Lantern
Not yet rated
Bottom line: Lantern is a straightforward option for fast life insurance, but its policy options are limited.- Quick coverage without a life insurance medical exam.
- Wide range of term lengths.
- Can’t add riders to your coverage.
- Not available in Maine and New York.
- Why doesn’t this company have a NerdWallet star rating?
We make every effort to rate each company we review. However, we’re sometimes unable to provide a NerdWallet star rating for insurers for which we lack sufficient financial strength or consumer complaint data.
Formerly known as Bestow, Lantern sells term life insurance online. To apply, you’ll answer a series of questions about your health and lifestyle, with no need for a life insurance medical exam. Then, the company pulls data and uses algorithms to determine whether you qualify for coverage.
Lantern is based in Dallas and sells policies in all states except Maine and New York. The company was founded as Bestow in 2011, and rebranded to Lantern in early 2025.
Pros
- Quick coverage without a life insurance medical exam.
- Wide range of term lengths.
Cons
- Can’t add riders to your coverage.
- Policies not available in Maine or New York.
» MORE: Compare life insurance quotes
Lantern life insurance policies
Term life insurance. Lantern offers term life insurance to people 18 to 60 years old. You can choose a policy lasting 10, 20, 25 or 30 years, with coverage ranging from $100,000 to $1.5 million.
The company specializes in instant life insurance, which means eligible applicants can get covered right away without having to take a medical exam. But you can’t customize your policy with life insurance riders.
Lantern life insurance rates
Below are monthly rates for a 20-year, $500,000 term life insurance policy from Lantern. These are sample rates for a nonsmoking man and woman in excellent health — the final quote you’re offered will depend on factors like your age, health, lifestyle, occupation and driving record.
Age | Monthly rate - man | Monthly rate - woman |
|---|---|---|
20 | $35.42 | $18.59 |
30 | $37.53 | $21.02 |
40 | $58.60 | $41.91 |
50 | $135.50 | $96.82 |
Source: Insurer's site. Rates reflect the super preferred class and are valid as of 2/28/25. | ||
More about Lantern
Lantern’s site is clean and easy to navigate. You can get an initial quote by entering your birth date, height, weight, self-identifying gender, ZIP code and nicotine use. If you want to buy a policy, you can then choose your coverage amount and term lengths and finish filling out the application.
The company doesn't have an app at this time.
If you're a beneficiary, you can file a life insurance claim online at any time or over the phone during business hours.
» MORE: Best life insurance companies
How to contact Lantern
Lantern can be reached by:
Phone: Call 800-835-8803 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT.
Email: Send a message to team@lanterninsurance.com.
Live chat: Not available.
Life insurance buying guide
Before you start comparing companies, choose the type of life insurance you want, such as term or whole life. Decide which life insurance riders, if any, you want the policy to include. Calculate how much life insurance you need and how long you want the coverage to last. Check that the insurers you’re considering offer the coverage you’re looking for.
When comparing rates, be sure the quotes are for the same amount of coverage over the same period of time. It’s also important to make sure the policy’s medical requirements match your needs. For example, if you want to skip the life insurance medical exam but don’t mind answering health questions, confirm that the application process for each policy you're comparing aligns with that.
Price may not be the biggest driver behind your decision to buy. Look at the number of consumer complaints each company receives, as high numbers can be a red flag about the quality of service.
For more guidance, see our life insurance buying guide.
