Farming and ranching careers aren’t without risk, which means a life insurance policy can be essential protection for your loved ones.
We used industry data, rates from Policygenius carrier partners, and third-party ratings like A.M. Best and J.D. Power to pick the best life insurance companies for farmers and ranchers.
Best term life insurance: Banner Life Insurance Company and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York
Best whole life insurance: MassMutual
Best no-medical-exam life insurance: Pacific Life
Best final expense life insurance: Mutual of Omaha
If you’re not sure what kind of life insurance policy to get or you’re ready to compare quotes, a Policygenius agent can help you.
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.
Best term life insurance for ranchers and farmers: The Banner Life family of companies
The best term life insurance for ranchers and farmers is the Banner Life family of companies, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn in some states. The Banner Life family of companies has low average rates and certain healthy applicants may be able to qualify for coverage without going through a medical exam.
Best whole life insurance for ranchers and farmers: MassMutual
2025 Policygenius award winner
MassMutual
4.9
All 50 states
Why we chose it
MassMutual’s whole life insurance plan provides a lifetime coverage option that builds cash value with the potential to earn dividends.
Pros and cons
Pros
Strong financial stability & good customer satisfaction ratings
Higher potential for dividends for whole life policyholders than many competitors
Term coverage has strong conversion privileges to permanent coverage
Cons
High term life premiums
MassMutual is the best whole life insurance for farmers and ranchers looking for permanent coverage. Whole life insurance is sort of a combination of a life insurance policy and an investment option, and it’s guaranteed to pay out no matter when you die, which makes MassMutual’s A++ financial strength rating from AM Best important.
MassMutual also has high customer experience ratings compared to other insurance companies.
Best no-medical-exam life insurance for ranchers and farmers: Pacific Life
2025 Policygenius award winner
Pacific Life
4.8
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Pacific Life offers some of the lowest rates for term life insurance across age brackets. It also has the most competitive rates for many health conditions and builds.
Pros and cons
Pros
Extremely affordable across age brackets
Affordable guaranteed universal life insurance option for people who need lifetime coverage
Favorable underwriting for many health conditions
Cons
Traditional term life not available in NY
There are better carriers for active duty military, people who have a history of alcohol abuse, and people who have been through bankruptcy
Pacific Life is the best company for no-medical-exam life insurance. Qualified applicants can apply for up to $3 million of coverage. If you’re under the age of 60, you’ll complete a health interview to determine if you can get accelerated approval without a medical exam. The insurer will review your profile to confirm — if you don’t have many health conditions or risk factors, you likely won’t have to take an exam.
Best final expense life insurance for ranchers and farmers: Mutual of Omaha
Mutual of Omaha
4.5
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Mutual of Omaha is a reputable company that offers a variety of life insurance products — including a no-medical-exam option — so that you can select the type of life insurance that best suits your needs.
Pros and cons
Pros
No-medical-exam options for older applicants
Strong financial and customer ratings
Cons
Policies are more expensive than average
Slow turnaround time
The best final expense life insurance for ranchers or farm workers is Mutual of Omaha. Mutual of Omaha’s final expense coverage is cheaper than average, and can cover up to $25,000 towards funeral expenses and other end-of-life costs.
Why ranchers and farm workers need life insurance
If you’re a rancher or farmer, there are a few reasons why life insurance is especially important. But our Policygenius experts say that most people who buy coverage say their primary reason for getting coverage is to protect their families.
Income protection: If you have dependents who rely on you, a life insurance policy can help cover their expenses if they can’t rely on your income anymore.
Debt protection: If you have a mortgage or business loan, a life insurance death benefit can provide a safety net so you don’t leave your loved ones with any debt.
Passing on the farm: If you’re an established farmer or rancher, a permanent life insurance policy can help your business or personal assets transition to your family after your death, since the death benefit can be used to cover any outstanding taxes.
Replacing employer-provided insurance. If you’re self-employed as a farmer or rancher, an individual life insurance policy can be especially important, since you may not have access to group life insurance.
How working as a farmer or rancher affects life insurance
Being a farmer or rancher won’t have much of an effect on your life insurance application or the policy you wind up getting, but there are some extra things to consider when you’re shopping for a policy.
If you can pay for a policy when you’re younger, your rates will be cheaper than if you wait — but as long as you’re currently working or employed, you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting a policy.
One big exemption is if you work in the hemp industry. If you work in non-licensed industrial hemp, or in the marijuana industry, you’ll likely have limited life insurance options as long as marijuana is illegal at the federal level.
If you’re not sure if your occupation falls into either category, you can connect with a Policygenius expert for personalized advice.
How much does life insurance cost for ranchers & farmers?
If you’re in good health and have few health conditions, you may pay between $22 and $30 per month for a 20-year term life insurance policy with a $500,000 death benefit payout as a rancher or farmer.
Your exact life insurance premiums will depend on your age, gender, health, lifestyle, and the type of policy you get.
Term life insurance rates for ranchers and farmers
Age | Gender | $500,000 coverage amount |
20 | Female | $22.21 |
Male | $29.02 | |
30 | Female | $22.37 |
Male | $29.97 | |
40 | Female | $34.31 |
Male | $41.17 | |
50 | Female | $74.37 |
Male | $95.91 |
Methodology: Average monthly rates are calculated for male and female non-smokers in Preferred health classifications buying a 20-year $500,000 term life insurance policy. Life insurance averages are based on a composite of policies offered by Policygenius from Legal & General America, Brighthouse Financial, Corebridge Financial, Foresters Financial, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Protective, Prudential, Symetra, and Transamerica, and may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 07/01/2023
Whole life insurance rates for ranchers and farmers
Age | Gender | $500,000 coverage amount |
20 | Female | $287 |
Male | $334 | |
30 | Female | $408 |
Male | $472 | |
40 | Female | $588 |
Male | $706 | |
50 | Female | $920 |
Male | $1,081 |
Methodology: Average monthly rates are calculated for male and female non-smokers in a Preferred Plus health classification buying a $500,000 whole life insurance policy from MassMutual. Rates may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 07/01/2023.
Final expense life insurance rates for ranchers and farmers
Age | Gender | $25,000 coverage amount |
|---|---|---|
50 | Female | $74.47 |
Male | $98.96 | |
60 | Female | $105.21 |
Male | $140.69 | |
70 | Female | $158.19 |
Male | $215.16 |
Methodology: Average monthly estimated rates are calculated for male and female insureds obtaining a final expense life insurance policy of $25,000 from Mutual of Omaha. Life insurance rates are based on policies offered by Policygenius and may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 01/01/2024.
