Term life insurance age limit: why it's never too late!

Life insurance is a helpful addition to your family's financial security, no matter your age. Whether you're young, old, or somewhere in-between, there are strategic ways to use life insurance in your financial planning

However, depending on your age, situation, and goals, there's significant nuance as to how to implement these strategies. There's no official life insurance age limit. However, providers often have age restrictions for different types of policies.

For instance, in some cases, you may find it isn't feasible to use term life insurance. Instead, you may consider a form of permanent life insurance. 

How old is too old for life insurance?

If you’re wondering whether there’s an age limit for getting life insurance, the answer is: not necessarily, but your options may change over time.

For most Ethos term life products, individuals aged between 20 to 69 years may be eligible, depending on the plan. For example, Ethos Term Life (Prime and Choice) generally caps eligibility at age 65, while some options like TruStage may extend eligibility up to 69 years of age.

As you get older, premiums tend to increase, and qualifying can become more dependent on your health and financial profile. In your 70s and beyond, term life options may be limited, but coverage is still available. Ethos offers whole life insurance for ages 66–85, providing an alternative for those who age out of term policies.

In short, while age can affect cost and eligibility, it’s rarely “too late” to find some form of life insurance coverage.

Term life insurance rates by age

Term life insurance premiums are closely tied to your age at the time of application. In general, younger applicants receive lower rates, while premiums increase as age rises.

Most Ethos term life policies offer level premiums for the duration of the term, meaning your monthly cost stays consistent throughout the selected term length (e.g., 10, 15, 20, 30 or 40 years). However, if you choose to continue coverage after the initial term ends, renewal premiums typically increase, largely because you are older at the time of renewal.

Term life eligibility is usually limited to ages 20–69 (with some variation by product). This makes starting insurance at a younger age an important factor for locking in more favorable rates.

For a clearer picture of how pricing changes over time, refer to life insurance rates by age chart. This can help set expectations, for example, understanding estimated costs for someone in their 60s versus someone closer to age 70.

Is there an age limit on term life insurance?

There isn’t a universal age limit for term life insurance, but eligibility is typically defined by each insurer and product. Age plays a key role in determining which policies are available.

Across Ethos term life offerings, eligibility generally falls within ages 20 to 69, depending on the product. Due to these age limits, term life insurance may not be an option for older applicants, especially for individuals over 69.

For individuals who do not qualify for term plans, permanent coverage options are often available. Ethos offers whole life insurance for ages 66–85, providing an alternative for those seeking coverage later in life.

In short, while term life has age-based limits, coverage options don’t end and your choices simply shift based on age.

Senior life insurance

Depending on the applicant and the insurer, senior life insurance plans can include term policies. However, insurance types like guaranteed issue whole life are more common. This is partly because not all insurers will sell term policies to seniors past a certain age. Instead, certain types of permanent life insurance are often recommended, like whole life policies. 

Even these policies often become restricted for applicants around 90-plus years old. While people may hesitate to apply for life insurance as they get older, the reality can be more accessible and less daunting than they may expect.

When should I get life insurance?

The answer depends on you and your circumstances, but it's rarely too early or late to get life insurance. With term life policies, it's often better to start sooner, so you can secure and maintain lower rates. 

Still, a term life policy can be beneficial at nearly any age, because they come in different term lengths or durations. The younger you are when you take out the policy, the longer you may want the term to be. That's especially true with fixed-rate policies. Taking out a policy when you're young for a longer duration say, 30 years can secure a lower rate for a more extended period. 

If you're thinking about life insurance but unsure how much you need, consider using our web tool to calculate your needs.

Term life insurance policies with Ethos

Ethos offers online term life insurance for eligible applicants, with most products available to individuals ages 20 to 69.

The application process is simple and fully digital, no medical exam is required. Instead, applicants complete a short set of health and lifestyle questions, with many receiving an instant decision.

Ethos term policies provide flexible coverage and term options. Coverage amounts typically range from $50,000 up to $3 million (with some variations by product), and term lengths commonly include 10, 15, 20,30 and 40 years.

All Ethos term policies feature level premiums, meaning your monthly rate stays the same for the entire duration of the term.