Best Life Insurance Rates
Jason Stolz CLTC, CRPC
Finding the best life insurance rates is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make. For many families, life insurance is the backbone of a long-term protection strategy—the tool that ensures your loved ones can maintain their lifestyle, stay in their home, pursue education, and avoid financial hardship when life takes an unexpected turn. At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we help individuals and families compare top-rated insurance companies, understand the differences in policy options, and secure the most competitive rates available based on age, health, and long-term goals.
Life insurance pricing varies dramatically from one carrier to another, even for the exact same person. Insurers evaluate risk differently, which means the “best” rate for you depends on which company is most favorable to your particular health profile, lifestyle, and coverage needs. This is why shopping around—or allowing a licensed broker to shop for you—is essential. Companies can differ by 30–60% on pricing for the same coverage, and those differences add up over time, especially on larger policies or longer terms.
Whether you’re looking for term life insurance, permanent coverage, final expense policies, or high-risk life insurance solutions, understanding how rates work allows you to make confident decisions. Below, we break down what influences life insurance pricing, which companies are typically the most competitive, how to get the lowest possible rate, and how the life insurance calculator on this page can help you quickly compare options from over 30 carriers.
How Life Insurance Rates Work
Life insurance rates are based on risk. The lower the perceived risk to the insurance company, the lower your premium will be. While this sounds simple, each company calculates risk differently—which is exactly why rates can vary so widely. Some insurers specialize in low-risk cases, offering ultra-competitive pricing for individuals with excellent health and lifestyle. Others excel in high-risk categories, offering better pricing for applicants with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, or previous cardiac history.
When underwriting a policy, insurers generally consider the following factors:
- Age: Younger applicants pay significantly less because they present lower statistical risk.
- Gender: Women often receive lower rates due to longer life expectancy.
- Health history: Conditions like diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, cancer history, or elevated liver enzymes can affect pricing.
- Lifestyle/Occupation: Hazardous jobs or hobbies may increase rates.
- Driving record: DUIs or reckless driving charges can result in higher premiums.
- Tobacco and nicotine use: Smokers pay substantially more, and even vaping or occasional cigar use may affect rates depending on the carrier.
- Policy type & amount: Term life insurance offers the most affordable coverage, while permanent policies cost more due to lifetime coverage and cash value.
Understanding your personal risk profile is the first step toward securing the best rate. The second step is matching that profile with the carrier most favorable to your individual situation.
Which Companies Offer the Best Life Insurance Rates?
There is no single company that always provides the best rate. Instead, each insurer has underwriting niches where they excel. One might be the best for healthy applicants, while another may give the best rates to individuals with diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of cholesterol issues.
At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we compare rates across dozens of carriers, including those that specialize in:
- Preferred and Preferred Plus profiles for applicants in exceptional health.
- Mild to moderate health conditions such as prediabetes or elevated BMI.
- High-risk life insurance for individuals with previous strokes, blood clots, heart disease, liver issues, or complex medical history.
- No-exam life insurance where speed and convenience matter more than price.
Internal data from our quoting platform shows that the least expensive insurer can change daily depending on age, gender, coverage amount, health profile, and underwriting guidelines—which is exactly why the life insurance calculator below is essential for finding your best rate today.
Use Our Life Insurance Calculator to Compare Rates Instantly
Our calculator allows you to see real-time pricing from top-rated carriers across multiple coverage amounts and policy lengths. Whether you’re shopping for 10-year term, 20-year term, 30-year term, or permanent life insurance, you can compare rates instantly and identify the company offering the best price for your situation.
After running your quote, you can select any carrier, adjust your coverage, refine your health class, or request an application. If you prefer a personalized review from one of our advisors, you can also request a one-on-one comparison.
How to Get the Lowest Life Insurance Rates
While you cannot control every underwriting factor, there are several steps you can take to secure the most favorable pricing. Understanding these strategies can often save applicants hundreds—or even thousands—over the life of the policy.
1. Shop Across Multiple Carriers
No single company dominates pricing across all ages and health categories. Diversified Insurance Brokers helps you compare multiple insurers so you never pay more than necessary.
2. Apply Sooner Rather Than Later
Life insurance pricing increases with age. Delaying even six to twelve months can result in higher monthly premiums, even if your health remains stable.
3. Understand Your Health Class
Your health classification—Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard, or substandard—greatly affects pricing. We evaluate which carrier views your health profile most favorably.
4. Improve Controllable Health Factors
For applicants with borderline cholesterol, blood pressure, or A1C, even small improvements can lead to significantly better pricing.
5. Consider Multiple Term Lengths
Choosing between a 10-, 20-, or 30-year term affects rates. Shorter terms cost less, while longer terms provide extended protection. The calculator above makes comparison easy.
6. Work With a Broker Who Knows the Underwriting Guidelines
Some carriers are incredibly strict about certain conditions, while others are lenient. We place thousands of cases with companies that understand real-world health conditions and provide fair, competitive pricing.
How Much Life Insurance Should You Buy?
Finding the right amount of coverage is just as important as finding the best rate. Many financial professionals recommend purchasing enough coverage to replace 10–15 years of income. Others base coverage on a needs analysis including mortgage balance, debts, children’s education, and future income replacement.
Our team helps you calculate:
- Income replacement needs
- Debt payoff needs
- College funding goals
- Long-term financial obligations
- Estate planning requirements
We can also compare the cost differences between various coverage amounts—for example, $500,000 vs $750,000 vs $1 million—to help you see where pricing becomes most efficient.
Common Mistakes That Lead to Higher Life Insurance Rates
Many applicants unknowingly overpay for coverage due to avoidable mistakes. Here are some of the most common issues:
- Applying with the wrong company for your health profile.
- Waiting too long and aging into a higher rate bracket.
- Requesting too short of a term and needing to re-apply later at older ages.
- Choosing no-exam coverage when a fully underwritten policy would cost less.
- Not disclosing medications correctly, which can inadvertently change your health class.
Our advisors help you navigate this process proactively so you secure the most competitive pricing from the start.
Ready to Compare the Best Life Insurance Rates?
You can use the calculator above to explore rates instantly, or connect with a licensed advisor who will walk you through a full comparison across multiple carriers.
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We compare top-rated companies side-by-side to help you find the best rate available.
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FAQs: Best Life Insurance Rates
How can I get the lowest life insurance rate?
Shop multiple carriers, apply while you’re younger, and choose the company most favorable to your health profile. Using our calculator helps you compare instantly.
Does health impact life insurance rates?
Yes. Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated BMI, or sleep apnea can change your health class and affect pricing. Each company views these conditions differently.
Are term life insurance rates cheaper than whole life?
Yes. Term insurance is significantly less expensive because it provides coverage for a set number of years rather than lifetime protection.
Can I get life insurance without a medical exam?
Yes. Many carriers offer no-exam policies, but fully underwritten coverage is usually cheaper for healthy applicants.
How often do life insurance rates change?
Rates can adjust annually based on updated actuarial data, underwriting guidelines, and competitive positioning among carriers.
About the Author:
Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC, is a senior insurance and retirement professional with more than two decades of real-world experience helping individuals, families, and business owners protect their income, assets, and long-term financial stability. As a long-time partner of the nationally licensed independent agency Diversified Insurance Brokers, Jason provides trusted guidance across multiple specialties—including fixed and indexed annuities, long-term care planning, personal and business disability insurance, life insurance solutions, and short-term health coverage. Diversified Insurance Brokers maintains active contracts with over 100 highly rated insurance carriers, ensuring clients have access to a broad and competitive marketplace.
His practical, education-first approach has earned recognition in publications such as VoyageATL, highlighting his commitment to financial clarity and client-focused planning. Drawing on deep product knowledge and years of hands-on field experience, Jason helps clients evaluate carriers, compare strategies, and build retirement and protection plans that are both secure and cost-efficient.
