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Bankers Life insurance review 2020
Last updated:
Get personalized service and choose from term, whole and universal life insurance.
finder.com's rating: 2.5 / 5
★★★★★
- Get a quote if… You like the idea of a local agent, or you’re purchasing life insurance as a part of your retirement plan.
- Pick something else if… You want an online quote, and to be able to manage your policy online.
18 to 76
Issue Age
N/A to $30,000 without a medical exam
Coverage
Depends on policy
Medical Exam Required
Details
| Free quote | Complete an online form or call |
|---|---|
| Monthly cost | As low as $16 per month |
| Policies | Term, Whole, Universal, Critical illness, Annuities |
| Coverage maximum | $30,000 without a medical exam |
| Term lengths | 5, 10, or 20 years |
| Riders | Accelerated death benefit rider, Accidental death benefit rider, Child rider, Disability income benefit rider, Guaranteed insurability rider, Level term rider, Payor benefit rider, Waiver-of-premium rider |
| Medical exam required | Depends on policy |
| Available states | Nationwide |
| Issue age |
Expert review
Review by
Amy Stoltenberg
amy.stoltenberg@findercrew.comAmy Stoltenberg writes about lifestyle and money for Finder, researching the best options for shopping, banking, insurance and authentic travel experiences. After studying writing and fashion at Savannah College of Art and Design, she worked designing apparel at a corporate behemoth before opting for a career with unlimited travel time. When her laptop’s closed, she can be found wandering the streets looking for happy hour and hole-in-the-wall eateries.
Expert review
Bankers Life appeals to those who are interested in retirement planning. It offers three key policies and personalized service — but you can’t apply for a policy online, and the insurer has an old-school approach to paperwork.
If you want to apply for and manage your coverage online, compare life insurance companies.
What type of life insurance does Bankers Life offer?
Bankers Life keeps it simple with three policies:
- Term life insurance. This policy offers temporary coverage for 5, 10 or 20 years, and a guaranteed death benefit if you die during the term.
- Whole life insurance. This permanent policy provides lifelong protection and builds cash value over time at a fixed rate set by the insurer,
- Universal life insurance. Along with offering lifelong coverage, this policy has a cash value that’s invested in various subaccounts — so it has higher risks, but higher potential returns.
What riders can I add to my life insurance policy?
This insurer allows policyholders to customize their coverage with riders. You may be able to add these extras to your policy:
- Accelerated death benefit rider. If you become terminally ill, your policy pays a portion of your death benefit while you’re still alive to cover expenses such as hospital bills.
- Accidental death benefit rider. The final death benefit increases if your cause of death is accidental, such as a car accident.
- Child rider. Eligible children can be covered under your life insurance policy at low limits, such as $10,000.
- Disability income benefit rider. If you become disabled, this rider adds a monthly amount to the value of your policy.
- Guaranteed insurability rider. This rider allows you to increase the policy face amount or purchase a new policy on specific dates, without evidence of insurability.
- Level term rider. Confirms your benefit amount stays the same during the term of the rider.
- Payor benefit rider. Usually added to a juvenile policy, this rider makes sure premiums are waived if the person paying for the policy becomes disabled before the insured reaches 18 years old.
- Waiver-of-premium rider. Waives your monthly premium if you suffer a disability.
How much does Bankers Life cost?
Like most insurers, Bankers Life doesn’t disclose its rates online. Premiums vary, and the price you’re offered will come down these factors:
- Policy type
- Amount and length of coverage
- Your health and lifestyle
- Your gender
- Other personal factors
Pros and cons of Bankers Life
Pros
- Personalized service. The insurer prides itself on providing individualized support and encourages agents to build long-term relationships with its clients.
- Holistic approach to retirement. Bankers Life focuses on retirement planning, and sees life insurance as just one piece of that puzzle.
- Financial strength. Bankers Life has an A- (Excellent) rating with AM Best, which means it has the cash to pay out claims.
Cons
- No online quotes. You’ll need to speak to an agent over the phone to get a quote.
- Limited customization. We could only find one available rider — so if you’re looking for extra add-ons, Bankers Life may not be the right fit.
- Upselling tactics. Your agent may try to sell you supplemental health insurance and annuities.
Compare other life insurance companies
Bankers Life insurance reviews and complaints
Bankers Life has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and has A+ rating with the organization. The BBB has recorded 85 complaints over the last three years, and customers award the insurer 2 out of 5 stars — which means there’s room for improvement when it comes to customer service.
How do I sign up?
If you’re interested in learning more about getting insured by Bankers Life, here’s how to get started:
- Go to the Bankers Life website and click Products.
- On the next page, click Get a quote.
- Enter your personal and contact information.
- In the I’m interested in box, choose Life insurance and click Submit.
- The insurer will automatically pair you up with a local agent, who will give you a call to talk details.
I’ve signed up. What happens next?
After you see your quote, Bankers Life gives you the option to request a callback. If you want to move forward, you’ll get a call to talk about next steps.
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.