If you’re a member of the AARP, then you may be considering buying life insurance through them.
They specialize in products and advice for people in their later years, so it makes sense that you might think that AARP has some of the best rates around. RIGHT?
Nope!
…and I’m gonna fill you in on why they’re probably NOT the insurer for you.
Table of Contents
The Pros and Cons of AARP Life Insurance
OF COURSE, AARP is a great organization. There’s no doubt about it.
…BUT there are better places to get your life insurance if you’re reasonably healthy.
Don’t get me wrong, they do have their strong points! Let’s take a look at them now:
- up to 100K in coverage without a medical exam,
- coverage for individuals 50 – 80,
- no criminal record review,
- they cover people with disabilities
- AARP offers a simplified application process,
- they provide coverage through New York Life, one of the best insurers in the market
- if you smoke, you won’t be penalized (that is if you don’t have COPD or emphysema)
Pros
No Exam Required, Fast Approval & Convenient: AARP life insurance is convenient for its members. The products are easy to apply for and don’t require a medical exam. All you have to do is answer a few medical questions (which may be a lot more complicated than you think). Which means that these products may be most advantageous for those who are not in the best of health and are likely to be declined by other insurers.
NOT SO FAST: Sounds GREAT right? You’re sick or worried that you might be and are afraid you won’t qualify for life insurance – so this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
Hold yer horses. You may still be declined.
Yep! It’s true. They have access to medical and prescription databases. You can run but you can’t hide.
Products for the Elderly: AARP offers $10,000 – $100,000 in affordable coverage to clients who are 50 – 74!
NOT SO FAST: AARP life insurance IS EXPENSIVE. Chances are you can find you a better deal. There are also insurers that will offer you term until age 85 and will provide you with MORE coverage. This is especially interesting to those of you who need insurance for estate tax reasons.
Cons
No Competitive Quotes: The products they offer are only available through the 1 insurer – New York Life. You will pay their rates without having considered competitive quotes. Huntley Wealth has access to dozens of companies, so you get the best rates available.
Membership Fee: On top of the life insurance premium you pay, you also have to join AARP to qualify for their insurance products which means you pay an additional membership fee.
Low Death Benefit Amounts: The ceiling on coverage is comparably lower than what you will find through other life insurers. If you need more than $100,000 in life insurance – you’re out of luck. Don’t find yourself underinsured.
Expensive Premiums: Because AARP’s life insurance products don’t require a medical exam, you automatically pay a much higher premium. Typically, no exam life insurance costs as much as 3 X what you would pay for a policy which requires an exam.
Not Suitable for Healthy Individuals: If you are age 50 plus and in relatively good health, you would be better off finding a policy which does require a medical exam. The premiums you’ll be offered will be a LOT less than those you’ll pay through AARP.
The policy Terms Are More Limited: AARP only offers term insurance up to age 80 while most other life insurers offer term policies to age 85.
Rising Premiums: YEP. Unlike other insurers that offer guaranteed level term, your premiums will increase every 5 years with AARP. Not only will you pay more, but this cost will escalate as you grow older.
AARP Ratings
No AARP life insurance review would be complete without discussing their rating.
If you’re looking to purchase life insurance, you need to work from the foundation up, when it comes to research.
This is one of the most important steps!
The fact is, if your life insurance company is built on a shaky financial foundation, then they may not be able to pay out your beneficiary when the time comes. It’s just common sense to check them out before you make such a large investment in protecting your family.
Hey, who the heck wants to worry that their beneficiaries won’t get paid out when the time comes?
The good news is, New York Life Insurance is a VERY safe bet.
They’ve been around since 1845 and are the largest mutual life insurance company in the US and one of the biggest life insurers in the world!
Check out their ratings! They’re stellar.
- A.M. Best: A++
- Fitch: AAA
- Moody’s: Aaa
- Standard & Poor’s: AA+
What Does AARP Offer?
AARP offers Term, Permanent and Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance for people from 50 up to 74 years of age.
Once you turn 80 the party is over. No more insurance for you!
Despite the fact I’m writing an AARP Life Insurance Review, they aren’t actually an insurer.
…and no that’s not a typo. New York Life provides the coverage, which is endorsed by AARP.
Their policies are especially interesting to older people because they:
- Don’t require a medical exam,
- Ask only 3 questions
- Don’t make you wait for coverage
Sounds pretty compelling – ESPECIALLY if you have a medical condition.
BUT I’m here to tell you:
“No Exam life insurance appears to be a better gig than it actually is, if you are looking for the lowest rates, No Exam is NOT the path for you”
AARP Life Insurance Products
Beware! Not just anyone can purchase AARP policies. To be eligible for their products you have to be a member!
AARP has traditional offerings that include:
- Term life insurance
- Guaranteed issue
- Permanent life insurance
- A unique young start policy for those who have young children or grandchildren.
Let’s take a look at these products in more detail.
AARP’s Term Offering
Provides up to $100,000 of valuable group term life insurance, exclusively for AARP members from New York Life. There’s no medical exam. Your acceptance is based on your answers to a few health questions and other information we collect.
It’s a simple way to provide your family with resources to help:
- Make mortgage or loan payment
- Cover your family’s everyday bills
- Pay medical or final expenses, credit cards, and other debts
AARP’s Guaranteed Acceptance Offering
Provides up to $50,000 of valuable permanent group life insurance, exclusively for AARP members. No medical exam is required-acceptance is based on your answers to three health questions, and most who apply are accepted.
- It’s a simple way to get lifetime coverage that can help:
- Pay medical and funeral bills, or other obligations you may leave behind
- Meet everyday living expenses
- Leave a gift or added financial cushion for someone special
AARP’s Permanent Offering
Provides up to $25,000 of permanent group life insurance — acceptance guaranteed* — exclusively for AARP members. There’s no medical exam and no health questions.
This affordable coverage can help:
- Cover medical and funeral expenses
- Pay other bills you may leave behind
- Provide a little extra peace of mind for your family
As you can see, AARP doesn’t offer a vast array of products. If you are looking for flexibility and coverage in excess of $100,000, then AARP is definitely NOT the insurer for you!
AARP’s Young Start Offering
Give a child or grandchild up to $20,000 of affordable life insurance they can keep for their entire lives. AARP Young Start from New York Life Insurance Company is permanent coverage available exclusively to AARP members, and offers:
- Coverage that can continue for life
- Low childhood rates
- No medical exam, just three health questions
AARP Life Insurance Rates
So let’s take a look at how AARP compares to other top life insurance companies!
Here are AARP’s Term rates for Men & Women age 50 – 74:
Term Life Insurance Quotes AARP Men
| Age | $10000 | $25000 | $50000 | $75000 | $100000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50-54 Years Old | 14 | 26 | 45 | 62 | 79 |
| 55-59 Years Old | 18 | 36 | 65 | 91 | 116 |
| 60 - 64 Years Old | 24 | 50 | 94 | 133 | 171 |
| 65 - 69 Years Old | 31 | 67 | 128 | 182 | 236 |
| 70-74 Years Old | 42 | 95 | 184 | 263 | 342 |
(Based on AARP’s Instant Quotes, as of 10/03/19, subject to change)
Term Life Insurance Quotes AARP Women
| Age | $10000 | $25000 | $50000 | $75000 | $100000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50-54 Years Old | $11.00 | $18.00 | $29.00 | $41.00 | $52.00 |
| 55-59 Years Old | $13.00 | $22.00 | $38.00 | $54.00 | $69.00 |
| 60-64 Years Old | $17.00 | $32.00 | $58.00 | $83.00 | $108.00 |
| 65-69 Years Old | $21.00 | $44.00 | $81.00 | $118.00 | $154.00 |
| 70-74 Years Old | $33.00 | $74.00 | $141.00 | $207.00 | $272.00 |
(Based on AARP’s Instant Quotes, as of 10/03/19, subject to change)
So I am going to use Banner Life rates, one of our most competitive companies, to illustrate just how much we can save you.
Here are quotes for a 20-year term from ages 50 – 70:
Term Life Insurance Quotes Banner Life Insurance (Male)
| Age | $100000 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 Year Old Male Preferred Non Smoker | $33.18 | ||||
| 59 Year Old Male, Preferred Non Smoker | $33.18 | ||||
| 64 Year Old Male, Preferred Non Smoker | $33.18 | ||||
| 69 Year Old Male, Preferred Non Smoker | $33.18 | ||||
| 70 Year Old Male, Preferred Non Smoker | $33.18 |
(Life Insurance Quotes based for 20 Year Guaranteed Level Term with a Preferred Rating, as of 10/03/19, subject to change)
Term Life Insurance Quotes Banner Life Insurance (Female)
| Age | $100000 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 Year Old Female Preferred Non Smoker | $24.71 | ||||
| 59 Year Old Female, Preferred Non Smoker | $24.71 | ||||
| 64 Year Old Female, Preferred Non Smoker | $24.71 | ||||
| 69 Year Old Female, Preferred Non Smoker | $24.71 | ||||
| 70 Year Old Female, Preferred Non Smoker | $24.71 |
(Life Insurance Quotes based for 20 Year Guaranteed Level Term with a Preferred Rating, as of 10/03/19, subject to change)
Is AARP’s Simplified Application All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
If you’re too scared to take a medical exam, you’re gonna be much more likely to buy their simplified issue offering.
….but I will bet you dollars to doughnuts that life insurance with a medical exam will get you better premiums in the long run.
They promote this simplified application by only being asked 3 easy questions, so lets dive into those:
What About Those 3 Easy Questions?
Question 1
In the past 2 years, have you had treatment or medication for or been diagnosed by a doctor as having heart trouble, stroke, cancer, lung disease or disorder, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, AIDS, AIDS-related complex, or immune system disorder?
* This is a yes or no answer.
Question 2
In the past 2 years, for any condition, have you been admitted to or confined in a hospital, sanitarium, nursing home, extended care, or special treatment facility?
* This is a yes or no answer. If yes, please list the date(s) of onset, along with types of treatment, medicine, and dosage.
Question 3
In the past 3 months, have you consulted a doctor or had treatment or diagnostic tests of any type? (Note: You are not required to report negative AIDS or HIV tests.)
* This is a yes or no answer.
…Hold Up, Slick!
AARP has access to databases with your medical records and prescription history. If they find that you had received treatment for cancer, heart disease or anything else they consider to be serious your application will be rejected. Yep – DENIED.
As you can clearly see, these questions are designed to catch a serious illness. The truth is there is no eluding life insurance companies.
…and even if you do manage to slip through the cracks, your answers to these questions can be broadly interpreted. Honesty is ALWAYS the best policy when it comes to a life insurance application.
If you think you’re sick, apply for life insurance and mislead the company you choose, you’re beneficiaries won’t be able to collect their check.
Why? Because that’s fraud.
Every client I deal with knows how I feel about this. It’s VERY important to be upfront and honest from the get-go.
Guess this simplified application isn’t so easy, peasy after all!
Is AARP Life Insurance For You?
As you can clearly see my AARP life insurance review has a couple of bright spots – but their weaknesses definitely outweigh their strengths!
I can completely empathize with someone who thinks AARP is a dream come true.
If you are in poor health and in your 70s and feel you will be turned down for ANY coverage, their simplified application process seems like a gift.
They even offer a guaranteed issue policy, that doesn’t require you to answer any questions AT ALL!
BUT as we all know NOTHING is ever as simple as it seems.
*While we make every effort to keep our site updated, please be aware that "timely" information on this page, such as quote estimates, or pertinent details about companies, may only be accurate as of its last edit day. Huntley Wealth & Insurance Services and its representatives do not give legal or tax advice. Please consult your own legal or tax adviser.
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