Life Insurance Rates for Seniors, What You Can Expect to Pay

In this article we will look at what seniors should expect to pay for life insurance. Factors that determine how much you have to pay include your age, gender, whether you use tobacco products or not, your overall health, and lifestyle habits.

If an insurance company is able to approve your application they will approve you at a particular rate class.  The rate class you are approved for will determine how much you have to pay for coverage.  

The best rate class you can be approved for is called preferred plus or super preferred.  It’s the same thing. However, each insurance company calls the best rate class something different. 

Then the second best rate class is called preferred, third is standard plus, and fourth is standard.  After that there are table ratings starting with table 1. With most companies their table ratings go to a table 8.  

It’s important to note that some companies do not have a “standard plus” rate class.  And some companies will approve people for coverage beyond table 8. Some go to table 12, and few will go a little beyond that.  

For most companies though there’s about 12 rate classes you could be approved for.  These are preferred plus, preferred, standard plus, standard and then table 1 through 8.  Many seniors think of life insurance as either you can get it or you don’t. However, as you can see if you are approved for life insurance there are about 12 different rate classes you could be approved for.  And the cost can vary dramatically depending on the rate class you are approved for.

The better the rate class you are approved for, the less you have to pay.  For example a 55 year old non smoking man applying for $100,000 of 20 year term could pay $33 a month if approved at preferred plus.  If approved at standard rates it would cost $55 a month. And if approved at a table 8 he would pay $139 a month.  

Also, every insurance company has different underwriting guidelines that they abide by.  Therefore, it’s not unusual to be approved at standard rate class at one company, but approved at a preferred rate class at another.  This is just one reason you need to work with an independent agent that has experience helping seniors navigate the various life insurance options.  He or she can help you determine the best company for you to apply with.

A Brief Explanation of the Life Insurance Rate Classes 

Health is a major factor in determining the rate class that you will qualify for.  Certainly other factors come into play as well such as your overall lifestyle habits including things such as your driving record, any travel you might do to certain more concerning parts of the world and so on.  Nevertheless below is some general guidance on what rate class you may be approved for just based upon your health.  

Preferred Plus/Super Preferred – Excellent health and overall medical history

Preferred – Very good health and overall medical history

Standard Plus – Good health and overall medical history

Standard Plus – Average health and overall medical history

Table 1 – 8 – Below average health and overall medical history

Now that you have an understanding of how the rate classes work let’s look at some sample life insurance rates.

Sample Life Insurance Rates for Seniors

The sample rates in this section below are with life insurance companies that require a medical exam as a part of their underwriting process.  A nurse will come to your house and do sort of a mini physical. They will take a blood draw and a urine sample from you. They’ll also ask you some health questions.  The exam usually lasts for about 25 minutes.  

The insurance company will also want to obtain your medical records.  

The upside with going with a company that requires an exam and a review of your medical records is that you could potentially get approved for the lowest rates in town.  The downside is the inconvenience of having to take the time to do the exam, and the application process takes about 4-6 weeks. This is mostly because it can take quite a while for the insurance company to obtain your medical records from your doctor.  

55 year old non smoking man in excellent health – $100,000 policy

10 year term – $20 monthly

15 year term – $25 monthly

20 year term – $33 monthly

30 year term – $67 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $121 monthly

55 year old non smoking man in average health – $100,000 policy

10 year term – $33 monthly

15 year term – $43 monthly

20 year term – $55 monthly

30 year term – 84 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $149 monthly

55 year old non smoking woman in excellent health – $100,000 policy

10 year term – $17 monthly

15 year term – $19 monthly

20 year term – $24 monthly

30 year term – $49 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $108 monthly

55 year old non smoking woman in average health – $100,000 policy

10 year term – $27 monthly

15 year term – $33 monthly

20 year term – $40 monthly

30 year term – $73 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $121 monthly

65 year old non smoking man in excellent health – $100,000 policy

10 year term – $52 monthly

15 year term – $67 monthly

20 year term – $97 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $198 monthly

65 year old non smoking man in average health – $100,000 policy

10 year term – $87 monthly

15 year term – $116 monthly

20 year term – $161 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $246 monthly

65 year old non smoking woman in excellent health – $100,000 policy

10 year term – $34 monthly

15 year term – $44 monthly

20 year term – $63 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $185 monthly

65 year old non smoking woman in average health – $100,000 policy

10 year term – $58 monthly

15 year term – $78 monthly

20 year term – $110 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $208 monthly

75 year old non smoking man in excellent health – $100,000 policy

10 year term – $151 monthly

15 year term – $277 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $400 monthly

75 year old non smoking man in average health – $100,000 policy

10 year term – $263 monthly

15 year term – $401 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $485 monthly

75 year old non smoking woman in excellent health – $100,000 policy

10 year term – $111 monthly

15 year term – $188 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $379 monthly

75 year old non smoking woman in average health – $100,000 policy

10 year term – $180 monthly

15 year term – $314 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $431 monthly

No Exam Life Insurance Rates For Seniors

There are options to get life insurance without having to complete a medical exam, or wait for the insurance company to obtain your medical records from your doctor.  The upside is the process is much faster. Typically, if you are approved you will find out in just a few days. The downside is that it costs more.  

If speed and convenience is more important than paying the lowest possible price you might want to consider going this route.  

Know that even though the process is quick you may not be able to get approved for a no exam policy.  Instead you may only be able to get approved for a policy that requires an exam. This surprises a lot of people, but the reason is simple.  Life insurance companies don’t like the unknown or risks they can’t measure. For example, let’s say you haven’t been to the doctor in several years even for a routine physical.  The insurance company may be concerned that you could possibly have a health problem, but may not even know it. If you had to do an exam they could look at blood work for example and make a better determination as to whether they could approve you for coverage.  

Having said that let’s look at some sample rates for no medical exam life insurance for seniors.

55 year old non smoking man in excellent health – $100,000 policy (NO EXAM)

10 year term – $29 monthly

15 year term – $32 monthly

20 year term – $43 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $121 monthly

55 year old non smoking man in average health – $100,000 policy (NO EXAM)

10 year term – $48 monthly

15 year term – $64 monthly

20 year term – $73 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $155 monthly

55 year old non smoking woman in excellent health – $100,000 policy (NO EXAM)

10 year term – $22 monthly

15 year term – $26 monthly

20 year term – $30 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $100 monthly

55 year old non smoking woman in average health – $100,000 policy (NO EXAM)

10 year term – $33 monthly

15 year term – $45 monthly

20 year term – $60 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $129 monthly

65 year old non smoking man in excellent health – $100,000 policy (NO EXAM)

10 year term – $69 monthly

15 year term – $92 monthly

20 year term – $115 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $206 monthly

65 year old non smoking man in average health – $100,000 policy (NO EXAM)

10 year term – $105 monthly

15 year term – $154 monthly

20 year term – $198 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $270 monthly

65 year old non smoking woman in excellent health – $100,000 policy (NO EXAM)

10 year term – $42 monthly

15 year term – $61 monthly

20 year term – $76 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $167 monthly

65 year old non smoking woman in average health – $100,000 policy (NO EXAM)

10 year term – $77 monthly

15 year term – $100 monthly

20 year term – $146 monthly

Lifetime coverage to age 110 – $167 monthly

How Seniors Can Get The Lowest Life Insurance Rates Possible

The best thing you can do is work with an experienced independent agent that specializes in helping seniors.  As independent agents we have access to literally dozens of life insurance companies. The key is being able to identify the best life insurance company to submit your application to.  We are able to do this assessing your unique health history and lifestyle habits.

Chances are you have questions.  If so, pick up the phone and give us a call.  We’re here to help. Also, if you would like go ahead and click here to get life insurance rates for yourself.