Life insurance secures your dependents' financial future. According to the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association's (LIMRA) 2025 Insurance Barometer Study, 40% of insured U.S. adults with financial dependents don't feel financially secure. Ethos offers three policy types: term life insurance, whole life insurance for seniors and indexed universal life insurance.
2026 Ethos Life Insurance Review: Rates, Pros & Cons
Read our comprehensive Ethos life insurance review to learn about available policy options, pricing, pros and cons in 2026.
Find out if you're overpaying for life insurance below.
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Updated: January 12, 2026
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At a Glance: Ethos Life Insurance
Ethos
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage Points
Avg. Monthly Rate (Term)
$54 (Female), $71 (Male)Ages Supported (Term)
18-69Policy Options
Term, Whole, IUL, No-Exam
Ethos Policy Options Explained
Ethos Term Life Insurance
Ethos provides term life insurance for people aged 18 to 69, with terms of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40 years. If the policyholder dies during the term period, beneficiaries receive the policy benefit amount, up to $3 million.
Ethos term life rates run higher than average compared to the best term life insurance policies, but the company doesn't require medical exams. Applicants answer health questions online. Most Ethos term policies are simplified issues, allowing same-day approval and coverage. Those seeking lower premiums or higher death benefits can apply for fully underwritten policies, which take slightly longer.
Ethos offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and doesn't charge cancellation fees. All term life policies include free will and estate planning tools, with coverage starting after your first payment. When the term ends, policyholders can extend coverage, purchase a new policy with different coverage amounts or let the policy expire.
Average Term Life Insurance Costs
Data filtered by:
Select
Female
$1,000,000
No
| 10 years | $94 | $1,125 |
| 15 years | $98 | $1,174 |
| 20 years | $68 | $815 |
| 25 years | $181 | $2,176 |
| 30 years | $211 | $2,529 |
| 35 years | $277 | $3,320 |
| 40 years | $347 | $4,163 |
Ethos’ term life insurance policies are great options for people between 18 and 69 years old with beneficiaries who will lose income to pay for expenses like mortgages, loans or tuition if they pass away. Since term insurance is generally more affordable than other types of life insurance, it's also a good choice for those on a budget.
Ethos Whole Life Insurance
Available to applicants aged 55-85 with coverage limited to a maximum of $20,000, Ethos guaranteed whole life insurance policies are geared toward seniors, serving best as a final expense insurance option to cover costs like burial expenses.
Guaranteed issue means approval is automatic regardless of health status, though coverage may include waiting periods for certain death causes during the first two years. Ethos allows applicants to answer several health-related questions online. Depending on your answers, you may be asked to respond to some follow-up questions.
As a type of permanent policy, your premiums stay the same throughout your lifetime. After the first payment, coverage starts immediately. If you aren’t happy with your policy within the first 30 days of applying, you can cancel and get your money back.
Average Guaranteed Whole Life Insurance Costs
Data filtered by:
Select
Female
| $1,000 | $5 | $65 |
| $5,000 | $27 | $327 |
| $10,000 | $49 | $588 |
| $15,000 | $82 | $981 |
| $20,000 | $109 | $1,308 |
Ethos’ guaranteed life insurance is best for seniors who want to relieve loved ones of the burden of paying their final expenses. It's also a good option for those with small coverage needs or health concerns.
Ethos Indexed Universal Life Insurance
Ethos offers indexed universal life (IUL) insurance, a permanent policy that builds cash value tied to market index performance, subject to caps and floors. IUL provides lifelong protection with potential for cash value growth.
Applicants aged 20 to 65 qualify online by answering health and financial questions, with no medical exam required in most cases. Coverage reaches $1 million for simplified IUL or higher for fully underwritten plans, suitable for higher-income earners or those needing larger death benefits. The policy includes no-cost riders: Care4Life Accelerated Death Benefit, Lifetime Income rider and estate planning tools. Optional riders cover disability or accidental death.
Premiums are flexible. Policyholders can borrow or withdraw from accumulated cash value, though doing so reduces the death benefit. IUL isn't available in every state and can't be purchased in New York.
Average IUL Costs
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20
Female
No
| $100,000 | $22 | $262 |
| $250,000 | $55 | $656 |
| $500,000 | $109 | $1,311 |
| $750,000 | $164 | $1,967 |
| $1,000,000 | $219 | $2,622 |
| $1,500,000 | $328 | $3,934 |
| $2,500,000 | $546 | $6,556 |
Ethos’ indexed universal life insurance is best for those who want permanent coverage with the flexibility to adjust premiums and the opportunity to build cash value while maintaining higher coverage levels than many simplified products.
Ethos’s Life Insurance Riders
Life insurance riders are extra benefits that can be added to your life insurance policy to fill in gaps or ensure more stability for your loved ones. Ethos doesn't offer many riders as it aims to keep its policies straightforward. It does offer the following:
Accelerated Death Benefit | Lets policyholders access part of the death benefit early if diagnosed with a terminal illness. | Included at no cost | Term Life, Whole Life |
Care4Life Accelerated Death Benefit | Expands early access to the death benefit for critical, chronic, or terminal illness. | Included at no cost | IUL |
Lifetime Income Rider | Converts accumulated policy value into a stream of retirement income later in life. | Included at no cost | IUL |
Accidental Death Benefit Rider | Pays an additional benefit if the insured dies from a covered accident. | Optional, extra cost | IUL |
Disability Rider | Offers financial support if the insured becomes disabled and unable to work. | Optional, extra cost | IUL |
HOW TO GET ETHOS LIFE INSURANCE
Ethos uses a streamlined online application. Start by reviewing coverage options from multiple insurers to confirm Ethos fits your needs. Request quotes and compare costs and term lengths. Complete the application online and answer health questions. Some applicants complete a medical exam or phone interview. Approval often happens quickly, though it can take a few days. Once approved, coverage starts after the first payment.
Ethos Life Insurance vs. Other Companies
MoneyGeek Score | 4.7/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.5/5 |
Policy Types | Term, Whole, IUL | Term, Whole, Universal, IUL | Term, Whole, Universal, IUL | Term, Whole, Universal | Term, Whole |
No-Exam Policies? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
NAIC Complaint Index | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.08 | 1.08 |
J.D. Power Score | N/A | 653 (ninth place) | 666 (fifth) | 685 (second) | N/A |
A.M. Best Rating | A+ | A+ | A+ | A++ | A |
Customer Sentiment | 95.33% positive, 4.67% negative | 82% positive, 18% negative | 77% positive, 23% negative | 90% positive, 10% negative | 80% positive, 20% negative |
Ethos Life Insurance Review: Bottom Line
Ethos' streamlined application process, strong customer service and customizable policy options make it worth considering.
Ethos is a good fit for buyers who want a straightforward online application without a medical exam. Its term life policies offer coverage up to $3 million, while guaranteed acceptance whole life policies can help seniors plan for final expenses.
The indexed universal life option adds permanent coverage with cash value growth and built-in riders, giving policyholders more long-term flexibility than many similar providers.
Ethos Insurance Reviews: FAQ
Is Ethos life insurance legit?
Ethos operates as an insurance technology company that works with established life insurers, including Legal & General America and Ameritas. These partner carriers issue the policies and hold financial strength ratings from A.M. Best.
What’s the maximum amount of life insurance coverage available from Ethos?
Ethos offers up to $3 million in term life coverage, up to $20,000 in whole life coverage and up to $1 million in simplified IUL coverage. Fully underwritten IUL policies provide higher coverage amounts.
Does Ethos life insurance pay claims?
Ethos' partner insurers pay claims. The claims process, timelines and documentation requirements depend on the specific carrier underwriting the coverage.
Does Ethos life insurance require a medical exam?
Ethos doesn't require medical exams for many buyers. Applicants answer health questions online, though some qualify for fully underwritten coverage with higher benefits.
Can I get Ethos life insurance if I have cancer or other health issues?
Ethos accepts applicants with pre-existing health conditions, though policy types and coverage amounts may be limited.
How We Rated Ethos Life Insurance
MoneyGeek evaluated Ethos based on affordability, customer experience and available coverage options. Each category contributes to the overall score based on how directly it affects buyer cost, usability and policy flexibility.
- Affordability: 55%
- Customer Experience: 30%
- Coverage Options: 15%
We used a standard profile to obtain term life insurance quotes:
- 40-year-old male
- Nonsmoker
- 5 feet 9 inches tall and 160 pounds for men
- Average health rating
We modified the profile by age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use and health rating to collect a variety of quotes and determine average Ethos term life insurance costs for several types of customers. We also collected quotes for term life insurance with varying term lengths and coverage amounts.
For guaranteed acceptance life insurance, we gathered quotes for 55- to 85-year-olds. Indexed universal life insurance quotes are based on average costs for 18- to 80-year-olds.
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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.
sources
- LIMRA. "2025 Facts About Life Insurance." Accessed January 2, 2026.
- Ethos. "Term Life Insurance Policies." Accessed January 2, 2026.
- Ethos. "Ethos Index Universal Life Insurance (IUL)." Accessed January 2, 2026.