Citizens Life Insurance Review

Citizens is a leading life insurance provider, offering a decent range of policies at competitive rates. Life insurance can help ensure that your loved ones are financially secure even after you pass.

By Mark Fitzpatrick

Edited by Victoria Copans

Updated: November 21, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

MoneyGeek’s Take: Is Citizens Right for You?

Citizens is an outstanding provider for domestic consumers and foreign residents. It caters to a wide range of demographics, including young adults and seniors. Those with critical illnesses may also be able to qualify for coverage.

One downside of Citizens is that it doesn't provide many details on its offerings online — you will need to contact a representative for more information, including coverage limits, quotes and eligibility requirements. If you prefer having details provided upfront, we found that Haven Life is transparent and easy to access for a quote. Nationwide is also a solid choice for those between the ages of 30 and 40.

Because life insurance offers many benefits, it is essential to carefully consider your options. We crafted this guide to help you decide whether Citizens is a good match for you and your loved ones' needs.

At a Glance: Citizens Life Insurance

pros

Received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau

Multiple life insurance options available

Offers guaranteed returns

cons

Does not offer online quotes

High customer complaint rating

Not available in all states

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Citizens Incorporated has provided life insurance policies in the U.S. since its establishment in 1969 and expanded to the international market in 1975. It operates through several life insurance subsidiaries that serve different niche markets, including CICA Life Insurance Company of America, Citizens National Life Insurance Company and Security Plan Life Insurance Company. CICA Life is its largest subsidiary and is available in 30 states and Washington, D.C. Citizens National offers services in Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese to meet the needs of domestic clients with different cultural backgrounds.

Data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) shows that its CICA Life and Security Plan subsidiaries have very high complaint indices of 24.74 and 37.51, respectively. Meanwhile, Citizens National almost never receives complaints compared to its competitors, receiving a 0.0 complaint index.

With Citizens, consumers can consider life insurance products from the following categories:

Whole Life Series
Abundance Series
Freedom Series
Critical Illness Coverage

With any of the above coverages, policyholders get perks like a lifetime benefit, lifetime income and savings protection. Critical Illness Coverage may greatly benefit those with a qualifying illness — instead of having to submit insurance claims to the provider, policyholders are paid benefits directly and can decide how to best use them.

Compared to similar insurance companies, Citizens stands out because it also offers whole life insurance and endowment policies to foreign residents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Is Citizens Right for You?
At a Glance: Citizens Life Insurance
Citizens Life Insurance Policy Options Explained
Whole Life Insurance Options From Citizens
Final Expense Insurance Options From Citizens
How to Buy Life Insurance From Citizens
What to Do if Citizens Denies You Coverage

Key Takeaways

Citizens offers policies to both domestic and international buyers.

We recommend contacting a Citizens representative to learn more about its policies as the company doesn't list much information online.

Citizens doesn’t offer riders that you can add to your policy.

Citizens Policy Options Explained

In 2022, the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA) conducted an Insurance Barometer Study and found that 31% of U.S. adults are more likely to buy life insurance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are one of them and are in the market for a new policy, read our review to discover Citizens’ different insurance options and pick a suitable option for you and your family’s needs.

Whole Life Insurance Options From Citizens

Whole life insurance covers a policyholder for the duration of their lifetime and offers a guaranteed death benefit to beneficiaries.

Citizens Whole Life Series

The Citizens Whole Life Series policy is available for both domestic and international consumers. You can protect your loved ones with guaranteed savings protection and dividends. Both of these features generate long-term financial support on top of your agreed-upon cash value.

Consider whole life insurance if you prefer a combination of life insurance and a savings account. It’s an exceptional choice for those who want to build their business or conduct long-term estate planning.

Final Expense Insurance Options From Citizens

Citizens' Abundance Series

Citizens' Abundance Series offers an endowment life insurance policy at age 65 that includes coverage for retirement and accrues dividends. Both CICA Life and Citizens National also offer final expense coverage, but further details are not available on the website.

Seniors who need help covering burial and other end-of-life costs may find final expense insurance beneficial as it can help remove any financial burden from beneficiaries. Final expense insurance is also well-suited to those who need a small amount of coverage or continuous medical care.

How to Get Citizens Life Insurance

After you’ve reviewed all Citizens life insurance products, the next step is to buy a policy. We also outline the best ways to move forward if your insurance application is denied.

How to Buy Life Insurance From Citizens

1
Do Your Research
Before you purchase a Citizens policy, browse through the different types to select a suitable option. You can contact a Citizens representative via email or phone and ask for advice on the best options for you and your loved ones. It’s also a good idea to check whether Citizens offers services in your state.
2
Compare Quotes
Premiums can vary widely across insurance providers, so take the time to weigh several different options. Sometimes the most affordable option might not offer the coverage you need. Factors such as your lifestyle, medical history, age, gender and current health condition can significantly impact rates.
3
Health Check
You may need to undergo a health check, which requires a medical exam, phone interview or both. Representatives might ask for more information about you and your health background.
4
Approval
You’ll get your policy as soon as your application is approved. We highly suggest that you read through the policy terms and discuss any questions or concerns you might have with a Citizens agent.

What to Do if Citizens Insurance Denies You Coverage

If Citizens turns down your application for a life insurance policy, here are the next steps you can take:

1
Contact Your Broker
We encourage you to start by talking to your agent and asking for the specific reasons why your application was denied. A different Citizens life insurance product may be a better fit, and the broker can help you determine if this is the case.
2
Lifestyle Changes
You stand to gain long-term by improving your overall health. This may, in turn, increase your chances of getting approved for life insurance and possibly even securing a lower premium.
3
Explore Other Options
Try applying with other insurance companies if your first application doesn’t work out. Some policies are easier to obtain if they don't require a medical examination. Just note that premiums may be more expensive, and coverage may be limited.

Frequently Asked Questions About Citizens Life Insurance

We answer the most commonly asked questions about life insurance with Citizens so you can make a well-informed decision.

Can you borrow from your Citizens life insurance policy?

Citizens policies offer living benefits and accumulate cash value, which can generally be borrowed against. We recommend reaching out to an agent to learn more.

What’s the maximum amount of life insurance coverage available from Citizens?

Citizens doesn’t disclose its available coverage amounts on its website, so you'll need to contact a representative to find out more.

Do life insurance policies from Citizens pay dividends?

Citizens does not specify whether its policies pay out dividends, but you can contact an agent to find out.

Can you get life insurance from Citizens if you have cancer?

Health conditions such as cancer may impact your ability to get life insurance coverage. Citizens does not address this on its website, so we encourage you to contact a representative if you're looking for a policy and have cancer.

Do life insurance policies from Citizens cover death by drug overdose?

Citizens doesn’t disclose whether death by overdose is covered, so it’s best to ask the company directly.

Do life insurance policies from Citizens cover death by suicide?

We encourage you to reach out to a Citizens agent since this coverage isn’t mentioned on its website.

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About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.

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sources

Better Business Bureau. "Citizens Inc." Accessed March 8, 2023.
Citizens Incorporated. "About." Accessed March 8, 2023.
Citizens Incorporated. "Cica Life." Accessed March 8, 2023.
Citizens Incorporated. "Citizens National." Accessed March 8, 2023.
LIMRA. "2022 Insurance Barometer Study." Accessed March 8, 2023.
NAIC. "Citizens Incorporated National Complaint Index Report." Accessed March 8, 2023.