Last updated: March 10th, 2023
Reviewed by
Grant Desselle
Licensed Insurance Agent
Ethos is an online insurance company founded in 2016 that offers term and whole life coverage to U.S. citizens ages 20 to 85 years. Its main office is in San Francisco, California, and is licensed to operate in every state.
Founders Peter Colis and Lingke Wang created Ethos to make life insurance more accessible and affordable to many. The company is partnered with some of the most highly-rated insurance providers worldwide. Ethos acts as a third-party administrator selling policies issued by Legal & General America, TruStage, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., and Senior Life Insurance Company.
Ethos life insurance ratings are mixed.
Those who gave positive Ethos reviews like that it is easy to apply for online and that coverage is available without having to undergo a medical exam.
Meanwhile, those who gave negative Ethos life insurance reviews did not like that it has no customizable riders and that its eligibility options for whole life insurance are limited.
Table of Contents
Ethos life insurance products are all available online, and those who are interested in signing up for either a term or whole life policy may obtain coverage without having to go through an agent. Through Ethos’ online platform, applicants only spend only about 10 minutes to complete the process, and policy decisions containing rates and coverage eligibility can be processed quickly.
Ethos term life insurance policies offer protection worth $20,000 to $2 million, with 10, 15, 20, and 30-year terms. The application process is 100% online, but it also has licensed agents who can answer questions. Ethos guarantees there will be no upselling via its agents because they are not paid on commission. Term life plans are either simplified or fully underwritten. Simplified plans are based on information entered in the application form while fully underwritten plans will need answers to health questions to determine premium levels. Both do not require a medical exam.
Ethos whole life insurance lasts for the rest of the policyholder’s life and guarantees a payout for loved ones. It is available only to those ages 66 to 85 years old, and policies range from $1,000 to $30,000. The application takes only 10 minutes and is also fully online.
Here are the pros and cons of having an Ethos life insurance plan to help you decide whether or not it’s right for you.
Is Ethos life insurance good? Google reviews give Ethos 4.7 out of 5 stars. We also found a mix of positive and negative Ethos life insurance reviews from various online sources. Let’s look at what some of these Ethos reviews say.
Those who gave positive Ethos life insurance reviews liked its seamless application process and friendly and knowledgeable customer support staff. Others said that its policies are affordable.
“At first I was a little disappointed because I couldn’t get in direct contact with the agent who had contacted me. In fact, I was stuck in their phone system on hold twice. But then the agent, Michelle Brown, emailed me AND texted with me regarding my few questions. Then I was able to actually reach her by phone which saved me a lot of time. Michelle answered all of my questions, and she was extremely pleasant and professional! In addition, I am very happy with the policy I got as well as the affordable premium for the protection I needed. The application process was quick and easy. Highly recommend it!” – Dr. Rhona Button (Google Review)
Those who gave negative Ethos life insurance reviews said that it takes a long time for complaints to be addressed. Others noted that while most insurance providers accept checking or savings account payments, Ethos limits options by accepting only debit and credit cards.
“This place is a joke. We applied for and got a life insurance policy for my husband. Everything was fine, we were making payments for 2 months then all of a sudden out of the blue we got an email message saying the life insurance was canceled. No explanation; nothing. It took back and forth back and forth emailing to find out it had something to do with one of the prescriptions that my husband was taking. They never did explain which one it was or what the issue really was. We finally got so frustrated with this company that we told them to cancel the policy. Stay away, there are more professional insurance companies out there.” – La St (Google Review)
Note: Ethos responded to the customer asking them to contact its support team for further assistance.
Here are some of the common questions that Ethos applicants and customers ask:
Given that nothing unusual crops up, your beneficiary can seamlessly file a claim and receive a payout in untaxed, lump-sum cash. There are a few reasons why a life insurance claim might not be paid out, such as misstatements, fraud, or material misrepresentations of the details in your application. That’s why entering accurate information is critical to your application. Details may vary according to the state, so it’s best to discuss this with Ethos before signing.
To ensure a smooth process, applicants should have the following information on hand:
Applications are not binding, and you may withdraw at any time without incurring penalties. Submitting and signing your application only confirms that the details you gave are correct.
Applying for an Ethos policy is simple and straightforward, without involving complicated questions. The forms will only ask for your personal information and some basic health questions. Those seeking term policies will need to answer additional questions, such as your legal and driving history, health insurance history, hobbies and lifestyle, employment and income status, and history of drug and/or alcohol use.
Ethos life insurance is designed for those who want a quick and easy application process, minus the typical medical tests. Its term policies are available to those aged 20 to 65 years, while whole life plans are available only to those aged 66 to 85 years.
Have more questions about Ethos or life insurance in general? Insurist can connect you with the best policy that meets your needs.
Brian is the founder and CEO of Insurist and carries Life, Health, and Property & Casualty licenses in all 50 U.S. states. Since 2013, Brian has been a member of Million Dollar Round Table, a designation for the top 1% of financial advisors worldwide. Brian has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, Money.com, Entrepreneur.com, Life Happens, Forbes, MSN, and Good Financial Cents. Brian’s goal is to show customers the best products, the quickest answers to their questions, and provide expert advice.
Grant's past experience includes work as a licensed sales agent for Hagerty Insurance. He has reviewed thousands of existing auto policies across the nation and issued hundreds of new ones on everything ranging from classic cars undergoing restoration to modern exotics and motorcycles.
