10 Best Whole Life insurance

Coverage highlights

• Permanent coverage that builds tax-deferred cash value you can access during your lifetime
• Shop, compare, and apply entirely online in minutes, with licensed agents on hand to help
• Cash value you can borrow against for retirement income, college, or other major expenses
• Policies placed with A-rated carriers such as Nationwide and National Life, with coverage up to $5 million

Considerations

• Amplify is a brokerage, not an insurer — it doesn’t underwrite policies, so it carries no financial-strength rating of its own (the issuing carrier does)
• Its focus is market-linked permanent policies like indexed and variable universal life; an IUL has a floor, but variable policies can lose value, and permanent coverage costs more than term

Geared toward buyers who want permanent coverage as a long-term, tax-advantaged savings vehicle — and who can commit to higher premiums than a term policy requires.

Underwriting is handled by the issuing carrier and varies by product. The online flow narrows your options and many applicants get a quick decision, with agent support whenever you want it.

A transparent, fully online experience that compares permanent policies from multiple carriers in one place — and lets you estimate your potential cash value before you apply.

Coverage highlights

• Guaranteed acceptance for ages 50–80 — no medical exam and no health questions to qualify
• Permanent coverage that lasts a lifetime, with premiums that stay level once your policy is set
• Choose a death benefit from $5,000 to $25,000 to match final-expense needs
• Built-in living benefits let you access part of the benefit early if you face a qualifying terminal or chronic illness

Considerations

• A graded death benefit applies in the first two years: a natural-cause death pays 110%–120% of premiums paid (accidental death pays the full amount), with the full benefit after year two
• Coverage is capped at $25,000, and over a long life total premiums can exceed the face amount — it’s designed for final expenses, not income replacement

Open to applicants ages 50–80, with acceptance guaranteed in that range — you can’t be declined for health reasons. Offered in 49 states (not available in New York).

No medical exam and no health questionnaire. Your rate is based only on age, gender, and the coverage amount you choose — your health doesn’t affect the price.

A fully online application most people finish in about 15 minutes, with guaranteed approval and nothing to schedule.

Coverage highlights

• Licensed agents compare whole life and final-expense quotes from a network of A-rated carriers, so you can shop several insurers at once
• Whole life options come with a guaranteed death benefit, level premiums, and cash value that grows over time — with the specifics set by the issuing carrier
• Final-expense (burial) policies for seniors are often available with no medical exam, helpful if health has limited your options elsewhere
• Backed by nearly 40 years in business as one of the largest independent brokerages, with carrier partners such as Mutual of Omaha

Considerations

• SelectQuote is a brokerage, not an insurer — it doesn’t underwrite policies or carry a financial-strength rating of its own, so coverage details, riders, and your rate come from the issuing carrier
• Its strength is fast quote comparison from a limited pool of carriers; for highly customized permanent or cash-value strategies, a dedicated whole-life specialist may offer more options

Open to a wide range of ages and needs across its carrier network, including final-expense coverage aimed at seniors who want a simpler path to a smaller policy.

Underwriting is set by the carrier you choose, so medical-exam requirements, health classes, and approval times vary — some final-expense policies skip the exam entirely.

One conversation with a licensed agent surfaces side-by-side quotes from several A-rated carriers — handy if you’d rather compare options than research insurers one by one.

Coverage highlights

• Guaranteed death benefit with premiums that stay level for life once your policy is set
• Cash value guaranteed to grow tax-deferred, with dividends (when declared) able to boost it further
• Dividends can purchase paid-up additions that grow both your coverage and cash value at no added premium
• Flexible premium options, including limited-pay (such as 10- or 20-year) to build cash value faster

Considerations

• Sold through a New York Life agent, so you can’t complete a policy entirely online
• Dividends aren’t guaranteed, and as permanent coverage whole life costs more than comparable term insurance

Open to a broad range of ages, with juvenile policies available too — starting young locks in insurability and gives cash value more time to grow.

Whole life is medically underwritten, so your premium reflects your age, health, coverage amount, and any riders — though some newer policies offer expedited, no-exam underwriting.

A record $2.78 billion in dividends declared for 2026, paid to eligible participating whole life policyowners — continuing a payout streak that reaches back to 1854.