Updated December 8, 2021

Bestow Life Insurance Review

Ad Disclosure: This article contains references to products from our partners. We may receive compensation if you apply or shop through links in our content. You help support CreditDonkey by using our links. (read more)

Bestow offers term life insurance in minutes, with no medical exam required. Is it too good to be true? Find out the pros and cons, plus who shouldn't apply.

5-point scale (the higher, the better)

Pros and Cons

  • No medical exams
  • Level premiums
  • No policy renewal

Bottom Line

Affordable online term life insurance for adults younger than 59

At the end of the day, a life insurance policy provides peace of mind. But applying at most companies is hardly a walk in the park.

With invasive medical exams and weeks of questioning, you start to wonder if the policy is worth it.

Luckily, Bestow is different.

Bestow's application is exclusively online. No exams, no waiting for a decision.

But what's the catch? And is anyone eligible for a policy? Keep reading for everything to know about Bestow.

What Bestow Offers

For less than the price of a weekly take-out lunch, Bestow offers term life policies to shelter your loved ones if something were to happen to you.

Because they only use data in the underwriting process, you'll never have to complete a medical exam.

So, how do you get a policy?

  1. Pick your term length (10 or 20 years)
  2. Answer a few questions (age, height, weight, tobacco use, etc.)
  3. Confirm your coverage amount ($50K-$1M)
  4. Get insured (or denied) in minutes

Should you die during the term, your beneficiaries receive the designated payout. If you are still alive when the term ends, the policy simply expires.

Bestow's Financial Strength: Bestow partners with North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, which has an A+ (Superior) A.M. Best rating. A company's financial strength determines if they'll be around long enough to distribute your payout should you die within your policy's term.

Coverage Amounts & Terms

Bestow offers up to $1.5 million coverage.

Their term life policies are available for applicants age 18 to 59 with some restrictions. Coverage isn't available in New York.

  • 10 Year: Available to those under 55 with a coverage amount up to $1M. A 10-year term is perfect for those with adult children or who might be starting a business.
  • 15 Year
  • 20 Year: You must be between the ages of 21 and 45 (43 if you're a smoker). However, applicants aged 45-55 can purchase up to a 10-year term policy.
  • 25 Year
  • 30 Year

Customer Service

Bestow offers plenty of ways for policyholders to stay connected: via phone, email, and live chat.

If you opt for the live chat, you can choose to speak with a live agent or just get quick assistance from their chatbot.

Plus, their customer service agents are non-commissioned. That means they won't push you to buy a policy if it's not right for you because they're not incentivized by the commission.

Bestow Customer Service
Phone: 1-833-300-0603
Email: team@bestow.co
Live Chat: Available 24/7

Bestow also boasts an A+ rating from the BBB, which takes the following factors into consideration, among others:

  • Customer complaint history with the BBB
  • Transparent business practices
  • Length of business operation

On top of that, Bestow has an "Excellent" 4.8/5 rating from TrustPilot, which is based directly on reviews from Bestow policyholders.

Reasons We Like Bestow Life Insurance

Cancel Anytime
Bestow charges no cancellation fee, which gives you flexibility if you get life insurance at work, can't afford the policy or have other needs.

No Medical Exams
Bestow doesn't require medical exams for anyone. If you don't meet their guidelines, you don't get insurance.

Why is there no medical exam?
Rather than relying on a medical exam, Bestow makes underwriting decisions based on its own algorithm and medical data available from MIB, a not-for-profit medical database commonly used in the insurance industry.

Serious Security
Bestow uses the highest level of security to encrypt all information shared online. Stripe, a payment processor, stores your information in their secure system.

Lower Premiums
Bestow doesn't have commissioned sales agents. You do everything online and the company passes the savings on to you.

30-Day Free Look Period
Get a full refund if you decide you don't like (or can't afford) the policy.

Missed Payment Coverage
You keep coverage for the 30 days following a missed payment. If you make your premium payment the following month, you keep your coverage.

Premiums Don't Change
Unless you switch your policy, you'll know from day one how much you pay monthly for life insurance for the duration of the policy.

Downsides

Policies Don't Renew
Once your coverage ends, that's it. If you are young enough, you may re-apply, but you'll likely pay higher premiums. Make sure you choose a term that will cover the period you need.

No Coverage for Older Applicants
Only applicants up to age 59 may apply for life insurance with Bestow.

No Riders
If you want accelerated death benefits, child/spousal protection, waiver of premium, or disability coverage, you'll have to look elsewhere. Bestow keeps its policies simple.

Exclusions
Like most life insurance policies, certain occurrences fall under the 'exclusion' category. If you commit suicide within the first 2 years, die from an accident participating in a risky hobby (scuba diving, skydiving, or racing for example), or die learning to fly a recreational airplane, your policy may be void. Make sure to read the fine print on your policy to find out exactly what's excluded.

How To Apply With Bestow

Bestow's application process is simple enough to complete from your mobile phone. It has four parts:

  • Personal Information: Provide your name, birthdate, address, and Social Security number.

  • Lifestyle: Answer questions about your medical history, hobbies, life choices, and citizenship.

  • Beneficiaries: Name the people who will receive benefits in the event of your death.

  • Policy and Payment Information: Accept the policy and provide your payment information.

Who pays out on the policies?
Bestow's partner, North American Company for Life and Health handles the payout, assuming it's valid. Bestow serves as a third-party administrator for your life insurance. In other words, they process your application, handle underwriting, and collect payments. They also handle customer support.

Pay attention to the disclosures before signing them. Each gives Bestow permission to pull personal data regarding your health, credit, and driving records, all of which they use in the underwriting process.

You should also double-check your application because there are no do-overs. Once you submit your answers, Bestow underwrites your policy and gives you an answer instantly.

That can be good news—and bad. You won't have to deal with in-person sales meetings, needle pricks, or extensive underwriting. But mistakes can hurt your chances of getting coverage.

Bestow's application process is handled online, but you can speak with a non-commissioned customer care advisor at any time. Just call 1-833-300-0603 to ask your questions or express concerns.

The Underwriting Process

Bestow works differently than most other insurance companies to assess your risk. The company relies heavily on data collected from its partners including:

  • Credit report
    Are you up-to-date on your bills? Do you overextend your credit? Do you move multiple times a year? Do you have arrest records? Bestow can get these answers and more just from your credit report.

  • Prescription history
    What types of prescriptions do you fill and how often? Are you addicted to opiates? Do you take high blood pressure medication, diabetic medication, or medicine for any other life-threatening illness? Your prescription records tell Bestow representatives a lot about you.

  • Driving history
    A clean driving record means you follow the law and don't take chances. A driving record filled with accident reports and moving violations, on the other hand, tells Bestow that you are high risk.

  • Insurance Records
    Bestow can tell if you've applied for other insurance policies before. They can tell if you obtained the policies or were declined. A declined application can be a red flag.

Your lifestyle plays an important role in your eligibility. Sometimes issues show up in your records that force Bestow to increase your premiums, including information that may contradict what you stated on your application.

How It Compares

vs Haven Life
Like Bestow, Haven Life provides only term life insurance. The online application process takes about 20 minutes and you can apply for $1 million in coverage up to age 59.

Haven Life offers simplicity with security. If you need a medical exam, you can buy temporary coverage for 90 days while they underwrite your policy.

vs Ladder
Ladder offers online term life insurance policies with coverage from $100,000 to $8 million. There are no medical exams for up to $3 million, just answer a few health questions as part of the online application.

The company also lets you change your policy during the term. Need more insurance? Apply online through your account—you don't have to cancel your policy and start a new one. Need less? Decrease your coverage and pay lower premiums right away.

vs Fabric
Unlike Bestow, Fabric offers accidental death as well as term life insurance policies. Accidental death insurance offers instant approval with no underwriting. You can cancel at any time.

Fabric's term life insurance is available in 10-, 15-, and 20-year terms. They offer up to $1 million in coverage. Fabric also offers the option to convert to a whole life policy.

More Life Insurance reviews

Bottom Line

Bestow offers online life insurance for those who don't have time for medical exams and long underwriting periods. If they consider you healthy and low risk, you may pay cheap premiums.

But make sure you compare the offer to other companies. Find the coverage you need now and in the future.

Bestow

Get Quote

  • Plans from $50,000 - $1,000,000
  • Premiums from $8/mo
  • 100% Online. Get a Quote in Seconds and Coverage in Minutes.
Haven Life

Get a Quote

  • Up to $3 million in affordable term coverage
  • 100% no obligation quote

Write to Kim P at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.

Stay informed with free money-saving tips, deals, and reviews from CreditDonkey.
Policygenius Review

Policygenius Review

Policygenius cuts through the jargon that makes shopping for insurance so confusing. You'll get clear options with transparent costs upfront. Read this review to learn how Policygenius makes buying insurance easy.

About CreditDonkey
CreditDonkey is a life insurance comparison website. We publish data-driven analysis to help you save money & make savvy decisions.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

†Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditDonkey receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CreditDonkey does not include all companies or all offers that may be available in the marketplace.

*See the card issuer's online application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However, all information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button you can review the terms and conditions on the card issuer's website.

CreditDonkey does not know your individual circumstances and provides information for general educational purposes only. CreditDonkey is not a substitute for, and should not be used as, professional legal, credit or financial advice. You should consult your own professional advisors for such advice.

About Us | Reviews | Deals | Tips | Privacy | Do Not Sell My Info | Terms | Contact Us
(888) 483-4925 | 680 East Colorado Blvd, 2nd Floor | Pasadena, CA 91101
© 2024 CreditDonkey Inc. All Rights Reserved.