. If you pass away during the coverage period, your beneficiaries receive the death benefit tax-free to cover expenses like mortgage payments, student loans or income replacement.
Cheapest Term Life Insurance by Age
For nonsmokers aged 18-30, Lincoln Financial has the cheapest rates. Age affects life insurance costs for young adults. Each year you wait to buy coverage increases your premium, even if your health stays the same.
Data filtered by:
Female
Select
No
| Lincoln Financial | $10 | $137 |
| North American | $13 | $150 |
| Midland National | $13 | $150 |
| Assurity | $14 | $175 |
| Cincinnati Life | $15 | $181 |
| Pacific Life | $17 | $200 |
| Foresters Financial | $17 | $203 |
| SBLI | $17 | $203 |
| CoreBridge | $17 | $205 |
| Securian | $17 | $208 |
| Gerber Life (Fabric) | $18 | $214 |
| Columbus Life | $18 | $218 |
| Guardian Life | $18 | $219 |
| National Life Group | $18 | $219 |
| Life Insurance Co of The South West | $18 | $219 |
| Equitable Life | $19 | $223 |
| Ameritas | $19 | $227 |
| Prudential | $18 | $229 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $20 | $240 |
| Ethos | $21 | $249 |
| AAA | $21 | $251 |
| Nationwide | $22 | $263 |
| John Hancock | $23 | $265 |
| Transamerica | $22 | $270 |
| Fidelity Life | $23 | $276 |
| Royal Neighbors of America | $27 | $331 |
Rates are based on average quotes for 18-to-30-year-olds with a 20-year $500,000 policy. These are examples only. Your actual premium will be determined by the insurer based on your age, health status, and other underwriting factors.
Cheapest Term Life Insurance by Coverage Level and Term
The coverage amount and term length affect your premium. Higher coverage costs more, but the increase isn't always proportional. Longer terms also increase costs. The insurer assumes greater risk over longer periods, which drives up premiums.
Data filtered by:
$500,000
20 years
Female
No
| Lincoln Financial | $14 | $159 |
| Assurity | $16 | $183 |
| Protective Insurance | $16 | $192 |
| North American | $16 | $192 |
| Midland National | $16 | $192 |
| SBLI | $17 | $203 |
| Transamerica | $17 | $203 |
| Cincinnati Life | $17 | $205 |
| CoreBridge | $17 | $207 |
| Legal & General | $18 | $207 |
| Pacific Life | $18 | $217 |
| Guardian Life | $18 | $219 |
| Principal National | $18 | $219 |
| Columbus Life | $20 | $234 |
| Equitable Life | $20 | $239 |
| Securian | $20 | $242 |
| Ameritas | $20 | $243 |
| Gerber Life (Fabric) | $20 | $247 |
| Life Insurance Co of The South West | $21 | $253 |
| National Life Group | $21 | $253 |
| Prudential | $22 | $255 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $22 | $256 |
| Ethos | $22 | $260 |
| Foresters Financial | $22 | $263 |
| Nationwide | $22 | $263 |
| AAA | $22 | $263 |
| Fidelity Life | $24 | $284 |
| John Hancock | $24 | $291 |
| Royal Neighbors of America | $36 | $433 |
Based on quotes for 30-year-olds in excellent health. Actual premiums depend on your age, health and lifestyle.
Many young adults start with 20-year terms because they align with major financial obligations, such as mortgages and raising children. You can buy additional coverage later, though rates will be higher based on your age at that time.
Cheapest Whole Life Insurance for Young Adults
Columbus Life provides the cheapest whole life insurance for young adult men at $258 monthly, while North American and Midland National tie for women at $220 monthly. These rates apply to $500,000 in permanent coverage.
Young Adult Men | Columbus Life | $258 |
Young Adult Women |
| $220 |
Rates are based on MoneyGeek’s survey of major insurers using our sample profile. Actual premiums depend on your age, health, lifestyle and coverage amount. Individual quotes may vary.
Whole life insurance lasts your entire lifetime as long as you pay premiums. It also builds cash value you can borrow against for expenses like starting a business or buying a home. The cash value grows tax-deferred, and you receive guaranteed growth plus potential dividends depending on the insurer's performance.
Cheapest Whole Life Insurance by Age
Columbus Life, North American and Midland National have some of the most affordable whole life insurance for young buyers aged 18 to 30.
Data filtered by:
18
Female
No
| Columbus Life | $40 | $481 |
| Protective Insurance | $41 | $493 |
| North American | $49 | $594 |
| Midland National | $49 | $594 |
| Pacific Life | $63 | $748 |
Rates are based on average quotes for 18-to-30-year-olds with a 20-year $500,000 policy. These are examples only. Your actual premium will be determined by the insurer based on your age, health status, and other underwriting factors.
Whole life insurance premiums stay level throughout the policy. If you buy coverage at 25 years old paying $220 monthly, you'll pay that same amount at 45, 65 and beyond.
Cheapest Whole Life Insurance by Coverage
The most affordable whole life premiums depend on the coverage amount you choose. Most young adults choose between $250,000 and $500,000 in whole life coverage. Coverage above $1 million often requires additional underwriting and medical exams.
Data filtered by:
$500,000
Female
No
| North American | $326 | $3,917 |
| Midland National | $326 | $3,917 |
| Columbus Life | $352 | $4,225 |
| Protective Insurance | $363 | $4,357 |
| Pacific Life | $373 | $4,470 |
Quotes are for 30-year-olds in excellent health. Actual premiums depend on your age, health and lifestyle.
How to Get Cheap Life Insurance for Young Adults
Shopping for cheap life insurance starts with understanding which policy type fits your needs and budget. Most young adults benefit from term life insurance because it costs less and provides straightforward financial protection coverage during working years.
Compare quotes from at least three to five insurers. Rates differ between companies even for identical coverage.
Apply while you're healthy. Life insurance companies check your health status, family medical history and lifestyle factors to determine your rate class. Young adults typically qualify for preferred or super preferred rates if they're nonsmokers with no chronic health conditions.
Calculate how much coverage you need. Multiply your annual income by 10 as a starting point. Add any major debts to your coverage calculation. Student loans, car loans and credit card balances don't disappear when you die.
Match your term length to your financial obligations. If you're 28 with a 30-year mortgage, buy a 30-year term policy. Your coverage will last until you pay off the house. Consider major life milestones when choosing term length. Some insurers let you convert term to permanent insurance later without a medical exam.
Review and update coverage regularly. Review your policy annually to make sure coverage matches your obligations. Life changes, such as marriage, having children, or buying a home, increase your financial protection needs.
Buy a new life insurance policy alongside your existing one when your health remains good to get additional coverage. Some policies include guaranteed insurability riders that let you buy additional coverage at life events without a medical exam.
NO-EXAM POLICIES FOR QUICK COVERAGE
No-exam policies have faster approval but cost more than traditional term insurance. Apply for no-exam coverage if you need immediate protection, worry about medical exams or want to avoid the application hassle.
Young adults in excellent health benefit from traditional policies with medical exams. The medical exam takes 30 to 40 minutes at your home or a local facility. Use no-exam coverage as temporary protection while you apply for a traditional policy. You can cancel the no-exam policy once your traditional coverage begins.
Cheap Life Insurance for Young Adults: Bottom Line
Lincoln Financial delivers the most affordable term life insurance for young adults. Columbus Life, North American and Midland National lead the whole life insurance market.
Young adults enjoy the lowest life insurance rates. Insurers see young buyers as low risk because of better health and longer life expectancy. Each year you wait increases your premiums, even if your health stays the same.
Compare quotes from multiple insurers, choose coverage matching your financial obligations and apply while you're healthy to lock in the best rates.
Young Adult Life Insurance: FAQ
Do young adults need life insurance?
Young adults need life insurance if someone depends on their income or if they have cosigned debts. Coverage provides financial protection for beneficiaries to cover final expenses, outstanding debts and income replacement. Even single young adults benefit from affordable rates that lock in for decades.
Is term or whole life insurance better for young adults?
Term life insurance works best for young adults needing affordable financial protection during working years. Whole life costs more but lasts your entire lifetime and builds cash value. Most financial advisors recommend term insurance unless you have estate planning needs.
How much life insurance coverage do I need in my 20s?
Calculate 10 times your annual income plus outstanding debts as a starting point. If you earn $50,000 yearly with $30,000 in student loans, aim for $530,000 coverage. Young adults without dependents might need just $100,000 to $250,000 to cover final expenses and debts.
Our Methodology
We collected 248,399 quotes from 16 major insurers across 250 ZIP codes to identify which companies offer low rates for young adults.
Sample Profile Details
To find the cheapest life insurance for young adults, we analyzed quotes for nonsmoking applicants aged 18 to 30 years old in excellent health. Male profiles used 5’9”, 160 pounds. Female profiles used 5'4", 120 pounds.
We modified this baseline profile and adjusted age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use and health rating.
Coverage Analysis
We collected quotes for life insurance with varying policy lengths (term and permanent coverage) and death benefit amounts
Data Recency
All coverage costs and company information were updated in 2025.
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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.