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7.0

Overall Score

LAST UPDATED: June 27th, 2023

New York Life is a reliable choice for a life insurer. It has many years of industry experience, a favorable company structure, and high financial strength ratings.

If you're looking for term, whole, universal, or variable life insurance, New York Life's policies are worth considering.

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The Good

  • High Financial Strength
  • Favorable Company Structure
  • Good Policy Selection
  • Rider Options

High Financial Strength

New York Life has received high financial strength ratings. These ratings are an indicator of the likelihood an insurer is to be able to meet its claims obligations. High ratings are a good sign, especially when combined with New York Life's many years in the industry.

You can rely on policies purchased from New York Life.

Faorable Company Structure

New York Life is a mutual company, which means that policyholders own shares in the company instead of stockholders. This structure makes it easy for the company to make decisions centered on their policyholders' interest without worrying about stock holders.

Good Policy Selection 

New York Life offers a wide variety of life insurance policies, which is common in the industry.

Similar to other insurers, New York Life offers term life insurance with level premiums. You can choose the term length of the policy to suit your needs. New York Life stands out for offering a convertible term policy. This policy lasts one year, but you can renew it annually at a new premium rate.

New York Life offers whole, universal, and variable permanent life insurance policies. This selection makes it easy to find a policy that meets your needs.

New York Life offers several whole life insurance policies and stands out with its Custom Whole LIfe Insurance policy. With this policy, you can choose a payment schedule for your policy to be fully paid.

New York Life's universal life policies are different from what others offer because of the death benefit options:

  • Level death benefit (face amount of policy only)
  • Fluctuating death benefit (face amount of policy plus the accrued cash value)
  • Return of premium rider (face amount of policy plus total adjusted premiums paid)

These options can add more value to your policy for your beneficiaries.

Rider Options

New York Life also offers a variety of riders that can be added to its permanent life insurance policies. Some riders may only be available with certain policies.

These riders include the following:

  • Disability Waiver of Premium
  • Accelerated Death Benefit (Chronic Care or Living Benefits)
  • Accidental Death benefit
  • Option to Purchase Paid-Up Additions
  • Money Back Option Rider

These rider options are common in the industry and make New York Life competitive in the industry.

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The Bad

  • Must Provide Contact Information for Quote

Must Provide Contact Information for Quote

Before you can receive a quote and additional policy details, you must provide contact information. If you're still researching options and not quite ready to be contacted by a company representative, this can be inconvenient.

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The Bottom Line

Although we'd like to know more about the customer experience with New York Life, it's a reliable life insurer. It has stood the test of time and received high financial strength ratings. 

You'll also benefit from a wide selection of policies and some offerings distinct to New York Life. If one of New York Life's policies seems like a good fit, it's worth exploring further.

View Best Life Insurance Companies

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Star Rating

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4.5

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36 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

64%

4 grade

28%

3 grade

6%

2 grade

0%

1 grade

3%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

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Quality

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Service

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JOHN M CAMPBELL ,

I have 2 policies with AARP/NYL for about 15 years. I have diabetes, so it's impossible for me to purchase Life Insurance, until New York Life started a program in conjunction with AARP to offer "no questions asked" policies. There may be cheaper Life Insurance elsewhere, but if it wasn't for New York Life I wouldn't have an insurance for my family after death. The only negative thing I have is that you can not make your monthly premiums with a credit card (I want the points!), but must use a bank draft if you want them paid automatically.

3 years ago Edited September 14, 2021

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Luke Swierczynski Waterford, MI

My cousin just became a rep for New York Life Insurance. The rate she was able to offer was competitive and I've had no issues with auto draw or anything. We got a little baby life policy just to help her out, but were pleasantly surprised by her knowledge of the industry having just gotten started. If we didn't already have our whole life policy through a competitor we would of given her the business, but as you age they get more expensive and transferring the cash amount of our current policy wouldn't make financial sense. Well trained, knowledgeable and helpful. Also we did not experience underwriting or a health evaluation due to the amount I purchased.

2 years ago Edited February 1, 2022

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Mindy Clarke Tacoma, WA

I have life Insurance for me and my Kids' with this company. The price is low and the coverage good. They have great customer service and answer my questions in a timely manner.

9 months ago

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Paul Burdick Fort Lauderdale, FL

The very nature of Insurance is based on a person's age, gender, and health. You don't just buy insurance like a loaf of bread. Insurance is a Unilateral contract that is offered based on the individual risk of the applicant, unless it is guaranteed issue, and in that case, age and gender are mandatory for a quote.

1 year ago

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NWildfans Portland, OR

I have a Whole Life policy and it just keeps growing and growing. I didn't understand at first how this policy worked but I had trust in the agent. It has been ten years and it is one of the best things I own in my overall portfolio.

3 years ago

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Rodney McGee Gilbert, AZ

We have multiple life insurance policies, both term and whole life. The service I have received from this company, and especially the agents, has been nothing short of excellent! Our agent is always available to answer any questions that we have. And when we were in need, he explained the process of borrowing against our whole life policy flawlessly. I'd recommend NY Life in a heartbeat. Not only the customer service but how well our portfolio has performed has blown me away.

5 years ago

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Steve Ashby Portland, OR

My father worked for NYLIC for over 30 years and I have been insured by them since I was a toddler. As an adult I have purchased insurance for myself and my wife, and riders for my children. I have always been very happy with my experience with the company and look forward to working with them for the rest of my life.

3 years ago

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Brad H Gilbert, AZ

I have used New York Life as my term life Insurance company for the past 20 years. I chose New York Life over other insurance companies since they allowed me to pay for my insurance only one time per year and the stable price of the life insurance. I found that the amount I paid each year to be very affordablee with only minimal increased charges. I also found the amount I paid for term life insurance was less than other companies for the same amount of benefits.

3 years ago

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D Woodstock, IL

Superior customer service from agent that wanted our business for federal life insurance conversion. He was prompt, responsive and very, very hardworking. We wanted to commend him and asked for his supervisor to call us, but unfortunately they never did. Perhaps they will see this.

3 years ago

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Michelle Schow Saratoga Springs, UT

We have life insurance through New York Life. They seem to be a company we can trust...although I haven't actually ever made a claim with them :). We bought term life insurance and they are constantly sending us information to get whole life insurance.

4 years ago

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Amber Saratoga Springs, UT

The agents at New York life have good about updating our policy and reviewing everything with us yearly. They send out monthly statements so we always know where everything is going. We have term life insurance and whole life insurance. After a certain amount of time they start to pay out dividends to our accounts so everything has gotten cheaper over time.

5 years ago

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Heather H Sanford, FL

New York Life is an excellent company with decent options for covering your needs. They are transparent and responsive, but their customer service has room for improvement.

11 months ago

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KATE Brooklyn, NY

New York Life sent us a medical examiner who was totally unprofessional. First. Even though he visited us at the time when the COVID-19 pandemic in NY just started, he did not put gloves on to take a blood sample. When asked to put gloves on, he demonstrated his disaffection and wore only one. Second. He was over 30 minutes late. Third. After the blood work, one of my veins has been puffy and enlarged. It has been three months now, and it did not get better yet. Because of this experience, I truly do not recommend New York Life. In my opinion, it is the insurance company's responsibility to select right medical examiners to contract with. They should have done their due diligence, which obviously they did not.

3 years ago

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Joi Estep Charlottesville, VA

When my mother passed, she had a policy with New York Life. The representative was kind, considerate and the claim was processed within 3 days. Amazing.

6 years ago

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Carolyn Hazleton, PA

In getting set up with insurance coverage their team of customer service representatives worked with me to select the best policy for my needs at the time will continue to use their products.

2 years ago

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Julia UP Southbury, CT

They make sure all your needs are met. They check with you often to make sure your policy is up to date. If at anytime there are questions that need addressing they are readily available to help. Would recommend

2 years ago

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Joannetta Jarman Secaucus, NJ

Been happy fans since the 80's and haven't been disappointed yet. Very easy to set up and follow the progress. Unfortunately we wont see the benefits of the service at the end. :)

3 years ago

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Tamra Ashby Salt Lake City, UT

Thorough when helping us set up life insurance for our family. Quick, efficient, compassionate and as stress free as possible when we called for help utilizing our policy following the death of our daughter.

3 years ago

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jcleaton San Diego, CA

I always bought term insurance but as I got closer to retirement decided to add a whole life policy through NY life. Very nice getting something back from my insurance payments and NY life has provide the coverage I wanted at an affordable cost. Hightly recommend.

3 years ago

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Kathryn Robinson Riverton, UT

We have New York Life insurance and have been happy with the customer service and plan options. We have term life insurance through New York. My only complaint is they frequently try to get us to convert to whole life insurance.

4 years ago

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Tom Pleasant Grove, UT

My father passed away and had insurance with New York Life. They were easy to work with and very caring. Everything was handled very professionally and with integrity.

5 years ago

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Nathan Justis Smithfield, UT

I have a life policy with them that I've had for about 15 years and I thought my savings would be higher than it is, but I feel like it's a good company with a strong, reliable brand.

3 years ago

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Sara Jane Crestwood, KY

Billing is easy. The pricing is good and the company is stable. Everything you want in a life insurance policy.

5 years ago

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Cher Hansen Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Customer service was always very helpful and thorough in guiding me through my options throughout life changes and circumstances that came about.

2 years ago

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Micheal Le Feuvre Irving, TX

Great price for insurance. Company keeps me updated often. Happy with any customer service inquiries I may have had over the years

2 years ago

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Christyan Bennett Baton Rouge, LA

New York Life offers a great, affordable Life Insurance plan. My family and I enjoy their low rates and amazing customer service.

4 years ago

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Robert Mott Bellevue, MI

Love New York Lifes website. The premiums are affordable and this is a reliable company.

1 year ago

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Steven Klaproth Phoenix, AZ

Great experience. The agent was friendly and professional. The policy coverage was great for the price.

3 years ago

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Keld Sperry Lehi, UT

They have a good term life insurance package. The price is reasonable and glad to have some peace of mind with term life insurance.

3 years ago

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Cam McClellan Magna, UT

New York life is overpriced for the insurance you get. The agents have to sell New York life and so they don’t look for other companies that might be a better value.

4 years ago

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Jim Marshman

No problems with them, have 2 life policys and an inuity with them

6 years ago

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Rich Green Reno, NV

Provide most options for upgrade from term to permanent life insurance.

8 years ago

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David Wilhelm Escondido, CA

They are an excellent, financially stable company and has excellent customer service.

2 years ago

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Bethany Rockville, MD

My personal life insurance company. The price is reasonable and agents are responsible.

3 years ago

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michael Parrott

Annuity ive made great money with nee york life

6 years ago

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April Lori Fuson

I never hear anything from them. They just take my money.

6 years ago