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Amica life insurance review 2020
Last updated:
Simple but strong life products backed by the oldest mutual insurance company in the country.
finder.com's rating: 3.5 / 5
★★★★★
- Get a quote if… You want a simple term or whole life policy from a reputable company.
- Choose a different provider if… You want a low coverage amount on your term policy.
15 to 75
Issue Age
$5,000 to $1,000,000
Coverage
Yes
Medical Exam Required
Details
| Free quote | Yes |
|---|---|
| Available states | Available in all 50 states |
| Policy options | Level term, annual renewable term, whole life and simplified whole life |
| Term lengths | 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30-year |
| Issue age | 15 to 75 |
| Coverage | $5,000 to $1,000,000 |
| Medical exam required | Yes |
| Monthly cost | Not listed |
| Claim methods | Ways To File A Claim |
| Customer support | Phone |
| Riders | Accelerated death benefit rider, Accidental death benefit rider, Child rider, Cost-of-living rider, Critical illness benefit rider, Waiver-of-premium rider |
Expert review
Review by
Andrew Flueckiger
andrew.flueckiger@findercrew.comAndrew Flueckiger is a licensed insurance agent and Certified Insurance Counselor with experience in insurance and finance. A graduate of Indiana University, Andrew contributes a wealth of knowledge and experience to Finder. When Andrew isn’t writing, reading or practicing insurance, he can be found spending time with his family and playing the guitar.
Expert review
Amica has a long history of offering strong insurance products nationwide. Its life insurance products are reasonably priced, though with somewhat limited options. Its simplified issue whole life policy is a feature that many competitors lack.
If you want more customizable coverage, compare life insurance companies.
What types of life insurance coverage does Amica offer?
Amica offers two main policy types: term and whole life. These are the options:
- Term life. Available in terms of 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years, this policy offers set premiums and coverage ranging from $100,000 to $1 million. It can be converted to a whole life policy before a deadline — with no need for another medical exam.
- Annual renewable term (ART) term life. This type of term policy is renewed on a year to year basis, and available in coverage amounts between $250,000 and $1 million. While you won’t be required to take a medical exam each year, your premiums will go up if you decide to renew.
- Whole life. With a minimum death benefit of $25,000, Amica’s whole life insurance policy has set premiums and lifelong coverage. Also, it builds cash value that grows tax-deferred and can be used for major purchases, like college tuition or paying off a mortgage.
- Simplified whole life. This permanent life insurance policy is essentially a final expense policy. There is no medical exam required, and your premiums will stay the same throughout the life of your policy. Amica offers benefit options between $5,000 and $25,000 for simplified whole life.
What riders can I add to my life insurance policy?
Amica offers some of the most popular riders to help you personalize your policy:
- Accelerated death benefit rider. This rider allows you to take out up to 75% of your death benefit if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness and are given less than 12 months left to live.
- Accidental death benefit rider. This doubles your death benefit if you pass away as a result of an accident before age 65.
- Child rider. This provides a specific amount of money in case any of your children pass away. This can also be converted into the child’s own life insurance policy at up to 5x the benefit amount when they reach their 20s without the need for a medical exam.
- Cost-of-living rider. This rider adjusts your death benefit to match inflation.
- Critical illness benefit rider. Pays out a lump sum benefit if you suffer a critical illness, like a stroke.
- Waiver-of-premium rider. If you get critically ill, seriously injured or become disabled, this rider will waive premiums while keeping your policy active.
How much does Amica life insurance cost?
According to Amica’s website, a $150,000 10-year term policy for a 30-year-old female will cost $9.84 a month or $118.08 a year. This is based on no tobacco use and a good health classification rate.
How do I get a low rate with Amica?
Young and healthy people can get the lowest life insurance rates. But here are some factors that can help you get a lower rate:
- Five years tobacco-free
- No history of alcohol or substance abuse
- Clean driving record in the past five years
- Healthy weight and blood pressure
- Low-risk hobbies and occupation
Speak with an Amica life insurance agent to learn more about its specific health classifications.
Pros and cons of Amica life insurance
Pros
- Simplified whole life policy. Not all life insurance companies offer this product. Premiums on this type of policy are high, but it can be beneficial in case you need a policy without having a medical exam.
- Free online quote. Use Amica’s simple calculator to see how much coverage you need, and then use their online tool to get a quote.
- Possible dividends. A mutual life insurance company pays out dividends to whole life policy owners. These are never guaranteed, but they are usually paid and you can choose to receive cash, use it to pay premiums or to buy additional coverage on your existing policy.
- Financial strength. The insurer has an A+ (Excellent) rating with AM Best, which means it has the cash reserves to pay out claims.
Cons
- Few online services. This company doesn’t offer online service for bills or retrieving other policy documents.
- Limited rider options. Amica offers a narrower array of rider options than larger life insurance companies. However, the riders it does offer are some of the most popular ones.
- Lacks coverage variety. Amica doesn’t provide the option for products like universal life or guaranteed universal life.
Compare other life insurance companies
If you’re looking for more options to compare, take a look at these other providers.
Amica life insurance reviews and complaints
Amica has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 1957, and has an A+ rating for its customer interaction. Customers award the insurer 2 out of 5 stars. The BBB has recorded 71 complaints over the last three years, though most of them were promptly resolved by the insurer.
On Trustpilot, Amica has 4 out of 5 stars — but there are only a handful of reviews on the site.
How do I sign up for Amica life insurance?
You can apply for term life insurance online. These are the steps:
- Select Life from the Get a Quote box and select your state.
- If you want to see your recommended coverage amount, fill in the three questions under Calculate it for me section.
- Or you can select your coverage period and amount
- Answer basic health questions
- Fill in your contact information and click on Get My Quote.
If you want whole life insurance, you’ll need to call an Amica agent.
I’ve signed up. What happens next?
If you’ve signed up online, you may get an instant approval for your application. If you choose a higher coverage amount or have health issues, your application will be deferred to an underwriter for review.
As part of the application process, you will need to designate beneficiaries, and can choose your payment plan. The speed of this process will partly depend on how soon you can get a medical exam, as well as the complexity of your health history.
Once you get your actual policy, review it for accuracy. At that point, you don’t need to touch the policy again unless you’d like to make changes.
Frequently asked questions
Life insurance ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor