- Offers guaranteed issue whole life insurance for those 66 to 85.
- Many policies don’t require medical exams.
- Some policies come with a free will.
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 March 7, 2024
In a nutshell
Life insurance from Ethos provides term and whole life insurance to those between the ages of 20 and 85.
- Most policies from Ethos are provided by Legal & General America, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and TruStage.
- Ethos specializes in policies that don’t require a medical exam.
Ethos Life Insurance
Ethos Life Insurance
Max. No-exam Coverage
$2,000,000
Term
10, 15, 20 or 30 years
Eligible ages
20-85
Pros and cons
Pros:
Cons:
- Not available in New York state.
- Some policies have low coverage amounts.
- Whole life coverage is only available to older policyholders.
Ethos life insurance overview
Ethos offers term life insurance policies with up to $2 million coverage for those aged 20 to 65. This company also offers whole life policies to those between 66 and 85. On top of providing life insurance coverage, Ethos also provides a free will with certain policies, and you can take advantage of estate planning tools.
Ethos life insurance policy coverage options
Ethos offers two main policy options: Term for younger policyholders and guaranteed issue whole life for older policyholders.
Ethos term life insurance
- Up to $2 million in coverage.
- No medical exam.
- Available to those between 20 and 65.
- Terms of 10, 15, 20 and 30 years.
Coverage amounts are available for $20,000 to $2 million and in various term lengths. While there’s no required medical exam, certain health conditions might result in different coverage options. The application is entirely online and Ethos says it can provide an answer to approval very quickly.
Ethos guaranteed whole life insurance
- Up to $30,000 in coverage.
- No medical exam.
- Available for those aged 66 to 85.
- Builds cash value.
In addition to a term life product, Ethos also offers guaranteed issue whole life insurance. Coverage amounts are relatively small. In fact, this type of life insurance is often used for final expenses. As long as a policyholder locks in the contract by age 85, they can be covered for the rest of their life, as long as they keep paying premiums. This whole life insurance builds cash value and has a graded death benefit, meaning that beneficiaries might receive premiums back in certain circumstances.
Ethos life insurance riders
Insurance riders enhance a policy with additional benefits. In some cases, they can be added at no extra charge, but some cost money. Consult with an agent to determine whether a rider makes sense for your policy.
- Accelerated death benefit: Some whole life policies come with an accelerated death benefit rider that allows you to access some of the benefit prior to death if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness.
- Disability waiver of premium: If you meet certain conditions, your policy can remain in force, even if you can’t pay your premium.
- Long-term care rider: Provides some long-term care coverage.
- Family income rider: Offers beneficiaries ongoing income in addition to a death benefit.
Ethos life insurance rates
Life insurance rates vary based on various factors, including age, gender, coverage amount and where you live. Additionally, whether you have term life or whole life can influence your insurance rates.
Ethos offers an average rate chart based on age. Their main examples include some of the following average male and female rates based on age and smoking status:
| Age | Non-smoker | Smoker |
|---|---|---|
25 | $58 per month | $123 per month |
45 | $135 per month | $332 per month |
65 | $790 per month | $2,540 per month |
* Assumes a 10-year term policy with $1 million in coverage
Ethos life insurance customer service
In general, Ethos has good customer reviews. As of January, 2024, the company has 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, a website that collects consumer reviews. There are more than 1,100 reviews on Trustpilot, and 86% are five-star reviews.
Legal & General, which issues most Ethos policies, has an “A+ superior” financial strength rating from AM Best. It is considered stable and likely to meet its obligations.
Ethos is also accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an A+ rating. Customer reviews on the BBB give Ethos 4.61 stars out of 5, as of January, 2024. There have been 17 complaints closed in the last three years.
How Ethos life insurance compares
| Ethos | Ladder Life | Nationwide | |
|---|---|---|---|
Term lengths | Up to 30 years | Up to 30 years | Up to 30 years |
Bundled savings | No | No | Yes |
Permanent life available | Yes | No | Yes |
Coverage amounts | Up to $2 million | Up to $8 million | Up to $1.5 million |
Rate* | $11.70 per month | $14.50 per month | $16.50 per month |
* Rate based on a 25-year-old female in excellent health living in Illinois with $250,000 in coverage and a 20-year term.
Other products offered by Ethos
In addition to life insurance, Ethos also offers estate planning services and products.
- Will drafting: You can pay for a will if your policy doesn’t come with a free will and access to estate planning tools.
- Free will: Depending on your life insurance policy, you might be able to have Ethos help you create a will for free.
- Estate planning tools: Access Ethos estate planning tools for $449. Some life insurance policies include access to these planning tools for free.
Ethos Life Insurance
Ethos Life Insurance
Max. No-exam Coverage
$2,000,000
Term
10, 15, 20 or 30 years
Eligible ages
20-85
Methodology
Our analysis begins with customer feedback on the company under review from J.D. Power and studies from Life Happens and LIMRA. Next, we look at the following metrics:
- Cost relative to the company’s competitors.
- Financial strength and ability to meet obligations .
- Policy types, features and riders.
- Customer satisfaction.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is Ethos legit?
Yes, Ethos is a legitimate life insurance company that provides term and whole life products.
Who is Ethos life insurance backed by?
Ethos life insurance uses Legal & General to issue most of its policies. It also uses Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and TruStage Financial Group. Some policies are also issued by Mutual of Omaha.
Does Ethos life insurance require a medical exam?
Ethos life insurance says that none of its policies require a medical exam, although you’re required to answer health questions as part of the process.
Does Ethos have a waiting period?
In general, as soon as you make your first premium payment, you have instant life insurance coverage.
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.