Life insurance companies in Texas 2021

Life insurers in Texas consider a person’s total health and lifestyle when calculating policy rates, though the state has specific regulations in place to ensure consumers are treated fairly along the way.

How much does life insurance cost in Texas?

The average cost of term life insurance for a non-smoking 25 to 35 year old in Texas is about $23.38 to $26.11. However, note that living in Texas doesn’t necessarily significantly impact the cost of life insurance, so our estimate comes from national averages.

What risk factors will life insurance providers consider if I live in Texas?

In general, the healthier you are, the cheaper life insurance will be. Insurers consider the following factors when underwriting a Texan’s life insurance policy:

• Age. In Texas, the average life expectancy is 78.9, though the number fluctuates almost 30 years between ZIP codes. Since risk of dying increases as you age, the closer you are to 78.9 the higher your rates will be.
• Weight. Each insurance company has a body build chart that indicates healthy weights associated with each height. In Texas, 33% of people are obese, which means life insurance for these individuals may be more expensive.
• Tobacco use. Life insurance for smokers is more expensive because of the associated health risks. 13.6% of females and 17.8% of males in Texas smoke. While life insurance may initially be more expensive for these individuals, some providers offer perks or incentives if you decide to quit.
• Occupation. Riskier jobs lend pricer life insurance. In Texas, the most dangerous jobs are in agriculture, which account for more than half of the world’s deaths. Individuals in the fishing, aviation, construction, gas and oil industries as well as electricity technicians, garbage collectors and truck drivers can all expect to pay more for coverage.
• Gender. Women in Texas are expected to live 5.2 years longer than men, so life insurance for men tends to be more expensive since there’s a higher chance the provider will end up paying the benefit.
• Driving record. 3,721 Texans died from motor vehicle accidents in 2017. The more dings you have on your driving record, the pricier life insurance will likely cost because there’s a higher risk of a road-related fatality.
• Lifestyle and hobbies. Most insurance companies want to know whether or not you participate in extreme sports; if yes, your policy rate will likely increase. In Texas, popular extreme sports include bull riding, cliff jumping and rock climbing.

What are Texas’s leading causes of death?

The leading cause of mortality in Texas is heart disease, which accounted for 45,346 deaths in 2017, according to a report from the CDC.

Ranked by frequency, people in Texas are mostly likely to die of:

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Does Texas have any life insurance laws I need to be aware of before applying?

Our federal government gives states the power to regulate life insurance companies. Here’s the rundown on what to expect in Texas:

• 30-day grace period.
  A policyholder has a safety net of 30 days to make up a missed payment before the provider is allowed to cancel the policy.
• Prompt claim payouts.
  Life insurance providers in Texas are required to start settling a claim within 15 days of receiving the paperwork. If it hasn’t been paid out after 60 days, the insurer must pay accrued interest in addition to the basic benefit.
• Bankruptcy back-up.
  The Texas Life, Accident, Health & Hospital Service Insurance Guaranty Association backs all current life insurance policies as long as your payments are up-to-date and the insurer was properly licensed. For death benefits, the maximum compensation is $300,000.
• No bribing allowed.
  In Texas, life insurance agents aren’t allowed to offer you a free gift or discounted policy as a means of encouraging you to buy.

Bottom line

Life insurance in Texas tends to be cheapest for healthy individuals, though underwriters consider your lifestyle on the whole when underwriting a policy. Find a plan that best suits your situation by shopping the market to compare providers.

Frequently asked questions

• What happens if I change my mind after buying life insurance in Texas?

  Some insurers allow a “free look” period, where Texans can cancel a life insurance policy within an allotted period — usually seven to 30 days — after buying a policy and still expect a full refund.

  While insurers aren’t legally required to offer a “free look,” the ones that advertise this must honor it.

• How do I obtain a life insurance license in Texas?

  There are four steps to obtaining a life insurance license in Texas:

  1. Enroll in a prelicensing course. To pass the test, first you should take a class — online options are available.
  2. Complete a licensing exam. Pass the test, administered by Pearson VUE.
  3. Record your fingerprint. Get fingerprinted for legal records.
  4. Apply for the license. If you pass the test, make it official by applying for a license using the National Insurance Producer Registry website.

• What happens to life insurance proceeds for minors in Texas?

  In Texas, children under the age of 18 can’t hold or inherit property. So any proceeds willed to the child, or for which the child is a beneficiary, must be managed by a trustee until the child comes of age.