We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. But we may receive compensation when you click links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners.
Colonial Penn life insurance review 2019
A diverse product lineup, flexible policy options and competitive pricing makes this a popular insurer.
Get a quote if…
- You don’t want the hassle of a medical exam.
Pick something else if…
- You want a coverage amount over $50,000.
18 to 75
Issue Age
$10,000 to $50,000
Coverage Amount
No
Medical Exam Required
Details
| Free Quote | Online, Phone. |
|---|---|
| Insurance Products | Renewable Term, Guaranteed Acceptance, Permanent Whole. |
| Issue Age | 18 to 75 |
| Coverage Amount | $10,000 to $50,000 |
| Term Lengths | 5 year banded term – up to age 90 |
| Medical Exam Required | No |
| Ways To File A Claim | Mail in a claim form |
| Ratings, Accreditation and Memberships | A.M. Best: A- |
| State Availability | Policies are available in all states except Maine (Whole, Term), Montana (Term), New York (Whole, Term) and Vermont (Whole, Term) |
| Customer Service Options | Phone, Online. |
| Policy Riders Offered | N/A |
Expert review
Review by
Rhys Subitch
rhys.subitch@findercrew.comRhys Subitch is a writer and editor at finder.com who tackles topics across the site. With half a decade of experience researching, editing and writing for a Fortune 500 company, university and several independent publications, Rhys brings readers the most up-to-date and curated info on all things finance.
Expert review
Colonial Penn offers three basic options for life insurance, including term and whole life policies. While none of them require a medical exam, the coverage is less than you might find with other providers and you can’t add on riders to better fit your needs. You can retrieve a quote quickly and easily online, or call an agent for more information.
It’s important to look at the whole of your family’s needs when you’re putting together a plan for life insurance. Make sure to take your time and compare your options before you decide on a policy with our comprehensive guide to life insurance.
What types of life insurance coverage does Colonial Penn offer?
Colonial Penn offers both term and whole life insurance policies to help prepare you financially for the future. Of the two whole life insurance plans it offers, one is guaranteed acceptance, meaning you can’t be turned down because of your health. None of its policies require a medical exam, and you can get coverage up to $50,000 to help offset the costs of funeral expenses, credit card debt, medical bills and so on.
Here are the coverage details and price ranges for each of Colonial Penn’s three life insurance plans:
| Plan | Coverage | Medical exam | Age availability | Rate increase | Protection until | Price range | Special disclaimers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renewable Term Life Insurance | $10,000–$50,000 | None | 18–75 | Yes, based on fixed 5-year age bands | Age 90 | $2.54–$800.80 per month | Guaranteed ability to exchange for permanent life insurance at age 90 |
| Guaranteed Acceptance Whole Life Insurance | Up to $16,664 | None | 55–85 in District of Columbia; 50–75 in Minnesota and Missouri; 50–82 for females and 50–77 for males in New Jersey; 56–85 in Pennsylvania; 50–85 in all other states | Rates are based on gender and age (only age in Montana) upon issue and won’t increase for any reason | For life | $9.95–$79.60 per month | You can’t be turned down because of your health, but the first two years of coverage are limited |
| Permanent Whole Life Insurance | $10,000–$50,000 | None | 40–75 | Rates are based on gender and age (only age in Montana) upon issue and won’t increase for any reason | For life | $14.36–$576.44 | Cash value builds after the first year that you may be able to borrow against |
What riders can I add to my life insurance policy?
While most insurers offer riders or policy add-ons to expand coverage to meet your specific needs, Colonial Penn does not. Here are some popular riders that you won’t find covered in your life insurance policy:
- Coverage for your children. No child life insurance is included with any of the Colonial Penn plans, and none of the policies indicate that a rider is available to add.
- Disability coverage. Should you become disabled or end up in assisted living, no additional benefits will be available.
- Premium waivers. Unlike some other insurers, Colonial Penn doesn’t provide premium waivers if a doctor decides it’s necessary for you to move into an assisted living facility.
- Living benefits. Should you be diagnosed with a terminal illness and given a year or less to live, some insurance companies provide you with access to some or all of your benefit amount to help ease the cost. This feature isn’t offered for any of Colonial Penn’s policies.
How can I get a low rate?
Though there aren’t any full guides provided on the Colonial Penn website as to how you might get the lowest premiums, most insurers look for some common traits. Lifestyle choices and health history can usually swing your costs either way. Here are some assessment criteria underwriters generally look at:
- History of or current use of alcohol or tobacco.
- History of or current substance abuse.
- Family or personal history of certain diseases.
- Certain measures of current health, such as cholesterol.
- High-risk hobbies or jobs.
- Criminal convictions.
Pros and cons of Colonial Penn
Pros
- No medical exams for any of the three plans. If you’re worried about not getting coverage because of a preexisting condition, you won’t have to do anything more than answer some simple health questions.
- Build cash value. Whole and term life plans gain cash value over time that you may be able to borrow against.
- Locked-in premium and benefit amount. Your premium will stay the same for the length of your coverage for guaranteed acceptance and whole life plans.
- Payment options. All plans offer monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual payment options.
- 30-day money-back guarantee. If you decide that the life insurance policy you took out isn’t for you, you can cancel the policy before 30 days and get a full refund.
Cons
- Low coverage amounts. $50,000 is the highest coverage amount available under any of the plans. Compared to other companies that offer upwards of $5 million, this is quite low.
- No riders available. Most insurers offer riders or policy add-ons to expand coverage to meet your specific needs, but Colonial Penn doesn’t offer these at all.
- Not all plans are available in all states. The Permanent Whole Life Insurance plan is unavailable to residents of Maine, New York and Vermont; term life insurance is unavailable to residents of those same states and Montana.
- High number of complaints. Colonial Penn received a complaint ratio of 2.49 in 2017 as compared to the national median of 1.00. A ratio that’s less than one indicates fewer complaints than the national median, while above indicates more.
Compare life insurance companies like Colonial Penn
Colonial Penn reviews and complaints
CNO Financial Group and its subsidiaries, Colonial Penn included, received a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) from A.M. Best. This rating is reflective of Colonial Penn’s projected ability to payout benefits.
How does Colonial Penn protect my data?
Colonial Penn collects your personally identifiable information in order to personalize your visit to its website and to provide you with information you request. Colonial Penn will only share your data with third parties when it is necessary to perform services on their behalf.
To keep your data safe, Colonial Penn utilizes security protocols including SSL, IPSEC and TripleDES. These methods, along with Colonial Penn’s secure server using 128-bit encryption, work to ensure your information is protected against loss or theft.
How do I sign up?
- To get a quote, from Colonial Penn’s homepage, select your state from the drop-down menu and click Get Quote.
- On the following page, enter your name, birthdate and gender and then click Next.
- Next you’ll be prompted to provide your location and contact info. Enter your street address, email address and phone number and click Next.
- You’ll then be provided quotes for the policies available to you. From here you can click on Learn More to get further details on the policy, or you can continue with the application process by clicking Select.
I’ve signed up. What happens next?
After you proceed through the application process — which includes answering questions about your health and designating beneficiaries — you can review your documents and then confirm and e-sign them. A licensed agent will contact you shortly to finalize the process.
Once you’re officially approved, register your account online, where you’ll be able to pay your monthly premium, update your contact info and review your policy.
More about Colonial Penn
Colonial Penn was established in 1968 as a way to provide insurance to members of American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). After changing hands a few times it ended up as a subsidiary of CNO Financial Group in 1997. New York is the only US state not served by Colonial Penn, however it’s still covered under another subsidiary of CNO — Banker’s Conseco Life Insurance Company.
You’ll find three plans available from Colonial Penn, including guaranteed acceptance, term life and whole life options. Though none of the plans require a medical exam, the coverage amount may not be substantial on its own. Free quotes are available online to help you determine what you might qualify for.
How do I file a life insurance claim with Colonial Penn?
- Go to the Colonial Penn website.
2. Scroll down to the bottom of the homepage and click Claims, under the “Service” header.
3. Click Download Forms along the top nav.
4. Click Claim Form for Life Insurance Death Benefits and select the state of the policyholder.
5. Download, print and fill out the form.
6. Mail the form, certified death certificate and original insurance contract to:
Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company
Life Claims Department – 2250
399 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19181-2250
7. Wait for an agent from Colonial Penn to contact you regarding next steps.