While your location isn't one of the factors insurance companies use to underwrite your policy or determine your rates, it can impact which life insurance companies are available in your state. Using our evidence-based rating methodology, we picked the best life insurance companies in Utah for people of all ages and health classifications to help you make the most informed decision.
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 Utah
Best overall: Legal & General America
Cheapest: Legal & General America
Best term life insurance: Legal & General America
Best no-medical-exam life insurance: Brighthouse Financial
Best whole life insurance: MassMutual
Best for seniors: Prudential
Best for young adults: Brighthouse Financial
Best for people with pre-existing conditions: Lincoln Financial
Best for marijuana users: Lincoln Financial
Best for smokers: Legal & General America
Best overall life insurance
Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn, is our pick for the best life insurance, rated five out of five stars on our scoring scale. The company received an A+ from AM Best, indicating superior financial strength and company longevity. It also earned a 0.35 out of 1.00 on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index, meaning the company has fewer complaints than the industry average.
Cheapest life insurance
Legal & General America
Whether you're a healthy applicant or applying with pre-existing conditions, most Utah residents can purchase life insurance at an affordable rate from Legal & General America. For a 20-year term life policy with a $500,000 death benefit, healthy, non-smoker females and males can expect to pay about $23 and $27, respectively, which is cheaper than the industry average.
Best term life insurance
Legal & General America
Term life insurance is usually five to 15 times more affordable than whole life insurance. And while term life insurance doesn't offer lifelong coverage, many shoppers only need life insurance for a limited time. If you're looking for an affordable term life insurance policy, Legal & General America offers some of the best rates in the industry.
Best no-medical-exam life insurance
Brighthouse Financial offers an affordable no-medical-exam policy with the potential for accelerated application decisions. While medical exams are a standard part of the life insurance underwriting process, some insurers will let you waive this requirement. Instead of a physical exam, blood test, and urine test, they pull information from your medical records or conduct a health interview to underwrite your policy.
Best whole life insurance
Whole life insurance may not be the first pick for a life insurance policy for most people due to its hefty price tag. However, it can be an excellent tool for high-net-worth individuals who want lifelong coverage. MassMutual's whole life insurance offers coverage for your entire life, has consistent cash value growth and has the potential to earn higher dividends than the industry average.
Best for seniors
If you're a Utah senior over age 60, finding an affordable life insurance policy may be challenging. Prudential offers highly rated life insurance policies at a competitive rate to seniors, including those with aging-related conditions such as osteoporosis or osteoarthritis.
Additionally, Prudential is an excellent option for retirees as it offers flexible income requirements and living benefits, such as an accelerated death benefit if you develop a chronic or terminal illness.
Best for young adults
Brighthouse Financial
Young adults already get lower rates on life insurance policies since insurers view them as a lower risk to insure. However, Brighthouse Financial can typically offer even more savings on top of an already affordable policy. The company also offers a highly rated no-medical-exam option with up to $3 million in coverage.
Best for people with pre-existing conditions
Lincoln Financial is our top pick for shoppers with pre-existing conditions. The company offers favorable underwriting and competitive rates for people with heart conditions, anxiety, depression, and other illnesses.
Best for marijuana users
Lincoln Financial
Daily users of marijuana will generally see rates higher than applicants who don't smoke or ingest marijuana. Many insurers place regular users of the substance in the same category as tobacco smokers, which increases rates significantly. Lincoln Financial doesn't group applicants who use marijuana with tobacco smokers, so daily marijuana users can turn to Lincoln Financial for more affordable premiums.
Best for smokers
Legal & General America
Life insurance premiums for smokers often cost at least double what non-smokers pay. However, Utah smokers can find some of the most competitive rates with Legal & General America; unlike most life insurance companies, Legal & General America will reduce your rate after one year of quitting smoking.
Comparing the best life insurance companies in Utah
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 Utah?
Five primary factors determine your life insurance rates: age, gender, policy type, health, hobbies, and lifestyle. For a $500,000, 20-year term life policy, a 35-year-old healthy female in Utah will pay $25.76 while a male will pay $30.79, according to the latest Policygenius data in 2023.
What happens if a life insurance company goes bankrupt in Utah?
It’s extremely rare for an insurance company to go bankrupt. However, if your insurance company goes out of business, your state's guaranty association will protect your policy up to a certain amount.
The Utah Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association (ULHIGA) will use the insurance company's assets and the guaranty's funds to pay the remaining death benefits. ULHIGA will reimburse affected policyholders up to $500,000 in death benefits and $200,000 in cash surrender.
How to find a lost life insurance policy in Utah
If you're a life insurance beneficiary in Utah looking for a lost life insurance policy, visit the NAIC's Life Insurance Policy Locator Service. This free online tool allows you to submit a request. Once the inquiry is received, the NAIC will work with participating companies to help you locate the policy. You can also visit Utah's Unclaimed Property website to retrieve unclaimed death benefits.
Utah life insurance laws
Utah has several state laws that oversee life insurance companies and ensure that consumers' interests are protected.
Free look period
A free look period refers to how long new policyholders have to cancel their life insurance and receive a full refund on their premium payment. In Utah, insurers must allow consumers 10 days to receive their premiums back if they change their minds.
Guaranty Fund protection
The Utah Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association will reimburse policyholders up to $500,000 in life insurance death benefits and $100,000 in cash surrender value if a life insurance company fails to meet its financial obligations.
Contestable period
The contestability period refers to the time frame insurers have to reject a claim if they find evidence that the policyholder fabricated information on their life insurance application. In Utah, the contestability window is two years from the policy's effective date.
Time allowable to settle a claim
Life insurance companies in Utah must reimburse beneficiaries a death benefit within 15 days of receiving proof that the policyholder has died.
Grace period for missed payments
A grace period is the extra time a policyholder has to pay their premium before an insurer can discontinue their policy. In Utah, consumers have at least a 30-day grace period for missed payments.