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AIG life insurance review 2021
Find many universal life options and flexible term lengths, if you can get approved.
finder.com's rating: 4 / 5 ★★★★★
Bottom line: AIG has one of the widest list of policies to choose from, though you might not get accepted or get a decent rate if you have a pre-existing condition.
18 to 75
Issue Age
$5,000 to $2,000,000
Coverage
Depends on the policy
Medical Exam Required
Details
| Policies | Term, Whole, Universal, Quality of Life, Permanent, Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Insurance, Accidental Death Insurance |
|---|---|
| Coverage maximum | $2,000,000 |
| Term lengths | 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 years |
| Medical exam required | Depends on the policy |
| Available states | All states except NY and MT |
| Issue age | 20 - 85 years old |
Pros
- Range of unique riders, like the lifestyle income rider that lets you withdraw up to 10% of your policy’s value each year after your 85th birthday
- Multiple types of universal life policies for a variety of needs and investment risks
Cons
- Lengthy claims process of several weeks for approval and payment
- Strict underwriting
| Riders |
No info available |
|---|
Review by
Sarah George
sarah.george@finder.comSarah George is an insurance writer at Finder who’s penned over 400 articles, unraveling complicated topics about car, home and life insurance. Her insurance know-how has been featured in online publications, including Breeze, CBS, CNET and Reviews.com, as well as Finder’s YouTube channel. Sarah is working to become a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF).
Expert review
AIG life insurance offers death benefits up to over $1 million for some policies. Its term policies span as long as 35 years, and its seven universal life policies include options that invest in the S&P 500.
However, AIG’s approval guidelines can be stricter than other insurers — not helpful if you have pre-existing conditions. Also, its customer ratings aren’t the highest, which may affect your decision if you’re looking for top-rated service.
Otherwise, its high coverage, long terms and low starting rates might be worth a quote.
This article was reviewed by Andrew Flueckiger, a member of the Finder Editorial Review Board and certified insurance counselor and licensed insurance agent in five states.
AIG life insurance rates
We pulled 2021 samples rates from AIG’s online quote tool for a $500,000, 20-year term life policy for a healthy man and woman. AIG’s rates are on the pricer side, with all rates being higher than average for a policy of this size and term length.
| Age | Man | Woman |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | $36.01 | $28.63 |
| 25 | $36.01 | $28.79 |
| 30 | $36.64 | $30.29 |
| 35 | $42.66 | $35.08 |
| 40 | $61.46 | $47.50 |
| 45 | $95.71 | $72.41 |
| 50 | $146.41 | $108.60 |
| 55 | $246.21 | $167.50 |
| 60 | $425.05 | $292.60 |
| 65 | $458.49 | $388.91 |
Factors that affect you rates with AIG
AIG considers multiple health factors when calculating your rates. To get the best rates with AIG, you’ll need to be classified as Preferred Plus, which means you’ll need to meet its strict requirements:
- Blood pressure. Your reading should be 140/85 until age 60 or 150/85 if you’re over age 60.
- Cholesterol and HDL ratio. If your HDL ratio is 5.0 or below, your overall cholesterol must be under 215. For an HDL ratio of 4.5 or below, your cholesterol should be under 290.
- Driving record. You shouldn’t have DUIs, suspensions or reckless driving within seven years.
- Family history. Your parents can’t have a history of coronary artery disease or cancer before age 60. The restriction lifts after age 65.
- Personal history. If you’re not age 60, a cancer diagnosis or another impairment may disqualify you for preferred rates.
- Tobacco use. You must prove that you haven’t touched tobacco over the past five years.
- Unhealthy height to weight ratio. For example, men who are 6ft get the best rates with a weight from 137 lbs to 217 lbs.
How to get a quote from AIG life insurance
AIG Direct sells policies directly to customers online or by phone at 800-254-4933, whereas other AIG policies are sold through life insurance agents.
- From AIG’s individual life insurance page, click Get A Quote for the type of policy you are interested in.
- You’ll be taken to a page where you can enter your personal information, including contact info, nicotine use, birthdate, height and weight, and desired coverage amount. Then click Get Your Free Quote.
- An AIG agent will call you to provide a quote and discuss your life insurance options with you.
AIG’s life insurance policies are issued by American General
AIG is the parent company of American General Life Insurance, which is why most of AIG’s life insurance policies are issued by American General. As you finalize your paperwork and set up your online account, you may see American General pop up as your life insurance company instead of AIG.
The exception is that The United States Life Insurance Company issues policies for AIG in New York City.
AIG offers term and permanent life insurance
AIG issues a variety of options for term and permanent life insurance. Its lineup includes:
- Term life. AIG’s term life policy, Select-A-Term, offers temporary coverage for 18 term level options from 10 years to 35 years. You can convert your policy to a permanent plan before age 70.
- Universal life. Unlike many insurers, AIG sells seven universal life insurance policies offering flexible premiums and death benefits. You’ll build cash value with investment portfolios or indexes like the S&P 500.
- Whole life. The insurer offers a guaranteed issue whole life policy with $5,000 to $25,000 in coverage and no medical exam for those ages 50 to 85. It offers lifelong protection without a medical exam and builds cash value at a fixed interest rate.
Does AIG offer burial insurance?
Yes. Seniors ages 50 to 85 qualify for AIG’s burial insurance with coverage ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. This guaranteed-issue policy means that you won’t need a health questionnaire or medical exam.
AIG also stands out with living benefits, rare for final expense policies. If you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness, you can advance up to 50% of the death benefit for end-of-life expenses — minus an administrative fee.
AIG offers 6 riders to customize your coverage
You can bridge any gaps in your coverage with these common riders:
- Accelerated death benefit rider. Provides an early tax-free payout if you’re diagnosed with a terminal or chronic illness. You may qualify for a preset monthly portion of the death benefit.
- Accidental death benefit rider. Pays double the death benefit if your death is a result of an accident.
- Child rider. Provides temporary coverage for your children up to age 25 and up to a $25,000 maximum.
- Spouse rider. You can buy additional coverage for your spouse without needing a separate policy.
- Guaranteed insurability rider. You can buy additional coverage at specific dates without needing a medical exam.
- Waiver-of-premium rider. Waives premium payments if you become fully disabled.
AIG life insurance gets mixed reviews
The Better Business Bureau records low star ratings, citing slow responses and trouble with claims payments. However, these ratings reflect the company’s products overall, not just its life insurance.
On TrustPilot, AIG sees mixed reviews including a lack of communication and slow claims payments, yet helpful account managers and good customer service. AIG also scored 742 of 1,000 on J.D. Power’s 2020 Life Insurance Study, less than average for customer satisfaction.
Yet American General Life Insurance Company saw a National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint score of 0.75 in 2020, well below the industry standard of 1.00.
| AM Best financial rating |
A |
| BBB accredited | Yes |
| BBB rating | A+ 1/5 out of 3 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 2.2/5 out of 8 customer reviews |
| JD Power score | 742 |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 30 June 2021 |
How AIG compares to other insurers
AIG offers more policy options than you’ll find with most companies, including a term life policy that can last up to 35 years and convert to permanent life later plus seven different universal life options.
However, AIG has strict criteria for its preferred rates, so you might compare its quotes with other companies to make sure you’re getting the best deal. The company is also slow to respond to a high number of complaints filed with the BBB.
AIG’s cost does fall in line with other policies on the market. With AIG, a healthy, 30-year-old man can buy a 20-year, $500,000 term life policy for $25.94, right at average according to our sample rate comparisons.
Compare life insurance companies like AIG
Wondering how AIG’s coverage and benefits stacks up to competitors? Tap the Compare box to see up to four companies side by side.
AIG finances
AIG is highly rated for its financial stability, but it’s had its share of bad press. A 2005 accounting scandal hurt American General’s reputation, costing the company $1.6 billion in fines. The company also faced controversy after receiving an $85 billion bailout from the US government during the 2008 financial collapse.
AIG has strengthened since through business shifts and selling off some divisions, becoming one of the world’s largest insurance providers. Today, it stands strong with high financial strength ratings, showing commitment to its customers.
Life insurance ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our experts analyze life insurance companies to help you to find the strongest possible policy and premium for your family’s needs. We assess their financial strength, customer satisfaction, policy features and riders. We then give each insurer a score between one and five stars that reflects their offering and reputation in the industry.