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Ethos Review 2023

Available in 49 states, Ethos offers both term life and whole life insurance policies for adults ages 20 to 85. Applicants are never required to take a medical exam; in fact, it only takes about 10 minutes to apply online, with Ethos notifying most applicants of their approval status in seconds.

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Highlights

  • A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau
  • 30-day, money-back guarantee
  • Lifetime customer support
  • Level premiums lock in price for life, even as you age.

Why Ethos?

In general, we recommend Ethos because of its easy application, lock-in premium pricing, and commitment to lifetime customer service. Breaking down Ethos by policy, we specifically recommend Ethos term life insurance for younger Americans. Thanks to price lock, young policyholders will pay the same premium price as they age, saving them hundreds of dollars per year in would-be price jumps. For individuals ages 66 to 85, we recommend Ethos whole life insurance because applicants are guaranteed approval, regardless of medical history.

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
No-medical exam, easy-apply term life insurance from $200,000–$2 million. Few riders or policy customization options.
Auto-approval, easy-apply whole life insurance up to $30,000.
A+ rating from the BBB, with lifetime customer service.

Ethos Life Insurance Policies

Ethos offers two primary policies: term life insurance and whole life insurance. Before reading the policy details below, know that there are a few age-related restrictions regarding each policy:

  • Ethos Term Life Insurance: Term life insurance customers must be between ages 20 to 65 to apply, but an existing customer’s policy can last till they reach 80 years of age.
  • Ethos Whole Life Insurance: Ethos life insurance customers must be between ages 66 to 85 to apply.

Ethos Term Life Insurance

With Ethos term life insurance, the policyholder is covered for the length of their term contract, while paying a monthly premium throughout the coverage. If the policyholder dies during their coverage, their friends and family members (called “beneficiaries” in the contract) receive a divided portion of the tax-free, lump-sum coverage amount.

Applicants can choose as much or as little coverage as they like, anywhere from $200,000 to $2 million, with term lengths lasting anywhere from 10 to 30 years.

Ethos offers applicants two styles of application for term life insurance, neither of which require an in-person medical exam:

  • Simplified Issue: Designed for applicants who aren’t sure they’d be approved in a traditional underwriting process, Ethos’ Simplified Issue term life insurance uses third-party metrics to create an overall picture of an applicant’s health and thereby accept more applicants.
  • Fully Underwritten: The more traditional approach, Ethos’ Fully Underwritten term life insurance policies ask applicants to answer more detailed medical questions. Fully Underwritten policies may be a better option for applicants in good or great health, as they may save money on premium payments.

Ethos Whole Life Insurance

Ethos Whole Life Insurance is designed for older adults who want to leave a guaranteed, tax-free trust to family members or friends. With whole life insurance, coverage never ends after a specific amount of time, meaning that coverage amount is guaranteed to go to a policyholder’s beneficiaries once they die (barring annulments).

Applicants can request coverage ranging from $1,000 to $30,000. Premium payments are locked-in, meaning pricing doesn’t change as the policyholder ages. Ethos also doesn't charge policyholders once they reach age 100, meaning that although your contract will stay active, you won't have to pay another premium ever again."

Ethos Whole Life insurance accepts every applicant and never requires a medical exam.

What Does Life Insurance from Ethos Cover?

Ethos’s term life insurance policy covers the death of the policyholder under most circumstances during the life of the contract.

The contract may be annulled and coverage voided if:

  • The policyholder dies by suicide in the first two years of the policy.
  • The policyholder is found to have falsified information during the application process.

Although not mentioned on Ethos’ website, policyholder deaths that are the result of a crime (e.g. drunk driving) are also not typically covered by life insurers.

Available Riders

Ethos mentions that they offer riders (i.e. insurance add-ons) for their various life insurance policies, but they do not provide details. Most life insurance riders alter a policyholder’s coverage in favorable ways to the policyholder. For example, an “accelerated death” rider enables policyholders to receive a portion of their coverage amount early if they are diagnosed with a chronic illness. To learn more about Ethos’ life insurance riders, we recommend you speak to an Ethos representative during the application process.

Additional Services and Add-ons

Ethos offers additional tools and add-ons for policyholders, some of which are free and some of which cost additional fees.

Free Tools

  • Coverage Calculator: Unsure how much coverage is right for you and your family? Ethos’ coverage calculator makes this process easy: simply answer a few questions about your needs and Ethos’ calculator responds with a range of recommended coverages.
  • Blog: Ethos also has an educational life insurance blog, packed with helpful articles and guides designed to inform readers of the ins and outs of life insurance. If you have any questions about Ethos, or about life insurance in general, this is a great spot to start.

Paid Add-Ons

  • Will ($149): Ethos can help policyholders create a will for their loved ones. Policyholders can make plans to designate guardians for their children, distribute their assets, and be prepared in the event of their passing.
  • Full Estate Planning ($449): Ethos provides a complete guide for estate planning, including tools to create a will, trust, power of attorney, and more.
  • Life Insurance + Will & Estate Planning (Bundle from $7/mo.): Ethos policyholders can bundle their life insurance plan with the full estate planning toolkit, ensuring their family is well protected if the worst happens.

Customer Complaints and Satisfaction

Ethos has a 4.82/5 rating on the Better Business Bureau, an A+, and is fully accredited. Ethos also has a 4.6/5 rating on Trustpilot (considered “Excellent”), with positive reviews praising Ethos’ easy-to-use website and application process.

How Much Does Ethos Life Insurance Cost?

Life insurance pricing changes from applicant to applicant. Underwriters base their pricing on a series of personal details, such as an applicant’s health, nicotine use, credit score, and other information.

The following sample pricing is based on an applicant who:

  • Is seeking Ethos term life insurance (“Fully Underwritten” vs “Simplified Issue” not specified)
  • Has “excellent” health
  • Does not use nicotine products
  • Lives in Chicago, Illinois (60614)
  • Has a credit score higher of 740 or higher

$500,000 Coverage

Age Amount Policy Female Male Medical Exam Required
35 $500,000 15-year term $17–$32/mo $20–$35/mo No
40 $500,000 15-year term $25–$46/mo $27–$46/mo No
45 $500,000 15-year term $33–$65/mo $42–$79/mo No
55 $500,000 15-year term $75–$137/mo $107–$199/mo No
65 $500,000 15-year term $122–$232/mo $197–$331/mo No

$1,000,000 Coverage

Age Amount Policy Female Male Medical Exam Required
35 $1M 15-year term $28–$55/mo $34–$61/mo No
40 $1M 15-year term $43–$83/mo $47–$80/mo No
45 $1M 15-year term $63–$122/mo $78–$149/mo No
55 $1M 15-year term $143–$262/mo $203–$380/mo No
65 $1M 15-year term $233–$453/mo $358–$641/mo No

The best way to find pricing accurate to your scenario is to straight to the Ethos website and get a free quote. This way, you can input your personalized information and receive customized details.

How to Buy Life Insurance from Ethos

From start to finish, it only takes a few minutes to purchase life insurance from Ethos.

  1. Enter some basic information to get a free quote.
  2. Apply for coverage, completely online. Approved applicants typically hear back instantly.
  3. If approved, activate your coverage online.

Ethos FAQs

Is Ethos life insurance a legit company?

Yes, Ethos is backed by a series of top-rated life insurance companies, including Legal & General America, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., and TruStage®.

How long has Ethos life insurance been around?

Ethos was founded in 2016.

Who owns Ethos life insurance?

Ethos partners with a variety of top-rated insurers, including Legal & General America, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., and TruStage®.

Does Ethos offer life insurance for seniors?

Yes, Ethos offers term life insurance for adults ages 20 to 65 and whole life insurance for adults ages 66 to 85.

Bottom Line

With incredible features such as price-locked premiums, zero medical exams, and coverage options for both younger and older adults, Ethos offers policies that are a good fit for almost any applicant. We especially recommend Ethos term life insurance for young adults (20s or 30s) thanks to price-lock benefits, and we similarly recommend Ethos whole life insurance for older adults (70s and 80s) who can use the coverage as a trust for loved ones.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

To find a life insurance provider that works well with your needs, try to focus predominantly on your budget. How much coverage are you looking for? What is your monthly budget for premium payments? After asking yourself questions like these, request quotes from the providers in our list. Quotes are typically free, so you can directly compare one provider’s pricing and coverage with another’s.
Life insurance can matter in your 20s or 30s depending on two variables: the debts you owe and the people who depend on your income. Let’s provide two examples. Debt can fall onto loved ones from even an early age, as with students who have a parent co-sign on a student loan. In the event of the student’s death, the student loan debt would pass onto their parent. If a couple purchases a property, both partners may depend on each other’s combined income to pay off the mortgage.
Most employer-funded life insurance policies only cover 1x–2x an employee’s annual salary. For individuals who help fund others’ standard of living, this benefit amount is simply not enough to protect loved ones. Additionally, a life insurance policy is typically voided if the employee is fired or quits, making this life insurance policy much more fragile than a third-party life insurance policy.
Whatever your beneficiaries want. Beneficiaries will commonly use life insurance payouts to continue to pay off a mortgage, pay for education, or pay everyday living expenses.