Yes, you can still buy life insurance after 70. The main choices are short term policies, whole life, simplified issue final expense, and guaranteed issue. Final expense is a common choice at this age. In 2024, 85% of final expense policies sold were simplified issue, with an average face amount of $14,535 (LIMRA, 2025).

Which one fits depends on your health, your budget, and what you want the money to do. This guide lays out each option in plain terms.

What kinds of life insurance can you get after 70?

There are four main types. Each one handles health, cost and length of coverage in its own way.

| Policy type | Health questions or exam? | How long it lasts | Typical coverage size | Best fit | |---|---|---|---|---| | Term life | Usually full health questions, often an exam | A set number of years | Larger amounts | A debt or need that ends on a known date | | Fully underwritten whole life | Full questions, often an exam and records | For life, if premiums are paid | Larger amounts | Good health, bigger goals like leaving money to heirs | | Simplified issue final expense | Short list of health questions, no exam | For life, if premiums are paid | Average $14,535 in 2024 | Funeral costs and small bills, fair to good health | | Guaranteed issue | No health questions, no exam | For life, if premiums are paid | Average $9,786 in 2024 | Serious health issues or past declines |

Sources: LIMRA, 2025 (2024 sales data) for average face amounts; NAIC for how term and permanent coverage work.

Is term life insurance an option after 70?

Sometimes, but it gets harder. Term life "pays a death benefit only if you die in that term," according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). If you outlive the term, the coverage ends and nothing is paid.

At 70 and older, fewer companies offer term, and the lengths on offer tend to be shorter. The price is higher because age is one of the main things insurers price on. The NAIC also notes that each time you renew a term policy, "premiums may be higher."

Term can still make sense for a specific need, like a loan that will be paid off in 10 years. For funeral costs, which come whenever death comes, a policy that lasts for life is usually a better match. Our final expense vs term life guide goes deeper.

How does whole life insurance work for someone over 70?

Whole life lasts your entire life as long as you pay the premiums. The premium is set when you buy and stays level. The NAIC describes permanent policies as offering "long-term financial protection" with a death benefit and, in some cases, cash savings (NAIC).

Large whole life policies usually need full underwriting. That can mean an exam, blood work and a review of your medical records. If you are in good health and want to leave a larger amount, this may be worth asking about.

Final expense insurance is a smaller kind of whole life. It is built to cover a funeral and final bills, with a simpler application.

What is simplified issue final expense insurance?

Simplified issue policies ask a short set of health questions. There is no medical exam. The company may also check prescription records and other databases.

If your answers qualify, the full benefit usually starts right away. If they don't, you may be offered a graded policy, which pays a reduced benefit in the early years, or you may be declined. Simplified issue made up 85% of final expense sales in 2024 (LIMRA, 2025).

Read more in simplified issue final expense insurance explained.

What is guaranteed issue, and what are the age limits?

Guaranteed issue policies have no health questions and no exam. If you are within the company's age range, you can get coverage. The trade-off is a limited benefit for the first two years.

Here are two carriers' published terms, checked September 2026:

  • AAA Life Guaranteed Issue Whole Life: issue ages 45 to 85, up to $25,000. In the first 2 years, an accidental death pays the full amount. Other deaths pay back 100% of premiums paid plus 30% (AAA Life).
  • Corebridge Direct Guaranteed Issue Whole Life: issue ages 50 to 80, $5,000 to $25,000. In the first 2 years, a natural death pays 110% to 120% of premiums paid, and an accidental death pays the full face amount (Corebridge Direct).

Notice the age caps. Someone who is 81 could apply for the AAA policy but not the Corebridge one. Always check the issue ages before you apply. Guaranteed issue was 15% of final expense sales in 2024 (LIMRA, 2025).

For a full breakdown, see guaranteed issue life insurance explained. If you are already in your 80s, our guide to final expense insurance over 80 covers what changes.

What drives the price of life insurance after 70?

There is no single price for a 70-year-old. Insurers set premiums based on a few main factors. Mutual of Omaha, for example, lists age at issue, gender, term length, health and tobacco use as things that affect cost (Mutual of Omaha).

For people over 70, these matter most:

  • Your age when you buy. Each birthday tends to raise the starting price. Once a whole life policy is issued, the premium stays level.
  • Your health answers. Simplified issue policies price based on your answers. Guaranteed issue skips health questions, so it usually costs more for each dollar of coverage.
  • Tobacco use. Smokers usually pay more.
  • The coverage amount. A $5,000 policy costs less than a $20,000 one.
  • The policy type. Term, whole life, simplified issue and guaranteed issue are each priced differently.

Not sure how much to buy? Our guide on how much final expense insurance you need walks through the math. For scale, the median funeral with viewing and burial was $8,300 in 2023 (NFDA, 2023).

What should you ask before you buy?

A few good questions can save trouble later:

  1. Is the benefit level from day one, graded, or limited for two years? Get the exact terms in writing.
  2. Does the premium ever go up? Whole life premiums are usually level. Term premiums can rise at renewal.
  3. What are the issue ages? Some policies stop taking new applicants at 80 or 85.
  4. Is there a free look period? This is a short window after the policy arrives when you can return it for a refund. The length depends on your state.
  5. Am I replacing a policy I already have? The NAIC warns that "replacing your insurance policy may be costly" (NAIC).
  6. Can I keep paying this for life? The NAIC also says not to buy unless you plan to keep the policy, since quitting early "may be very costly."

The NAIC suggests making your check payable to the insurance company, not the agent. If you have a problem, you can contact your state insurance department.

A licensed agent can walk you through the policies available in your state and compare issue ages and benefit terms side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a 75-year-old get life insurance?

Yes. Simplified issue and guaranteed issue final expense policies are sold at 75. For example, AAA Life's guaranteed issue policy accepts ages 45 to 85, and Corebridge Direct's accepts ages 50 to 80 (checked September 2026). Term life is harder to find at this age.

What is the best life insurance for seniors over 70?

It depends on your health and goals. If you are healthy and want a larger amount, fully underwritten whole life may fit. For funeral costs, simplified issue final expense is common. If health questions would lead to a decline, guaranteed issue is an option, with a limited benefit in the first two years.

Do I need a medical exam to get life insurance after 70?

Not always. Simplified issue policies use health questions instead of an exam, and guaranteed issue policies ask no health questions at all. Larger whole life and term policies often do require an exam.

Does life insurance get more expensive every year after 70?

The starting price goes up the older you are when you buy. But once a whole life or final expense policy is issued, the premium typically stays level for life. Term premiums may rise when you renew (NAIC).