- Policies available for up to $1.5 million
- Medical exam not required
- Application process is quick and entirely online
AP Buyline’s content is created independently of The Associated Press newsroom. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about our policies and terms here.
Updated April 17, 2024
In a nutshell
Bestow is an online term life insurance provider offering policies to individuals from ages 18 to 60. Coverage amounts range from $100,000 to $1,500,000 in terms ranging from 10 to 30 years.
- To determine your monthly rate, Bestow asks health and lifestyle questions during the application process.
- Coupled with other personal background information, they rely on an accelerated underwriting methodology to quickly approve eligible applicants without needing to undergo a physical medical examination.
Bestow Life Insurance
Bestow Life Insurance
Eligible ages
18 to 60 years
Coverage max
$100,000 - $1,500,000
Term
10 to 30 years
Pros and cons
Pros:
Cons:
- Maximum age eligibility is 60
- No option to extend or renew past 30-year term policy
- Not available in New York
Bestow overview
Bestow is an insurance agent that provides term life insurance through a quick and easy online application process, which does not require a medical exam. Now backed by Bestow, policies are available for up to $1.5 million for adults ages 18 to 60. They do not offer any whole life or alternative insurance options after age 60.
Bestow policy coverage options
Bestow offers 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-year term policies ranging from $100,000 to $1.5 million. To help determine which option would be best based on your budget and specific circumstances, Bestow features a coverage calculator on their website.
Bestow riders
Bestow does not offer any insurance riders.
Bestow rates
The monthly rate for term life insurance is contingent on your age, terms, policy amount and other lifestyle and health information shared during the application process. For example, for a $500,000 policy, a healthy, non-smoking 35-year-old woman could pay anywhere around $22 per month for a 10- or 20-year term policy.
Bestow customer service ratings
Bestow has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and averages 4.5 out of 5 in customer ratings from TrustPilot.
How Bestow compares with other brands
If you are shopping around for online insurance providers that offer similar services, you may want to consider the following alternatives:
Ethos
Ethos Life Insurance
Ethos Life Insurance
Eligible ages
20-85
Term
10, 15, 20 or 30 years
Coverage max
$2,000,000
Medical exam required
Not required
Similar to Bestow, Ethos offers life insurance without requiring a medical exam. 95% of applicants are approved and coverage ranges up to $2 million. Unlike Bestow, which only offers term life insurance, Ethos also offers whole life insurance policies for individuals ages 66 to 85. Rates start at $2 a day and they have excellent customer ratings from TrustPilot and Google.
Ladder
Ladder Life Insurance
Ladder Life Insurance
Eligible ages
20 - 60 years old
Term
10 - 30 year terms
Coverage max
$100,000 - $8 million
Medical exam required
None needed for policies up to $3 million
Ladder offers term life insurance through an easy online process. Policies go up to $8 million but their unique differentiator is their “laddering” option, which allows you to adjust insurance amounts based on your needs.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is Bestow legit?
Yes, Bestow is legit. While Bestow is technically not an insurance company, they are an agent and an insurtech platform. To date, they have issued billions of dollars in coverage to help families with their life insurance needs.
Who is Bestow life insurance backed by?
Bestow policies purchased before 9/13/2023 are issued and backed by North American Company for Life and Health Insurance. Policies purchased after 9/13/2023 are issued by Bestow Life Insurance Company and re-insured by institutions such as the Hanover Insurance Group.
Does Bestow life insurance require a medical exam?
Instead of requiring a medical exam, Bestow leverages predictive modeling to make eligibility decisions. Throughout the application process, you will be asked about your lifestyle and health. They will consider this alongside other information such as prescription history and driving records. They also have the ability to access prior attempts at insurance, providing them with the necessary information to determine eligibility.
Does Bestow have a waiting period?
According to their website, the application process is quick and easy and in many cases, applicants receive instant responses. Some types of coverage do have a waiting period, however; guaranteed issue insurance that pays out small sums (usually less than $25,000) and doesn’t require a physical exam has a waiting period of up to two years before the policy goes into effect.
AP Buyline’s content is created independently of The Associated Press newsroom. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about our policies and terms here.