Insurancy

Join an association · No health questions · Portable for life

Group Life Insurance for individuals, no health questions, no exam, no waiting period.

Join a sponsoring association for a small annual fee and unlock group life insurance through Allstate Benefits and other top carriers. Coverage stays with you across jobs, self-employment, and retirement - guaranteed issue, no medical exam, no waiting period.

  • Guaranteed issue coverage
  • No health questions
  • No waiting period
  • Portable across jobs
  • Spouse & child coverage
  • We never sell your info

At a glance

The 8 things every member should know

  • $10-$50/yr

    typical annual association membership fee

  • No exam

    guaranteed issue with zero medical underwriting

  • $25K-$250K

    typical guaranteed coverage amounts available

  • No waiting

    coverage starts on the policy effective date

  • 20 hrs/wk

    minimum work hours to enroll (or capable of 24)

  • Portable

    coverage follows you across jobs and into retirement

  • Spouse + kids

    add dependent coverage with no health questions

  • 1 to 7 days

    typical time from quote to active coverage

The basics

What is group life insurance?

Association group life insurance is a life insurance product made available to you as an individual through a sponsoring association you join. The association is the master policyholder; you become a certificate-holder under that master policy. Because the carrier underwrites the entire association membership as a single group, you get coverage with no health questions, no medical exam, and no waiting period.

To enroll, you pay a small annual membership fee to the sponsoring association (often $10 to $50 per year) and a monthly premium for the life insurance itself. The association membership typically comes with other perks - newsletters, member discounts, advocacy, or access to other group benefits - and the life insurance is one of several member benefits you unlock by joining.

The big advantage of association group life is portability: unlike workplace group life that ends the day you leave a job, this coverage stays with you through job changes, self-employment, and retirement, as long as you remain a member in good standing of the association. That makes it especially valuable for self-employed people, gig workers, freelancers, retirees, and anyone with a pre-existing health condition who would expect a decline or table rating on individual underwriting.

At Insurancy we work with top-rated carriers like Allstate Benefits, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, and Reliance Matrix to place association group life for U.S. members. Your specialist quotes multiple plans, walks you through the eligibility rules of each sponsoring association, and helps you enroll on the same call - usually with coverage active within a week.

Who qualifies

Two simple steps to qualify

Association group life is one of the most accessible life insurance products in the U.S. There are really only two things to qualify for - a basic work-hours requirement and joining the sponsoring association.

Step 1 - Active work hours

The 20-hour rule

The most common eligibility requirement is that you actively work at least 20 hours per week, or - at minimum - that you are capable of working at least 24 hours per week if you were not currently disabled. This is the standard active-member definition used by Allstate Benefits and most large carriers that issue group life through associations.

  • Full-time W-2 employees always qualify
  • Part-time employees at 20+ hrs/week qualify
  • Self-employed and 1099 with 20+ active work hours qualify
  • Retirees who are capable of 24+ hrs/week if needed often qualify

Step 2 - Join the association

Become a member

The carrier issues the life insurance through a sponsoring association. To enroll, you pay a modest annual association membership fee (typically $10 to $50 per year) to the association directly. Once you are a member in good standing, you can elect coverage with no health questions.

  • Annual membership fee, typically $10 to $50
  • Open to U.S. residents age 18 to 70 at issue
  • Membership often includes other member benefits
  • Join in 2 minutes during enrollment

Your Insurancy specialist will tell you exactly which association sponsors the carrier you choose.

Not sure if you qualify? A 2-minute conversation with an Insurancy group life specialist will confirm eligibility, walk you through the association options, and quote multiple carriers.

What is included

6 coverage building blocks of an association group life plan

Association group life today is more than just a death benefit. The plans Insurancy places stack basic life, voluntary buy-up, dependent coverage, AD&D, and living benefits into a single monthly bill - all with no health questions on the base amount.

Core

Basic group term life

The foundation of the plan. A term life amount issued to you with no health questions, as long as you meet the association eligibility rules.

  • Guaranteed issue
  • No health questions
  • No medical exam
  • Effective day one

Optional

Voluntary buy-up life

Elect additional coverage on top of the guaranteed amount to take your total face value to $300K or $500K. May require a few simple medical questions on the buy-up portion only.

  • Age-banded premium
  • Bundled monthly bill
  • Up to $500K typical
  • Buy-up beyond GI may need form

Family

Spouse & dependent life

Add term life on a spouse ($5K to $50K) and each eligible child (often $5K to $10K) with no health questions. All bundled into your monthly premium.

  • No health questions
  • Spouse coverage
  • Child coverage included
  • One-form enrollment

Accident

AD&D insurance

Accidental Death and Dismemberment pays a separate benefit (often equal to the life amount) for accidental death or covered loss of limb, sight, hearing, or speech. Very inexpensive add-on.

  • Doubles benefit on accident
  • Travel accident coverage
  • Common loss schedule
  • Few cents per $1,000

Living benefits

Accelerated death benefit

If you are diagnosed with a terminal illness (typically 12 to 24 months life expectancy), you can receive 25% to 100% of the death benefit early to help with treatment, family expenses, or final wishes.

  • Terminal-illness payout
  • Tax-free under IRC 101(g)
  • Reduces remaining benefit
  • Included on most plans

Portability

Coverage that follows you

Because the policy is tied to your association membership and not a job, the coverage stays in force through job changes, self-employment, and retirement, as long as you remain a member.

  • Job-change proof
  • Continues into retirement
  • No re-underwriting on renewal
  • Conversion option in some plans

Sample monthly premium

What association group life actually costs

Group life premium is age-banded and billed monthly (or annually) directly to you. These are typical national sample rates for a healthy non-smoker on the kind of association group plans we place. Your actual quote depends on age, sex, smoker status, and the specific carrier.

Age bandPer $1,000 / month$50K monthly premium$100K monthly premium$250K monthly premium
Under 25$0.05$2.50$5.00$12.50
25-29$0.06$3.00$6.00$15.00
30-34$0.08$4.00$8.00$20.00
35-39$0.10$5.00$10.00$25.00
40-44$0.14$7.00$14.00$35.00
45-49$0.22$11.00$22.00$55.00
50-54$0.36$18.00$36.00$90.00
55-59$0.60$30.00$60.00$150.00
60-64$0.95$47.50$95.00$237.50
65-69$1.65$82.50$165.00$412.50

Premiums shown do not include the annual association membership fee (typically $10 to $50). Illustrative national averages for healthy non-smokers. Insurancy quotes multiple carriers to find the lowest premium for your age and health profile.

How they compare

Association group life vs employer group vs individual term life

These three life insurance products are complementary, not competing. Many of our members layer all three - employer group as a base, association group as a portable bridge, and individual term for long-term family income protection.

FeatureAssociation Group LifeEmployer Workplace GroupIndividual Term Life
Who buys itYou (the individual)Your employerYou (the individual)
UnderwritingGuaranteed issue, no health questionsGuaranteed issue, no health questionsMedical underwriting required
How it is paidYou pay carrier directly each monthEmployer pays / payroll deductionYou pay carrier directly
Extra feeAnnual association fee ($10 to $50)None to employee for basic coverageNone
Ends when you leave a job?No - tied to association membershipYes - ends at terminationNo - fully portable
Coverage limitsUp to $250K-$500K typicalOften $50K-$500K$25K to $5M+
Term lengthRenews as long as you stay a memberRenews each plan year with employer10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years
Spouse / child coverageOptional add-on, no health questionsOptional add-on, no health questionsSeparate policy required
Best asPortable base layer for self-employed, retirees, or anyone with health issuesEmployer-paid base layer while employedLong-term family income protection

The big advantage of association group life is portability: unlike workplace group, you keep it through job changes, gig work, and retirement, as long as you remain a member of the association.

Carriers we work with

Top-rated association group life carriers

Insurancy is an independent agency representing several top-rated carriers that offer their group life products through sponsoring associations. Your specialist quotes multiple options so you can compare rates, riders, and the association each one sponsors.

Allstate Benefits

Our most popular association group life carrier. Generous guaranteed issue amounts, simple monthly billing, broad availability across multiple sponsoring associations.

Lincoln Financial

Strong association group products with advanced living benefits, accelerated death benefit, and travel assistance services bundled at no extra cost.

Mutual of Omaha

Competitive rates and easy enrollment for individual members. Strong reputation for claims service and member-facing online portal.

Reliance Matrix

Specialist in voluntary benefit suites - life, AD&D, and disability that can be bundled together through the same sponsoring association.

Multiple associations

We work with several sponsoring associations that act as the master policyholder. Your specialist will explain the membership benefits and fees of each.

Independent advice

Because Insurancy is independent, we shop the entire market and recommend the carrier and association combination that fits your age, health, and goals.

Who chooses association group life

4 kinds of people who benefit most

Association group life is a uniquely flexible product. Here are the four people most likely to call us about it - and the specific advantage they get out of it.

Use case 1

People with health concerns

If you have been declined for individual life insurance, table-rated, or are worried you would be, association group life is one of the few products in the U.S. market that can issue meaningful coverage with no health questions and no exam. Conditions that often disqualify individual underwriting - diabetes, prior cancer, heart history, depression, sleep apnea - are not asked about.

  • No health questions on guaranteed amount
  • No medical exam
  • No height/weight rating
  • Coverage even after a prior decline

Use case 2

Self-employed, gig, and freelancers

When you do not have an employer providing group life, association group life is the closest you can get to a low-cost, easy-to-qualify-for base layer. The annual association fee plus modest monthly premium gives you portable coverage that travels with you no matter how your business model changes.

  • No employer-sponsored plan needed
  • Bundled with other association perks
  • Predictable monthly bill
  • Coverage continues if income dips

Use case 3

People between jobs or retiring

Workplace group life ends the day you leave your employer. Association group life - because it follows you as a member, not as an employee - bridges those gaps cleanly. Many of our members start a policy specifically to keep coverage in force through an upcoming job change or retirement.

  • Coverage follows job changes
  • Continues into retirement
  • No re-qualification needed
  • Predictable renewal

Use case 4

Anyone who wants an easy base layer

Even healthy buyers use association group life as a fast, no-medical base layer on top of an existing individual term policy. You can be insured in days instead of weeks, with predictable monthly premium, while you decide whether to add more permanent coverage later.

  • Cover in days, not weeks
  • No exam appointment to schedule
  • Easy add-on to existing policies
  • Cancel anytime with no penalty

Honest pros and cons

Is association group life right for you?

Association group life works well when...

  • You have been declined or rated heavily for individual life insurance
  • You are self-employed, gig, freelance, or a 1099 contractor
  • You want coverage that follows you across jobs and into retirement
  • You want to add a portable base layer on top of workplace group
  • You want a no-exam, fast-issue policy you can bind in days
  • You are comfortable paying a modest annual association fee

It may not be the best fit if...

  • You need $500K+ permanent personal coverage
  • You need a locked-in 20 or 30 year level premium
  • You do not work at least 20 hours/week and are not capable of 24
  • You do not want to pay an annual association membership fee
  • You want cash value or permanent life features (IUL, whole life)

Many of our members layer association group life with individual term life to reach the total coverage their family actually needs (typically 10x to 20x annual income).

How it works

Get covered in 3 simple steps

  1. 1

    Tell us about you

    Quick form with your age, sex, smoker status, and how much coverage you want. No SSN required at the quote stage, and no health questions.

  2. 2

    Compare carrier quotes

    We show you real quotes from Allstate Benefits, Lincoln, Mutual of Omaha, and others side by side - including the sponsoring association and the annual membership fee.

  3. 3

    Join & get covered

    Enroll in the association and the life policy on the same call. Coverage typically becomes effective the first of the following month, with the certificate delivered electronically.

Coverage that travels with you, not your job

Get a free side-by-side comparison of association group life quotes from a licensed independent specialist. No cost, no pressure, no spam.

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Common questions

Association group life FAQ

Everything you need to know about association group life, the 20-hour rule, annual association membership fees, guaranteed issue limits, dependent coverage, portability across jobs and retirement, and how Insurancy places coverage for U.S. individuals through Allstate Benefits and other top carriers.

Is comparing association group life quotes through Insurancy really free?

Yes. Quoting and comparing association group life insurance through Insurancy is 100% free. There is no cost, no obligation, and no credit card required to get a quote. We are compensated by the insurance carrier upon policy issue, never by you. You see the same rates that any member of the association would be quoted directly.

What is association group life insurance and how is it different from a workplace plan?

Association group life insurance lets you (an individual) buy life insurance as a member benefit of a sponsoring association, instead of as an employee benefit through your job. The association is the master policyholder and certificate-holders (members) are covered under that master policy. Because the carrier underwrites the whole group, you get coverage with no health questions, no medical exam, and no waiting period. The policy goes with YOU - not with a job - and stays in force as long as you remain a member in good standing of the association.

Do I have to join an association to get this coverage?

Yes. The coverage we place is made available through sponsoring associations whose members are eligible to enroll. There is typically an annual membership fee (often $10 to $50 per year, depending on the association) that you pay to the association in addition to your insurance premium. Your Insurancy specialist will explain exactly which associations sponsor the carriers we work with and what the membership benefits look like.

How much is the association membership fee?

Most sponsoring associations charge a modest annual membership fee, typically in the range of $10 to $50 per year. The fee covers the cost of running the association and is completely separate from your life insurance premium. Many members find the association membership itself provides additional perks like discounts, advocacy, newsletters, and access to other group benefits - the life insurance is one of several member benefits.

Who is eligible to enroll?

Eligibility is set by each association and carrier, but most plans we place require that you be either: (1) actively working at least 20 hours per week, or (2) at minimum, capable of working at least 24 hours per week if you were not currently disabled. You also need to be a U.S. resident and within the carrier's age range (typically 18 to 70 at issue, with coverage continuing to age 80 or beyond depending on the policy).

Do I have to answer health questions or take a medical exam?

No. The biggest advantage of association group life is that you do NOT have to answer any health questions and do NOT have to take a medical exam to receive the guaranteed issue amount of coverage. Larger optional buy-up amounts above the guaranteed issue limit may require a few simple medical questions, but most members never need them. This makes association group life uniquely valuable for people who have been declined elsewhere or who would expect a heavy table rating on individual underwriting.

Is there a waiting period before my coverage starts?

No. There is no waiting period and no pre-existing condition exclusion on the association group policies we typically place. Coverage starts on the effective date of your certificate, which is usually the first of the month following your enrollment. You are fully insured from day one.

How much coverage can I get?

Guaranteed issue amounts on association group life typically range from $25,000 to $250,000, depending on the association and carrier. Many plans offer an optional buy-up amount that lets you take total coverage to $300,000 or $500,000, with simplified medical questions on the buy-up portion only. You can layer association group life on top of individual term, employer-paid group life, or any other coverage you already own.

Can I add coverage for my spouse and children?

Yes. Most association group plans we place include optional dependent life coverage. You can typically add $5,000 to $50,000 of coverage on a spouse and a flat amount (often $5,000 to $10,000) on each eligible child, all with no health questions. Dependent coverage is bundled into your monthly premium so it is administratively simple.

What carriers does Insurancy work with for association group life?

We work with several top-rated carriers that offer their group life products through sponsoring associations, including Allstate Benefits, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, and Reliance Matrix. Allstate Benefits is particularly popular for association group life because of its generous guaranteed issue limits, simple enrollment, and broad availability across multiple sponsoring associations. Your Insurancy specialist quotes multiple carriers and helps you compare.

What does it cost me per month?

Association group life premium is age-banded and paid by you monthly (or annually) - typically billed via ACH or credit card. Rates are competitive and, for many people, cheaper than the same coverage purchased as a medically-underwritten individual policy - particularly if you have any health concerns. A healthy 35-year-old might pay $5 to $10 per month for $50,000 of association group life; a healthy 55-year-old might pay $25 to $40 per month for the same amount. Premium increases as you age into higher bands.

What happens if I leave the association?

If your association membership lapses or you cancel, your group life coverage will end - usually at the next renewal cycle, with a grace period in between. To keep coverage in force, you simply need to maintain your association membership in good standing. Some carriers offer a conversion privilege that lets you convert to an individual policy without underwriting if your association membership ends; your Insurancy specialist will walk you through the specific conversion rules for the carrier you choose.

Can I keep this coverage if I change jobs or retire?

Yes - that is one of the biggest reasons to choose association group life over employer-paid workplace group life. Because the policy is tied to your association membership and not your job, it follows you through job changes, self-employment, retirement, and beyond. Many of our members start association group life precisely because they want a portable layer of guaranteed-issue coverage that does not disappear the day they leave a company.

Is association group life a fit for me if I have pre-existing health conditions?

Often, yes. Because most of the coverage we place is guaranteed issue with no health questions, it is one of the very few life insurance options available to people with diabetes, prior cancer, heart conditions, depression, sleep apnea, or other conditions that would result in a decline or heavy table rating on an individual policy. We routinely place association group life for members who have been declined or rated by other carriers.

Does the coverage include AD&D and other living benefits?

Most of the plans we place include or can add Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage at a very low premium. Many also include an Accelerated Death Benefit / Living Benefit rider that lets you receive a portion of the death benefit early if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness. Some carriers bundle additional value-added services like Travel Assistance, Will Preparation, and Beneficiary Counseling at no extra cost.

How long does it take to get covered?

Most association group life applications are issued within 1 to 7 business days. Your Insurancy specialist helps you choose a plan, complete the brief enrollment form, and join the sponsoring association on the same call if you do not already belong. Coverage typically becomes effective on the first day of the following month, with your certificate delivered electronically the same week.

Have an association group life question we did not cover? Ask one of our licensed group life specialists - free, no obligation, no pressure.

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