Katia Iervasi is an assistant assigning editor at NerdWallet. An insurance authority, she previously spent over six years covering insurance topics as a writer, where she loved untangling complicated topics and answering readers’ burning money questions. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication and has studied writing, fact-checking and editing with Poynter. Her writing and analysis has been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, Yahoo, Entrepreneur, Best Company and FT Advisor. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Katia currently lives in New York City.
Reviewed by Tony Steuer Life insurance expert Tony Steuer
Life insurance expert | Life Insurance
Tony Steuer is a financial wellness advocate, podcaster and speaker, and the author of "Questions and Answers on Life Insurance." His advice has been featured in media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Fast Company, Forbes and CNBC. He has a bachelor of science degree in finance from California State University and holds the following designations: Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Life and Disability Insurance Analyst (LA) and Certified Personal and Family Finance Educator (CPFFE).
At NerdWallet, our content goes through a rigorous editorial review process. We have such confidence in our accurate and useful content that we let outside experts inspect our work.
Assigning Editor Lisa GreenLisa Green leads the life insurance team and oversees insurance-focused data journalism at NerdWallet. A professional journalist since high school, she was an insurance writer at NerdWallet before becoming an assigning editor. Previously, Lisa spent more than 20 years as an editor at The Tennessean in Nashville, where she led business and consumer coverage for several years. At The Tennessean, she was part of a 2011 Pulitzer Prize finalist team for coverage of devastating floods in Middle Tennessee. Her work has also won awards from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, Investigative Reporters and Editors, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Lisa is an alumna of the Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists at the University of Pennsylvania. She has also studied data journalism with the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting, business editing with the American Press Institute and writing, editing and news research with the Poynter Institute. In addition to her work at NerdWallet, Lisa is a real estate investor and has taught a seminar on how to earn college scholarships. She is based in Nashville.
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Life insurance sounds complicated, but you might be surprised to learn how affordable life insurance can be — especially if you buy it while you’re young and healthy. For example, let’s look at a 20-year, $500,000 term life policy. A 30-year-old could lock in a monthly premium to match the price of a movie ticket (and maybe some popcorn, depending on where you live).
Many of the factors that go into your life insurance premium are out of your control, such as your age and health at the time of purchase. Others come down to the type and amount of coverage you’re buying.
But there are steps you can take to lower your premium and get the most affordable life insurance.
Term life insurance is the simplest and cheapest type of policy, and it’s sufficient for most people. It lasts a set number of years, and it’s designed to cover you while you have financial dependents or obligations, such as paying off a mortgage or raising children. If you die during the term, your life insurance beneficiaries will receive a payout and can use the money however they wish.
To compare, permanent life insurance is significantly more expensive. That’s because permanent policies, such as whole life insurance , typically offer coverage that lasts your entire life. They also have a cash value component that can grow over time.
If you’re in the market for a permanent policy, universal life insurance or variable life insurance offer some flexibility with payments. These policies allow you to adjust your premiums, which could come in handy if your income fluctuates.
If you’re relatively healthy, it’s worth picking a policy that requires a life insurance medical exam . The exam is similar to a physical, and you can schedule an appointment at a time and place that’s convenient for you — like your home. A technician will ask about your medical history, record metrics like your blood pressure, height and weight and take blood and urine samples to check your nicotine, cholesterol and glucose levels. The insurer then uses this information to set premiums.
Without these details, the insurer has to take on the risk of the unknown. For that reason, life insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam tends to be more expensive.
Life insurance companies reserve their best rates for young, healthy applicants, so it’s a good idea to buy coverage as early as possible if you know you need it. As you age, your risk of running into health issues goes up, and your life expectancy goes down.
With many types of life insurance, your premiums are locked in for the life of the policy — even if your health deteriorates. So if you’re looking for affordable life insurance, the sooner you apply, the better.
Using tobacco and nicotine-based products is linked to a host of health issues, such as cancer, respiratory disease and diabetes. Smoking is also the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., according to the American Lung Association [0]
American Lung Association . Health Effects. Accessed Aug 7, 2024.Because of this risk, smokers almost always pay more for life insurance. Depending on the insurer, you may be considered a smoker if you use cigarettes, vaping devices, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and nicotine patches or gum.
To qualify for nonsmoking rates, you typically need to prove you’ve been smoke-free for at least 12 months. If you’re in the process of quitting but need life insurance now, you can go ahead and apply for a policy. Your coverage will be priced at smoker rates, but you might be able to request a review of your rates once you’ve passed your insurance company’s time period for being considered a smoker. This time frame varies by insurer, so it’s worth factoring in when you’re comparing life insurance companies. You can also consider buying a short-term life insurance policy and then applying for a traditional term life insurance policy once you’ve kicked the habit for good.
Calculate how much life insurance you need and get quotes for that amount from multiple insurers. Then choose a policy that fits your budget or, if needed, reduce your coverage to the highest amount you can get for the premium you can afford.
If you have dependents, some life insurance is better than none, and you can likely purchase more coverage when you’re in a better financial position.
Just like buying in bulk, you might save by purchasing a slightly higher amount of coverage. For example, you could score a discount if you buy $250,000 in coverage, rather than $200,000.
Once you’ve determined how much life insurance you need, ask insurers about their “benefit tiers” or thresholds for premium discounts.
As part of the life insurance application, insurers assess your body mass index (BMI). Since insurers interpret high BMIs as linked to chronic health conditions, if you’re overweight or obese based on that index, you’ll likely pay a higher premium. With a lower BMI, you might be able to get more affordable life insurance rates.
The same goes for cholesterol and blood pressure. If you can maintain a total cholesterol level of less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and a blood pressure reading of less than 120/80, you have a good chance of accessing lower premiums with most companies. Eating a nutrient-rich diet, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and reducing your sodium and alcohol intake can improve your health and help you land in a better rate class.
Plus, some insurers reward policyholders who live healthy lifestyles with discounted premiums. For example, you can save up to 25% on your premium with John Hancock’s Vitality PLUS program by eating well and staying active.
Every insurance company assesses these types of health metrics differently. If you have an issue with some aspect of your health, compare quotes from a handful of insurers to make sure you’re getting the coverage you need at the lowest possible price.
To find affordable life insurance with a preexisting condition , focus on the things you can control.
If you can prove you’re managing your condition by going to regular checkups, taking your medication as directed and following your doctor’s orders, you might be able to score standard or preferred rates.
Did you know.If you end up with a pricey policy thanks to a preexisting condition, you might have the option to request “reconsideration” after a certain amount of time has passed. The insurer will reassess your health and may adjust your premiums if you’ve shown improvement.
When you apply for life insurance, you might have the option to add extra features to your policy known as “riders.” They’re designed to bridge any gaps in your coverage, but you may not need all of them.
While some riders are free, others will raise your overall premium. For example, adding a return-of-premium rider , which reimburses you for the premiums you paid if you outlive the term, can make your policy up to five times more expensive.
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With most companies, you can opt to pay your insurance premiums monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually. But some insurers charge an additional service fee to policyholders who choose frequent payments, a practice known as “fractional premiums.”
If you can afford the higher upfront payment, you could save up to 5% by paying your premium once or twice a year.
With more than 800 life insurance companies in the U.S., our advice is to let insurers compete for your business. Comparing quotes from multiple insurers is one of the most effective ways to find an affordable life insurance policy .
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Katia Iervasi is an assistant assigning editor and spokesperson at NerdWallet. An insurance authority, she previously spent over six years covering insurance topics as a writer, where she loved untangling complicated topics and answering readers’ burning money questions. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication and has studied writing, fact-checking and editing with Poynter. Her writing and analysis has been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, Yahoo, Entrepreneur, Best Company and FT Advisor. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Katia currently lives in New York City. See full bio.
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