Review
Updated
This life insurer is a good fit for: People aged 18 to 60 who are looking for an affordable life insurance policy with a quick, easy application process.
Best for no medical exam life insuranceBestow
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
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Full Bestow review
Pros
- Easy online application process
- Affordable premiums
- High coverage limits with no medical exam
Cons
- Eligibility for coverage is limited
- No opportunities to bundle coverage
- No local agents for in-person support
Bestow life insurance at a glance
- Average costs: Healthy 35-year-old female non-smoker $33.50 per month; Healthy 35-year-old male non-smoker $41.83 per month
- Term life policy limits: $50,000 to $1.5 million
- Whole life policy limits: None
- Riders/Add-ons: None
- Eligibility: Ages 18 to 60
- Discounts available: None
- Other insurances offered: None
Top perks
Easy online application
Bestow makes applying for life insurance incredibly simple. Consumers can get a quick quote within minutes by answering a few simple questions about their gender, age, weight, height, and whether they are a smoker.
Those who decide to move forward can also complete the entire application process 100% online by providing basic identifying information, answering a few questions about hobbies, and specifying who beneficiaries will be and how the policy will be paid for.
Within just a few minutes, it's possible to get coverage without ever leaving home or even talking to a live person. Most other insurers require much more time and effort to get covered.
Competitive premiums
Bestow's monthly premiums are in line with competitors offering similar coverage. For smokers, the cost is actually a little bit below what some other big-name insurers charge.
High coverage limits with no medical exam
Most insurers require a medical exam for a standard term life policy. Bestow does not. Bestow uses a different process that includes checking public records datasets and using predictive models. It is possible to get up to $1.5 million in coverage without a medical exam, which is far higher than most no-medical-exam insurers offer.
What could be improved
Broader eligibility
Bestow is available only to people between the ages of 18 and 60 years old. The insurer could offer more policy options for older Americans looking to get covered.
More coverage options
Bestow only offers term life coverage, not whole life policies. Term life is the right choice for most people, but not for everyone. Bestow also does not offer coverage riders, which are add-ons that enable policyholders to customize coverage.
Pricing
Bestow's premiums are in line with competitors for term life insurance policies. Bestow's prices for smokers are actually a bit lower than some other big name insurers.
| COST | POLICYHOLDER |
|---|---|
| $33.50 | 35-year-old female in excellent health who is not a smoker purchasing $500,000 in coverage for a 30-year term |
| $41.83 | 35-year-old male in excellent health who is not a smoker purchasing $500,000 in coverage for a 30-year term |
| $106.83 | 35-year-old female in excellent health who smokes purchasing $500,000 in coverage for a 30-year term |
| $159.75 | 35-year-old male in excellent health who smokes purchasing $500,000 in coverage for a 30-year term |
Data source: Bestow
Alternatives to consider
If you want a life insurer who offers whole life insurance: Northwestern Mutual offers whole life insurance coverage, which Bestow does not. But keep in mind, Northwestern Mutual does require medical exams for most policies.
If you want a life insurer who offers a large in-person agent network: State Farm has over 19,000 agents nationwide who can offer in-person or phone assistance when buying life insurance. But keep in mind, State Farm doesn't offer online customer support so it isn't the right choice for those who prefer a primarily digital experience.
Policy options
Term life insurance
Bestow offers only one type of life insurance policy: Term life insurance. This is a policy that is in effect for a set period of time. If a policyholder dies during the coverage term, the death benefit pays out. If the policy holder does not die while coverage is in effect, the insurer doesn't pay out. Bestow offers a choice of coverage terms between 10 and 30 years.
Riders/add-ons
Unlike many competitors, Bestow does not offer riders or add-ons to customize coverage. Policyholders can only get a term life insurance policy.
Application process
Bestow makes applying for term life insurance incredibly simple. The entire process is done online and takes only minutes. The fast, easy application process is one of the biggest things that sets Bestow apart from other insurers. Bestow also does not require a medical exam, but many insurers do for standard term life policies.
Who is eligible for Bestow life insurance?
Healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 are eligible to get covered through Bestow life insurance.
Customer service and ratings
Bestow received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Policies purchased from Bestow are issued by North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, which has an A+ rating from A.M. Best Superior, as well as from S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings.
This life insurer is a good choice for:
Bestow is best suited for people who:
- Are between the ages of 18 and 60
- Are in good health and have never had a felony conviction
- Are looking for a simple term life policy
But you may want to consider Northwestern Mutual if you are interested in whole life insurance or State Farm if you prefer to work with an in-person agent to get covered.
Our Insurance Expert
Christy Bieber is a full-time personal finance and legal writer with more than a decade of experience. She has a JD from UCLA as well as a degree in English, Media and Communications with a Certificate in Business Management from the University of Rochester. In addition to writing for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, her work has also been featured regularly on MSN Money, CNBC, and USA Today. She also ghost writes textbooks, serves as a subject matter expert for online course design, and is a former college instructor.
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