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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
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.
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.
- Follow-up questions: Underwriters may have follow-up questions on your application. If that’s the case, we’ll email you letting you know. It’s typically as simple as a quick online questionnaire you can finish in a few minutes.
- Medical records: Sometimes, we may request access to view a few of your medical records if we need a clearer picture of your health.
- Medical exams: Thanks to our proprietary technology and predictive modeling, most people do not need a medical exam. However, there are a few cases when underwriters need to see a current snapshot of your health, and then one would be required. If you do need a medical exam, it is quick, convenient, and free, and we’ll work with you to take care of it.
Want to know more about underwriting? Learn more.
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.
As a third-party administrator or agent, Ethos works with some of the industry’s top life insurance carriers to sell simple, affordable policies. Ethos has streamlined the application process with predictive modeling and proprietary technology to make it easier for customers, and we leave the actual insuring to the industry giants that have paid out billions of dollars in claims.
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 term 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.