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Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance | 7 Warnings You Should Know

Guarantees usually sound pretty great – they are like a formal promise.

In this particular promise, guaranteed issue life insurance (GI), you have a pledge that your life insurance will be issued.

Regardless of your circumstances – you can buy life insurance with no medical exam and no health questions.

However, guarantees are only as good as the product that promise is backing.

So, how good is guaranteed issue life insurance?

Turns out, this particular type of life insurance is recommended in only a few situations.

Goal – Learn everything you need to know about guaranteed issue life insurance (also called guaranteed acceptance life insurance), including its pitfalls, before making a purchase.


Table Of Contents

  1. Guaranteed Issue
  2. Overview
  3. Quotes
  4. Companies
  5. Seniors
  6. Apply

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Definition

Essentially, guaranteed issue is life insurance that everyone qualifies for, regardless of health, and is guaranteed to be issued.

Not to be confused with simplified issue or no exam life insurance, guaranteed issue does not require you to participate in a health interview (although a few questions are sometimes asked).

Key Features

The most important aspects of a guaranteed issue policy –

  • You cannot be turned down for coverage
  • No physical exam
  • No health questions (almost always)
  • Fairly expensive
  • Age restrictions exist
  • Face amount (policy size) is modest
  • A form of whole life insurance (almost always)
  • Level premiums (you pay the same amount for the life of the policy)

Guaranteed Issue Warnings

Think of this as your overview to GI. Guaranteed issue policies are unique, so you will want to have a clear understanding of what you are buying.

There are 7 important warnings you need to know about guaranteed issue life insurance.

guaranteed issue life insurance

1. Cost

Guaranteed issue life insurance (GI) is often expensive.

How much does guaranteed issue life insurance cost?

Let’s look at some Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance quotes:

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Quotes For Male 40 - 49

$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$25,000
40 Year Old$26.25$49.58$72.92$96.25$119.58
41 Year Old $26.67$50.42$74.17$97.92$121.67
42 Year Old$27.50$52.08$76.67$101.25$125.83
43 Year Old$28.33$53.75$79.17$104.58$130.00
44 Year Old$28.75$54.58$80.42$106.25$132.08
45 Year Old$29.17$55.42$81.67$107.92$134.17
46 Year Old$29.58$56.25$82.92$109.58$136.25
47 Year Old$30.00$57.08$84.17$111.25$138.33
48 Year Old$30.83$58.75$86.67$114.58$142.50
49 Year Old$30.83$58.75$86.67$114.58$142.50
Monthly premiums. Rates are samples only. Subject to change.

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Quotes For Female 40 - 49

$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$25,000
40 Year Old$21.67$40.42$59.17$77.92$96.67
41 Year Old $22.08$41.25$60.42$79.58$98.75
42 Year Old$22.92$42.92$62.92$82.92$102.92
43 Year Old$23.75$44.58$65.42$86.25$107.08
44 Year Old$24.17$45.42$66.67$87.92$109.17
45 Year Old$24.58$46.25$67.92$89.58$111.25
46 Year Old$25.00$47.08$69.17$91.25$113.33
47 Year Old$25.42$47.92$70.42$92.92$115.42
48 Year Old$25.83$48.75$71.67$94.58$117.50
49 Year Old$26.25$49.58$72.92$96.25$119.58
Monthly premiums. Rates are samples only. Subject to change.

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Quotes For Male 50 - 59

$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$25,000
50 Year Old$22.50$44.09$65.68$87.27$108.85
51 Year Old $24.15$47.39$70.63$93.87$117.10
52 Year Old$25.67$50.42$75.17$99.92$124.67
53 Year Old$27.09$53.26$79.43$105.60$131.77
54 Year Old$28.32$55.36$82.04$110.55$137.96
55 Year Old$29.42$56.90$84.35$114.95$143.46
56 Year Old$30.27$58.55$86.82$118.25$147.58
57 Year Old$31.00$60.01$89.01$121.18$151.25
58 Year Old$31.62$61.31$90.96$123.75$154.46
59 Year Old$32.10$62.21$92.31$125.58$156.75
Monthly premiums. Rates are samples only. Subject to change.

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Quotes For Female 50 - 59

$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$25,000
50 Year Old$17.69$34.47$51.24$68.02$84.79
51 Year Old $18.93$36.68$54.02$72.97$90.98
52 Year Old$20.00$37.99$55.98$77.18$96.25
53 Year Old$20.95$39.93$58.90$81.03$101.06
54 Year Old$21.82$41.67$61.51$84.52$105.42
55 Year Old$22.60$43.23$63.85$87.63$109.31
56 Year Old$23.47$44.98$66.67$91.12$113.67
57 Year Old$24.17$46.34$68.50$93.87$117.10
58 Year Old$24.86$47.72$70.58$96.62$120.54
59 Year Old$25.50$49.00$72.50$99.18$123.75
Monthly premiums. Rates are samples only. Subject to change.

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Quotes For Male 60 - 69

$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$25,000
60 Year Old$32.40$63.17$93.75$126.87$158.35
61 Year Old $34.77$67.54$100.31$136.22$170.04
62 Year Old$36.97$71.94$106.91$145.02$181.04
63 Year Old$39.08$76.16$113.21$153.45$191.58
64 Year Old$41.07$80.21$119.31$161.52$201.67
65 Year Old$43.04$84.15$125.23$169.40$211.52
66 Year Old$44.81$87.63$130.44$176.37$220.23
67 Year Old$46.33$90.66$134.98$182.42$227.79
68 Year Old$47.75$93.49$139.24$188.10$234.89
69 Year Old$48.99$95.98$142.96$193.05$241.08
Monthly premiums. Rates are samples only. Subject to change.

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Quotes For Female 60 - 69

$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$25,000
60 Year Old$25.99$50.02$74.03$101.20$126.27
61 Year Old $27.52$53.04$78.56$107.25$133.83
62 Year Old$28.87$55.80$82.70$112.75$140.71
63 Year Old$30.07$58.19$86.28$117.52$146.67
64 Year Old$31.00$60.01$89.01$121.18$151.25
65 Year Old$31.76$61.57$91.35$124.30$155.15
66 Year Old$33.37$64.79$96.19$130.72$163.17
67 Year Old$34.70$67.45$100.18$136.03$169.81
68 Year Old$35.96$69.91$103.87$140.98$176.00
69 Year Old$37.12$72.32$107.47$145.75$181.96
Monthly premiums. Rates are samples only. Subject to change.

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Quotes For Male 70 - 79

$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$25,000
70 Year Old$38.22$74.52$110.78$150.15$187.46
71 Year Old $41.93$81.85$121.77$164.82$205.79
72 Year Old$45.37$88.83$132.24$178.75$223.21
73 Year Old$48.76$95.52$142.28$192.13$239.94
74 Year Old$51.83$101.66$151.50$204.42$255.29
75 Year Old$54.59$107.17$159.75$215.42$269.04
76 Year Old$62.38$122.76$183.13$246.58$308.00
77 Year Old$69.67$137.45$205.18$275.92$344.67
78 Year Old$76.60$151.20$225.81$303.42$379.04
79 Year Old$83.02$164.05$245.07$329.08$411.12
Monthly premiums. Rates are samples only. Subject to change.

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Quotes For Female 70 - 79

$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$25,000
70 Year Old$38.22$74.52$110.78$150.15$187.46
71 Year Old $41.93$81.85$121.77$164.82$205.79
72 Year Old$45.37$88.83$132.24$178.75$223.21
73 Year Old$48.76$95.52$142.28$192.13$239.94
74 Year Old$51.83$101.66$151.50$204.42$255.29
75 Year Old$54.59$107.17$159.75$215.42$269.04
76 Year Old$62.38$122.76$183.13$246.58$308.00
77 Year Old$69.67$137.45$205.18$275.92$344.67
78 Year Old$76.60$151.20$225.81$303.42$379.04
79 Year Old$83.02$164.05$245.07$329.08$411.12
Monthly premiums. Rates are samples only. Subject to change.

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Quotes For Male 80 - 85

$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$25,000
80 Year Old$115.42$227.92$340.42$452.91$565.41
81 Year Old$127.59$253.19$378.78$553.79$691.74
82 Year Old$131.19$260.38$389.57$569.87$711.84
83 Year Old$145.08$288.16$431.23$631.29$788.61
84 Year Old$151.97$301.93$451.90$661.90$826.87
85 Year Old$158.91$315.82$472.73$692.70$865.38
Monthly premiums. Rates are samples only. Subject to change.

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Quotes For Female 80 - 85

$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$25,000
80 Year Old$88.71$175.42$262.13$351.82$439.54
81 Year Old$90.69$179.39$268.08$392.76$490.45
82 Year Old$92.83$183.66$274.49$402.46$502.57
83 Year Old$95.83$189.65$283.48$415.92$519.39
84 Year Old$98.17$194.33$290.49$426.51$532.63
85 Year Old$100.53$199.06$297.59$437.18$545.98
Monthly premiums. Rates are samples only. Subject to change.

As you can see, your monthly premiums can be pricey for a small policy.

In fact, for the amount of coverage you can secure, guarantee issue is one of the most expensive types of life insurance on the market.

Keep in mind – If you can qualify, there are no physical life insurance carriers who provide larger policies for less, if you are interested in skipping the medical exam.

2. Face Amount

Your face amount, also called the death benefit, is limited to modest amounts.

Most guaranteed issue policies cap out at $25,000. However, up to $40,000 in coverage is currently available by a limited number of carriers.

To put things into perspective – the average funeral costs over $10,000.

In other words, a GI policy is often used to cover funeral expenses, and perhaps medical bills, but will not provide substantial financial safeguarding.

3. Graded Benefit

Most guaranteed issue life insurance policies are graded, meaning that your beneficiaries are not entitled to the death benefit immediately.

Created by carriers to limit life insurance fraud, the graded death benefit period is a protective measure to limit pay outs on individuals who are on the verge of passing away.

Definition of graded death benefit – a type of life insurance contract in which the beneficiary does not receive the full death benefit until, typically, 2 years after the policy is issued.

What this means – Should you die during the period of time in which your policy is graded (typically the first 2 years), your beneficiary will either be entitled to:

  1. A percentage of your death benefit
  2. The return of your premium payments, plus any accrued interest (this scenario happens more often)

Note – Accidental deaths are typically excluded from the graded benefit provision. Should you die by accident within the first two years of your policy, your beneficiary often receives the full death benefit.

4. Return On Investment

It’s entirely possible to pay more in premiums during the life of your life insurance contract than the death benefit amount.

Grab a calculator and do some quick estimates.

Here’s an example:

  • A 65-year-old male, $15,000 guaranteed issue policy
  • Premium payments of: $108.64/monthly (or $1,302.60/annually)
  • If premiums are paid for 12 years, the total is $15,679.20 (more than the death benefit of the policy).

Of course, there’s a big caveat – no one is guaranteed tomorrow, so you may not pay more in premiums than the death benefit is worth.

You’ll need to decide if it’s worth the annual cost for an eventual modest death benefit.

5. Age Restrictions

You’ll have to fall within a specific age group to qualify for guaranteed issue.

Those who fall between the ages of 40 – 85 years can qualify for GI. However, many GI carriers use an age range of 50 – 80 years.

If you don’t fall within those age ranges, there are alternatives.

If you are younger than age 40, and cannot qualify for traditional coverage, look into AD&D insurance (accidental death and dismemberment).

Or, if you are elderly, seniors have different life insurance options.

6. Evaluate Final Expense

You will want to understand whether or not you qualify for final expense life insurance, first. 

Final expense policies are more affordable than guaranteed issue and do not include the same age restrictions.

While guaranteed issue coverage will not ask health questions whatsoever, final expense policies only asks a few.

For example, a final expense policy application will ask you about:

  1. HIV/AIDS status
  2. If you (typically within the last 2 years) reside in a nursing home or receive hospice
  3. If you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness
  4. Alzheimer’s or dementia
  5. Mental retardation
  6. Down’s syndrome
  7. Require the help of another person for dressing, bathing, toileting
  8. History of heart attack
  9. History of stroke
  10. If you are a cancer patient
  11. Drug abuse or alcoholism
  12. DUI conviction

Bottom line – final expense applications are often easy to qualify for, with only basic health and lifestyle questions.

Note – if you have some serious health concerns, there is a policy with minimal underwriting (only 5 questions; less stringent than final expense) – the Guarantee Trust Life Heritage Plan.

On the other hand -guaranteed issue life insurance carriers we recommend offer life insurance with no health questions.

7. Other Options

Think of guaranteed issue life insurance, and we mean this in the nicest way possible, as your last resort.

Because the policies are expensive for the amount of coverage you receive, you will want to exhaust alternatives, first.

There are plenty of no exam life insurance options to consider before deciding to purchase GI:

Once you have exhausted all other types of life insurance, then it may be time to evaluate GI.

Best Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Companies

At a glance, the top GI carriers look very similar. Let’s look at the fine print for a detailed comparison of the top carriers.

AIG Life Insurance Company

guaranteed issue life insurance

Product name: AIG Guaranteed Issue Whole Life

With Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Insurance, if you’re age 50-85, you can’t be turned down for health reasons.

– AIG

Product At A Glance

  • Face Amounts between $5,000 – $25,000
  • Ages 50 – 85 years old
  • No medical exam, labs, or health questions
  • Client cannot be turned down for health reasons

Fixed Premiums – your premiums (the amount you pay in exchange for life insurance) remain the same for the life of the policy.

Application Process

  • Application typically takes 15 minutes or less
  • Policy is guaranteed to be issued
  • Forms of payment accepted: ACH, social security debit card, credit card
  • Delayed billing for a specific date is available

Riders Included

A rider is an additional benefit to your life insurance contract.

  • Chronic Illness Acceleration Benefit 
    • Returns 100% of premiums paid, up to 50% of the Face Amount
    • No waiting period
    • One-time lump sum payment when insured becomes chronically ill
    • No up-front costs
  • Terminal Illness Benefit
    • 50% of Death Benefit within 24-month life expectancy (or less)
    • No additional costs

Product Specifics

  • Insured must be the Owner
  • Payor can be different than the Insured
  • Social Security Number is required
  • Plan builds cash value
  • Only one policy per Owner/Insured per 12 month period
  • No replacement or conversion into GIWL allowed
  • Annual fee: $24
  • Free look: 30 days

Graded Benefit

  • Years 1 – 2: 100% of premiums paid, plus 10% interest, are returned if death occurs
    • Note – If death is by a qualifying accident, full face amount is paid
  • Years 3+: Full face amount
  • Accidental Death: Full face amount
  • Suicide: Premiums are refunded

Gerber Life Insurance Company

guaranteed issue life insurance

Product name: Gerber Guaranteed Life Insurance

The Gerber Life Guaranteed Life Insurance Plan provides valuable whole life insurance to help cover final expenses.

– Gerber Life Insurance Company

Product At A Glance:

  • Face Amounts between $5,000 – $25,000
  • Issue Ages: 50 – 80 years old
  • No medical underwriting, labs, or health questions

Fixed Premiums – Your premiums will remain the same as long as all premium payments are made.

Application Process:

  • Typically completed online and takes minutes
  • Policy is guaranteed to be issued
  • Forms of payment accepted: ACH (up to 8% discount), credit card, direct express card (Social Security benefits card)
  • Premiums are due on the first day following the period covered by the preceding premium

Provides Cash Value in an emergency – you can borrow against the cash value in your policy, as long as your premiums are paid.

Product Specifics

  • Social Security Number required
  • Available in all states except MT
  • Plan builds some cash value
  • Grace period of 31 days starting on premium due date in which owner may pay overdue premiums
  • Free look: 30 days

Graded Benefit Specifics

  • Years 1 – 2: 100% of premiums returned, plus 10% interest, if death occurs
    • Note – Qualifying accidental deaths receive the full face amount
  • Years 3+: Full face amount shall be paid to the beneficiary
  • Suicide: if the insured dies by suicide within two years from the Issue Date (one year in ND), premiums will be returned, plus 10% interest, less any debt against the policy.

Great Western Insurance Company

guaranteed issue life insurance

Product name: Great Western Guaranteed Assurance

Guaranteed Assurance provides coverage with absolutely no underwriting and no health questions to answer.

– Great Western Insurance Company

Product At A Glance

  • Face Amounts between $1,000 – $40,000
  • Ages 40 – 80 years old
    • Note – if you are between the ages of 40 -50, and need a GI policy, Great Western is your go-to company
  • No medical exam, labs, or health questions
    • Note Great Western does have an “Assurance Plus” product that includes 3 medical questions

Fixed Premiums – Guaranteed Level for the life of the Insured

Application Process

  1. Typically completed online in minutes
  2. Policy is guaranteed to be issued
  3. Forms of payment accepted: ACH, credit card, direct express card (Social Security benefit card)
  4. Payor may select a specific date of each month to pay the premium
    • If paying with a direct express card, Payor should select a specific Wednesday of each month for premium payment
  5. 30 day grace period for failure to make the premium payment

Builds Cash Value – coverage builds cash value over time and can be borrowed against.

Riders Included

  • Spousal Bonus Rider
    • A first-to-die rider that pays an additional $1,000 on the first death if both spouses apply for a policy simultaneously
    • Death cannot occur during the graded death benefit period
  • Accelerated Death Benefit
    • Pays the present value of the death benefit if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness (12 months or less to live)
    • Or, pays if needing assistance with two or more Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
    • The death benefit can be used for any purpose

Product Specifics

  • Social Security Number required
  • Plan can be borrowed against
  • Grace period of 30 days (60 days in CA) in which coverage will remain in effect
  • Free look: 30 days

Graded Benefit Specifics

  • Years 1 – 2: 110% of cumulative premiums paid; full face amount for accidental death
  • Years 3+: 100% of the face amount
  • Temporary suicide exclusion exists

Note – All guaranteed issue products are subject to change.

To summarize: 

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Companies

AIGGerberGreat Western
Product NameGuaranteed Issue Whole LifeGuaranteed LifeGuaranteed Assurance
Age Range50 - 85 years50 - 8040 - 80
Face Amount$5,000 - $25,000$5,000 - $25,000$1,000 - $40,000
Death BenefitGradedGradedGraded
A.M. Best RatingAAA-

Other Guaranteed Issue Companies

Evaluate additional life insurance companies that offer guaranteed issue policies.

mutual of omaha

Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company

Product name: Mutual of Omaha Guaranteed Issue Whole Life

Issue ages: 45 – 85 years old

Face amount: $2,000 – $25,000

kemper

Kemper Corporation

Product name: Kemper Guaranteed Issue Whole Life

Issue ages: 40 – 80 years old

Face amount: $5,000 – $25,000

americo

Americo Financial Life and Annuity Company

Product name: Americo Eagle Guaranteed

Issue ages: 50 – 80 years old

Face amount: $2,000 – $10,000

Vantis Life Insurance Company

Product name: Vantis Guaranteed Golden

Issue ages: 50 – 80 years old

united home life

Face amount: $5,000 – $20,000

United Home Life Insurance Company

Product name: United Home Life Guaranteed Issue Whole Life

Issue ages: 45 – 75 years old

Face amount: $5,000 – $25,000

fidelity life

Fidelity Life Association

Product name: Fidelity Life RapiDecision Guaranteed Issue

Issue ages: 50 – 85 years old

Face amount: $5,000 – $25,000

Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company

Product name: Colonial Penn Guaranteed Acceptance

Issue ages: 50 – 85

Face amount: Varies; approximately $400 – $17,000

Note: similar to guaranteed issue, Prosperity offers an affordable alternative product, called PrimeTerm to 100. 

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance For Seniors

Guaranteed Issue life insurance makes sense for seniors, sometimes.

Usually, GI is ideal for seniors who:

  1. Are unable to qualify for other types of life insurance, like traditional no exam life insurance for seniors
  2. Need to secure a modest amount of coverage for end-of-life costs, like funeral and medical expenses

Case Studies

Consider a few case studies to understand how guaranteed issue life insurance can financially protect senior citizens.

Case Study #1

John is 65 years old. He is in poor health with a history of lung cancer. He would like to ease his family’s financial burden in preparing for his funeral.

John purchases a guaranteed issue policy for $10,000

His monthly premiums are: $73.09

Case Study #2

Carol is 75 years old. She needs a policy to pay off some debt she carries. She does not qualify for standard life insurance due to uncontrolled diabetes.

Carol purchases a guaranteed issue policy for $20,000

Her monthly premiums are: $189.63

Case Study #3

Richard is 80 years old. He only qualifies for a GI policy due to a history of multiple strokes. He needs life insurance to cover a few end-of-life expenses.

Richard purchases a guaranteed issue policy for $5,000

His monthly premiums are: $115.42

Bottom line – Guaranteed issue life insurance can be a gift to seniors who need a modest policy and do not qualify for other forms of life insurance.

How To Apply 

Before you make a purchase, plan on doing two things:

  1. Work with an independent agent – An independent agent will help you explore all of your life insurance options, including whether or not a GI policy is in your best interest. By accessing multiple top-rated carriers, independent agents will find the best policy to fit your needs.
  2. Be ready for your application – Be sure to have your important information ready to communicate: full name, address, date of birth, beneficiary information, and your Social Security Number.

To get started, simply fill out our free quote.