AARP
Bottom line: No medical exams are required for life insurance policies through AARP, although you have to be a member to buy one.- No medical exams required.
- Fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators.
- Anyone age 50 and up can get access through AARP membership.
- Term life insurance premiums rise every five years.
Why trust NerdWallet
1,413 life insurance rates sets collected.
441 life insurers analyzed by our team of experts.
185 policies assessed.
Dive deeper: Ratings methodology for life insurance.
NerdWallet's life insurance content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in life insurance. We follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure the content on our site is accurate and fair so you can make financial decisions with confidence and choose the products that work best for you.
About AARP life insurance
AARP earned 4.5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. The AARP Life Insurance Program features policies issued by New York Life Insurance Company for AARP members. Its life insurance offerings are a solid pick for older consumers, especially those looking to avoid a medical exam.
The AARP advocates for seniors and has more than 37 million members. Anyone 18 or over can join, but life insurance availability is limited to members 50 or older, plus eligible spouses.
Pros
- No medical exams required.
- Fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators.
- Anyone age 50 and up can get access through AARP membership.
Cons
- Term life insurance premiums rise every five years.
» MORE: Compare life insurance quotes
AARP life insurance policies
AARP made our lists of the best life insurance, best term life insurance, best whole life insurance, best burial insurance and best no-medical exam life insurance in 2025.
Term life insurance. AARP members ages 50 to 74 and their spouses ages 45 to 74 can apply, and the coverage can last until the insured’s 80th birthday. Although the death benefit stays level through the term, the annual price increases each time the insured person enters a new five-year age band. A term life policy can be converted to permanent insurance at or before age 80. The rates for permanent coverage will be based on age. The AARP term life product features coverage amounts of $10,000 to $150,000 (or $100,000 in New York), although higher amounts may be available by calling New York Life. Applicants answer a few health questions and provide other health information, but do not have to take a life insurance medical exam.
Whole life insurance. AARP members ages 50 to 80 and their spouses ages 45 to 80 can apply. The annual price stays level, and coverage lasts throughout your life — though you can stop making premium payments once the policy is considered paid up (typically at age 95). Up to $50,000 of coverage is offered through the online application, although higher amounts may be available by calling New York Life. Acceptance is based on answers to a few health questions.
AARP also offers a whole life policy with living benefits. With this policy, you can access up to half your policy’s payout while you’re alive if you’re diagnosed with a qualifying illness. The maximum life insurance face amount is $100,000, though the policy isn’t available in all states.
Guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance. Age availability varies by state, but generally, AARP members ages 50 to 80 and their spouses ages 45 to 80 can apply for a policy. In New York, coverage is open to members and their spouses ages 50 to 75. Acceptance is guaranteed, and no health questions are required for approval. The policy has a waiting period, meaning only a portion of the death benefit (110% of the premiums paid in most states) is paid out if the insured dies of natural causes in the first two years of the policy. You can buy up to $30,000 of coverage, or you might be able to qualify for higher coverage amounts by calling New York Life. Guaranteed acceptance whole life is not available in all states.
AARP customer complaints and satisfaction
Over three years, New York Life — which issues AARP's policies — has drawn fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators for a company of its size, according to a NerdWallet analysis of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
What it’s like to apply for a policy with AARP
AARP has a “get a quote” button in its top navigation bar on pages across the site. When you click it, you have the option to get an online quote for a variety of life insurance policies, depending on where you live.
Screenshot captured by our editorial team on January 24, 2025.
We chose level benefit term life insurance and clicked the next “get a quote” button. We were asked to enter our name, address, birthday and email address, and to answer a few basic questions about tobacco use and AARP membership. We were promised a free instant quote as well as an information kit in the mail.
Screenshot captured by our editorial team on January 24, 2025.
How AARP’s customer experience stacks up
The AARP Life website makes it easy to get a quote and find basic information about the policies available to you, though some useful details are tucked away in the frequently asked questions section. The site lists phone numbers on key pages and in the top navigation bar (under “Service & Claims”) in case you need personalized assistance.
When we called the customer service line, we navigated through a few menus and had a live representative on the phone within two minutes. When we asked how much term life insurance we could buy, the rep told us it was up to us, and that there were many options. This response aligns with the statement on the company’s website saying that coverage amounts above $150,000 are available by phone.
We also asked about the requirements to activate an accelerated death benefit rider, but we didn’t get an exact answer. Instead, the rep told us that there are riders on all policies, and that once we had a contract, we could call to add the rider we needed.
AARP Life doesn’t offer a mobile app that customers can use to manage their policies. Nor does it have a live chat.
More about AARP
AARP partners with third parties to offer many other types of insurance. Check out these NerdWallet reviews to learn more:
Other third-party insurance offerings include:
Boat and personal watercraft insurance.
ATV, golf cart and snowmobile insurance.
Collectible car insurance.
Dental insurance.
Mobile home insurance.
Motorcycle insurance.
Pet insurance.
RV insurance.
Vision insurance.
How to contact AARP
AARP can be reached by:
Phone: For general customer support, call 800-850-2658 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET.
Email: No public email address.
Live chat: Not available.
- How we review life insurance companies
In our life insurance reviews, our editorial team considers the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:
Policies offered. There are many types of life insurance on the market, and they fall into three key categories:
Term life insurance offers temporary coverage and a guaranteed payout if the policyholder dies during the term.
Permanent life insurance typically lasts a lifetime and builds cash value that can be borrowed against in the future.
No-exam life insurance issues coverage without the need for a medical exam.
Financial strength. We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. For life insurance, NerdWallet typically recommends considering insurers with ratings of A- or higher. Here’s the breakdown:
Exceptional: A+, A++.
Strong: A-, A.
Moderate: B, B+.
Complaints. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best life insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.
Buy online. This indicates whether an insurer allows you to apply for and buy a policy completely online.
Dive deeper: Ratings methodology for life insurance
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.
Life insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s life insurance ratings are based on consumer experience, complaint index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for individual life insurance, and weighted averages of financial strength ratings, which indicate a company’s ability to pay future claims. Within the consumer experience category, we consider ease of communication and website transparency, which looks at the depth of policy details available online. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2021-2023. To assess how insurers compare with one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
