While it might not be the most competitive in terms of price and user experience, Kansas City Life Insurance Company is a longstanding, financially stable carrier with a versatile lineup of policies and riders.
A.M. Best
A
BBB
A
J.D. Power
N/A
Kansas City Life Insurance Company Review
The Good
- Financial security
- Longstanding reputation
- Product variety
- No exam coverage
The Bad
- No online quotes
- Limited face amounts
- Vague policy information online
- Less competitive pricing
Product Availability
Policy Types
- Term
- Universal
- Indexed
- Variable
- Whole
Riders
- Accelerated death benefit
- Accidental death benefit
- Children’s life insurance
- Cost of living
- Disability waiver of premium
- Guaranteed insurability
- Overloan protection
- Spousal term
Overall
3.64
Price/Value
3.3
Financial Strength
2.5
User Experience
3.3
Product Availability
2.7
Brand/Size
2.6
Price/Value
There are hundreds of life insurance companies out there, and depending on your risk factors and coverage needs, one company might offer more value than another.
What you pay for coverage will typically depend on your age, health, family history, and other underwriting factors.
To assess price and value, we compare quotes across several demographics.
Overall, Kansas City Life’s rates are reasonable, but you may be able to secure lower rates from another carrier.
Since Kansas City Life does not provide online quotes, you’ll have to contact the company to see exactly what rates you can expect.
Financial Strength
Another factor worth considering is the company’s ability to pay out claims.
Credit ratings assess a company’s outlook and likelihood to meet its financial obligations.
Kansas City Life is only rated by one of the four major credit rating agencies, A.M. Best.
The lack of ratings by Fitch, Standard & Poor’s, and Moody’s detracted from Kansas City Life’s financial strength rating.
However, A.M. Best gives Kansas City Life Insurance Company an “A” rating, one of their highest.
Paired with the company’s consistently stable financial performance, this rating suggests Kansas City Life is a solvent company you can rely on.
User Experience
Your choice of life insurance company should factor in more than financial strength and the cost of coverage.
Another important aspect to consider is user experience.
Shopping rates, securing coverage, and navigating your policy should be easy tasks, and the best companies are dedicated to simplifying the process.
To rate Kansas City Life’s user experience, we’ve dissected the company’s website, application, and external ratings.
Ratings
There are various rating sources for life insurance companies, but two of the most distinguished are J.D. Power and the Better Business Bureau.
J.D. Power releases an annual ranking of the top life insurance companies nationwide based on customer satisfaction.
Kansas City Life was not featured in the survey; however, it is positively rated by the Better Business Bureau.
While Kansas City Life is not accredited, it has earned an “A” rating from the BBB, one of the Bureau’s highest ratings.
Website
Kansas City Life’s website is lackluster by comparison to some of its competitors.
The site is transparent about its leadership, background, and financial performance.
It also provides educational information about the different types of life insurance and features a calculator to help you assess your coverage needs.
But when it comes to important policy details such as age requirements, death benefit amounts, and riders, the site is lacking.
You cannot obtain online quotes either and must submit an online contact form to get more info and apply.
Policyholders can create an online account, though it’s unclear what tasks they can carry out on the site.
Application
With the company’s simplified underwriting process, you’ll need to complete a tele-interview and allow the company to access your MIB, MVR, and prescription records.
If you’re in great enough shape to qualify for express underwriting, you could be approved without undergoing a medical exam.
Most applicants require full underwriting with a medical exam. The results of the exam are used by the underwriters to guarantee you have no hidden medical risks.
After completing the application, you can expect to wait 4 to 6 weeks, average for the industry, to be approved.
Product Availability
Kansas City Life offers several term and permanent policy options, detailed below.
Term
With term life insurance, you’re covered for a set amount of time.
As long as you keep up with premium payments, your beneficiaries are guaranteed to receive a death benefit if you pass away during the term.
Kansas City Life’s term policies come in 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year terms.
These policies are also convertible, which means you can convert your term coverage into a permanent policy down the line, regardless of your health.
You can also purchase a return of premium policy from Kansas City Life at a higher rate.
With an ROP policy, eligible premiums you paid are refunded to you if you outlive your term coverage.
Universal
Kansas City Life also offers several permanent policy options, with universal being one of the most flexible.
With a universal policy, you get the death benefit, plus an accessible cash value account which amasses interest.
You can also adjust your premiums and face amount as your needs and goals change.
Kansas City Life’s basic universal policy accrues interest at a guaranteed minimum rate.
Indexed Universal
An indexed universal policy comes with all the advantages of universal coverage, with a different interest crediting strategy
With more potential for growth, indexed universal policies are tied to stock market indices, in this case, the S&P 500.
Kansas City Life’s indexed universal policies come with flexible payments, allowing you to pay premiums monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.
Variable Universal
Rounding out its universal lineup, Kansas City Life offers a variable universal policy.
While it has the same flexible premiums and policy structure as the products above, variable universal coverage has a different interest-earning potential.
Variable universal insurance grows interest similarly to mutual funds, with actual investments into sub-accounts.
Consequently, these policies offer more risk and the potential for a higher reward.
Because variable universal life insurance is complex, it has to be sold through a licensed representative.
Whole
Whole life insurance is built on guarantees, providing lifelong coverage with a set interest rate on cash value and guaranteed premiums.
These features come at an added cost, with whole life insurance costing about 5-15x as much as term.
Kansas City Life offers basic whole life insurance, plus children’s policies which can be extended when the child reaches age 25.
For an adult whole life policy, you can choose to pay premiums for life, or pay up the policy over 20 years.
Brand/Size
Kansas City Life has an established track record as one of the oldest life insurance companies in the game, getting its start in Kansas City in 1895.
Over the years, Kansas City Life went from offering life insurance coverage in just one state (Missouri) to 49 states plus Washington D.C.
The company is known for offering an impressive lineup of life insurance policies and annuities.
Today, Kansas City Life has over 2,500 employees and more than 500,000 policyholders.
It has also acquired four subsidiaries:
- Grange Life Insurance Company
- Old American Insurance Company
- Sunset Financial Services
- Sunset Life Insurance Company of America
Brand Recognition
Kansas City Life has established a solid reputation, but it is not a household name like some of its competitors.
The company’s website does not disclose many details about its philanthropic efforts or community partnerships.
It does not appear to have a huge marketing presence, either.
Kansas City Life does have active accounts on Facebook and Twitter, as well as a Youtube channel, allowing them to connect and interact with policyholders.
Consensus
It’s always a smart move to get a second (or third) opinion when comparing companies or products, including life insurance.
In addition to ranking Kansas City Life using our own thorough criteria, we’ve factored in expert opinions from across the industry.
What is the general consensus regarding Kansas City Life Insurance Company?
There is a widely held agreement that Kansas City Life is a solid choice of provider.
However, the company does not typically rank as one of the best life insurance companies as there are simply more competitive options out there.
Regardless, it is a financially stable provider with a solid reputation and quality products.
Kansas City Life Insurance Company Review
- Website
- kclife.com
- Phone
- (800) 821-6164
- Address
- P.O. Box 219139
Kansas City, MO 64121
Company Name (and subsidiaries)
- Old American Insurance Company
- Sunset Financial Services
- Sunset Life Insurance Company of America