TIAA Life Insurance Review 2025
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TIAA sold life insurance for more than a century before wrapping up that part of its business at the end of 2019.
Headquartered in New York, the company continues to service its active policies, which include term, universal and variable universal life insurance. Policyholders can continue to manage their policies and related investments, and beneficiaries can still file a life insurance claim.
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Other financial products from TIAA
TIAA offers a range of investment, retirement and banking products, including:
CDs.
Fixed and variable annuities.
High-yield checking accounts.
Mutual funds.
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More about TIAA
Founded in 1918 by Andrew Carnegie, the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, or TIAA, originally sold retirement plans and low-cost life insurance to professors. In 1952, the company launched the College Retirement Equities Fund, or CREF, which offered variable annuities as a way to help investors combat inflation. The combined organization was known as TIAA-CREF until the company eventually shortened its name to TIAA.
How to contact TIAA
TIAA can be reached by:
Phone: If you have a TIAA policy, call 877-694-0305 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Otherwise, call 877-825-0411 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Email: No customer service email available.
Live chat: Not available.
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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.
