Life Insurance For Felons | What Is A Good Company For Convicted Felons In Mar 2024?

Discover how life insurance for felons will work, the best life insurance companies for a convicted felon and much more in 2022!

By Licensed Agent Sa El

Edited & Expert Reviewed by Sa El

Updated: February 7, 2023

Trying to get life insurance as a felon can seem like an uphill battle, especially if you are just getting out of jail or prison.  

But here’s the thing:

Not all life insurance companies are created equal. Some of them will offer you coverage even if you have a criminal record.

life insurance for felons

However, it won’t be easy to get the best rates, because of that; In this post, I will discuss how you can get life insurance with a felony conviction, if there are any alternatives to life insurance if you have a felony, and much more. 

Can Convicted Felons Get Life Insurance?

Yes, most of the time, people who have been convicted of a Felony or Misdemeanor can qualify for a traditional life insurance policy. Some may even be eligible for a no exam life insurance policy with standard or preferred rates.

But, if I am being honest, getting covered won’t be a walk in the park. Several factors come into play when trying to figure out if an insurance company will protect you. 

Your ability to get covered will be heavily dependent on the company you choose to get coverage through and how they will underwrite your specific crime.

Insurance companies want to know if you were simply charged with a felony or did you get convicted. Suppose you were arrested for a felony but not convicted.

In that case, it could affect your premiums but trying to get coverage won’t be nearly as bad as it is for someone with a felony. 

Life insurance companies will also take into consideration: 

  • The number of offenses you committed
  • When you got out of jail
  • Your current probation or parole status
  • The amount of time you served for your felony

There are other factors to consider, but your biggest takeaway should be that you can get coverage.

Still, it won’t be easy, and it will probably take longer than usual to get out of underwriting.

Can You Get Life Insurance As A Prisoner?

No, if you are currently a prison inmate or incarcerated, you won’t be able to get life insurance.

An insurance company would not be willing to take the risk of you passing away.

Simultaneously, prison is full of people who also “in the eyes of the insurance company,” are living a risky lifestyle.

However, once you are out of prison, you can apply for life insurance.

It would be best to wait until after you have finished any probation time before you look to apply for life insurance.

Is There A Life Insurance Background Check?

Life insurance companies may order a background check when completing your application.

The check's extent usually depends on the amount of coverage you are obtaining and the insurance company you are applying through. 

The longer it has been since you were incarcerated, the better your chances of getting approved become. 

Why Life Insurance Companies Care About Your Criminal Record?

Insurance companies collect a ton of data, showing that people who have criminal records tend to live shorter lives, especially people who have been convicted of felonies.

However, this doesn’t mean that insurance companies see all crimes as the same. Your offense will be considered on a case by case basis. 

How To Buy Life Insurance If You're A Felon?

Waiting is the name of the game. If you have a criminal record, the longer you wait after your probation period ends, the better the opportunity to get approved if you apply for coverage.

You also will still need to: 

Figure out how much coverage you need - You should have at least 10 times your annual income.

Suppose you don’t currently have a job. In that case, you can still apply for life insurance up to a certain amount depending on the company you choose.

Determine how long your coverage should last - The best thing to do is go for the most extended term length.

The longer you have the policy, the longer your rates stay locked in, and the more savings you get. Term lengths can range from 10 years up to 40 years.

Get some quotes online and compare pricing - When you start getting quotes and comparing prices, be sure to compare apples to apples.

You shouldn’t try to compare a term life policy to a whole life policy. Nor should you try to compare the rates of a 10-year term to a 30-year term.

You can get quotes easily online by clicking here or just by doing a google search. 

Read customer and product reviews - Product reviews give you all the information you will need to make the best purchasing decision.

Reviews can come from customers who purchased the product or from insurance agencies or blogs reviewing the product.

Pick a company and apply - Don’t be afraid to apply for more than one company. It doesn’t cost you anything to apply for coverage because you still have to get approved.

However, if you only apply to one company and don’t get a favorable answer, you might be discouraged from going through the process again.

So, always apply to at least 2 companies, and once you get your answer back, you can make the best decision.

Are There Any Alternatives For Life Insurance As A Felon?

Group life insurance, accidental death insurance, and guaranteed issue life insurance are all alternatives for life insurance as a felon. 

Group life insurance usually requires no exam and is offered through your employer based on one to two times your annual income. 

The cost of this coverage is usually covered 100% by your employer, but you can purchase additional coverage if you like. Additionally, there are some companies that offer split-dollar life insurance plans. . Additionally, there are some companies that offer split-dollar life insurance plans. .

Accidental death insurance doesn’t require an exam or health questions; however, it will only pay out if your death is caused by accident.  

It’s not the best option if you have dependents, but something is better than nothing.  

Guaranteed issue life insurance or graded death benefit policies are a type of whole life insurance that focuses on people 45 years of age up to 85 years of age. 

These policies usually don’t go past $25,000 in coverage and are for people who can’t get traditional coverage. 

This policy will usually have a 2 to 3 year waiting period before benefits “grade up” to the death benefit's full amount.

Taking Action

Life as a Felon isn’t easy, and while you might have repaid your debt to society, there are still roadblocks stopping you from progressing every day. 

However, companies are willing to work with you and give you the second chance you deserve.  

If you need life insurance as a felon and are ready to move forward, you can click here or any of the above buttons to get started. 

Frequently Asked Questions


Can you get life insurance if you have a felony?

Yes, you can get life insurance if you have been convicted of a Felony or Misdemeanor; however, you should try to wait as long as possible from the time you come off of probation before you apply for coverage. 

Do life insurance companies check criminal records?

Life insurance companies do a simple background check; however, they do ask questions on the application regarding your background. You should answer this honestly because if you lie on the application, the insurance company can refuse to payout. Remember, how you answer the question will affect your monthly premiums.

What happens if I had life insurance before becoming a felon?

If you had life insurance before becoming a felon, then your policy will still be in force.  Once you have gone past the 2-year contestability clause, there isn’t much of anything a life insurance company can do.  As long as you don’t get killed in the commission of a crime, the policy will payout. 


EXPERT EDITOR & REVIEWER

Sa El

Licensed & Certified Insurance Agent

Sa El is the Founder of Simply Insurance and a licensed Insurance Agent with over 15 years of experience in the industry.  He specializes in Life & Health Insurance and is certified in Long Term Care Insurance in the state of Georgia. a licensed real estate agent in the state of Georgia (License #382602), an entrepreneur, insurance educator, and freelance writer.