The best life insurance companies in the United States in 2020

One of the oldest and biggest life insurance companies in the US, MassMutual edges out most of its competitors when it comes to policy options, coverage amounts and customization.

As a mutual company, it has paid out dividends to its permanent policyholders every year since the 1860s. In 2019, it approved an estimated $1.72 billion payout — its highest yet. Given that dividends aren’t guaranteed, MassMutual’s track record is impressive. It’s also a major perk if you have assets to protect, like a home.

Term life policies offer protection for a set period of time, making them ideal for young families or people who only need coverage while they have major financial obligations.

Prudential has four term life policies to suit a range of needs. All of them have predictable premiums for easy budgeting, and can be customized with a variety of riders. As for reliability, the insurer is backed by decades of financial strength and a positive customer reputation.

Most insurers allow policyholders to customize their coverage with riders — and Global Atlantic Financial Group has the longest list we’ve seen.

Formerly known as Accordia, this insurer offers 16 riders to help you to bridge any gaps in your coverage. Common riders include a child and terminal illness rider. Plus you can choose unique options like a wellness for life rider, which rewards policyholders who maintain a healthy lifestyle with premium discounts and extra features.

Some insurers shy away from high-risk applicants — but not Legal & General.

Previously called Banner Life, the insurer has a more relaxed approach to underwriting. As a result, it caters to seniors, smokers and those in less-than-perfect health as well as people with preexisting conditions or poor family medical histories working against them. Its rates are competitive, and Legal & General offers both term and permanent policies.

In 2019, State Farm topped J.D. Power’s life insurance study on customer satisfaction for the fifth consecutive year. The study assesses a sample of insurers each year, and reviews the level of support they offer to customers, as well as how quickly they respond to questions and complaints.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) backs up J.D. Power, awarding the insurer an A+ rating for customer engagement. If you sign up for a policy with State Farm, you can expect to receive stellar customer service.

Seniors can face a few challenges when purchasing life insurance policies — including costs and coverage amounts. An industry giant, New York Life breaks down those barriers and offers a strong policy lineup to those aged 60 or above. If you’re looking for an extremely large policy, its death benefits top out at the company’s “retention limits” — which are reportedly in the tens of millions.

Backed by parent company MassMutual, Haven Life made a splash on the life insurance scene by offering — and issuing — instant term life policies. The fintech company sells affordable policies online — and if you’re approved, your coverage could go into effect immediately.

The application is straightforward and both user- and mobile-friendly. You’ll enter your personal and contact details, and answer a few questions about your health and lifestyle. The system then scans your data using sophisticated algorithms and generates a rate.

Navy Mutual makes life insurance accessible to servicemembers by doing away with the typical military, war or terrorism clauses. It caters to all active duty, reserve and retired military members, as well as honorably discharged veterans in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. It also has an option that doesn’t require a medical exam for those who want to skip the physical or are getting ready to deploy.

One way this insurer tailors its offerings to the wealthy is by issuing extremely large policies. John Hancock sells term life insurance with a face value of up to $1 million, along with three different types of permanent policies: universal, variable universal and indexed universal life insurance. Though it doesn’t disclose its maximum coverage amounts, the insurer is known to sell policies in the tens of millions.

An insurance giant, Guardian has eight whole life policies to choose from. All of the policies accumulate cash value and have the potential to earn dividends over time, but they offer different payment structures. One example is the 10-Pay Whole Life Plan, which gives you the option to pay off your policy over 10 annual payments. After that, any cash you contribute goes straight towards the cash value of your policy, helping you to build your wealth faster.

People with preexisting conditions can face challenges when trying to buy coverage — but not with Ethos. The fintech insurer aims to break down those barriers by selling instant term life policies online. It offers policies that last 10, 15, 20 or 30 years, with face values ranging from $25,000 to $10 million. Most policyholders can qualify for up to $1 million in coverage without taking a medical news, which is great news for those with serious health conditions working against them.