Life insurance at age 61 doesn’t have to be expensive. There are several tips you should know to help find the right policy for you without overpaying.
Below we’ll show you the best types of life insurance at age 61, including the best companies, sample rates, and how to find the right policy for you.
- Why Do 61-Year-Olds Need Life Insurance?
- Sample Rates: The Cost of Life Insurance for 61-Year-Olds
- The Best Life Insurance Companies for 61-Year-Olds
- The 5 Best Burial Insurance Companies for Seniors Over 60
- The Best Types of Life Insurance Policies at Age 61
- Tips to Get the Best Rates for Life Insurance at Age 61
Why Do 61-Year-Olds Need Life Insurance?
Your reasons for needing life insurance might be different than your neighbor’s reasons.
Most people shopping for life insurance at age 61 are looking to cover various types of end-of-life expenses. Some common reasons include:
- Making sure your family has enough cash to cover your funeral.
- Paying the expected estate taxes so it won’t come out of your heir’s inheritance.
- Taking out a term life insurance policy that will finish funding a spouse’s retirement if something should happen to you.
- Helping to pay off any other debts that would fall to the family if you passed away.
Think about any financial obligations you have. If someone you care for might be stuck paying for them, that makes them somewhat financially dependent on you. Life insurance exists to provide for financial dependents.
Sample Rates: The Cost of Life Insurance for 61-Year-Olds
Below are sample rates for life insurance at 61 years old.
While these quotes are fairly accurate please keep in mind that they are samples. Rates can fluctuate and to get the best, up-to-the-minute rates your best bet is to use our free quote tool.
Rates for Term Life Insurance for 61-year-old Males
Life insurance rates for men are usually more expensive than for women.
The following monthly rates are for a 61-year-old male in good health (preferred) who doesn’t smoke.
Note: 30-year terms are no longer available at age 61.
This next table of rates is also for a 61-year-old male in average health (regular).
Rates for Term Life Insurance for 61-year-old Females
Rates for women are typically lower than men, but they still vary by health class.
The sample monthly rates below reflect a 61-year-old female in good health (preferred).
These rates are for a 61-year-old female in average health (regular).
Whole Life Insurance Rates for 61-Year-Olds
The whole life insurance rates below are for a 61-year-old male or female in good health (preferred).
The whole life insurance rates in the following table are for a 61-year-old male or female in average health (regular).
There is no price difference in the whole life policies with $50,000 at age 61. It may seem odd, but that is not a typo. You will often see this with lower amounts of coverage.
About Health Classes & How they Affect Rates
At age 61, the health class you qualify for is very important if you want to best rates. Most companies use 4 main health classes:
- Preferred Plus – people in exceptional health
- Preferred – healthy for your age.
- Regular Plus – above average health.
- Regular (or standard) – average health for your age.
Each health class above regular has lower monthly premiums. How much lower depends on the product and the company.
If you choose to run your own quotes, then we recommend starting at regular or preferred. Keep in mind, all life insurance rates listed below are on a monthly basis.
The Best Life Insurance Companies for 61-Year-Olds
Depending on your health and what type of life insurance policy you need, one company might be better for you than another. In general for people at age 61, these three companies are great options.
- Protective Life Insurance Company – Best for term life insurance. They have low rates for people in their 60’s.
- Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance – Best for whole life insurance. They have great rates for whole life insurance in smaller amounts to cover burial costs and final expenses.
- Banner Life Insurance – Best for high-risk life insurance. Banner Life prices their substandard business rates at a lower cost for high-risk individuals. They also approve many health conditions and risks that other carriers decline for coverage.
We highly recommend you compare one or more of the companies above to other top life insurance companies. Purchasing a policy from the first company you see can cost you $1000’s.
- Mutual of Omaha – Great for low rates, and reputation with strong financial ratings.
- Family Benefit Life Insurance – Great for low rates, especially for high-risk applicants. Only available in 28 states.
- Prosperity Life – Good rates for non-cigarette smokers (marijuana, chew, dip, or cigar smokers) & diabetics.
- Guarantee Trust Life – Great for high-risk applicants who can’t qualify for level coverage with other companies. Only 5 health questions on the application. Graded death benefit life insurance policy, but cheaper and better than other guaranteed acceptance policies.
- Royal Neighbors of America – Great for extra benefits with your coverage. They also accept a lot of risks that other companies won’t.
The Best Types of Life Insurance Policies at Age 61
The best type of life insurance policy in your 60’s for you will depend on your current situation and your plans for the future. Life insurance is a contingency plan.
The first thing to consider is what you are aiming to cover.
Take the common case above of making sure that even if something happens to you, your spouse will still have enough of a nest egg to retire on. A term policy would make the most sense for that. Then you will want to choose a term long enough to cover the time between now and your planned retirement age.
The other example might be a permanent policy to leave something for your children. It can help them pay off any final bills and taxes. That way their inheritance stays intact.
If you can’t decide whether your reasons for buying life insurance would work better with term or permanent life insurance, ask your insurance agent. You may need a more customized solution.
Permanent Life Insurance
Permanent life insurance is best for end-of-life reasons. As long as you pay your premiums on time, permanent life insurance will never expire. It’s yours for life.
You might consider permanent life insurance to provide for adult children or fund a trust for a family member.
Permanent life insurance is more than just a death benefit. It offers a cash value accumulation, adding an extra layer of options to your insurance policy. The cash value accumulation builds as you pay your premiums. They also accrue interest, further increasing the value of your policy.
You can borrow against the cash value. It’s a no-questions-asked loan from the insurance company with lower interest rates than you would find at most banks. Anything you haven’t paid back when you pass away is taken out of your death benefit.
We have even heard of couples using their cash value to fund annual cruises. Then they pay back the loan over the course of a year before taking it out again for next year’s vacation.
Whole life insurance is the foundation of permanent life insurance. It’s the most straightforward type out of all the permanent policies.
Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance works best for covering temporary needs. At 61, most people are focused on making sure they can retire when they planned. Term life insurance is one way of making sure that your spouse’s retirement will be more comfortable.
If there is a time you will no longer need life insurance (such as paying off the mortgage or retiring with your spouse), then term may be the better choice for you.
Term life insurance has only death benefits. There aren’t any other components to it that would make it either more expensive or more complicated.
Once the term is over, you may have some options. Although that will depend on the policy you originally bought.
- Some insurance companies allow you to roll your term policy into a permanent life insurance policy.
- Other companies will let you renew it for another term.
Both of these options will involve you paying new rates reflecting your current age.
What is the Longest Term Policy You Can Get at 61 Years Old?
Typically companies do not offer policies beyond 30 years. However, at age 61, the longest policy you can get through traditional means is a 25-year term.
You might be served better by a permanent life insurance policy or a burial insurance policy. We recommend comparing numbers between the two to see which makes more sense. Don’t forget to take into account that living through your term only to discover you need life insurance at 86 will be tricky.
Burial Life Insurance
Burial insurance is gaining traction across the nation. It’s an affordable alternative to stashing away enough cash to pay for your own funeral.
Many families do better with financial obligations than they do with saving money, and that’s okay. The trick is knowing that and taking advantage of the strategy. A commitment to pay your premiums every month is one way to make sure you have enough money saved up when the time comes.
Since the average funeral and cremation (or burial) is now just shy of $8,000, putting away that kind of cash is difficult. Burial insurance is one way to avoid leaving your family with any financial troubles.
Most burial insurance policies are permanent policies. Sometimes you will see term burial insurance. Since both are about the same price, we strongly recommend the permanent policy for this type of life insurance.
There are several ways you can make sure you get the best rates on life insurance.
Compare Companies by Working with an Independent Agent
The best thing you can do to make sure you don’t pay a dime more than absolutely necessary is to contact an independent life insurance agent.
Getting the best price on anything comes down to how much comparison shopping you are willing to do to find the best price. Independent life insurance agents don’t work for one company. So they can compare dozens of companies for you.
Not only is access to dozens of life insurance companies a huge time-saver for you, but they also have experience in which companies work best for specific life scenarios.
For example, you overcame thyroid cancer 7 years ago. Some companies might charge you more for this. Other companies might look at your medical history, notice there hasn’t been any sign of relapse and not worry about it as much. Your independent agent will know which companies are likely to offer you the best deals.
Choose the Right Type of Life Insurance Policy
Next, knowing the right type of life insurance for your family will help. Don’t buy a permanent policy if a term will do. Don’t buy a term policy if you need burial insurance. This both makes sure you are paying a little as possible now and prevents costly changes later.
Of course, your insurance agent won’t know about your medical history unless you tell them. This brings us to the next point.
Be Honest About Your Medical History & Stay Healthy!
Tell your insurance agent about any significant medical history you have. If you have been in the hospital for any reason in the past 5 years, tell them that too.
Discussing personal medical details will prevent your insurance agent from recommending a company that could deny your application, or increase your rates.
It will help if you can be healthy when you apply. Especially, if you have to take a medical exam. So be sure to exercise and eat healthy to get a better health class and lower rates.