Based on MoneyGeek's analysis, Protective offers the best life insurance in New York and nationwide, earning a MoneyGeek score of 4.7 out of 5 for customer service, affordability and coverage options. While this is the best company overall, your top choice depends on your needs and priorities. Other MoneyGeek recommendations include Guardian Life, Lincoln Financial and Prudential.
Best Life Insurance Companies in New York (2026)
MoneyGeek scored the best life insurance companies in New York based on thousands of quotes and reviews to help you find your ideal policy.
Compare affordable life insurance options in New York.
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Updated: January 28, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Protective offers the best life insurance in New York. Lincoln Financial provides the cheapest life insurance in New York based on average quotes MoneyGeek collected from major insurers.
The best life insurance companies in New York vary based on individual needs. Guardian Life ranks highest for customer experience, while Prudential offers the most coverage options.
Your best choice depends on policy type: North American for whole and universal life, Gerber Life for guaranteed acceptance and Legal & General for term.
To get the best life insurance in New York, we recommend deciding on coverage beforehand, researching costs and companies, and comparing multiple providers.
National insurers aren't your only option. New York has regional and state-focused life insurance companies that compete on price and give you more personalized attention.
What Is the Best Life Insurance in New York?
Overall | Protective | 4.7 | $44 (men) $36 (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 reflect average quotes for 40-year-old nonsmokers buying a 20-year term policy with $500,000 in coverage. These costs are based on MoneyGeek’s analysis and serve as general estimates. Actual premiums depend on personal factors such as age, health, lifestyle and insurer underwriting criteria. To get an accurate rate, request personalized quotes directly from insurers.
Best Overall: Protective
Protective
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
4.6/5Customer Experience
4.3/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Cost
$44 (men); $36 (women)Rates based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$532 (men); $443 (women)Rates based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best Customer Experience: Guardian Life
Guardian Life
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
4.6/5Affordability
4.9/5Customer Experience
4/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Cost
$51 (men); $40 (women)Rates based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$612 (men); $480 (women)Rates based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best for Affordability: Lincoln Financial
Lincoln Financial
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
5/5Affordability
3.6/5Customer Experience
4.5/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Cost
$35 (men); $30 (women)Rates based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$417 (men); $359 (women)Rates based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best Coverage Options: Prudential
Prudential
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4.2/5Affordability
3.4/5Customer Experience
4.8/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Cost
$61 (men); $48 (women)Rates based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$735 (men); $578 (women)Rates based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best Life Insurance in New York by Policy Type
Your best life insurance company depends on the policy type you need. We picked the top insurers for each category.
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) |
Term | Legal & General | 4.7 | $44 (men) $35 (women) | $523 (men) $415 (women) |
Guaranteed Acceptance | Gerber Life | 4.7 | $44 (men) $44 (women) | $531 (men) $529 (women) |
*These 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
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Cost
Whole: $691 (men); $602 (women) Universal: $295 (men); $251 (women)Rates based on a $500,000 life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
Whole: $8,287 (men); $7,221 (women) Universal: $3,535 (men); $3,016 (women)Rates based on a $500,000 life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best Term: Legal & General
Legal & General
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.7/5Affordability
4.7/5Customer Experience
4.7/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Cost
$44 (men); $35 (women)Rates based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$523 (men); $415 (women)Rates based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings.
Best Guaranteed Acceptance: Gerber Life
Gerber
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
4.9/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Cost
$44 (men); $44 (women)Rates based on average quotes for a $10,000 guaranteed life policy for 50-year-old nonsmokers.Average Annual Cost
$531 (men); $529 (women)Rates based on average quotes for a $10,000 guaranteed life policy for 50-year-old nonsmokers.
Compare Personalized Best New York Life Insurance Picks
We've built a filterable table below so you can find insurers that match your profile.
Data filtered by:
Select
Male
20 years
$500,000
| Lincoln Financial | $38 | $452 |
| North American | $43 | $517 |
| Midland National | $43 | $517 |
| Protective Insurance | $44 | $532 |
| Transamerica | $46 | $551 |
| CoreBridge | $47 | $560 |
| Principal National | $47 | $564 |
| Legal & General | $47 | $566 |
| Pacific Life | $47 | $566 |
| SBLI | $48 | $579 |
| Cincinnati Life | $49 | $593 |
| Guardian Life | $51 | $612 |
| Equitable Life | $52 | $626 |
| Columbus Life | $53 | $632 |
| Securian | $53 | $634 |
| Gerber Life (Fabric) | $53 | $638 |
| Assurity | $55 | $663 |
| AAA | $56 | $671 |
| Nationwide | $56 | $677 |
| Fidelity Life | $59 | $705 |
| Life Insurance Co of The South West | $59 | $708 |
| National Life Group | $59 | $708 |
| Ameritas | $59 | $708 |
| John Hancock | $59 | $713 |
| Prudential | $61 | $735 |
| Foresters Financial | $62 | $740 |
| Royal Neighbors of America | $108 | $1,300 |
*Rates in this table 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.
How to Find the Best Life Insurance in New York
Here's how to find the right life insurance policy in New York.
- 1Decide Coverage Beforehand
Determine how much life insurance coverage you need before purchasing. Compare costs to see if you're getting a fair deal.
- 2Research Costs for Your Profile
Check average life insurance costs based on your coverage level and personal profile. This helps determine if you're getting a fair deal. Your location usually doesn’t impact life insurance rates, so focus more on personal factors.
- 3Compare Company Reputations
While life insurance rates often don’t change by state, a company's reputation can vary. Use resources like J.D. Power, online forums and independent agents to compare life insurance companies in New York.
- 4Compare Quotes Through Multiple Avenues
Compare quotes to get the best value. Pricing can differ depending on where you get quotes: from an independent agent, online source or captive provider agent.
CALCULATING YOUR COVERAGE NEEDS
How much life insurance do you need in New York? Use the DIME method to calculate your needs: Debt + Income replacement + Mortgage + Education costs. A quick rule of thumb suggests 10-12 times your annual income, but New York's higher cost of living may require additional coverage for expenses like childcare and housing.
New York Life Insurance Laws and Regulations
Life insurance in New York includes specific legal protections. Understand these regulations to know your rights as a policyholder.
Free Look/Right to Return
Under New York regulations, insured individuals receive a “free-look” period of 10 to 30 days from policy delivery to cancel and obtain a full premium refund. The policy must include a “free-look” notice on the cover page.
Grace Period for Premium Payments
For scheduled premium policies (such as most term or whole life policies), life insurance companies in New York must provide a 31-day or one-month grace period after the premium due date.
For flexible premium policies, where the amount or frequency of premiums can vary (such as universal or variable universal life insurance), the law requires a 61-day grace period.
Death Benefit Interest Requirement
If payment of a death benefit is delayed, New York’s Insurance Law requires interest to accrue daily from the date of death to the date of claim, at the rate currently paid by the insurer for proceeds left under the interest settlement option.
Life Insurance Guaranty Protection (LICGC)
The Life Insurance Guaranty Corporation of New York (LICGC) protects policyholders if an insurer becomes insolvent. The guaranty covers up to $500,000 aggregate for life, annuity, and accident & health claims in most non-employer contracts.
Insurer’s Claims Investigation Conduct
The Department of Financial Services has issued a Circular Letter emphasizing that life insurance companies in New York must not withhold claim payments during the contestability period in the absence of actual misrepresentation.
Best Life Insurance in New York: Bottom Line
Protective, Lincoln Financial, Guardian Life, Prudential, North American, Gerber Life and Legal & General are the best life insurance companies in New York, according to MoneyGeek's analysis. While these are our recommendations, we encourage you to assess your coverage needs and compare quotes.
New York Life Insurance: FAQ
Common questions about life insurance in New York:
What is the best life insurance in New York?
In New York, Protective offers the best overall life insurance with top-rated customer service nationwide, affordable rates of $44 (men) and $36 (women) monthly, and solid term life coverage options.
How do you get the best life insurance in New York?
Determine your coverage needs, evaluate policies from multiple insurers and compare premiums.
Do life insurance rates differ by state?
No, life insurance rates are consistent across states, but policy features and additional benefits can differ based on the location.
How does New York's free look period work?
New York law provides a minimum 10-day free look period after you receive your policy. Some insurers extend this to 30 days. You can cancel your policy for any reason during this time and receive a full refund of premiums paid. The period starts when you receive your policy documents, not when you sign the application.
Do I need a medical exam for life insurance in New York?
Most traditional term and permanent life insurance policies in New York require a medical exam. The state doesn't currently permit fully underwritten no-exam term policies offered in other states. Simplified-issue and guaranteed-issue life insurance, usually small-coverage or final-expense plans, are available without an exam, though they have lower coverage limits and graded benefits.
How We Decided the Best Life Insurance in New York
Finding the right life insurance in New York shouldn't feel overwhelming, especially when you're protecting your family's financial future in one of the most expensive states. Our research focuses on companies that operate in New York and offer competitive rates.
Our Scoring Framework
We evaluated life insurance companies in New York using a three-category system, with each company earning up to five points per category.
- Our affordability weighting of 55% reflects what matters most to New York families: getting adequate coverage without straining already tight budgets.
- Customer experience accounts for 30% because dealing with claims shouldn't add stress during difficult times.
- Coverage options represent 15% since most families need straightforward term life protection.
What We Measured
Our analysis incorporated real data from multiple sources:
- Cost comparisons through direct online quotes from each insurer
- Financial stability using AM Best ratings and years in business
- Customer satisfaction from NAIC complaint data and J.D. Power studies
- User experience including online tools and payment flexibility
- Product variety across term and permanent life insurance options
Our Sample New York Customer
We used a 40-year-old nonsmoker with average health as our baseline, representing the demographic most actively shopping for family protection. We then adjusted for different ages, health ratings, tobacco use, and coverage amounts to capture how rates vary across New York's diverse population.
This approach gives you apples-to-apples comparisons based on what actually drives your life insurance costs in New York.
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.
sources
- Department of Financial Services. "Circular Letter No. 1 (2017)." Accessed October 11, 2025.
- Department of Financial Services. "Life Insurance: FAQ." Accessed October 11, 2025.
- Department of Financial Services. "Policyholder Protection and the LICGC in New York." Accessed October 11, 2025.