Colonial Penn Life Insurance Review 2024 (2024)

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Our Expert Take

Our Expert Take

If you have health conditions that will make a standard life insurance policy unaffordable or unattainable, a Colonial Penn policy might be worth considering. It sells guaranteed issue life insurance, which means you can’t be turned down. Colonial Penn’s target market is people ages 50 and over.

Otherwise, you can probably find life insurance elsewhere with a much higher death benefit and lower premiums.

Pros

  • Offers whole life insurance with no medical exam to people ages 50 to 85.
  • You can’t be turned down, even if you have medical conditions.

Cons

  • Extremely high level of complaints about its life insurance.
  • Low maximum coverage amounts of only up to $50,000.
  • Beneficiaries won’t receive full death benefits if you pass away within two years after buying the policy and the death is non-accidental.
  • Does not offer term life insurance.

Colonial Penn Life Insurance Review 2024 (1)

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Type of company

Stock

AM Best rating

A (Excellent)

Table of Contents

  • Colonial Penn Doesn’t Sell Term Life Insurance
  • Types of Colonial Penn Life Insurance Policies
  • Colonial Penn’s Life Insurance Riders
  • How Do I Buy Life Insurance From Colonial Penn?
  • How to File a Claim with Colonial Penn
  • Colonial Penn Life Insurance Customer Experience
  • Colonial Penn Company History
  • Colonial Penn Life Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Show more

Colonial Penn Doesn’t Sell Term Life Insurance

Colonial Penn stopped selling term life insurance in 2021. Before that, its term life policies were available only in New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Types of Colonial Penn Life Insurance Policies

Colonial Penn Guaranteed Acceptance Whole Life Insurance

Colonial Penn’s guaranteed acceptance life insurance is a type of whole life insurance. You buy a number of coverage units from one to 15. The per-unit price is a fixed amount, and pricing starts at $9.95 per unit. Several units can be purchased to build a bigger death benefit.

Colonial Penn policies are available to people ages 50 to 85 in most states, except Minnesota, New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the age ranges vary.

The policy builds cash value after the first year of coverage and then you can borrow against that cash value.

Colonial Penn’s guaranteed acceptance life insurance requires no medical exams and no health questionnaires. Someone can buy this coverage regardless of any pre-existing health conditions.

The policy has a two-year graded death benefit from non-accidental causes. If the insured person dies before the two-year period ends, the beneficiaries will receive the premiums paid plus 7% compounded annual interest.

For death from an accidental cause during the first two years, the full face amount of the policy will be paid. The accident must occur while coverage is in force, and the death must occur within 90 days of the accident (or 180 days in Oregon and Utah).

If the insured dies after the first two years, the full face amount will be paid for death, regardless of cause.

Colonial Penn’s Life Insurance Riders

A life insurance rider lets you buy extra coverage or features to add to your policy. Colonial Penn offers:

  • Accidental Death Rider. This rider from Colonial Penn allows someone 40 to 65 years old to add an accidental death benefit ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.
  • Chronic Illness and Terminal Illness Rider. This rider enables you to tap into your whole life insurance death benefit if you have a heart attack, stroke or are diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness.

How Do I Buy Life Insurance From Colonial Penn?

Colonial Penn policies are available online or by calling the company’s toll-free phone number (877) 877-8052. Colonial Penn policies are sold by captive agents. When you speak with someone from Colonial Penn they will only offer you products from Colonial Penn.

How to File a Claim with Colonial Penn

You can file a Colonial Penn life insurance claim by filling out a claim form on the company website and then mailing it to the company at the following address. You can call customer service for more information at (800) 523-9100.

Colonial Penn Life Insurance Co.
Life Claims Dept
PO Box 1918
Carmel, IN 46082-1918

Colonial Penn Life Insurance Customer Experience

Colonial Penn’s complaint level for individual life insurance is extremely high, at more than seven times the industry average. For this reason alone we caution against buying a Colonial Life policy.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners collects complaint data from state insurance departments around the country. According to its data, most complaints against Colonial Penn are about delays in paying claims and poor policyholder service.

Colonial Penn Company History

Established in 1963 by AARP co-founder Leonard Davis, Colonial Penn is now a subsidiary of Carmel, Indiana-based CNO Financial Group Inc. Two other CNO companies also sell life insurance: Bankers Life and Washington National. Colonial Penn is headquartered in Philadelphia.

In 1968, Colonial Penn became one of the first insurers to offer guaranteed acceptance life insurance solely for people ages 50 and over.

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Colonial Penn Life Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I cash out my Colonial Penn life insurance policy?

If you have a Colonial Penn permanent life insurance policy with cash value, you may be able to access the cash value or surrender the policy and receive any remaining cash value.

Is Colonial Penn life insurance worth it?

Colonial Penn sells only guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance. Guaranteed acceptance life insurance is typically the most expensive way to buy insurance. Coverage amounts are also limited. Due to its high level of customer complaints and limited policy options, Colonial Penn is not a top choice for life insurance.

Does Colonial Penn life insurance pay out?

Yes, if your life insurance claim is approved, Colonial Penn will pay out the policy death benefit. However, the highest number of complaints against Colonial Penn are about delayed claim payments.

Do all Colonial Penn life insurance policies pay dividends?

Colonial Penn does not pay life insurance dividends.

How much can you borrow from a Colonial Penn life insurance policy?

If you have Colonial Penn life insurance, you may be able to borrow from your life insurance policy. How much depends on the accessible cash value.

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Colonial Penn Life Insurance Review 2024 (2024)

FAQs

What does Colonial Penn give you for $9.95 a month? ›

A unit of Colonial Penn coverage is the life insurance benefit amount you receive for $9.95 per month. Your age and gender determine the exact amount of insurance coverage a single unit provides. The older you are, the more units you will need to purchase in order to get an adequate death benefit.

How much insurance do you get for $9.95 a month? ›

Colonial Penn $9.95 Coverage Calculator
AGE1 Male Unit ($9.95)1 Female Unit ($9.95)
60$1,167 in coverage$1,515 in coverage
61$1,112 in coverage$1,460 in coverage
62$1,057 in coverage$1,420 in coverage
63$1,000 in coverage$1,370 in coverage
32 more rows
Jun 5, 2024

How much is a $50000 policy with Colonial Penn? ›

Colonial Penn term life insurance review

For example, a woman who purchases $50,000 of coverage would pay: $35.21/month between the ages of 41 and 45. $45.21/month between the ages of 46 and 50. $56.46/month between the ages of 51 and 55.

How reliable is Colonial Penn life insurance? ›

Although Colonial Penn is a stable insurer with an A- financial strength rating from AM Best,* the company received mixed marks in other areas. Part of this is due to limited offerings and a focus on no-exam policies that result in higher policyholder premiums.

Does Colonial Penn pay after age 85? ›

As with all policies, the death benefit payout will be reduced if the amount borrowed is not repaid. Guaranteed Acceptance is whole life insurance for those aged 50 to 85 in most states, and applicants can't be turned down because of their health.

Is the Colonial Penn 995 plan real? ›

The Colonial Penn 995 plan is a burial insurance policy that provides coverage for funeral expenses. It is a whole life insurance policy, which means it covers you for your entire life. The plan is known for its affordability, starting at $9.95 per month, and guaranteed approval for everyone over the age of 50.

What is the best life insurance for seniors? ›

6 Best Senior Life Insurance Company Ratings
  • Fidelity Life: Our top pick for seniors.
  • MassMutual: Our pick for guaranteed issue coverage for seniors.
  • State Farm: Our pick for customer satisfaction.
  • Northwestern Mutual: Our pick for a personalized experience.
  • Mutual of Omaha: Our pick for accelerated death benefits.
6 days ago

How much is 1 unit of coverage with Colonial Penn? ›

$9.95 Per Unit

What is the most insurance you can get from Colonial Penn? ›

Colonial Penn offers whole life insurance to those ages 50 to 75 (or 50 to 73 for men and 50 to 75 for women in New York). Coverage amounts range from $5,000 to $25,000. The application asks health questions, but the insurer doesn't require a medical exam. Guaranteed acceptance life insurance.

Who is the most trustworthy life insurance company? ›

Here are Bankrate's picks for the best life insurance companies based on various financial and consumer needs.
  • Guardian: Best for life insurance coverage without a medical exam.
  • MassMutual: Best for whole life insurance.
  • Mutual of Omaha: Best for digital accessibility.
  • Nationwide: Best for customer satisfaction.

Can I get my money back from Colonial Penn life insurance? ›

Colonial Penn offers a 100% Money-Back Guarantee.

What is the best life insurance to get? ›

Best life insurance companies: Pros and cons
  • MassMutual: Best overall.
  • Guardian: Best for applicants with a history of HIV.
  • Northwestern Mutual: Best for consumer experience.
  • New York Life: Best for high coverage amounts.
  • Pacific Life: Best range of permanent life insurance.
  • State Farm: Best for customer satisfaction.
Apr 23, 2024

How much is Colonial Penn per month? ›

Guaranteed Acceptance – Your Acceptance, Guaranteed - colonialpenn.com. Coverage options starting at $9.95 a month! Guaranteed acceptance life insurance without medical exams, health questions or rate increases.

How much is guaranteed life insurance per month? ›

Guaranteed issue life insurance monthly rates for men
Coverage amount
50$40$79
60$57$113
70$87$172
80$157$313
2 more rows
Apr 11, 2024

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