- Bestow Life Insurance Simplifies Buying: Bestow offers a fully digital, quick, and hassle-free way to purchase term life insurance, targeting younger, healthy applicants who prefer managing everything online.
- Ideal for Young, Healthy Adults: Bestow is best suited for millennials and Gen Xers aged 25-45 with no major health issues, who want straightforward coverage without medical exams or agent interactions.
- Affordable & Competitive Pricing: Starting around $11 a month, Bestow provides budget-friendly rates, especially for young women, although rates for men and older applicants can be higher compared to industry averages.
- Limited Coverage Options & No Riders: Bestow exclusively offers term life insurance with coverage amounts up to $1.5 million and options from 10 to 30 years, but lacks riders or permanent policies, which limits flexibility.
- Strong Financial Backing & Customer Support: Backed by top-rated underwriters like North American Company and reinsured by Munich Re, Bestow has good financial stability, with customer support available online and by phone during weekdays.
Bestow Life Insurance Overview
If you’ve been putting off getting life insurance because the traditional process feels like a trip to the DMV, Bestow might be precisely what you’re looking for. This Dallas-based insurtech company flipped the script on how people buy coverage by making the entire experience happen on your phone or laptop in about the time it takes to order dinner. Founded in 2016, Bestow carved out a niche by targeting younger, healthier applicants who want straightforward term coverage without the hassle of blood draws or scheduling awkward appointments with agents.
Bestow didn’t make our list of the best life insurance companies, but it still has a lot to offer the right people.
Who is Bestow Life Insurance Best For?
This company works beautifully for millennials and younger Gen Xers who are relatively healthy, don’t smoke, and just want basic protection without complications. New parents, first-time homebuyers, and young professionals starting families represent the sweet spot here. If you appreciate handling everything digitally and don’t want an insurance agent calling you repeatedly, Bestow speaks your language. The company shines brightest for people between 25 and 45 who have no major health concerns and simply want peace of mind at a reasonable price.
Key Strengths
The application takes roughly 5 minutes and is entirely online, with most people receiving an instant decision. You can skip the whole medical exam ordeal, since Bestow uses algorithms and third-party data to evaluate your health. Prices land competitively for young, healthy applicants, particularly women in their 20s and 30s. The underwriting company backing these policies carries strong financial ratings, which means your beneficiaries should have no trouble getting paid when it matters.
Key Weaknesses
Bestow only sells term life insurance, so you’re out of luck if you need whole life, universal, or any permanent coverage option. There are no riders available to customize your policy, which significantly limits flexibility. People with chronic conditions or those taking regular medications often get declined, which can feel frustrating after sharing personal health information. The company doesn’t operate in New York or Maine, leaving residents in those states without access.
Bestow Life Insurance Affordability
When it comes to life insurance pricing, Bestow positions itself as a budget-friendly option, though your mileage may vary depending on your demographic profile. Monthly premiums start around $11, with the actual cost depending heavily on factors like your age, gender, smoking status, and the coverage amount you select. A healthy 32-year-old woman who doesn’t smoke can secure $500,000 in coverage over a 20-year term for approximately $18 per month.
Bestow offers highly competitive rates for young, healthy adults, often undercutting industry averages. For comparison, the industry benchmark for a healthy 30-year-old purchasing a $250,000, 20-year term policy is approximately $165 per year (about $13.75 monthly), according to LIMRA data. Bestow’s pricing frequently meets or beats this benchmark for similar applicants.
However, pricing tells a different story for men and older applicants. A 25-year-old male purchasing $1 million in coverage for a 20-year term would pay around $ 66 per month with Bestow, while the industry average for that demographic is $42. The gap narrows considerably for women, where a similar policy might cost $29 compared to an industry average of $28.
Bestow doesn’t offer multi-policy discounts because it focuses exclusively on term life insurance. There’s also no automatic payment discount to speak of. The simplified underwriting process that eliminates medical exam costs more than fully underwritten policies at traditional carriers, but Bestow manages to keep premiums somewhat in check through its algorithmic approach.
On the rider front, you won’t find any add-ons available. Bestow doesn’t offer any riders to supplement its term life insurance, though its website mentions it’s working to expand options in the future. This means no accelerated death benefit, no waiver of premium, and no term conversion riders that you’d find with more established competitors.
Bestow Coverage Options
Bestow keeps things deliberately simple by offering just one product type: term life insurance. Coverage amounts start at $100,000 100,000and go up to $1.5 million, giving you flexibility to match your actual financial obligations, whether you’re covering a mortgage, replacing income, or both.
Term length options include 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years, which cover most scenarios people face during their working years. Want coverage while your kids are in school? A 20-year term might work perfectly. If you’ve recently bought a house with a mortgage, you can match your payoff timeline exactly.
There are some age restrictions worth knowing about. Applicants must be between 21 and 60 years old, and the 20-year term policy is only available to those under 45. As you approach 60, your options narrow further, with coverage amounts capping at $1 million for people in their late 50s.
One notable absence is conversion options. Unlike many traditional insurers that let you convert your term policy to permanent coverage down the road, Bestow doesn’t offer this feature. If your needs change and you want whole life coverage later, you’ll need to shop elsewhere and potentially go through underwriting again.
A significant limitation of Bestow’s offering is the absence of living benefits. Since Bestow provides term life insurance only and does not offer riders, the policy lacks features like an accelerated death benefit if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness. Essentially, Bestow offers a straightforward death benefit paid to your beneficiaries if you pass away while the policy is active, and nothing more.
All policies include two standard protective clauses:
- Contestability Period: A two-year window during which the insurer may investigate the validity of a claim if it suspects the information provided on your application was inaccurate or misleading.
- Suicide Clause: If the policyholder dies by suicide within the first two years of the policy being in force, the death benefit will be excluded.
Bestow Reliability
When evaluating whether an insurance company will actually be around to pay claims decades from now, financial strength ratings matter enormously. Bestow itself is a relatively young company, but the policies they sell carry weight because of who backs them.
North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, which underwrites Bestow policies, holds an A+ rating from A.M. Best. These superior marks indicate the company has a strong capacity to meet its financial obligations and pay claims reliably. North American Company maintains over $23 billion in assets, providing a substantial financial cushion.
Bestow Life Insurance Company is reinsured by major financial institutions, including Munich Re and Hanover Insurance Group, adding additional layers of security to the policies.
The complaint picture looks favorable, too. North American Company for Life and Health Insurance has a 2023 NAIC Complaint Index score of 0.33, which is well below the industry average of 1.0. This means the company receives significantly fewer complaints relative to its competitors’ sizes. Bestow itself shows zero complaints on the NAIC index, though this may reflect limited data rather than a complete absence of issues.
The company launched in 2016, making it less than a decade old. That’s relatively new compared to legacy insurers with 100+ year track records. However, in May 2024, Bestow announced that Sammons Financial Group, a well-established financial services company, was acquiring it. The company rebranded to Lantern in early 2025, though existing policies remain in force under the new ownership.
Bestow Customer Service
Bestow built its reputation on digital convenience, and its support options reflect that approach while still providing human assistance when needed.
Phone Support
Customer service is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. CST at 833-300-0603. The company doesn’t offer weekend support, which could be inconvenient for people who work traditional hours and can only handle personal business on Saturdays.
Digital Support
Bestow’s customer support team can be reached via email, phone, or live chat. The online member portal lets policyholders manage most tasks independently, including paying premiums, downloading claim forms, and updating beneficiary information. Bestow doesn’t currently have a dedicated mobile app.
Bestow has an extensive online resource library full of helpful information on life insurance topics, which works well for self-directed learners who prefer to find their own answers.
Third-Party Ratings
The Better Business Bureau has accredited Bestow since October 2017 and has awarded it an A+ rating. However, customer reviews filed with the BBB give Bestow just 2.17 out of 5 stars based on 6 reviews, with 4 complaints filed in the last 3 years. The negative feedback centers on rate increases from initial quotes and coverage denials.
The Trustpilot picture looks significantly rosier. Bestow holds a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, with over 900 reviews, and customers frequently praise the quick application process and the lack of pushy salespeople. Roughly 89% of reviews rate the experience as excellent, while less than 6% rate it as poor or bad.
Reddit discussions about Bestow remain limited, though feedback on platforms like Reddit indicates some users have experienced challenges with customer service responsiveness and the lack of personalized support. The digital-first model doesn’t work for everyone, particularly those who prefer face-to-face interactions.
J.D. Power does not rate Bestow for individual life insurance.
Bestow Claims Process
Filing a claim with Bestow works differently from traditional insurers since the policies are actually administered by their underwriting partner.
Life insurance claims through Bestow are handled by North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, which aims to process them within 10 days. It is important to note that this quick timeline assumes the claim is straightforward, without disputes, and all required documentation is complete.
The process starts simply enough. After a claim is submitted, each beneficiary of record receives a claim packet within 2-3 weeks containing the requirements necessary to settle the claim. Beneficiaries can initiate claims online at any time or by calling during business hours.
To file a claim, beneficiaries must provide information about themselves and the insured person, including the original policy number. Having this information readily available speeds up the process considerably.
Bestow offers a 30-day free-look period, during which you can cancel and receive a full refund if the policy doesn’t meet your needs. Additionally, if you can’t afford a premium payment, coverage continues for 60 days from the date of the last payment. Any missed premiums during this window get deducted from the death benefit if a claim is filed.
Customer reviews of the claims experience remain relatively sparse because life insurance claims are infrequent, and reviewers typically share their application experiences instead. The NAIC reports that North American Company for Life and Health Insurance has a customer complaint rate well below the industry average, which suggests claims handling generally meets expectations.
In September 2024, Bestow partnered with Transamerica to offer a final expense product that includes a funeral concierge rider offering funeral and legacy planning tools. However, this applies to a separate product line rather than their standard term policies.
Bestow Application Process
Speed and simplicity define Bestow’s approach to applications, which is its core competitive advantage.
The application process takes as little as five minutes and does not require a medical exam. Everything happens online, with no agents visiting your home, no blood draws, and no scheduling hassles.
The 100% online application includes four components: filling out your identifying information, adding your medical and lifestyle history, listing your beneficiaries, and reviewing coverage and payment details.
To start, you’ll enter basic details like your gender, birth date, height, weight, zip code, and nicotine use. This generates an initial quote within seconds. If you want to proceed, you’ll create an account and answer more detailed health questions.
The application process pulls available data about you, including prescription history, credit history, driving records, and prior insurance applications, to make a decision. This algorithmic approach lets Bestow approve or decline applications almost instantly for most people.
Around 90% of applications receive approval, though this high rate partly reflects careful screening that weeds out higher-risk applicants early. Bestow will not approve anyone with a felony conviction, and applicants should be in generally good health. People with recent cancer diagnoses or certain chronic conditions typically get declined.
One common complaint involves quote accuracy. Customer reviews note that final rates sometimes come in higher than initial quotes after the full application is completed. This happens because the preliminary estimate uses limited information, while the final price incorporates data pulled from various databases.
While the application is entirely online, you can contact licensed agents via phone, email, or live chat if you have questions. Coverage begins immediately after approval and payment of your first premium.
Pros and Cons of Bestow
Weighing the good against the not-so-good helps clarify whether Bestow makes sense for your situation.
Pros
The entire application takes about 5 minutes on your phone or computer, and most applicants receive an instant decision. No medical exam means no needles, no scheduling, and no waiting weeks for results. Prices land competitively for young, healthy applicants, particularly women in their 20s and 30s. Strong financial ratings from major agencies provide confidence that claims will be paid. The 30-day free-look period lets you cancel with a full refund if you change your mind.
Cons
Term life is the only game in town, with no whole life, universal, or permanent options available. Zero riders means no accelerated death benefits, conversion privileges, or other customization. People with chronic conditions, prescription medications, or health histories often face denials. New York and Maine residents can’t access coverage at all. Initial quotes sometimes differ from final prices after the algorithm evaluates your complete profile.
Our Verdict and Rating for Bestow
Bestow fundamentally changed how a generation thinks about buying life insurance. By stripping away agents, medical exams, and multi-week underwriting processes, they created an experience that feels more like ordering something online than navigating bureaucracy. For their target customer, this approach works remarkably well.
The financial backing from highly-rated underwriters addresses concerns about the company’s relatively young age. With A+ ratings across major agencies and complaint levels well below industry averages, there’s solid evidence that Bestow pays claims and treats policyholders fairly. The 2024 acquisition by Sammons Financial Group adds another layer of stability moving forward.
That said, Bestow’s simplicity comes with genuine trade-offs. If your needs extend beyond basic term coverage, or if you value riders that provide flexibility during health crises, you’ll find this platform limiting. The strict underwriting criteria that enable no-exam convenience also mean many applicants face disappointment after completing the application.
Who Should Consider This Company
You’re a strong candidate if you’re between 25 and 45, in good health, don’t smoke, and just want straightforward term coverage without complications. New parents protecting young kids, homebuyers matching coverage to mortgage terms, and young professionals replacing income all fit the ideal profile. If you prefer digital interactions over phone calls and value speed over hand-holding, Bestow delivers.
Who Should Consider Another Provider
Look elsewhere if you need whole life (consider Corebridge), universal life (consider MassMutual), or any permanent coverage product. Anyone requiring riders such as accelerated death benefits, a waiver of premium, or term conversion should shop with traditional carriers. People with chronic health conditions, regular prescriptions, or complex medical histories will likely face denials and should explore guaranteed issue options instead. Residents of New York or Maine don’t have access regardless of their profile. If you’d like to compare multiple providers, consider Ethos life insurance.
Methodology
Our evaluation weighted five core factors based on their importance to policyholders making purchase decisions:
- Stability: 20%
- Coverage Options: 10%
- Affordability: 30%
- Claims Process: 20%
- Customer Service: 20%
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about Bestow life insurance.
Yes, Bestow life insurance is ideal if you want a straightforward, fast, and fully online process, especially if you are between 25 and 45, healthy, and prefer to avoid medical exams.
Bestow only offers term life insurance, has no riders or customization options, and does not provide coverage for people with chronic health conditions or those living in New York or Maine.
Bestow’s premiums are competitive for young, healthy applicants, starting around $11 per month, but costs can be higher for men and older applicants, and it does not offer discounts for multiple policies or automatic payments.
Claims are handled by North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, which aims to process claims within 10 days and provides a simple online process for beneficiaries to file and manage claims.
Although relatively new, Bestow is backed by highly-rated underwriters like North American Company with an A+ rating from A.M. Best, and its policies are reinsured by major institutions, indicating strong financial stability.
