TruStage Life Insurance Review 2024
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TruStage
on Nerdwallet
Financial strength rating
Online purchase
NAIC complaints
Policies offered
on Nerdwallet
TruStage
Financial strength rating
Online purchase
NAIC complaints
Policies offered
TruStage’s life insurance lineup is open to credit union members, and the company is linked to more than 3,200 credit unions around the U.S. TruStage is part of the CUNA Mutual Group family of brands and its policies are issued by CMFG Life Insurance Co. Policy options are straightforward, with limited riders and low coverage caps.
If you’re in the market for term, whole or guaranteed issue life insurance, you can apply online and you won’t need a life insurance medical exam. Once you’re approved, coverage will kick in as soon as you pay the first premium.
» MORE: Compare life insurance quotes
TruStage life insurance rating
TruStage life insurance earned 3 out of 5 stars for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer experience, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and financial strength ratings.
» MORE: Best life insurance companies
TruStage life insurance policies
Term life insurance. Open to applicants ages 18 to 69, TruStage’s simplified issue term life insurance is sold in all states except New York. You can apply online to get an instant decision, and there’s no medical exam required, though you will need to answer some questions about your health and lifestyle.
TruStage offers $5,000 to $300,000 in coverage, and you’ll be given the option to renew the policy every five years until you turn 80. Your premium will go up each time you renew coverage. The policy includes an accelerated death benefit, which allows you to tap into the death benefit while you’re still alive if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness. It also has a conversion feature, meaning you can convert to a permanent life insurance policy later on.
Whole life insurance. TruStage’s whole life insurance policy is available nationwide to people ages 18 to 85. You can purchase $1,000 to $100,000 of coverage without the need for a medical exam, and premiums will stay the same for the life of the policy. But you can’t customize coverage with life insurance riders.
Whole life insurance builds cash value over time, and once you’ve accumulated enough, you can begin borrowing against your policy.
Guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance. If you want to skip the health questionnaire and medical exam, TruStage’s guaranteed issue life insurance policy might fit the bill. As long as you’re 45 to 80 years old and don’t live in New York or Washington, you’re guaranteed to be approved. However, like all guaranteed issue policies, you can expect to pay higher premiums because the insurer doesn’t have a complete picture of the person it’s covering. As for face amounts, you can buy $2,000 to $20,000 in coverage.
The policy has a “graded death benefit.” This means if you die of natural causes within the first two years after taking out the policy, your beneficiaries won’t receive a full death benefit. Instead, they’ll be reimbursed for the premiums you paid, plus 10%.
» MORE: Term vs. whole life insurance
TruStage customer complaints and satisfaction
Over three years, TruStage has drawn far more than the expected number of complaints to state regulators for a company of its size, according to NerdWallet’s analysis of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
What it’s like to apply for a policy with TruStage
You can start an application with TruStage online or over the phone. To get a quote on the website, you’ll need to enter your ZIP code, birthdate and sex for the type of life insurance policy you’re interested in.
You’ll be given a simple quote for term life insurance coverage, along with a comparison quote against other types of coverage.
When you click “Apply,” you’ll identify beneficiaries and answer questions about your medical history, tobacco use, driving and criminal records. Once you’ve completed the medical and lifestyle questionnaire, TruStage will ask for your personal and payment information to complete the application.
If you need help filling out the application, you have the option to call a representative.
» MORE: Life insurance application
Screenshot captured by our editorial team on June 27, 2024.
Screenshot captured by our editorial team on April 22, 2024.
How TruStage’s customer experience stacks up
TruStage’s site is organized and straightforward to use. You can quickly navigate to information on specific types of life insurance or learn more about paying your premiums, managing your account or filing a life insurance claim.
When we called TruStage, it only took a minute to connect with a live representative after an automated introduction. We asked basic questions about TruStage’s policy offerings, which the representative was able to answer. She then suggested we speak to a licensed agent for more specific details.
TruStage doesn’t have an app or online chat feature, but policyholders can create and manage an account on the company’s website.
More about TruStage
If you’re a TruStage life insurance beneficiary, you can file a claim over the phone on weekdays or by email or mail at any time. To speed up the process, have the policy number handy, as well as any supporting documents, such as a certified copy of the death certificate.
In addition to life insurance, TruStage sells prepaid funeral insurance, plus auto, homeowners, condo and renters insurance through Liberty Mutual.
TruStage also made our list of the best accidental death and dismemberment companies.
How to contact TruStage
TruStage can be reached by:
Phone: Call 855-591-9026 on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.
Email: Fill out the form on TruStage’s Contact Us page.
Live chat: Not available.
Life insurance buying guide
Before you start comparing companies, choose the type of life insurance you want, such as term or whole life. Decide which life insurance riders, if any, you want the policy to include. Calculate how much life insurance you need and how long you want the coverage to last. Check that the insurers you’re considering offer the coverage you’re looking for.
When comparing rates, be sure the quotes are for the same amount of coverage over the same period of time. It’s also important to make sure the policy’s medical requirements match your needs. For example, if you want to skip the life insurance medical exam but don’t mind answering health questions, confirm that the application process for each policy you're comparing aligns with that.
Price may not be the biggest driver behind your decision to buy. Look at the number of consumer complaints each company receives, as high numbers can be a red flag about the quality of service.
For more guidance, see our life insurance buying guide.
Methodology
Life insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s life insurance ratings are based on consumer experience, complaint index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for individual life insurance, and weighted averages of financial strength ratings, which indicate a company’s ability to pay future claims. Within the consumer experience category, we consider ease of communication and website transparency, which looks at the depth of policy details available online. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare with one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
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