Overall, Protective Insurance offers the best life insurance in Maryland and across the country, earning a MoneyGeek score of 4.7 out of 5 for customer service, affordability, and coverage options. We also recommend Guardian Life, Lincoln Financial and Prudential as some of the best affordable alternatives.
Best Life Insurance Companies in Maryland (2025)
MoneyGeek scored the best life insurance companies in Maryland based on thousands of quotes and reviews to help you find your ideal policy.
Discover affordable life insurance in Maryland below.

Updated: October 25, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Life insurance rates don't change by state, but in Maryland, the best providers are Protective Insurance, Guardian Life, Lincoln Financial and Prudential.
Lincoln Financial offers the cheapest life insurance in Maryland and nationwide, with monthly rates averaging $35 (men) and $30 (women) for a $500,000 policy.
The best life insurance company in Maryland may vary depending on the type of life insurance you choose. Legal & General is the best for term, while Pacific Life ranks first for no-exam term policies. For permanent life insurance, North American, Ethos and Mutual of Omaha stand out.
To get the best life insurance in Maryland, we recommend deciding on coverage beforehand, researching costs and companies, and comparing plenty of providers.
Ensure you are getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Best Life Insurance Providers in Maryland
Overall | Protective Insurance | 4.7 | $44 (men) $37 (women) | $532 (men) $443 (women) |
Customer Experience | Guardian Life | 4.6 | $51 (men) $40 (women) | $612 (men) $480 (women) |
Affordability | Lincoln Financial | 4.5 | $35 (men) $30 (women) | $417 (men) $359 (women) |
Coverage Options | Prudential | 4.1 | $61 (men) $48 (women) | $735 (men) $578 (women) |
Rates are based on average quotes for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with a $500,000 20-year term policy. These are estimates based on MoneyGeek's analysis and may not reflect your actual premium. Actual rates vary based on health, lifestyle, and other underwriting factors. Contact insurers directly for personalized quotes.
Best Overall: Protective

Protective
Average Monthly Cost
$44 (men); $37 (women)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$532 (men); $443 (women)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best Customer Experience: Guardian Life

Guardian Life
Average Monthly Cost
$51 (men); $40 (women)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$612 (men); $480 (women)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best for Affordability: Lincoln Financial

Lincoln Financial
Average Monthly Cost
$35 (men); $30 (women)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$417 (men); $359 (women)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best Coverage Options: Prudential

Prudential
Average Monthly Cost
$61 (men); $48 (women)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$735 (men); $578 (women)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best Life Insurance in Maryland by Policy Type
While we've identified the top life insurance company for most, your ideal match might differ based on the type of life insurance. Below, we break down the best options for various common profiles.
Whole and Universal | North American | 5 | Whole: $691 (men) $602 (women) Universal: $295 (men) $251 (women) | Whole: $8,287 (men) $7,221 (women) Universal: $3,535 (men) $3,016 (women) |
Indexed Universal | Ethos | 5 | $328 (men) $275 (women) | $3,935 (men) $3,297 (women) |
Term | Legal & General | 4.7 | $44 (men) $35 (women) | $523 (men) $415 (women) |
Guaranteed Acceptance | Mutual of Omaha | 4.7 | $40 (men) $30 (women) | $482 (men) $365 (women) |
No-Exam | Pacific Life | 4.5 | $47 (men) $39 (women) | $566 (men) $464 (women) |
Rates are estimates based on MoneyGeek's analysis and may not reflect your actual premium. Individual rates vary based on health, lifestyle, and other underwriting factors. Contact insurers directly for personalized quotes.
Best Whole and Universal: North American

North American
Average Monthly Cost
Whole: $691 (men); $602 (women) Universal: $295 (men); $251 (women)Based on average quotes for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with $500,000 coverage amount.Average Annual Cost
Whole: $8,287 (men); $7,221 (women) Universal: $3,535 (men); $3,016 (women)Based on average quotes for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with $500,000 coverage amount.
Best Indexed Universal: Ethos

Ethos
Average Monthly Cost
$328 (men); $275 (women)Based on average quotes for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with $500,000 coverage amount.Average Annual Cost
$3,935 (men); $3,297 (women)Based on average quotes for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with $500,000 coverage amount.
Best Term: Legal & General

Legal & General
Average Monthly Cost
$44 (men); $35 (women)Based on average quotes for an adult (ages 30-49) nonsmoker with a 20-year term policy and $500,000 coverage amount.Average Annual Cost
$523 (men); $415 (women)Based on average quotes for an adult (ages 30-49) nonsmoker with a 20-year term policy and $500,000 coverage amount.
Best Guaranteed Acceptance: Mutual of Omaha

Mutual of Omaha
Average Monthly Cost
$40 (men); $30 (women)Based on average quotes for 50-year-old nonsmokers with $10,000 coverage amount.Average Annual Cost
$482 (men); $365 (women)Based on average quotes for 50-year-old nonsmokers with $10,000 coverage amount.
Best No-Exam Term: Pacific Life

Pacific Life
Average Monthly Cost
$47 (men); $39 (women)Based on average quotes for a 40-year-old with a 20-year term policy and $500,000 coverage amount.Average Annual Cost
$566 (men); $464 (women)Based on average quotes for a 40-year-old with a 20-year term policy and $500,000 coverage amount.
Compare Personalized Best Maryland Life Insurance Picks
To help you find the best life insurance fit, we've included a filterable table below that tailors recommendations to your unique profile, making your search simple and precise.
| Lincoln Financial | 16 | 208 |
| North American | 20 | 233 |
| Midland National | 20 | 233 |
| Protective Insurance | 21 | 259 |
| Assurity | 21 | 261 |
| Cincinnati Life | 23 | 274 |
| Pacific Life | 25 | 301 |
| SBLI | 25 | 301 |
| CoreBridge | 25 | 304 |
| Principal National | 25 | 305 |
| Legal & General | 26 | 307 |
| Foresters Financial | 26 | 315 |
| Securian | 26 | 317 |
| Guardian Life | 27 | 324 |
| Gerber Life (Fabric) | 28 | 326 |
| Columbus Life | 27 | 327 |
| Life Insurance Co of The South West | 27 | 333 |
| National Life Group | 27 | 333 |
| Equitable Life | 28 | 334 |
| Ameritas | 28 | 336 |
| Prudential | 28 | 346 |
| Mutual of Omaha | 30 | 359 |
| Ethos | 31 | 369 |
| AAA | 32 | 372 |
| Transamerica | 31 | 383 |
| Nationwide | 32 | 389 |
| John Hancock | 34 | 399 |
| Fidelity Life | 34 | 409 |
| Royal Neighbors of America | 42 | 516 |
Rates are based on a term life insurance policy for nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings. Individual costs will vary based on policy type and your profile.
Rates in this table may differ from those mentioned in the best companies' profiles. Main analysis uses averages for ages 30-49, while this table shows ages 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70.
How to Find the Best Life Insurance in Maryland
Here's a quick guide with top tips to help you secure the best life insurance in the Free State.
- 1Decide coverage beforehand
Finding out your life insurance coverage needs before purchasing is crucial. This allows you to compare prices fairly and avoid overselling by agents.
- 2Research costs for your profile
Reviewing average life insurance costs based on your specific coverage level and profile helps in assessing a good deal. Typically, your location doesn't impact life insurance rates.
- 3Compare company reputations
Rates are generally consistent across states, but a company's reputation in your area can offer a better fit. Use J.D. Power, online forums and independent agents to evaluate providers.
- 4Compare quotes through multiple avenues
Comparing quotes from various companies ensures you're getting the best value. Pricing may vary depending on where you obtain quotes, be it an independent agent, online source, or captive provider agent.
Best Life Insurance in Maryland: Bottom Line
We found the top life insurance companies in Maryland are Protective Insurance, Guardian Life, Lincoln Financial and Prudential. North American, Ethos, Legal & General, Mutual of Omaha and Pacific Life are the best options for specific policy types. While these are our recommendations, you should complete your own research, decide on a coverage level, and compare quotes to get the best deal possible.
Ensure you are getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Maryland Life Insurance: FAQ
Explore expert answers to common questions about life insurance in Maryland in our FAQ section.
What is the best life insurance in Maryland?
In Maryland, Protective Insurance offers the best overall life insurance, with top-rated nationwide customer service, affordable rates and robust life coverage.
How do you get the best life insurance in Maryland?
Finding the best life insurance in Maryland requires setting your coverage needs, then researching and comparing insurers' offerings and premiums for a well-informed choice.
Do life insurance rates differ by state?
No, life insurance rates do not vary by state, but coverage options and riders may be different.
How We Decided the Best Life Insurance in Maryland
We looked at three main things when ranking these companies: affordability (55%), customer experience (30%), and coverage options (15%). This weighting reflects what matters most when you're comparing policies. Your monthly premium impacts your budget, while reliable service and diverse options enhance long-term value.
We gathered quotes using a standard profile: a nonsmoker with average height, healthy weight, and average health rating. This baseline allowed us to compare rates fairly across insurers. We then modified profiles by age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use and health rating to capture rate variations for different customer types.
We used averages from the ages 30-49 quotes to determine overall rankings of the best life insurance companies in Maryland. When necessary, we identified data trends to calculate projections and extend coverage beyond original quotes collected.
Our analysis incorporated:
- Cost data from online quotes across multiple coverage amounts and term lengths
- A.M. Best financial strength ratings and years in business for stability assessment
- NAIC complaint index data and J.D. Power satisfaction scores for customer experience evaluation
- Online tools availability, payment options, and buying process ease
- Product diversity across term and permanent life insurance offerings
This methodology ensures our recommendations reflect real-world costs and experiences you'll encounter when buying life insurance in Maryland.
About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Mark earned a master's degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor's degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.

