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We start with your age—if you're between the ages of 65 and 85, you qualify for our guaranteed issue whole life policy and are automatically approved. If you don’t qualify for this product, we will ask you a few health related questions to get you coverage as quickly as possible.
Applicants aged 20-65 are eligible for one of our term policies. From there, we take the information you give us on the application and use our proprietary technology and smart underwriting to provide you with a range of coverage options.
All U.S. citizens ages 20-85 are welcome to apply. Ethos is licensed and operates in every U.S. state and the District of Columbia, excluding the state of New York.
For your application to go quickly and smoothly, it’s a good idea to have the following information handy:
- Driver license information
- Social Security number (to verify your identity)
- Personal and family medical history
- Current prescription information
In order to provide you with instant coverage, we ask for your drivers license information and social security number to verify your identity in real time. Having your medical history and prescription information helps us gain a clear picture of your health, without requiring you to take a medical exam.
Absolutely not. You may withdraw from the process at any time, with no penalty to you. Signing and submitting your application just confirms the information you’ve provided is true.
Applicants who are eligible for our guaranteed issue whole life policy (anyone ages 65-85) will be approved after answering a few simple questions—no health details required!
For our term policies, you'll be asked more questions, but can still complete the application in a matter of minutes. In general, you can expect questions around the following areas:
- Your health
- Your legal and driving history
- Your insurance history
- Your employment/income
- Your lifestyle and hobbies
- Your use of drugs and/or alcohol
Assuming there are no unusual circumstances, your beneficiary will receive an untaxed, lump-sum payment for the value of the policy (the death benefit). For example, if you purchase $250,000 in coverage, your beneficiary will receive a tax-free $250,000 lump-sum payout. In some cases, the payout may be more or less due to policy loans, or the inclusion of a graded death benefit (if you have a whole life policy with a graded benefit). See your policy documents for more details.
A claim may not be paid for several reasons, including fraud, misstatements, or material misrepresentations of the information provided in your application, which is why it’s important you are completely honest in your application. A claim can also be denied if the death of the insured is the result of suicide, in the first two years of the policy being in force. Please refer to the policy or ask us for more information regarding any specific details which can vary by state.
Life insurance does cover deaths related to COVID-19, and life insurance rates are not impacted by the pandemic. We’re not treating this any differently than we would any other illness or travel advisory. You can still apply for life insurance online with Ethos. If your application is approved, you’ll be considered covered as soon as your first premium payment is made. Learn more.
Typically, your initial quote is an estimate based on a few pieces of information and may change. This is because the application takes much more information into account when determining your actual rate. You’ll get your real rate after you apply and your application is approved. (And with Ethos, the application is free.) With the simplified issue term life and guaranteed whole life insurance policies your quote is the same as your final rate.
Depending on the product and your state of residency, Ethos may not be able to offer you coverage if you intend to replace existing coverage.
With any policy insured by Legal & General, America, you can apply to replace your current coverage with Ethos. If you decide to replace any existing coverage, be careful not to terminate your existing coverage until your new application has been approved, to avoid any gaps in coverage. With any policy insured by AAA Life, anyone applying for replacement coverage is considered ineligible.
Your policy can help your loved ones in their greatest time of need. It can help cover some of life’s biggest expenses, like a home mortgage, debt, your children’s college tuition, and it can also replace lost income. Your policy can also help cover everyday expenses—anything your beneficiaries need, really. Ultimately, it’s up to them to decide how to use the payout.
Ethos is designed to put people first. Ethos has an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot with 4.5 stars from customer reviews. Ethos also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting marketplace trust.
Ethos works with top life insurance carriers to ensure this. As a third-party administrator and agent, every policy we offer is backed by established industry leaders with superior financial strength ratings.
Explore common questions or search for topics on our FAQ page.