Nationwide Life Insurance Review 2026

Nationwide works well if you want flexible coverage options and long-term reliability. The company offers nearly every type of life insurance and lets you convert term coverage to permanent protection later without a new medical exam. Nationwide's living benefit riders (chronic, critical and terminal illness options) let you access part of your death benefit while alive. This feature is valuable for policyholders facing serious health conditions.

The online experience is limited. You can only quote and apply online for no-exam term life insurance. Permanent policies require working with a licensed agent. Nationwide fits best for people who value advisor-guided planning, conversion flexibility and the financial stability of an A+ rated insurer.

Nationwide offers multiple life insurance products, from simple term coverage to permanent policies with cash value growth and investment options.

Nationwide provides riders that expand protection, enhance flexibility and deliver living-benefit access.

Life insurance costs vary based on multiple factors that insurers use to assess risk. Your age, gender, health class, coverage amount, term length, tobacco use and selected riders all influence your final premium.

The table below shows average Nationwide term life insurance costs for buyers with standard health ratings and average weight. Rates reflect different ages, coverage amounts, term lengths and smoking status to help you understand potential costs.

These rates are based on our sample profiles. Individual premiums may vary based on your specific health profile, medical history and lifestyle factors. These rates are estimates for comparison purposes only.

Nationwide's term life runs pricier than what online-only companies charge, though it's right in line with what you'd pay at other traditional insurers when you want the same flexibility and conversion rights. 

Permanent policies cost more each month because you're doing two things at once: maintaining your death benefit while building up cash value that works like a savings account. Life insurance operates differently from health coverage. There are no deductibles to worry about. Your premium is all you pay on a regular basis.

The claims process reflects how an insurance company supports families after a loss. Nationwide keeps this step straightforward by offering more than one way to file a claim and outlining exactly what beneficiaries need to submit.

Claims can be filed online or by calling 1-800-848-6331 to speak with a claims representative.

You may be asked to provide the following documents:

• Certified death certificate
• Completed claim form
• Policy number or copy of the policy

Once all required documents are received, Nationwide completes most claims within about 30 days. This gives beneficiaries a clearer idea of when funds may become available.

Life insurance beneficiaries choose how they receive their payout. Direct deposit offers faster access to funds, while mailed checks remain an option for those who prefer a paper payment.

Nationwide's financial strength and range of policies make it worth considering if you want an insurer you can count on decades from now. A.M. Best and the BBB both give it A+ ratings, which tells you the company has the resources to pay out when you file a claim. You'll find enough policy options here to match your budget and coverage needs without settling for something that doesn't quite fit.

Our Nationwide life insurance review found the company excels with living benefit riders, conversion options and multi-policy integration. The main drawback is that permanent policies require agent assistance, which may not appeal to buyers who prefer a fully online experience or the lowest premiums.

Even with these strengths, compare Nationwide with other top insurers. Each company offers something different. Some have lower rates, others provide better digital experiences and many specialize in policy types that might better match your goals.

These are common questions about Nationwide life insurance.

Nationwide's life insurance operates in a crowded marketplace where coverage decisions affect your family's financial security for years or decades. You need to know whether Nationwide's policies deliver competitive rates and reliable service and how the customer experience holds up during applications and claims.

This Nationwide life insurance review examines the factors that impact your costs and coverage quality. We focus on what matters when choosing life insurance that fits your budget and protection needs.

Evaluation Framework

We based our review on three main categories that reflect what most policyholders care about:

• Affordability (55%): Premium prices across different customer profiles and coverage levels
• Customer Experience (30%): Claims turnaround times, customer support and satisfaction
• Coverage Options (15%): Policy types, benefit amounts and available riders

Affordability carries the most weight because life insurance is a long-term monthly cost for many families. Even small changes in premium prices can affect a household’s budget over the years.

Rate Collection Process

We used a standard sample profile to compare Nationwide’s pricing with other major insurers.

• 40-year-old male
• Nonsmoker
• 5 feet 9 inches tall and 160 pounds
• Average health rating

This profile reflects a common shopper for Nationwide’s policies and helps create fair and consistent comparisons across the life insurance market.

We then modified age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use and health rating to determine average Nationwide costs for different customer types. This approach reveals how Nationwide's underwriting affects premiums across various risk profiles.

Coverage Analysis Scope

We gathered quotes for different term lengths and coverage amounts to see how Nationwide’s prices change as policy sizes increase. This way, you can gauge whether Nationwide is a better fit for basic family coverage or for higher amounts used in estate planning.

Our review also looks at Nationwide’s full lineup of life insurance products to give you a clear picture of how the company compares to other insurers in the market.