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finder.com's rating: 4 / 5
★★★★★
18 to 80
Issue Age
$250,000 to $5,000,000
Coverage
Depends on policy
Medical Exam Required
Policies | Term, Whole, Universal and Variable |
---|---|
Coverage maximum | $5,000,000 |
Term lengths | 10, 15, 20, and 30 years |
Medical exam required | Depends on policy |
Available states | All 50 states for most policies (Life Essentials is not available in NY) |
Issue age | 18 - 80 years old |
Riders |
Array |
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Review by
Katia Iervasi is a lead writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet and a former editor at Finder, specializing in insurance. Her writing and analysis on life, disability and health insurance has been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, Yahoo, Entrepreneur, Best Company and FT Advisor. She holds a BA in communication from Australia's Griffith University.
Nationwide’s online portal and claims process is excellent, though its rates can be higher than similar companies. Its policies address clients’ needs both now and in the future, and it’s more forgiving than many of its competitors when it comes to weight, health and smoking habits. However, only around 20% of applicants can skip the medical exam, primarily those applying for the term life insurance, Nationwide Life Essentials. Also, Nationwide weighs any infractions on your driving record more heavily than competitors.
To find the best financial fit for you, compare life insurance companies.
Like most insurers, Nationwide doesn’t disclose its rates online. But the insurer reserves its Preferred rates for people who meet this criteria:
Nationwide offers a full roster of life insurance products:
You cannot add riders to the Nationwide Life Essentials policy. However, you may be able to customize your coverage of other policy types with the following:
Nationwide is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has earned an A+ rating for its transparency and customer interaction. The BBB has recorded 206 complaints over the last three years — though most are related to the insurer’s other product lines.
Customers award the insurer 1 out of 5 stars, though there are positive reviews about the efficiency of Nationwide’s dedicated life insurance agents.
In J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Life Insurance Study, Nationwide ranked 6 out of 22 insurers for overall customer satisfaction.
AM Best financial rating |
A+ |
BBB accredited | Yes |
BBB rating | A+ 1.14/5 out of 282 customer reviews |
Trustpilot score | 1.9/5 out of 42 customer reviews |
JD Power score | 791 |
Customer reviews verified as of | 02 August 2023 |
Browse top insurance providers and choose View Rates to find the best provider for your budget and needs.
Do I need to take a medical exam?
It depends on the policy. For Nationwide Life Essentials, no medical exam is required.
For other policy types, you may need an exam. You’ll typically meet with a medical professional, who runs your blood work, records your height and weight and asks questions about your medical and personal life. This is so the insurer can get an idea of your health and determine the most relevant rate for you.
Can I convert my term life policy?
No, the Nationwide Life Essentials policy cannot be converted to a permanent life product.
What other products does Nationwide offer?
Nationwide is a full-service insurance and financial company offering:
★★★★★ — 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.