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American Income life insurance review
Last updated:
An old-school insurer with a tight product line and a network of local agents across the country.
finder.com's rating: 3.5 / 5
★★★★★
- Get a quote if… You like the sound of an insurer with ties to labor unions.
- Choose a different provider if… You want to customize your coverage with riders, or you’re interested in universal or variable life insurance.
18 to 65
Issue Age
Not Listed to Not Listed
Coverage
Yes — for term and whole life policies
Medical Exam Required
Details
| Free quote | Phone |
|---|---|
| Available states | Available nationwide |
| Policy options | Term, whole, final expense |
| Term lengths | 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years |
| Issue age | 18 to 65 |
| Coverage | Not Listed to Not Listed |
| Medical exam required | Yes — for term and whole life policies |
| Monthly cost | Not listed |
| Claim methods | By mail |
| Customer support | 800-433-3405 |
| Riders | Accelerated death benefit rider |
Expert review
Review by
Katia Iervasi
katia.iervasi@finder.comKatia Iervasi is a staff writer who hails from Australia and now calls New York home. Her writing and analysis has been featured on sites like Forbes, Best Company and Financial Advisor around the world. Armed with a BA in Communication and a journalistic eye for detail, she navigates insurance and finance topics for Finder, so you can splash your cash smartly (and be a pro when the subject pops up at dinner parties).
Expert review
American Income is a small and financially strong provider that mainly sells life insurance to union members. But its product line is limited, and it has an old-school approach to claims.
What types of insurance coverage does American Income offer?
American Income sells life insurance through its network of agents, and markets mostly to members of labor unions, credit unions and similar associations.
It has a limited product range:
- Term life insurance. These policies provide coverage for a set period of time, usually 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years. We weren’t able to find American Income’s term lengths or coverage amounts.
- Whole life insurance. A permanent policy, this offers lifelong protection and never expires — so long as you continue to pay your premiums. A portion of each premium is invested to give your policy a cash value. Like term life, we’re not sure how much coverage you can buy.
- Final expense plan. American Income’s policy is called Freedom of Choice, and it’s designed to cover your funeral and burial costs, as well as any other expenses — like debt — that may otherwise burden your beneficiaries. The insurer doesn’t advertise its coverage limits.
What riders can I add to my policy?
As far as we can tell, American Income offers a single complimentary rider:
- Accelerated death benefit rider. If you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness and have a life expectancy of fewer than 12 months (or 24 months in Illinois, Massachusetts and Washington), you’ll be paid 50% of the face amount of your policy. That way, you can use the money during your lifetime. When you die, your beneficiaries will receive the rest of the policy proceeds.
Pros and cons of American Income life insurance
Pros
- Community feel. The insurer is known for its strong ties to labor unions and credit unions, and often advocates for workers.
- Financial strength. American Income manages $4.4 billion in assets and has an A+ (Superior) rating with AM Best, which means it has the resources to pay out claims.
Cons
- Mail-in claims. You can’t file a claim online or speak to a specialized claims rep on the phone.
- Limited permanent products. The insurer doesn’t sell universal or variable life.
- Lack of transparency. We tried to contact the company several times by phone and email to get details about their policies, with no response. The site isn’t comprehensive, either.
- Short support window. The customer service team is only available on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CT).
- Pushy sales approach. Across customer forums, people complained about the company’s aggressive sales pitches and bait and switch tactics.
Compare other life insurance companies
If you’re looking for more options to compare, take a look at these other providers.
American Income reviews and complaints
The company has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 1952, and holds an A+ rating for its customer interaction. It’s a different story with customers, though. They’ve awarded the insurer two out of five stars, and the BBB has recorded 263 complaints over the past three years. Most of the complaints honed in on poor customer service and aggressive advertising and sales tactics.
How do I sign up?
To apply for coverage, call American Income at 800-433-3405 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. The team will then put you in touch with a local agent, who will explain your coverage options and help you to customize your policy.
More about American Income
Founded in 1951, American Income Life Insurance Company is based in Waco, Texas, and sells life, accident and supplemental health insurance across the United States, Canada and New Zealand. It’s a wholly owned subsidiary of Globe Life Inc, a publicly traded company.
The company has ties to 20,000 groups, including labor unions, credit unions, fraternal organizations, sporting clubs and non-profits. It’s committed to helping working families, and the team often donates to unions and participates in rallies.
American General is pretty old-school though, so if you want to manage your policy online, compare life insurance companies.
Frequently asked questions
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.