The Best Term Life Insurance for Seniors in 2025

SBLI is our top pick for term life insurance with affordable premiums, high coverage limits, and excellent customer service.

Matthew Jones
Matthew Jones
Matthew Jones
Who is Matthew Jones?
Matthew Jones is a Senior Living researcher and writer who has spent the past five years producing in-depth guides for older adults and their families. His expertise spans long-term care planning and everyday tech like medical alert systems, hearing aids,… Learn More
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Expert Verified
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Writer and Editor
Our Methodology

Our experts researched and compared term life insurance carriers and narrowed down the list to our top picks for seniors.

50
hours of research
12
carriers compared
3
experts consulted
5
products selected

How We Tested the Best Term Life Insurance for Seniors

Here is our process for every carrier that made our list:

  1. We visited the insurance carrier’s website to see what life insurance they offered and how easy it was to choose between products. Some carriers provided instant online quotes, while others offered a basic overview of their plans.
  2. We got quotes and checked plan availability in our area.
  3. We called each carrier and asked about costs, plan options, benefit amounts, age limits, medical exam requirements, and other factors that matter to older adults.
  4. We compared notes and narrowed down our list to the top term life insurance carriers for seniors.

How We Chose the Best Term Life Insurance for Seniors

We looked at specific criteria to create our list of the best term life insurance carriers for seniors. Here are the most important factors:

  • Term length: Many carriers offer term lengths from 10 to 30 years. However, age limits may restrict term lengths for seniors. We evaluated which carriers offered a wide breadth of term limits.
  • Issue age: Age eligibility is a major factor for life insurance. Some carriers don’t offer plans to adults over 70, while others have reduced plan options for older seniors. We picked carriers that offer higher age limits and better plan offerings for seniors, especially since life insurance can be a major part of retirement plans.
  • Cost: Premiums increase as we age, so it’s not always easy to find a plan within budget. Premiums vary by term length, carrier, and medical history. We focused on carriers that offer the most bang for your buck.
  • Plan availability: Not all insurance carriers offer term life insurance nationwide. Many carriers on our list have plans available in most or all states.
  • Renewal and conversion options: With term life insurance, if you reach the end of the term, the plan ends, and you (typically) get nothing. Fortunately, many carriers allow you to renew your term life insurance (often at a higher premium) or switch to whole life, universal life, or final expense plans. We looked for carriers that offer this flexibility, giving older adults added security if they outlive their policy.
  • Medical exam requirements: Some carriers require medical exams for term life insurance, often depending on your age. Many seniors prefer to avoid the hassle of a medical exam (and the possibility of being excluded for health reasons), so several carriers on our list do not require medical exams.
  • Maximum benefits: The maximum death benefit is often the biggest factor many older adults consider, as they want to leave behind sufficient funds for their loved ones and beneficiaries. Many insurance carriers limit plans for older adults to “final expense” plans, which offer lower amounts meant to cover the policyholder’s funeral and similar expenses. We focused on carriers that offered higher maximum death benefits.
  • Waiting period: Many life insurance policies have a waiting period — often one to two years — during which the policyholder can’t benefit from coverage. Some carriers on our list have waiting periods, but others do not.
  • Additional benefits: Many carriers include extra benefits to entice applicants, including AARP memberships, cash value conversion options, and low introductory rates.

Why Trust Us?

Our experts have spent hundreds of hours researching insurance plans for seniors. We’ve tested and reviewed products and services designed specifically to keep seniors covered. We also consult with older adults to learn about their personal experiences with different carriers to gain better insights into the advantages and disadvantages.

SeniorLiving.org is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines

Citations
Written By:
Matthew Jones
Writer and Editor
Read About Our Panel of Experts
Matthew Jones is a Senior Living researcher and writer who has spent the past five years producing in-depth guides for older adults and their families. His expertise spans long-term care planning and everyday tech like medical alert systems, hearing aids,… Learn More About Matthew Jones