Foresters Life Insurance Review

Enter your ZIP code to get started

Shield

Free. Simple. Secure.

Updated: November 21, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

MoneyGeek’s Take: Is Foresters Right for You?

Foresters Financial life insurance is suitable for a wide range of consumers, including the elderly and infants. It offers a number of policy types, including term life insurance, whole life insurance and universal life insurance plans for policyholders of different age groups.

The company also provides a variety of riders to its policyholders, who can choose to add them to their policies, whether they are term or permanent life insurance. It offers fixed premiums for its term and whole life plans and adjustable premiums for its universal life insurance. Foresters' whole life insurance or universal life insurance is your best bet if you wish to accumulate cash value over time and borrow against it in the future.

Nevertheless, the company makes no mention of whether it provides insurance to cancer survivors. The best insurance option after cancer is coverage from Nationwide.

At a Glance: Foresters Life Insurance

Foresters Financial

pros

checkmark

Offers term and permanent life insurance

checkmark

Member discounts

checkmark

Offers insurance to policyholders of all age groups

cons

close

Term life may require a medical exam and lab testing

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Foresters Financial is a worldwide supplier of financial services founded in 1874 and boasting 140 years of service. The company currently has a complaint score of 1.65, which is a little higher than the industry average of 1, as per statistics from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The company also has an A rating for financial strength from AM Best.

The company sells the following term and permanent life insurance policies:

  • Your Term Level Term Life Insurance
  • Strong Foundation Level Term Life Insurance
  • Prepared II Accidental Death Term Insurance
  • PlanRight Whole Life Insurance
  • Advantage Plus II Participating Whole Life Insurance
  • SMART Universal Life Insurance
  • BrightFuture Children’s Whole Life Insurance

While Foresters' term insurance offers short-term solutions and level policy premiums, its whole and universal policies offer both short- and long-term solutions. The universal policy is flexible, unlike the whole life insurance Foresters offers. Both these policy types allow tax-deferred cash value accumulation, as well as loans against the policy value. Some of its policies also offer dividends. Life insurance policyholders can also choose from a range of add-on riders from Foresters for term and permanent life insurance.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key Takeaways

blueCheck icon

Foresters offers term, whole and universal life insurance policies along with riders for all its policy types.

blueCheck icon

Its term life insurance is convertible and renewable, which means you can convert it to permanent life insurance, or the policy term is renewable based on your changing preferences.

blueCheck icon

Its BrightFuture Children’s policy is whole life insurance designed for children between the ages of 0 and 18.

Foresters Policy Options Explained

According to the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association's (LIMRA) 2022 Insurance Barometer Study, in the absence of life insurance, 44% would have financial difficulties within six months, and 68% of those with dependents feel safer owning a life insurance policy. Learn more about the many insurance plans from Foresters to select the most appropriate for your family.

Term Life Insurance Options From Foresters

For a set period, term life insurance provides financial security. Term life insurance is purchased for a specified amount of time (say, 20 years) and pays out a predetermined sum if the policyholder dies during that time period. Because of its temporary nature and lack of cash value potential, term life insurance is usually the most cost-effective choice. Foresters offers three types of term life insurance.

    coupleS icon

    Your Term Level Term Life Insurance

    Foresters' Your Term Level Term Life Insurance is renewable and convertible. If you want to extend the term of the policy, you can. Also, if a Foresters Financial permanent life insurance product better suits your needs, you can convert to it without the need to undergo the underwriting process once more. Initial terms available through Your Term are 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years. You can choose the term based on your current and forecasted financial obligations. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 80 can get this policy with a face value of at least $100,000.

    coupleS icon

    Strong Foundation Level Term Life Insurance

    Strong Foundation is renewable and convertible. Strong Foundation provides 10-, 15-, 20-, 25- and 30-year initial periods. You may choose the term based on your current and future financial needs. Ages 18 to 80 are eligible for coverage, with face amounts ranging from $50,000 to $500,000. In addition, the premiums for your primary coverage and any additional riders will not increase during the original term of your policy.

    coupleS icon

    Prepared II Accidental Death Term Insurance

    Foresters’ Prepared II Accidental Death Term Insurance is a straightforward and reasonable way to protect your family's financial future in the event of your untimely death due to an accident. It gives guaranteed rates for accidental death insurance coverage up to age 80 and a death benefit that is not taxable. Those between 18 and 70 are eligible for coverage, with face amounts between $50,000 and $500,000. Simplified Issue underwriting is used for Prepared II, which means that insurability is determined solely by the answers provided in the application rather than through the use of blood work, saliva samples or Paramed visits.

In the event that you pass away unexpectedly, your loved ones may be able to continue meeting their financial commitments, such as paying the mortgage and paying for college tuition, with the assistance of term life insurance. Term life insurance is an option for those who only want protection for a certain time, such as 10, 15 or 20 years, and can afford a fixed premium and want a predetermined coverage amount.

Whole Life Insurance Options From Foresters

Whole life insurance, in contrast to term life insurance, typically accumulates cash value, some of which may be borrowed against. Foresters offers the following whole life insurance.

    family icon

    Advantage Plus II Participating Whole Life Insurance

    With Foresters’ Advantage Plus II Participating Whole Life Insurance, you have the freedom to create an individual plan that will help you secure your family's financial future. Advantage Plus II puts you in charge of your coverage, allowing you to tailor it to your needs by adding extra protections against the unexpected if you so choose.

    With Advantage Plus II, you and your loved ones are protected for life (up to age 121), and your cash value is assured to grow. You may get dividends that can be left to earn interest, used to lower premiums or cashed out. Advantage Plus II offers income-tax-free death benefits and flat premiums for 20 years or up to the age of 100. Coverage starts at $25,000 for ages 0–85 and is underwritten on a nonmedical basis to age 75.

    family icon

    BrightFuture Children’s Whole Life​

    BrightFuture Children's Whole Life is a whole life insurance product for under-18s featuring a lifetime death benefit, a guaranteed cash value and level premiums. You can take out a loan against the cash value to help with short-term expenses like paying for a child's college tuition or to cover unforeseen costs. The caveat is that it could lower the death benefit if not paid back. The death benefit is tax-free, and insurance coverage lasts up to age 121, with guaranteed level premiums payable for 10 years or until age 100. Coverage is available for anyone under 18, with a face amount ranging from $5,000 to $75,000.

    family icon

    PlanRight Whole Life Insurance

    Planning for final expenses can be done using the coverage provided by Foresters’ PlanRight Whole Life Insurance. For policyholders between the ages of 50 and 85, insurance is offered with face amounts between $5,000 and $35,000.

Whole life insurance may be the best option if you're in search of permanent security. Whole life insurance covers you for the whole of your life; you can use the cash value you've built up in certain types of whole life insurance policies to finance large expenses like home remodeling or a vacation or to pay off a mortgage. There are certain whole life insurance plans that offer dividends. These dividends can typically be withdrawn in cash, left to accumulate cash value or used to lower premiums or to purchase extra insurance in the form of a paid-up addition (PUA).

Universal Life Insurance Options From Foresters

Permanent protection and an investing component are both included in universal life insurance. Because of its flexibility, the product may be modified to meet the needs of your changing lifestyle. Your certificate's account value will increase based on how much you pay in premiums. Insurance premiums and other recurring monthly expenses are deducted from this sum. The policy's cash value is what makes up the other part. With interest added to the certificate's account value, this might increase over time. Its tax-deferred cash value and death benefit, as well as the flexibility to withdraw assets and withdraw against the cash value, can help you weather life's major transitions and challenges. Foresters offers only one universal life insurance policy.

    rocketShip icon

    SMART Universal Life Insurance

    SMART Universal Life Insurance is a comprehensive life insurance solution that provides you with the flexibility to save for your future and protect your loved ones while being affordable. With the 10-Year No Lapse Guarantee from Foresters, you can continue coverage as long as you pay the minimum premium monthly. You can increase your potential cash value with SMART UL in addition to the death benefit. You may access the cash accumulation element of a SMART UL if you need money, and it accumulates at an annual interest rate of 2% (minimum) and is often credited at higher interest rates. You can get coverage of $25,000 ($10,000 for young children) or more, and the policy is available to anyone between the ages of 0 and 85.

With universal life insurance, you may make adjustments as your needs change. These policies provide lifetime insurance coverage as well as the opportunity to build financial wealth without paying taxes on it. If necessary, you can even withdraw funds against the cash value.

Final Expense Insurance Options From Foresters

Final expense insurance is a life insurance policy made for seniors or people nearing the end of their lives. The benefits of this policy may help your loved ones meet funeral expenses and other financial obligations.

    seniors icon

    PlanRight Whole Life Insurance

    PlanRight Whole Life Insurance serves as the final insurance policy offered by Foresters to those who are between 50 and 85 years old. The policy is available for face values ranging from $5,000 to $35,000. The death benefit provided by PlanRight is not subject to federal income taxation, and the premiums are guaranteed to remain constant.

    The policy is underwritten on a Simplified Issue basis, which means that your insurability is determined by your responses to medical and other questions in your application and underwriting searches and not on any saliva swabs, blood work or Paramed visits.

    To meet short-term expenses or prepare for an unforeseen event, you can take out a loan against the cash value. However, this could reduce your death benefit if it is not paid back.

Funeral and any associated costs can be covered by final expense insurance, despite the policy’s lower coverage amounts. Seniors who are just looking for life insurance coverage to account for these expenses are the best suited for this policy.

Foresters’ Life Insurance Riders

A life insurance rider is an optional add-on to your policy for an additional cost or at no cost. Foresters’ life insurance offers eight riders.

Rider
Description

Common Carrier Accidental Death Rider

This is intended to provide an extra death benefit if you suffer an accident and pass
away while traveling on a common carrier, like a bus, train or airline, for which you
paid for the ticket.

Family Health Benefit Rider

Natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes can bring in
unexpected medical bills for your family, and this rider can help cover some of
them.

Accelerated Death Benefit Rider

This rider allows you to accelerate a portion of the qualifying death benefit and
receive a payout if the insured is diagnosed with a covered terminal, chronic or
critical disease.

Charity Benefit Provision

Foresters Financial will donate an additional 1% (up to a maximum of $100,000) of
the face amount to a qualified charity of the policyholder's choice when a claim is
paid out. Donations made in an insured person's name have no effect on the value
of the death benefit since they are treated as charitable contributions.

Disability Income Rider (Accident Only)

If you become fully handicapped as the result of an accident, the Disability Income
Rider (Accident Only) may provide you with a steady monthly income to assist in
paying for your family's needs.

How to Get Foresters Life Insurance

After familiarizing yourself with the many insurance options from Foresters, the next phase involves figuring out how to purchase a policy from the company. In the event that Foresters denies your life insurance application, it's wise to have a backup plan in place.

How to Buy Life Insurance From Foresters

  1. 1
    Do Your Research

    Having an understanding of the many life insurance possibilities through Foresters is essential. To learn more about your available choices, you may either use the company's web tools, such as a life insurance needs calculator, or consult a broker or insurance agent.

  2. 2
    Compare Quotes

    Even if you believe you have chosen an excellent insurance plan with Foresters, it is always a good idea to compare it to other options. Many factors, including your age, gender, lifestyle choices, overall health and medical history, may affect your premium. In case the one you were considering would cost too much, it's good to know there are other options out there.

  3. 3
    Health Check

    After that, fill out an application and, if necessary, have a medical examination. A physical examination and a phone chat with a doctor are standard procedures, but many of Foresters’s policies do not require it. There's a chance an underwriter will want more details from you before giving you a quote.

  4. 4
    Approval

    If your application for life insurance with Foresters is successful, you will get a policy. Consult your insurance agent or broker for further information.

What to Do if Foresters Insurance Denies You Coverage

  1. 1
    Contact Your Broker

    You can learn more about what occurred by contacting your Foresters broker or the company's representative and requesting specifics.

  2. 2
    Lifestyle Changes

    Change your lifestyle to improve your health and improve your likelihood of getting authorized if you were refused because of a bad medical exam or a lifestyle practice like smoking. You might potentially buy life insurance at a lower cost as a result of the changes.

  3. 3
    Explore Other Options

    Lastly, you need to consider your other insurance options, particularly ones that do not need a medical exam, if that is why you were declined coverage. As a result, you could have to pay more money or settle for a lower coverage amount.

Frequently Asked Questions About Foresters Life Insurance

MoneyGeek makes your life insurance purchase decision easy by answering the most frequently asked questions about Foresters life insurance.

Can you borrow from your Foresters life insurance policy?
What’s the maximum amount of life insurance coverage available from Foresters?
Do life insurance policies from Foresters pay dividends?
Can you get life insurance from Foresters if you have cancer?
Do life insurance policies from Foresters cover death by drug overdose?
Do life insurance policies from Foresters cover death by suicide?

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

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.

Read Full Bio »
sources
Insurance
Mortgage
Credit Cards
Loans
About MoneyGeekPressPrivacy PolicySitemap
Copyright © 2024 MoneyGeek.com. All Rights Reserved Terms of Use