Where to find life insurance after 60

Most major insurers still write life insurance for people over 60, but not all of them make it straightforward to find or price online. The companies listed here all have underwriting processes designed for older applicants — meaning they expect health questions and medical records, and they price policies accordingly rather than turning you away at the process stage.

The real difference between these companies is not whether they will insure you, but how much they charge for the same coverage, how quickly they underwrite, and whether a local agent can walk you through the process or whether you are working with a website and a phone number. Some specialize in simplified underwriting (fewer health questions, faster approval, higher premiums). Others require a full medical exam but offer lower rates if your health is good.

No single company is "best" — it depends on your health, how much coverage you need, and whether you want to talk to a person or handle it online. The section below walks through what each type of company does and who they work best for.

Key Takeaways

  • Traditional insurers like State Farm, Mutual of Omaha, and New York Life underwrite people over 60 but require medical exams and health history; they offer lower rates if you are in good health.
  • Simplified issue companies like Colonial Penn and Gerber Life ask fewer health questions and approve faster, but charge more per dollar of coverage.
  • Online-first companies like PolicyGenius and Haven Life let you compare quotes from multiple insurers in one place without repeating your information to each company.
  • Getting quotes from at least three companies takes 15 to 30 minutes and can save you hundreds of dollars per year.
  • If you have had recent health problems, simplified issue may be your only option; if your health is stable, traditional underwriting usually costs less over time.

Traditional insurers with medical underwriting

State Farm, Mutual of Omaha, New York Life, and Principal Financial all write term and whole life policies for people in their 60s, 70s, and beyond. They require a medical exam (blood work, sometimes an EKG depending on the amount of coverage), a detailed health history, and permission to contact your doctors. Underwriting takes two to four weeks.

These companies charge less per month than simplified issue carriers if you are in good health, because the medical exam lets them price you accurately. If you have controlled diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of cancer that is now in remission, you will still get a standard or near-standard rate with most of these carriers. If your health is poor or unstable, they may decline you or charge a much higher rate.

You can get a quote by phone or through an agent. State Farm and Mutual of Omaha have online quote tools, but they still require a phone call to move forward. New York Life and Principal do not have online quotes — you work with an agent from the start. If you do not have an agent, you can find one through their websites.

Simplified issue companies

Colonial Penn and Gerber Life are the two largest simplified issue carriers for people over 60. They ask a shorter list of health questions (no medical exam), and they can approve you in days rather than weeks. The trade-off is that their monthly premiums are higher — sometimes 30 to 50 percent higher than a traditional carrier would charge for the same coverage.

Simplified issue makes sense if you have been declined by traditional insurers, if you have a health condition that would trigger a high rating, or if you need coverage quickly and do not want to wait for a medical exam. It does not make sense if your health is good — you will pay more than you need to.

Both Colonial Penn and Gerber Life sell online and by phone. Colonial Penn has a heavy television advertising presence and sells policies as small as $9.95 per month (covering $1,000 to $25,000 in death benefit). Gerber Life sells larger policies and also offers accident insurance. You can get a quote from either in minutes without leaving your home.

Online comparison platforms

PolicyGenius, Haven Life (owned by MassMutual), and Ethos let you enter your information once and see quotes from multiple insurers. This saves time if you want to compare prices across traditional and simplified issue carriers without calling each one separately.

These platforms do not sell insurance themselves — they are brokers or aggregators. You answer health questions on their website, they send your information to insurers they work with, and you see quotes side by side. If you choose a policy, you complete the underwriting process with that insurer directly.

The advantage is speed and comparison. The disadvantage is that you see only the insurers each platform works with, not every company in the market. PolicyGenius works with about 15 carriers. Haven Life works with fewer. If you want to be thorough, get quotes from a comparison site and also call Mutual of Omaha and State Farm directly, since not all platforms include every major carrier.

Specialty carriers for specific situations

If you have had a recent health event — a heart attack, stroke, or cancer diagnosis in the last two to three years — some carriers specialize in insuring people in that situation. AARP Life Insurance (underwritten by New York Life) is designed for people over 50 and has underwriting guidelines that account for age-related health changes. Transamerica and Equitable also have products marketed toward older adults.

These are not cheaper than traditional carriers, and they are not easier to get into than simplified issue. They are middle ground: they ask more health questions than simplified issue but may be more flexible on recent health history than a standard underwriter. If you have been declined elsewhere or received a very high quote, it is worth getting a quote from one of these carriers.

How to compare and choose

Start by deciding how much coverage you need. Most people over 60 need between $50,000 and $250,000 in death benefit — enough to cover funeral costs, pay off a mortgage or car, or leave something to family. Once you know the amount, get quotes from at least three companies: one traditional carrier (State Farm or Mutual of Omaha), one simplified issue carrier (Colonial Penn or Gerber), and one comparison platform (PolicyGenius or Haven Life).

Write down the monthly premium, the death benefit, the policy type (term or whole life), and the underwriting timeline for each quote. Do not choose based on price alone — if a simplified issue quote is only $5 cheaper per month than a traditional carrier, the traditional policy is the better deal because you will pay less over 10 or 20 years. If the simplified issue quote is $30 cheaper per month, it may be worth the trade-off if you want approval quickly.

Ask each company about their underwriting timeline and what happens if you are declined. Some will give you a reason and let you reapply with a different carrier. Others will not. If you have health concerns, ask whether they have an appeals process or whether you can provide additional medical records to support your case.

What to expect during underwriting

With traditional carriers, you will be asked to authorize a medical exam. The insurer will schedule this at a location near you — usually a clinic or the examiner's office. The exam takes 30 to 45 minutes and includes blood pressure, weight, blood work, and sometimes an EKG or stress test if you are buying a large policy or have heart-related health history.

You will also be asked to sign a form allowing the insurer to request medical records from your doctors. This is standard and required. The insurer will contact your doctors' offices directly — you do not need to retrieve the records yourself, though you can if you want to speed things up.

Underwriting takes two to four weeks from the time you submit your process. During this time, the insurer is reviewing your medical records, exam results, and health history. If they need clarification, they will contact you. Once underwriting is complete, you will receive a decision: approved at standard rates, approved at a higher rate (if you have health issues), or declined.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a medical exam to get life insurance over 60?

Not always. Simplified issue carriers like Colonial Penn and Gerber Life do not require an exam — they approve based on health questions alone. Traditional carriers like State Farm and Mutual of Omaha do require an exam for most applicants over 60, especially for policies over $100,000. If you want to avoid an exam, simplified issue is your option, but you will pay more per month.

What if I have been declined by one insurance company?

Decline from one carrier does not mean you will be declined by all. Different insurers have different underwriting standards. If you were declined by a traditional carrier, try a simplified issue carrier or a specialty carrier like AARP Life Insurance. If you were declined by a simplified issue carrier, that is unusual — ask why, and consider whether your health situation has changed since you applied.

How much life insurance do I actually need at 60 or older?

That depends on your situation. If you have a mortgage, car payment, or credit card debt, you need enough to cover those. If you want to leave money to family or cover funeral costs (typically $7,000 to $12,000), add that to the total. Most people over 60 need between $50,000 and $250,000. A financial advisor or insurance agent can help you calculate a specific number based on your debts and goals.

Is term or whole life better for someone over 60?

Term is usually cheaper — you pay a fixed monthly premium for 10, 20, or 30 years, and the policy expires after that. Whole life costs more per month but lasts your entire life and builds cash value. If you only need coverage for 10 to 15 years (to cover a mortgage or debt), term is the better choice. If you want lifelong coverage and can afford the higher premium, whole life may make sense.

Can I get life insurance if I smoke?

Yes, but you will pay significantly more — often two to three times the rate a non-smoker pays for the same coverage. Some simplified issue carriers charge less of a premium increase for smokers than traditional carriers do. If you recently quit smoking, ask the insurer about their timeline for reclassifying you as a non-smoker — most require 12 months of being smoke-free.