Last Updated: October 2020
Turning 41 isn’t a landmark age for most people. However, it is still a very common age for people to get life insurance.
Below, we’ll show why you might need life insurance at age 41. Then, we will show you sample rates, the top three life insurance companies at age 41, and the best types of policies.
- Why Do 41-Year-Olds Need Life Insurance?
- Term Life Insurance Rates for a 41-Year-Old
- Whole Life Insurance Rates for a 41-Year-Old
- The 3 Best Life Insurance Companies For 41-Year-Olds
- The Best Type of Policy for a 41-Year-Old
- Tips to Save on Life Insurance at Age 41
Life Insurance is Boring. Let’s Get To The Root Of It! Here are the key takeaways…
Age 41 is a popular age to purchase life insurance. It can help protect children, spouses, or anyone who might need financial support if you passed away. There are many affordable policy options available at 41. Decide what type of policy you need, then compare life insurance companies to find the best rates.
Why Do 41-Year-Olds Need Life Insurance?
The number one reason to get life insurance is for your spouse or children.
While you continue to live and work, you can support them. But if you passed away, what would happen?
Life insurance in your 40’s is something you buy as a gift because you want to always be able to provide for someone you love.
Here are several reasons we see people buying life insurance at 41.
- Term insurance can cover your working years and beyond to pay for a child’s expenses or the mortgage on your house.
- Permanent life insurance can ensure that there is money to pay for your funeral and final expenses.
You may not need life insurance at age 41. If you have no financial dependents and no one will have to shoulder your debts when you pass away, it’s probably not for you.
But if you do have financial dependents, life insurance can help.
Term Life Insurance Rates for a 41-Year-Old
The younger you are, the cheaper your life insurance rates are going to be, though some may not need life insurance at younger ages. By 41, you may very well have several family members dependent upon you, so now may be the time to make sure you are covered.
The rates you pay depend on a number of factors.
- Are you a man or a woman? Women typically have lower rates.
- Do you smoke or not?
- How is your overall health?
There are several other factors life insurance underwriters consider too. Variables like your DMV records, family history of health problems, hazardous hobbies, and sometimes even your occupation.
There are a handful of standard health classes you could fall into. If you have any sort of medical history, you should talk with your agent first before guessing your own health class. Most people end up as either “preferred” or “regular.” Some companies label “regular” as “standard.”
The important thing to keep in mind is that each company has their own algorithm for assigning a health class. Every algorithm is different. So one company may assign you preferred, another one might consider you preferred plus. That difference can save you over 20% in your premiums.
Rates for 41-Year-Old Males
Term Life Insurance for a 41-year-old male, non-smoker, preferred might look like the monthly rates below.
| Policy Type | $50,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Term | $11 | $11 | $17 | $28 | $47 |
| 20-Year Term | $13 | $16 | $27 | $46 | $53 |
| 30-Year Term | $21 | $22 | $43 | $76 | $144 |
Term life insurance for the same man, but at regular rates might look like the following.
| Policy Type | $50,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Term | $12 | $14 | $25 | $43 | $77 |
| 20-Year Term | $15 | $21 | $40 | $73 | $135 |
| 30-Year Term | $22 | $34 | $68 | $128 | $234 |
Rates For 41-Year-Old Females
A 41-year-old woman in preferred health, who doesn’t smoke, may pay the following premiums each month.
| Policy Type | $50,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Term | $11 | $10* | $16 | $25 | $40 |
| 20-Year Term | $11 | $13 | $22 | $37 | $68 |
| 30-Year Term | $18 | $20 | $34 | $60 | $110 |
*In this case, $100,000 costs less than $50,000. This is called a breakpoint.
A woman with the same characteristics as the table above, who falls into the regular health class might pay the following rates each month.
| Policy Type | $50,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Term | $11 | $14 | $22 | $37 | $67 |
| 20-Year Term | $13 | $18 | $31 | $56 | $100 |
| 30-Year Term | $19 | $27 | $51 | $93 | $174 |
Your rates may differ. The type of plan you choose and your health will affect the rates. For example, a no-exam policy might cost a couple of extra dollars more per month.
Whole Life Insurance Rates for a 41-Year-Old
Whole life insurance combines the advantages of permanent insurance with simplicity. Rates for whole life insurance are more than term, simply because you are virtually guaranteed to have the claim paid out at some point.
Below are sample rates for different health classes.
Rates for Preferred Health 41-Year-Olds
The following table shows sample monthly whole life rates for a 41-year-old who doesn’t smoke and is in above average (preferred) health.
| $50,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | $81 | $151 | $368 | $722 | $1,437 |
| Women | $76 | $131 | $318 | $634 | $1,241 |
Rates for Average Health 41-Year-Olds
For someone in average (regular) health who doesn’t smoke, monthly rates will look more like the chart below.
| $50,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | $81 | $153 | $373 | $732 | $1,458 |
| Women | $76 | $139 | $337 | $660 | $1,314 |
Best Life Insurance Companies for 41-Year-Olds
We chose our top three favorites based on their financial strength, customer service, and affordability. These are great companies for many families. Just remember that your needs might be different.
Be cautious about picking a company first and then choosing a policy from them later. It can be difficult to know ahead of time what health class that company will assign you.
| Company | J.D. Power Rating | Customer Satisfaction |
|---|---|---|
| Sagicor | A- | 4.1 / 5 |
| Protective Life | A+ | 4.2 / 5 |
| AIG | A | 4.2 / 5 |
Sagicor Life Insurance
Sagicor is one of our all-time favorites for people looking for lower benefit amounts. They offer extremely competitive rates for benefits under $250,000.
With an AM Best rating of an A- for excellent financial strength, they demonstrate responsibility and take good care of their policyholders.
We also recommend them for people who fit in the regular or regular-plus rating categories.
Learn more by reading our Sagicor Life Insurance Review.
Protective Life Insurance
Protective starts to get competitive where Sagicor drops off above $250,000 benefits. They are willing to take on higher benefit policies for less each month than most of their competitors.
With an A+ from AM Best, financial experts expect them to be around offering reasonable prices for many decades to come.
Learn more by reading our Protective Life Insurance Review!
AIG Life Insurance
AIG comes in with an A from AM Best with a stable outlook. They have some of the most competitive rates across the board.
No matter what health class or benefit amount you are looking for, AIG is almost always one of the most affordable companies.
Learn more by reading our AIG Life Insurance Review!
The Best Type of Policy for a 41-Year-Old
Once you know why you’re buying life insurance, you can decide which type of policy you need.
- Is it to cover a child until they have finished their education?
- Is it to make sure you provide for your spouse into their retirement?
- Is it so you can give your children something when you pass on?
Your answers to these questions will determine what type of life insurance policy is best for you. The best policy for your family will probably not be the same thing your neighbor has.
About Permanent Life Insurance Policies
Permanent life insurance policies are useful for estate planning. They provide near-immediate cash to cover the funeral, final medical expenses, pay off debts, and provide a spouse or heirs.
Permanent life insurance policies last for life. Although they usually mature at age 121, that is not an issue for most people. There are two types of life insurance policies nested under the umbrella of a permanent policy, whole life and universal life.
Whole Life Insurance
Whole life insurance is the classic life insurance policy. The best part of whole life is that it is simple. Because of that simplicity, it is one of the most inexpensive types of permanent life insurance you can get.
Whole life insurance has a part called a cash value accumulation. This builds up as you pay your premiums on the policy. This is the value of the policy. You can borrow against your life insurance policy for any reason at any time.
We have seen people only use it in emergencies, like a leaking roof or medical emergencies. Other clients take out a loan to run their yearly Caribbean cruise because it is easier for them to repay an obligation than to save up.
Whole life insurance stays with you for life. You will see the fine print in the policy saying that it actually only lasts until age 121. While we hope that medical science will extend the average lifespan beyond 121, we aren’t there yet.
Universal Life Insurance
Universal life policies get into all sorts of customizable scenarios, each beneficial for a different estate planning goal. It also has a cash value accumulation portion in addition to the ability to adjust your benefits and premium payments on the go.
The policies tend to cost a little more than a term policy or a burial insurance policy.
About Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance is one of the lowest-cost options. It’s also the most popular type of life insurance.
Term policies last for a set number of years. Some terms go as low as a year to cover specific scenarios. However, 20 and 30-year terms are more common. These terms can cover children to adulthood or most mortgages.
This type of policy works best for time-restrictive reasons. It is also the most affordable type of life insurance policy, rendering it one of the most popular.
What Is The Longest Term Policy You Can Get as a 41 Year Old?
A 30-year term is the longest you can get through traditional life insurance. Some companies offer highly customizable plans for an extra premium. However, if you need life insurance for more than three decades, considering permanent life insurance may be more worthwhile for you.
Talk to your insurance agent about why you want a longer term policy. They will be able to point you toward the best insurance policy for your circumstances.
Burial Life Insurance
A burial insurance policy is a blend between the affordability of term and the staying power of permanent life insurance. You also sometimes see it called funeral insurance.
It offers a lower benefit amount (relative to normal term and permanent policies) for a much lower price. The singular goal of burial insurance is to ensure that nobody needs to figure out how to pay for your funeral on top of their grief.
It lasts for your entire life. You can choose between $5,000 and $15,000 in benefit.
The average funeral service and burial in the United States costs just under $8,000. Many families round that number up to $10,000 to have a little extra in case there are unexpected medical expenses to pay off.
Tips to Save on Life Insurance at Age 41
- Shop around with multiple companies.
- Use an independent agent.
- Be healthy!
Don’t call the company from the first late-night TV commercial you see. Like any big-ticket item, doing your research first is important. Find what type of policy you need, then look at quotes from the top carriers who sell that policy.
Using an independent agent can alleviate some of the legwork. Independent agents work with a variety of life insurance companies to find the best one for each client. Each life insurance company assigns health classes differently.
A DUI 10 years ago might cost you with one company. Whereas another company might look at the time elapsed and realize it is a non-issue. The same thing goes for health conditions and family history.
Next, if you are close to your birthday talk with your agent about finding a company that uses your actual age instead of “age nearest.” Some companies will count you as 42 if you are within 6 months of your 42nd birthday.
Last, being healthy will help you save on life insurance. If the underwriters see that you visit the doctor regularly, aren’t obese, and stay fit, they will give you better rates.
Finding the Best Life Insurance Rates
Putting off life insurance, even for a year (age 42), can increase your rates between 7% and 9%. If this is something your family needs, procrastinating only takes more money out of your wallet.
We highly recommend speaking with an independent life insurance agent who can help discuss with you the specific life insurance policies and companies that may best fit you and your family’s needs.
Give one of our agents a call today, or get started online with our life insurance quote engine to see rates for 41-year-olds from the top companies in the US!
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