Best life insurance companies in Michigan (2024)

We picked the five best life insurance companies in Michigan, including the carriers with the most affordable rates and the policies that match your lifestyle and health needs.

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By

Brian ActonContributing WriterBrian Acton is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where he covers insurance and finance. His work has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal, TIME, USA Today, MarketWatch, Inc. Magazine, and HuffPost. 

Edited by

Adam MorganAdam MorganEditorial DirectorAdam Morgan is a former editorial director at Policygenius who led the editorial team. Previously, he led editorial teams matrixed across multiple financial publications at Red Ventures — including Bankrate, NextAdvisor, Million Mile Secrets, and others. As a journalist, his work has appeared in Esquire, Scientific American, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere.
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Reviewed by

Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®Certified Financial PlannerIan Bloom, CFP®, RLP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, he was a financial advisor at MetLife and MassMutual.

Updated|5 min read

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Michiganders have many life insurance companies to choose from, and the right one for you depends on your budget, coverage needs, lifestyle, and health conditions. When you’re shopping for life insurance, it’s also important to know the state laws that protect you as a policyholder. 

We put together the top life insurance companies in Michigan or Michigan residents from all walks of life, along with the state guidelines you need to know about. 

We used industry data, pricing from Policygenius carrier partners, and third-party ratings like AM Best and J.D. Power to pick the best insurers on the market. Our independent recommendations will help you get life insurance coverage with confidence.

Best life insurance companies in Michigan

Methodology

Why you can trust our picks

Our recommendations are based on internal and external expert analysis, as well as our Policygenius Life Insurance Price Index, which uses real-time data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends. When reviewing a life insurance company, our editorial team uses a proprietary scoring rubric with five factors — price, policy details, financial strength, transparency, and customer experience — to assign an unbiased rating between one and five stars. These ratings are also taken into consideration as part of our company recommendations. We don’t get paid for our reviews.

Our reviews and recommendations can help you find a reliable insurer for your family’s financial protection, but the best life insurance company for you depends on multiple factors. A licensed agent at Policygenius can support you during the application process to ensure you get the right coverage for your circumstances at the most competitive price.

Read more about our reviews methodology

Best overall life insurance

Most Michigan residents will be able to find the most affordable rates with Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn, our top pick for the best Michigan life insurance company. Legal & General America offers great rates and flexibility when purchasing term life insurance to a wide range of Michiganders. 

Legal & General America also has strong financial security and customer satisfaction, with a 0.35 NAIC complaint rating well below the national average of 1.00. 

Cheapest life insurance

Legal & General America has some of the cheapest life insurance rates in Michigan for the widest range of people, and Michiganders with pre-existing conditions can find affordable coverage too. 

Best term life insurance

The most suitable type of life insurance for the majority of applicants, term life insurance is a type of policy that provides affordable coverage for a set amount of time and expires at the end of that term. Legal & General America has term length options up to 40 years and the most affordable rates for a large percentage of applicants. 

Best no-medical-exam life insurance

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2024 Policygenius award winner

Brighthouse Financial

Brighthouse Financial logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange star

5.0

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

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No-medical-exam option

Why we chose itchevron icon

Brighthouse Financial offers competitive rates, comprehensive coverage, and application decisions in as little as 24 hours, making it a great choice for people who want to get life insurance coverage without having to take the medical exam.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Extremely affordable

  • Instant-decision applications

  • Best-in-class no-exam option

Cons

  • Traditional term life not available in CA, IL, LA, ME, or NY

  • Term life applicants limited to ages 25-50

Michigan residents who want to bypass the medical exam part of the life insurance application, and use their health records to get coverage fast, should look at no-medical-exam life insurance. Brighthouse Financial offers no-medical-exam policies with competitive rates, up to $2 million in death benefits, and quick application decisions in as little as 24 hours. 

Best whole life insurance

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2024 Policygenius award winner

MassMutual

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starHalf orange star

4.9

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A++

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

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All 50 states

Why we chose itchevron icon

MassMutual’s whole life insurance plan provides a lifetime coverage option that builds cash value with the potential to earn dividends.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Strong financial stability ratings

  • Higher potential for dividends for whole life policyholders than many competitors

  • Good customer satisfaction ratings

Cons

  • High term life premiums

  • Term life not available through Policygenius

Whole life insurance covers the policyholder for their entire life and has a cash value component that can be used for savings and investment, but it costs five to 15 times as much as term life insurance. MassMutual is a solid pick that pays higher dividends than its competitors.

Best for seniors

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2024 Policygenius award winner

Prudential

Prudential logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starEmpty gray star

4.1

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A+

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

No-medical-exam option

Why we chose itchevron icon

With nearly four million policyholders and 150 years to its name, Prudential offers competitive coverage options for seniors, as well as people with some of the most common medical conditions, including asthma, depression, and fibromyalgia.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Good for people over 60

  • More flexible income requirements than some other insurers

  • Considers applicants with a variety of immigration statuses (visas and green cards)

Cons

  • Younger applicants will likely find better prices elsewhere

Michigan seniors age 60 and over can get competitive rates from Prudential, even when they have certain pre-existing health conditions that go hand-in-hand with old age. 

Best for young adults

Brighthouse Financial

Young adults in Michigan can generally get the most affordable life insurance coverage, and Brighthouse Financial offers some of the best rates on the market. Brighthouse features quick approvals, no-medical-exam options, and lower income requirements for people enrolled in college.

Best for people with pre-existing conditions

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2024 Policygenius award winner

Lincoln Financial

Lincoln Financial logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starHalf orange star

4.8

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

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No-medical-exam option

Why we chose itchevron icon

Lincoln Financial offers a diverse array of life insurance policies, including competitive no-med and high-net-worth options.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Affordable rates

  • Good for many existing health conditions, including depression, stroke, and heart conditions

  • Good for marijuana users, including daily users

Cons

  • Term life not available in New York

Many pre-existing conditions will result in higher premiums for life insurance applicants, simply because they are higher risk for the insurance company. But Lincoln Financial offers lower rates than their competitors for Michiganders with many types of pre-existing conditions. 

Best for marijuana users

Lincoln Financial

Many life insurance companies automatically assign expensive smoker rates to marijuana users. But Lincoln Financial offers Michigan marijuana users non-smoker rates that are 200% to 300% cheaper than the smoker rates they’d get elsewhere. 

Best for smokers

Life insurance will cost two to three times more for smokers because of the health risks associated with tobacco. But Legal & General America offers Michigan smokers lower rates than many competitors, and policyholders can apply for lower rates after they successfully quit smoking for a year. 

Ready to shop for life insurance in Michigan?

Comparing the best life insurance companies in Michigan

Company 

Policygenius rating

Best for

Types of policies 

Brighthouse Financial

5.0 / 5

No-medical-exam life, young adults

Term life, no-medical-exam life, whole life, short-term life, universal life

Legal & General America

4.9 / 5

Overall, cheapest, term life, smokers

Term life, no-medical-exam life, universal life

MassMutual

4.9 / 5

Whole life

Term life, no-medical-exam life, whole life, universal life, variable universal life

Lincoln Financial

4.8 / 5

Marijuana users, people with pre-existing conditions

Term life, no-medical-exam life, indexed universal life, variable universal life

Prudential

4.1 / 5

Seniors

Term life, no-medical-exam life, short-term life, universal life, indexed universal life

What is the average cost of life insurance in Michigan?

Factors affecting life insurance premiums include the applicants’ age, medical history, current and former medical conditions, and the term length and coverage amount for the policy. Based on Policygenius data from 2023, the average monthly premium for a healthy 35-year old in Michigan buying a $500,000, 20-year term life insurance policy is $30.79 for men and $25.76 for women. 

What happens if a life insurance company goes bankrupt in Michigan?

Life insurance companies don’t usually go bankrupt and become unable to meet their financial obligations. But if they do, the Michigan Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association will cover affected Michigan policyholders and provide coverage as long as the policyholder continues to pay their premiums. 

When an insurance company is found insolvent, affected policyholders will receive a notice from the receiver and/or the guaranty association. The MLHIGA will cover up to $300,000 in life insurance death benefits and up to $100,000 in cash surrender value for all affected Michigan policyholders. 

If a policyholder moves out of Michigan, they will receive protection from the guaranty association in the state they currently reside.

How to find a lost life insurance policy in Michigan

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services created the Life Insurance and Annuity Search Service to help individuals locate life insurance policies and annuity contracts purchased in Michigan by deceased family members. Family members and/or the executor of the decedent's estate can also search the national database with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Life Insurance Policy Locator Service

Ready to shop for life insurance in Michigan?

Michigan life insurance laws

All life insurance companies that do business in Michigan must abide by state regulations that protect policyholders. 

Free look period

Life insurance companies must provide Michigan residents a free look period that allows policyholders to cancel their policy and receive a full refund within a certain timeframe. In Michigan, the free look period can range anywhere from 10 to 30 days, so life insurance shoppers should check with each company before buying a policy. 

Guaranty Fund protection

The Michigan Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association covers up to $300,000 in death benefits and $100,000 in cash surrender value for affected Michigan policyholders when a life insurance company is unable to uphold its financial obligations.  

Contestable period

In Michigan, life insurance companies can deny a claim during the first two years of the policy if they can show that the applicant lied or misrepresented information on their life insurance application. 

Time allowable to settle a claim

Michigan life insurance companies must pay death benefits within 60 days of receiving satisfactory proof of death for the settlement to be considered paid on a timely basis. Any death benefits not paid within that timeframe will accrue interest at the rate of 12% per year. 

Grace period for missed payments

Michigan residents have a one-month grace period for missed payments. This gives policyholders a month to make up for a missed payment before the life insurance company can terminate their coverage.

Author

Brian Acton is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where he covers insurance and finance. His work has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal, TIME, USA Today, MarketWatch, Inc. Magazine, and HuffPost. 

Editor

Adam Morgan is a former editorial director at Policygenius who led the editorial team. Previously, he led editorial teams matrixed across multiple financial publications at Red Ventures — including Bankrate, NextAdvisor, Million Mile Secrets, and others. As a journalist, his work has appeared in Esquire, Scientific American, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere.

Expert reviewer

Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, he was a financial advisor at MetLife and MassMutual.

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