In our Ethos review you’ll see how you can apply for up to $3 million in term life insurance coverage online, often with no exam. We’ll also cover what the policies include, whether Ethos is legit, what coverage costs and who actually pays the claim. Life insurance doesn’t have to be complicated, so let’s get into it.
Is Ethos Legit?
Yes. Ethos is a licensed insurance agency, not an insurance company. You apply through Ethos, and your policy is issued by one of the established carriers it works with.
Ethos is a legitimate company. It was founded to make buying life insurance simpler, and it uses technology to get you coverage without the usual hurdles. The key thing to understand is the setup: Ethos is the agency you buy through, and the carrier that issues your policy is the insurer. That carrier is responsible for your coverage and for paying the claim, and your policy documents name it.
How Much Does Life Insurance Through Ethos Cost?
It depends on your age, health and how much coverage you want, but a healthy 35-year-old typically pays around $20 to $30 a month for a $500,000, 20-year term policy.
A healthy 35-year-old might pay around $20 to $30 a month for a $500,000, 20-year term policy, though your exact price depends on underwriting. Age, health, coverage amount and term length all move the number, so it’s smart to compare life insurance quotes online before you pick.
What Do Policies Through Ethos Cover?
You can buy between $100,000 and $3,000,000 of term coverage across four term lengths, with an optional Endowment Benefit Rider that returns your premiums.
There are four term lengths to choose from, each with coverage from $100,000 to $3,000,000. You can also add a return-of-premium rider called the Endowment Benefit Rider, which we cover below.
10-Year Term Life Insurance
A 10-year term covers you for 10 years. It’s the cheapest option and works well if you need coverage for a shorter stretch, like paying off a car loan or covering the years before a big life change. A lot can happen in 10 years, and locking in a low price now is a good start.
15-Year Term Life Insurance
A 15-year term covers you for 15 years. It’s the second cheapest and fits people in the middle of big life changes, like having a baby or switching jobs, similar to what we cover in our Fabric Life Insurance Review For Young Families.
20-Year Term Life Insurance
A 20-year term costs a bit more but is still affordable. It’s a good fit if you’re focused on the long run, like covering your kids until they’re grown. A longer term costs more each month but locks in your price for longer.
30-Year Term Life Insurance
A 30-year term is the most expensive of the four, but it’s still affordable for most people. It covers you the longest and is a really good option if you just bought a home and want coverage for the life of the mortgage.
All-Cause Death Benefit
These policies pay out for most causes of death. Like every policy, there are exclusions, so read yours for what isn’t covered.
Do Policies Through Ethos Include Living Benefits?
Many do. A terminal illness accelerated death benefit lets you use part of your death benefit while you’re alive if you’re diagnosed with a qualifying terminal illness. That money can help with medical bills or anything else you need.
Like most term policies, these don’t cover some situations, such as suicide within the first two years of the policy, acts of war or death while committing a crime.
No-exam policies can also come with coverage limits and underwriting rules that exclude some higher-risk applicants. Read your policy terms so you know the exclusions.
Term policies don’t build cash value. They’re pure protection, with no savings or investment piece.
What You Can Buy Through Ethos
Term Life Insurance
Ethos is built around term life insurance: coverage for a set number of years, usually 10, 15, 20 or 30. It’s the most affordable way to protect your family for a specific stretch, like until the kids are grown or the mortgage is paid off.
No-Exam Life Insurance
Most people who apply through Ethos don’t need a medical exam. That speeds up the decision and is a big reason people pick Ethos.
Annuities
Ethos also offers annuities, for people who want to turn savings into a steady income later on.
Can You Get Life Insurance Through Ethos With No Medical Exam?
Yes. Many applicants get covered without a medical exam, so you don’t have to schedule a doctor’s visit or lab work.
How Much Coverage Can I Get Without An Exam?
It depends on your age, health and how much coverage you ask for. Instead of an exam, the no-exam process looks at things like your medical records, prescription history and other reports, which is how decisions come back so fast.
Does Ethos Offer A Couples Discount?
Ethos offers discounts for couples who buy coverage together, which can make it more affordable for spouses or partners to get covered at the same time.
Can You Buy Life Insurance Through Ethos Online?
Yes. You can go from a quote to an approval entirely online without talking to an agent.
Doing it all online is one of Ethos’s biggest draws. You can get a quote, apply and get a decision on their website, and only talk to someone if you want to. You can also click any button on this page to get started. Many people get a decision right away.
Who Pays the Claim When You Buy Through Ethos?
The carrier that issued your policy pays the death benefit. Ethos is the agency you bought through, not the insurer.
When it’s time to file, your beneficiary files the claim with the issuing carrier, and that carrier pays the death benefit once the claim is approved. Ethos has resources on its website and a support team that can help your family get started.
The living-benefit rider works the same way. If you qualify for the terminal illness accelerated death benefit, the carrier pays out part of your death benefit early.
Ethos Pros And Cons
Pros Of Buying Through Ethos
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A fully online application that can get you covered in minutes, often with no medical exam
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Fast decisions with less waiting
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Term lengths from 10 to 30 years, with coverage up to $3 million
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Living benefits, like the terminal illness accelerated death benefit
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Support by live chat, phone and email
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Clear pricing and no-obligation quotes
Cons Of Buying Through Ethos
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The online-only process may not suit you if you’d rather sit down with an agent
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Tech-driven underwriting can occasionally hit a glitch
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Riders can make your policy details more complicated
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Support is chat, phone and email only, with no face-to-face option
Is Ethos A Good Company?
Yes, for most people who want simple, affordable term coverage. It’s not the best fit for very large or complicated policies.
People like Ethos for its modern, tech-driven approach. It keeps things simple, explains things clearly and moves quickly, which sets it apart from a lot of traditional agents.
Ethos gets good feedback for its easy website, quick approvals and competitive pricing. Your coverage itself comes from the carrier that issues the policy, so check that carrier’s financial strength rating too.
If you need a very large or complex policy, look elsewhere. For straightforward, affordable term life, Ethos is a good fit for most people and families.
Ethos Reviews & Ratings
Reddit Reviews
On Reddit, people often praise how easy the online application is and how fast approvals come back. A lot of them like the no-exam option and clear pricing. A few mention longer underwriting waits in specific cases.
Google Reviews
Google reviews for Ethos are mostly positive. Customers point to how simple it is to get covered and how helpful the support staff are.
BBB Reviews
Ethos has a solid track record with the Better Business Bureau when it comes to responding to and resolving complaints.
Yelp Reviews
Yelp reviewers say much the same: a straightforward process and quick coverage. Some mention underwriting delays, but most recommend it.
A.M. Best Rating
Ethos isn’t an insurance carrier, so it doesn’t have an A.M. Best rating of its own. The carriers that issue policies through Ethos carry their own ratings. Look up the one on your policy before you sign.
Admitted vs Non-Admitted Policies
What Is An Admitted Insurance Policy?
An admitted policy is approved and regulated by your state’s insurance department. It’s backed by the state guaranty fund, which gives you an extra layer of protection if the insurer goes under.
The policies you buy through Ethos come from carriers that file them with state regulators.
What Is A Non-Admitted Insurance Policy?
A non-admitted policy isn’t regulated by the state insurance department and isn’t backed by the state guaranty fund. It can be more flexible, but it’s riskier for you.
Alternatives to Ethos
Ethos vs SBLI
SBLI is a traditional life insurance company with straightforward term and whole life policies. It may ask for a medical exam more often and has a more conventional application. Ethos is more digital-first, with faster decisions on no-exam policies.
Ethos vs Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual is a big insurer with lots of products, including life insurance. It has more coverage options, while Ethos wins on simplicity and speed online. Liberty Mutual may be better if you want to bundle policies.
Ethos vs Fabric Life
Fabric Life focuses on term life with family-planning tools. Both offer no-exam term policies. Ethos goes up to $3 million in coverage and offers living benefits.
Can I Name Multiple Beneficiaries?
Yes. You can name more than one beneficiary and split the death benefit between family members, a trust or other people however you like.
You can update your beneficiaries online whenever you need to.
Is Ethos Available In My State?
Ethos sells in every state except New York. If you live in New York, you’ll need to look at other providers.
How Do I Contact Ethos?
You can reach Ethos through its website, where you can manage your policy, get a quote or talk to a licensed agent.
Contacting Ethos Customer Support
Ethos offers live chat on its website, email support and a phone line, so you can pick whatever works for you.
Live chat is the quickest way to get answers to common questions. For something more detailed, email or call.
Ethos also has an FAQ section on its website that answers a lot of common questions about policies and the application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is buying life insurance through Ethos a good option?
For a lot of people, yes, especially if you want a simple online application and no medical exam. Prices are competitive and reviews are mostly positive. Just check the issuing carrier’s financial strength rating before you sign.
Is Ethos right for you?
Ethos may be a good fit if you value convenience, speed and clear pricing, and you want straightforward term coverage.
Does Ethos pay the claim?
No. The carrier that issued your policy pays the claim. Ethos is the agency you bought through and can help your family get started.
Get A No Exam Life Insurance Quote
Who Owns Ethos?
Ethos is a privately held company founded by people from the insurance and tech worlds, and it’s backed by venture capital investors.
It operates as a licensed insurance agency and works with several insurance carriers that underwrite and issue the policies. That lets Ethos focus on the buying experience while established insurers handle the insurance itself.
How Long Has Ethos Been Around?
Ethos was founded in 2016, so it’s fairly young. It has grown quickly by using technology to make buying life insurance simpler.
Ethos Complaints
Like any company, Ethos gets complaints, though not many compared with how many policies it sells. The usual ones are underwriting delays for some applicants and communication hiccups.
Some people are frustrated that not everyone qualifies for a no-exam decision. Ethos’s support team generally works to sort out concerns quickly.