Managing Money In A Crisis
Weekly tips sent straight to your inbox
Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our opinions or reviews. Learn how we make money.
Health IQ life insurance review 2020
Last updated:
An innovative approach to life insurance helps health-conscious people get the rates they deserve.
finder.com's rating: 4 / 5
★★★★★
- Get a quote if… You want to be rewarded with a lower rate for a healthy lifestyle.
- Pick something else if… You want to work directly with an insurance provider.
18 to 99
Issue Age
$100,000 to $50,000,000
Coverage
Depends on provider and policy
Medical Exam Required
Details
| Free quote | Online |
|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Not listed |
| Policies | Term, Whole |
| Coverage maximum | $50,000,000 |
| Term lengths | 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years |
| Riders | Child rider, Disability income benefit rider, Waiver-of-premium rider |
| Medical exam required | Depends on provider and policy |
| Available states | Nationwide |
| Issue age | N/A |
Pros
- Best rates for healthy people.
- Tailored underwriting.
- Easy to use.
Cons
- Not a direct insurer.
- Not ideal for those in poor health.
- No online application.
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
Health IQ is a newer life insurance broker that caters to healthy applicants, including runners, weightlifters, vegetarians and more — so the less health-conscious might be slapped with higher rates. While the system is easy to use, it doesn’t offer an online application, so you’ll need to pick up the phone to get coverage.
What types of life insurance coverage does Health IQ offer?
Health IQ is a life insurance broker, which means it doesn’t provide its own policies. Through its partnerships, Health IQ offers term and whole life insurance policies from more than 30 providers that include Prudential, John Hancock and Lincoln Financial Group.
But you can expect a range of policies that include term and whole life.
Term life insurance
The most flexible and affordable options offered through Health IQ tend to be this type, offering protection for beneficiaries who rely on your income.
Term life offers coverage for a term of 10 to 30 years, along with a fixed death benefit payout if you die while the policy is active. Premiums are paid monthly, quarterly or annually and remain the same for the life of the policy. You also typically have the option of converting a term life policy to whole life if you prefer permanent coverage.
Whole life insurance
Whole life insurance is a permanent policy that provides protection for life. Premium payments are generally higher than term life policies, but coverage extends through the life of the insured.
Premium payments go toward a guaranteed death benefit amount along with a cash value portion of the policy. You can often use the cash value portion to pay premiums, borrow against or invest toward cash value accumulation.
What riders can I add to my life insurance policy?
Most life insurance providers offer a selection of riders that allow customers to tailor their coverage to suit their needs. But because Health IQ is a broker, you’ll need to speak with an agent or provider directly to discuss policy options before deciding on a plan. Some typical riders include:
- Child rider. This allows you to add term life insurance for your children.
- Waiver-of-premium rider. With this benefit, if you’re disabled or lose income because of an injury or illness, you will no longer have to pay your premiums.
- Disability income benefit rider. This benefit supplies supplementary income in the event you are completely disabled.
How much does Health IQ cost?
Health IQ is a broker, not a direct provider, so the cost of your insurance ultimately will be determined by the recommended insurance provider. But Health IQ states it can help healthy applicants save up to 41%.
How do I get a low rate?
Health IQ was designed to help health-conscious individuals get more affordable life insurance rates. For instance, you can save 4% off your rates by confirming an active lifestyle or scoring “elite” status on a test.
But aside from mere health, the best rates typically go to those who can meet guidelines that include:
- Minimal or no history of tobacco use.
- No history of alcohol or substance abuse.
- A driving record free of DWIs, DUIs, suspensions and other convictions.
- Healthy blood pressure and BMI.
- Well-managed chronic illness.
- A healthy diet.
More lenient than most providers, Health IQ’s underwriting guidelines are tailored to the lifestyle of each applicant. Your agent sends a personalized letter to the underwriter that provides a better picture of your lifestyle, painting you in a positive light.
Even if you aren’t living the healthiest lifestyle, Health IQ’s underwriting might still get you the best rates on the market.
Pros and cons of Health IQ
Pros
- Good rates for healthy people. Health IQ reserves its lowest rates for the health-conscious — and by no small margin — whether you run, are vegan or just care about your health.
- Tailored underwriting. Low rates come from tailored underwriting that considers your lifestyle and health knowledge with leniency toward factors like low resting heart rate or a family history of health conditions.
- Easy to use. A simple and concise site clearly summarizes how Health IQ works and offers a free quote tool that can help you get an idea of what you can expect to pay.
Cons
- Not a direct insurer. Health IQ is a broker for other providers, which means you’re directed to its partners to sign up for your policy.
- Not ideal for those in poor health. Top rates are designed for people with active lifestyles and a strong knowledge of healthy living. If you aren’t in great health, you might need to look into another provider.
- No online application. You can complete a quote form online, but signing up with a partner requires speaking to an agent, who walks you through the process.
Compare other life insurance companies
Health IQ reviews and complaints
Health IQ boasts impressive ratings from its customers. Of the 170 customer reviews on Trustpilot, a whopping 99% are positive, with customers praising its customer service, easy application and accurate, affordable quotes.
It is accredited with the BBB, earning an “A+” rating, and garners a 9 out of 10 on Trustpilot as of October 2020.
How does Health IQ protect my data?
Health IQ collects your personal information in order to provide requested services and customer support, personalize your experience and qualify you for insurance products. Your information may be shared with Health IQ’s business partners.
Health IQ does not reveal its exact practices for safeguarding your data, but says that it takes reasonable measures to protect the information you provide against loss, theft and unauthorized use, disclosure or modification.
More about Health IQ
Founded in 2014, Health IQ sets out to make life insurance more affordable for people who stay active and eat healthy. Using special underwriting guidelines, it tailors assessments to the needs and lifestyle of each applicant, boasting placement of some 70% of its clients into the top rate classes.
If you’re in less-than-perfect health, you might score a better rate by comparing life insurance providers.
Case study: Kelly’s experience
Kelly Larson
Editor
I never thought much about life insurance until my wife was pregnant with our son. That being the only boost I needed, I quickly started researching. Being a runner, I had heard several ads on running podcasts for Health IQ and my interest was piqued.
- I initially had no idea they were a broker and was hoping to work directly with a provider. That said, my representative was always reachable and helpful throughout the process, so I never felt like going through them was an extra step.
- Before moving along in the process, they sent me a running quiz — presumably to see if I was an actual athlete. I did well, though it felt unnecessarily intimidating.
- By the time I received my quotes, they didn’t look all that different from the quotes I received by going directly through other providers.
In the end, I’m not sure Health IQ’s provider quotes were any lower than I’d get without using them as a broker. But it’s hard to ignore the excellent customer service I received. Being able to talk to one super-responsive representative throughout the process made it worth it to me in the end.
How do I sign up?
You can begin the process of getting a quote online, but will need to speak with an agent to find out rates and policies available to you.
- To begin, click Get Your Free Quote and then select what type of coverage you need.
- Answer some questions about yourself, including age, gender, height and weight, and individual income.
- Then provide your contact info and click Submit.
I’ve requested a quote. What happens next?
An agent will call you to obtain additional information and determine if you qualify for special rates.
How do I file a life insurance claim with Health IQ?
Health IQ doesn’t issue its own policies, so to file a claim, you’ll have to go through your provider.
In general, claims require a handful of required info:
- The policyholder’s full name, date of birth and other personal details.
- The policyholder’s date of death.
- The funeral home’s name and phone number.
If you have any questions, Health IQ’s support stands ready to help you navigate the claims process with your provider.
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.
