While Foresters isn’t the most well-known carrier, the company has a long history of solid ratings and is highly reviewed for its final expense coverage and affordable policies.
A.M. Best
A
BBB
A+
Standard & Poor’s
N/A
Foresters Life Insurance
The Good
- Longstanding reputation
- No exam policies available
- Expansive rider options
- Competitive final expense policies
- Member benefits
- Affordability
The Bad
- No online quotes
- Coverage restrictions in some areas
- Limited policy options
- Sparse policy information online
Product Availability
Policy Types
- Term
- Universal
- Whole
Riders
- Accelerated death benefit
- Accidental death benefit
- Children’s term
- Common carrier accidental death benefit
- Disability waiver of premium
- Family health benefit
- Guaranteed purchase option
Review Breakdown
Overall
3.83
Price/Value
3.9
Financial Strength
2.5
User Experience
3.8
Product Availability
2.5
Brand/Size
2.6
Price/Value
What you pay for life insurance depends on a handful of factors like your age, gender, and health.
Some life insurance companies offer more affordable rates than others, assessing risk factors differently. That’s why it’s key to compare quotes from multiple providers.
Foresters does not provide online quotes for any of its life insurance policies, making it difficult to determine what rates you’re eligible for without speaking to an agent.
While Foresters’ policies aren’t the most competitive for the majority of applicants, their coverage isn’t outrageously priced, either.
Foresters is likely to provide the most value to seniors, ranking as one of the best final expense companies.
Financial Strength
When you evaluate a life insurance company, you need to pay close attention to its financial strength.
Since life insurance is designed to protect what matters most to you, you should buy coverage from a company with a rock-solid financial outlook.
Credit ratings are a great indicator of a life insurance company’s solvency, predicting its ability to meet financial obligations.
While Foresters isn’t rated by all of the major rating agencies, the company has been awarded an “A” rating from A.M. Best.
In 2020, Foresters Financial reported $13.9 billion in total assets, with a surplus of $1.6 billion.
Foresters’ reputation, performance, and credit rating suggest the company is in solid financial shape.
User Experience
Buying life insurance shouldn’t be overly complicated or unpleasant.
The top life insurance companies focus on providing you with a great customer experience, whether you’re shopping for coverage, submitting an application, or filing a claim.
We’ve examined Foresters’ online resources, application process, and consumer ratings to gauge their user experience.
Ratings
One of the best ways to assess a company’s relationship with its customers is to turn to online ratings and reviews.
J.D. Power and the Better Business Bureau are two of the most helpful resources for evaluating user experience.
Foresters did not make the cut for J.D. Power’s 2020 study of the top life insurance companies based on customer satisfaction.
However, Foresters is highly reviewed by the Better Business Bureau, with an “A+” rating.
While the company isn’t BBB-accredited, the overall consumer sentiment seems to be positive.
Website
Foresters’ website is straightforward and easy to navigate.
You can read about the company’s history, financial performance, and community involvement.
It also provides info on membership benefits and life insurance options.
While the site gives details about riders, eligibility, and benefits, it does not disclose available coverage amounts for most policies.
However, you can determine your coverage needs with Foresters’ online life insurance calculator.
Policyholders can download forms on the company’s website but are encouraged to contact their agent for most policy changes.
Application
Foresters does not allow you to get quotes or apply for coverage online. Instead, you’ll need to go through the application process with an independent agent.
The company offers simplified issue policies and traditionally underwritten ones.
With simplified underwriting, you may be able to skip the medical exam, in which case your approval and rates are based on your application responses and records.
According to Foresters, their no exam applications are usually approved within 5 business days but could be delayed.
The company’s medically underwritten policies take an average of 3 weeks to be approved, which is average for the industry.
Product Availability
Foresters offers three types of life insurance products:
- Term
- Universal
- Whole
We’ll delve into each of them below.
Term
Foresters’ term life product, called Your Term, is ideal if you’re looking for flexible, affordable coverage for temporary needs.
As a level term life policy, Your Term allows you to lock in premiums on day one.
You can also opt for one of several term lengths, including 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year terms.
Foresters’ term policies are renewable and can be converted into permanent life insurance if you need lifelong coverage later.
You can also tack on several riders, allowing you to customize your coverage to fit your needs.
There is an accidental death term policy as well, which can be a more affordable option for securing limited coverage.
Universal
If you’re looking for a more permanent choice with flexibility, Foresters’ universal policy could be a good fit.
With SMART Universal Life, you get lifelong coverage, flexible premiums, and the possibility of additional cash growth inside the policy from interest and dividends, though they aren’t guaranteed.
The policy is also a form of guaranteed universal life insurance. It comes with a 10-year no-lapse guarantee as long as you make the minimum monthly payments required.
Whole
Foresters offers three whole life options:
- PlanRight Whole Life
- Advantage Plus II Whole Life
- BrightFuture Children’s Whole Life
PlanRight Whole Life
PlanRight Whole Life is a great option for covering final expenses.
Foresters is well known for this whole life coverage because it comes with no waiting period after purchase.
The full death benefit is available right away, and it will never decrease or lapse as long as you continue to pay your premiums, up to age 121.
Advantage Plus II Whole Life
If you need more than a typically-sized final expense death benefit, the Advantage Plus II Whole Life Insurance policy may be a better fit.
The Advantage Plus policy allows you to pay your premiums up to age 100, or for just 20 years (at a higher premium).
You may borrow against the policy’s cash value or use your policy as collateral for a loan, though the latter will reduce your policy’s death benefit.
BrightFuture Children’s Whole Life
With BrightFuture, you can lock in coverage for your child or grandchild under the age of 18.
The policy guarantees future insurability without additional underwriting, regardless of how their health might change over the years.
You can choose a coverage amount between $5,000 and $75,000, transferring control of the policy to your child when you see fit.
In addition to offering lifelong coverage, the policy also comes with a Foresters Financial membership, granting the child access to organizational benefits.
Brand/Size
Foresters’ history is unlike most of its life insurance competitors, at least in the United States.
Started in 1834, Foresters is one of the oldest insurers in history, with roots far deeper than most modern companies.
Originally founded as the Ancient Order of Foresters, it was named the Independent Order of Foresters in the States in 1874.
A fraternal benefit society, Foresters originally existed for a group of mutual members who solely brought themselves together for protection, aid, and advancement.
Founded and headquartered in Ontario, Canada, Foresters Financial now operates in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
They have a host of financial services programs, including life insurance, annuities, and retirement plans.
The company now has over 3 million members and customers.
Philanthropy
Just as it always has, Foresters demonstrates a commitment to helping protect hard-working families.
The fraternal company offers scholarships and grants to members, as well as discounts to events.
Their altruism is furthered displayed in their donations to communities in need, funding initiatives to build playgrounds and the like.
In 2020, Foresters donated $11.6 million to communities in need, giving millions more in grants and scholarships.
Brand Recognition
Despite its legacy as one of the oldest life insurance companies operating in the United States, Foresters does not enjoy the same level of brand recognition as some of its leading competitors.
This may be due to the company’s international focus, with most of the company’s promotion of community partnerships centered in Canada.
Foresters has a sizable following on Facebook, where the company posts financial educational resources and updates on its community involvement.
The company also has active accounts on Twitter, Youtube, and Instagram, sharing similar content.
Consensus
It’s important to do your research before buying life insurance, looking into multiple opinions of a company.
In addition to evaluating Foresters for ourselves, we’ve scored the company based on what other industry experts have to say.
Foresters did not make our 10 best life insurance companies list, and it isn’t often ranked as one of the top overall carriers across the industry.
However, Foresters Financial has built itself from the ground up over the last 140 years, and its growing reputation is only preceded by its exceptional products.
While Foresters may not be the ideal carrier for every life insurance shopper, it has a promising lineup which appeals to many.
Not only will you get dependable coverage backed by a reputable company, but also unique fraternal benefits.
Foresters Life Insurance
- Website
- foresters.com
- Phone
- (800) 832-7783
- Address
- 40 Wall Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Company Name (and subsidiaries)
- Foresters Life Insurance and Annuity Company
- Foresters Financial Holding Company, Inc.
- Foresters Financial Services, Inc.
- The Independent Order of Foresters
- Foresters Life Insurance and Annuity Company, New York