Best Life Insurance Companies for Seniors (2026)


The best life insurance companies for seniors are Protective Insurance, Gerber Life, and Legal & General. The right provider for you depends on your coverage needs.

Find out if you're overpaying for life insurance below.

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Life insurance gets more expensive as you age, but seniors still have solid options for coverage. Choosing the right life insurance is especially important for seniors who want to protect their loved ones, cover final expenses, or leave a financial legacy. 

With many policy types available, including term, whole life, and guaranteed issue coverage, it can be difficult to know which option offers the best value. We analyzed the best life insurance for seniors available today to help you choose the right policy for your needs.

Compare Senior Life Insurance Rates

Ensure you get the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.

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Best Life Insurance for Seniors

We researched the best senior life insurance companies in the industry, evaluating leading providers across term, universal, whole, and guaranteed life insurance, along with several other common use cases. 

Legal & General and SBLI offer the most affordable term life options, while Protective and Ethos support higher maximum issue ages for seniors who need coverage later in life. Gerber Life stands out for guaranteed acceptance policies, and Mutual of Omaha offers the best no-exam term coverage. Together, these companies represent the strongest options for seniors across cost, coverage limits, age eligibility, and overall customer experience.

Best For
Company
Avg. Monthly Cost (Term)
Max Age Supported
Coverage Limit

Legal & General

$94 (F), $136 (M)

75

$10 million (Term)

Protective Insurance

$89 (F), $126 (M)

85

$10 million+ (Term)

Gerber Life

$151 (F), $209 (M)

80

$5 million (Term), $25,000 (Guaranteed)

SBLI

$77 (F), $109 (M)

75

$10 million (Term)

Midland National

$87 (F), $122 (M)

75

$10 million+ (Term)

* Rates shown are average monthly costs for 65-year-old non-smokers of average height, weight, and health for 10-year term life insurance at $100,000 in coverage. Rates are based on our standardized quote methodology and may differ from what you receive based on your specific health profile, location, and chosen coverage options.

Best Term Life Insurance for Seniors

Company Image
Legal & General
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
4.7/5Customer Experience
4.6/5Coverage Points
  • Avg. Monthly Cost (Term)

    $94 (Female), $136 (Male)
  • Max Age

    75
  • Policy Types

    Term, Whole, Universal, IUL

Best Universal Life Insurance for Seniors

Company Image
Protective
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage Points
  • Avg. Monthly Cost (Term)

    $89 (Female), $126 (Male)
  • Max Age

    80
  • Policy Types

    Term, Whole, Universal, IUL

Best Guaranteed Life Insurance

Company Image
Gerber
MoneyGeek Rating
4.8/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
4.7/5Customer Experience
4.8/5Coverage Points
  • Avg. Monthly Cost (Term)

    $151 (Female), $209 (Male)
  • Max Age

    80
  • Policy Types

    Term, Whole, No-Exam

Most Affordable Life Insurance for Seniors

Company Image
SBLI
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
5/5Affordability
4.7/5Customer Experience
3.6/5Coverage Points
  • Avg. Monthly Cost (Term)

    $77 (Female), $109 (Male)
  • Max Age

    75
  • Policy Types

    Term, Whole

Best Whole Life Insurance for Seniors

Company Image
Midland National
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage Points
  • Avg. Monthly Cost (Term)

    $87 (Female), $122 (Male)
  • Max Age

    75
  • Policy Types

    Term, Whole, Universal, IUL

Best No-Exam Life Insurance for Seniors

Company Image
Mutual of Omaha
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.7/5Affordability
4.4/5Customer Experience
3.4/5Coverage Points
  • Avg. Monthly Cost (Term)

    $109 (Female), $152 (Male)
  • Max Age

    75
  • Policy Types

    Term, No-Exam

Best Customer Experience

Company Image
Ethos
MoneyGeek Rating
4/ 5
3.2/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage Points
  • Avg. Monthly Cost (Term)

    $273 (Female), $387 (Male)
  • Max Age

    85
  • Policy Types

    Term, Whole, IUL, No-Exam

How Does Senior Life Insurance Work?

Senior life insurance works the same way as standard life insurance. You pay premiums and your beneficiaries receive a death benefit when you pass away. The main differences show up in eligibility requirements, coverage amounts and costs. Here's what you need to know:

How to Find the Best Life Insurance Policy for Seniors

Seniors face higher life insurance premiums and more stringent health evaluations than younger applicants. Focus on these features when comparing policies:

  • Policy Duration. If you're considering term life insurance, the term should align with your financial planning horizon. Whole and universal life insurance offer lifelong coverage with locked in rates, which is more suitable for long-term financial planning.
  • Affordability. Premiums increase with age, so finding policies that balance cost and coverage becomes essential. Term plans tend to be more affordable.
  • Underwriting Process. Some policies require medical exams, while simplified issue or guaranteed issue options skip medical exams. No-exam policies help applicants with pre-existing health conditions but carry higher premiums.
  • Riders and Additional Features. Look for beneficial riders like accelerated death benefits, which allow you to access portions of death benefits when diagnosed with terminal illnesses.

How Much Does Senior Life Insurance Cost?

If you're concerned about life insurance costs as you age, you're not alone. Premiums do increase with age to reflect health risks. Understanding how age, health, and policy type impact your rates helps you make informed decisions about coverage. 

The table below shows average monthly costs for 10-year term life insurance at $100,000 coverage by age, giving you a clear picture of what to expect. Monthly premiums for a $100,000 policy range from $27 to $106 at age 55, climbing to $101 to $289 at age 70. Women consistently pay 20% to 30% less than men across all age groups and providers.

Midland National
$27 (F) / $38 (M)
$46 (F) / $66 (M)
$87 (F) / $123 (M)
$129 (F) / $180 (M)
Protective Insurance
$27 (F) / $38 (M)
$45 (F) / $64 (M)
$90 (F) / $126 (M)
$209 (F) / $264 (M)
SBLI
$29 (F) / $42 (M)
$53 (F) / $75 (M)
$77 (F) / $109 (M)
$101 (F) / $143 (M)
Legal & General
$30 (F) / $43 (M)
$53 (F) / $75 (M)
$95 (F) / $136 (M)
$211 (F) / $253 (M)
Mutual of Omaha
$34 (F) / $48 (M)
$58 (F) / $85 (M)
$110 (F) / $152 (M)
$161 (F) / $220 (M)
Gerber Life (Fabric)
$36 (F) / $51 (M)
$94 (F) / $130 (M)
$152 (F) / $210 (M)
$209 (F) / $289 (M)
Ethos
$106 (F) / $152 (M)
$190 (F) / $270 (M)
$273 (F) / $388 (M)
N/A

Best Senior Life Insurance Companies: Bottom Line

Life insurance gives seniors a financial safety net for their families by covering final expenses, replacing lost income or leaving financial legacies.

Protective Insurance is the best universal life insurance for seniors, while Gerber Life is the best guaranteed life insurance, and Legal & General is the best term life insurance.

Choose the right plan by evaluating policy types, premiums and provider reputations that match your coverage needs and budget.

Compare Senior Life Insurance Rates

Ensure you get the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

MoneyGeek's experts answered common questions about the best life insurance options for seniors.

What type of life insurance is best for seniors?

Is term life insurance worth it for seniors?

Can seniors over 70 still get life insurance?

Do seniors need medical exams for life insurance?

How do common senior health conditions affect life insurance?

What's the difference between guaranteed issue and simplified issue for seniors?

Finding the Best Life Insurance for Seniors: Expert Advice

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Our Review Methodology

Shopping for life insurance as a senior feels different from how it was in your 30s. Your health history matters more, term lengths become crucial decisions, and you're weighing financial protection against affordability on a fixed income. We designed our research specifically around these senior-focused concerns.

Our Research Approach

We analyzed three key factors that matter most when you're shopping for senior life insurance:

  • Affordability (50%): Cost data from online quotes at different coverage levels and demographic profiles based on age, health, height, weight and smoking habits.
  • Customer Experience (30%): Financial strength ratings from AM Best, years in business, customer satisfaction data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index, customer sentiment on popular review forums, and availability of tools like online product materials and multiple payment options.
  • Coverage Options (20%): We evaluated the diversity of life insurance products offered and available riders and unique benefits.

Sample Customer Profile

We gathered quotes using a standard senior profile across all companies:

  • Age range: 50 to 85
  • Non-smoker
  • Average height and weight
  • Average health rating

Unless otherwise stated, rates shown throughout this article are based on 65-year-old non-smokers with average height, weight, and health on 10-year term at $100k coverage.

We modified the profile by age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use, health rating and geographic location to collect various quotes and determine the best life insurance company for several types of customers. We also collected quotes for term life insurance with varying term lengths and coverage amounts.

We identified pricing trends across age groups and projected costs to help you understand how premiums change as you age. This approach reveals which companies offer the most predictable rate increases, which is crucial information when you're planning coverage that may last decades.

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About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

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.


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