AARP Life Insurance Reviews

I am very dissatisfied with the two senior life insurance contracts which I've had for over five years. I am unable to combine two separate life insurance polices for myself (with two different contract numbers) and my beneficiaries would have to call on the two policies separately in the event of my demise. I was also informed that the payout for funeral expenses will be 2-6 weeks to process. This is totally unacceptable and I plan on closing/surrendering both policies.

Talk about Scam? They get your interest with a decent price for Term insurance. General health questions. No big deal right? We said okay, let's do it. Payment made. You have 30 days to cancel. After receiving the actual policy, it shows about 6 general questions. Just out of curiosity, I called and asked this guy about them. Long story short, those general health questions are an "out" for them. They can use that information to deny a claim and say it was a pre-existing condition. Those questions are so general, they can include anything. We cancelled and then you have to deal with AARP because they get some of the money also. They should be ashamed of taking advantage of people whether they are seniors or not. I will file a formal complaint with the State of Tennessee for starters.

I would think twice before getting a life policy from this company. I wish I did. I had to borrow money to bury my spouse while waiting almost a month to receive her death benefit. Getting in touch with customer service is a joke. They don't have electronic deposit which I ask for.

Reading some of the other comments and reviews, AARP should be ashamed of themselves and so should NY Life. Stop scamming seniors; better yet, stop scamming all people. We work hard for our money, especially as we get older and don't need to be scammed out of it. Life insurance both term and whole are all a racket and all about how much the insurance companies can get, shame on you all.

I have had my Whole Life insurance with NY Life, AARP now for 9 years. I have a $10,000 policy. When I first excepted this life insurance, I was told by the agent that the policy would be automatically increased by $3,000 dollars after 4 years, which would them make my insurance value $13,000 dollars. I was going over what we have paid into the policy and it's is now nearly $8,000 dollars. I called NY Life to find out when my monthly payments would end. Thinking the policy was for $10,000, I was told it would not end until I was 95yrs. old. I'm 81 yrs. now. These people are rip off and scammers. Whatever you do make sure you get it in WRITING from any insurance company reprehensive. AARP should be ashamed to not over site these LIRES, and protect Seniors. This is FRAUD at its Highest!!!!

I’m being a customer for 6 months. I purchased life insurance from NYL through AARP of 10.000 for 41.19 per month. No increase and no decrease of payout for life. Today I received a letter saying to sign in four exchange form with new rates to keep the same amount of 10.000. "It’s now going to cost you $81.38 monthly." If I keep paying the $41.19 per month my insurance will decrease to $5.000. Not only decrease the payout but increase the monthly rate. I have canceled this policy as of today, people don’t fall for this scam like I did and they don’t refund your money even though they lied. They never decreased the payout or increase the amount per month. I wish the BBB look into this business that are targeting seniors like me.

I have never seen customer service as terrible, as AARP Life Insurance Program New York Life Insurance Company, and I've dealt with some of the worst. I feel that they are more concerned about receiving payment than getting to me the information that I require. Their FAQ's did not address my concern for contacting them. Neither did their website. My first call to customer service lasted more than thirty (30) minutes. My second call went over one hour (1). No one answered either of the calls. I may have been holding the phone for hours. It showed me just how important my business was to them once they had me as a customer. I also will not renew with AARP.

I contacted New York life insurance through AARP. Was told I had to be a member to get life insurance which I used to be a member and dropped it so I took my membership back out and got my letter from New York life insurance today saying I was denied life insurance because I take medication and or/medical history. If that is not the stupidest reason and that is discrimination I am contacting an attorney and I’ll tell you this - I am dropping my membership once again and I will never take AARP again and I will never and would not take their insurance if it was damn free. They can take their insurance and shove it up their nose. Denied because I take medication/or medical history. My friend takes medicine. She got it. She’s not a member. She got life insurance as well. AARP you can take this paper and shove it. Do not ever contact me again….

Unacceptable wait time just to make a payment!!!!! Updating this and that ridiculous a whole hour on the phone that I went to my safe deposit box and retrieved my policy to pay online all while still on the phone!!!!!

There was a policy to be paid with natural cause as death cause and over two years old. After receiving the claim AAPR states they have 14 days for the claim department to investigate the claim. I informed them that other insurance companies had a check cut within three business days, I asked them why was the hold and no one could answer. Business are now catering to business rather than consumers and customers which is concerning. Paying premiums every month, but now AARP is telling you when they will pay out. It's very unacceptable.

When you try to make a payment, there is NO option to hand enter your credit card number for a one-time payment, whether enrolled OR unenrolled, in autopay. WHAT??? This all started in December... and today in January, after speaking to two different agents, I'm very dissatisfied with the lack of customer service, confusing and misleading payment options and instructions. I've had a policy for several years... in December, a payment didn't go through, even though the money WAS in my account, and they didn't even attempt a retry... when I tried to log on to make a one-time payment immediately to make sure my policy was safe, the website wouldn't allow it!!! WHAT? So I logged off, and tried it again under their "MAKE A ONE-TIME PAYMENT" screen. STILL would not allow it. HUH??? What kind of company won't take your payment? One that wants to cancel your policy, perhaps?

Please consider other life insurance plans. My mom had this plan. When she died, she had paid monthly more than twice the value of the policy over the years she had the policy. I tried to address this issue with New York Life. The monthly premium payment could have been used to cover her health care expenses. I was told that if I canceled, we would not only not get the amount of the policy value but 1/3 less. Now think about this. She has already paid twice the amount of the value of the policy and if we canceled New York Life was going to pay out 1/3 less than the original policy value. AARP should be ashamed of endorsing a plan that takes advantage of seniors and their families like this.

As a funeral director this is absolutely the worst company to deal with. They make you jump through hoops to try to file a claim. Absolutely the worst customer service there is!!! Stay away from these crooks!!!! I will never recommend this company to anyone!!!!

I am unhappy with the increase in premium payments and the decrease in benefits. The website has glitches that prevent my payments from being credited to my account. Customer service was ineffective in helping me to resolve this issue.

I may disabled senior and they are taking advantage of their so-called 30-day trial period. I've continued to try to cancel it. They're giving me nothing but hassle. I've been told several times the next step is I will receive a refund check in the mail. I asked why not right back into my account the way it was taken out. I was told that's just how it's done. Now I'm getting mail telling me that I am a member and I still haven't received any check in the mail.

It’s quick & easy to sign up & make payments but slow to get the cash value paid after surrendering & closing the contract! Snail mail only? Can’t do a faster electronic refund in today’s digital world?

After reading over my term life insurance policy with AARP New York Life, I decided it was not what I was looking for. On September 29, 2025, I requested a refund of my first premium by a written requested as instructed by the company. On October 9, I had not heard anything back from the company, and called to inquire about the status of my premium refund. I was told that the request was received on October 7, and it would be seven to ten days before it would be sent out by check in the mail.

I would not recommend. Never received my Welcome packet with full info after paying for 3 months. Cancelled, told that I would receive a full refund of what I had paid and only received a check for a small portion of what I had paid. When I called to question the amount I was "disconnected". Called again, "disconnected" again. Terrible customer service after being misled.

We had AARP life insurance for years, but, with changes to their website, access to our accounts is impossible. They want a verification code they never send so we can't access our accounts. I have called customer support and they refuse to help, so we have had to cancel our policies. It may be AARP, but they treat seniors very badly, I wonder how many seniors are taken advantage of, they want money, but offer no customer service.

STOP!!!!! Before you call, please know! They take your money, then tell you it's only good for 5 years. Then refuse to give you your money back!! It's a scam! And when you call customer service, they couldn't care less!

If I can keep someone else from being scammed then this review will be worth it. I bought this Life Insurance on myself so that when I passed my autistic grandson would have some much needed support. Paying the nearly $200.00 a month premium was going to be a hardship but my little guy would be worth it I thought. There is nothing in the sales pitch of the life insurance indicating that the rates would increase. There is also nothing letting us know if we make it to 80 the insurance would lapse!!!! I received a letter today after paying premiums for nearly a year explaining these issues!! I feel AARP is preying on the elderly. I told the girl with customer service I really couldn’t afford the nearly $1000.00 I’ve already paid them. My pleas for a refund went on deaf ears. The only way I would respond positively to them would be to get my money back so I can at least give that to my grandson.

If I could give them zero stars, I would. I (initially) purchased term life policies for my husband and I through AARP, received offers in the mail to trade in for whole life, which I did. They switched mine with no issues, but continued to withdraw funds from our checking account for both my husband’s policy. As soon as I realized they were still charging (six months later) I called and explained the situation. The CS rep was helpful and told me to write a letter asking those funds to be applied to the other policy. I did this and heard nothing back, so I called and got a completely different answer.

They took my 80 year old grandfather off auto pay! Said they give a take it off Auto pay after 14 days. I will be getting a lawyer then they take $5 out of his account. This company is SAD! Now they are not waiting to pay out after he has paid on this policy after 13 Years.

I called the 1-800-225-5695 number on my AARP NY Life Insurance Policy I had for over twenty years. The call was answered by an off-shore (Mexico) representative who I could not understand nor could she understand me. I wanted my cash value, but she said you want to cancel your policy. I asked for a USA representative and after 20 minutes on hold spoke to a lady that spoke acceptable English. The one star is for the difficulty in receiving my request for transfer to USA immediately, and the on-hold time. My cash value info should have been answered within 5 minutes not 45 minutes including hold time.

I feel like I may have been scammed. I was quoted one rate but charged more than double when the policy issued. They charged me for the smokers rate because my medical records indicate a past history of tobacco use years ago. The option to get this rate changed was a hassle, meanwhile I would be charged at the higher rate. Smelled like a rat to me, so I just canceled the policy.

I applied to AARP Life Insurance and Globe Life Insurance the same day. I was approved right away for AARP Life Insurance but Globe Life process was long. I am happy with AARP. The process was short and sweet. If you are older with health problems go for AARP. Do not waste your time on Globe Life Insurance. AARP sent my information to me right away. No additional questions was asked. I didn't have a 1hour underwriter interview at all. I love AARP.

We continue to receive statements saying either I or my wife are missing a payment when they are mailed together- payment for us both every month! All payments or copied for our record this has got to stop.

I had an emergency situation come up. I called New York Life Insurance Company. They told me that I could borrow $2, 200 against my life insurance policy and it would take 10 days so I had got in touch with the situation that I had and told them that in 10 days I could fix the financial situation. I called on the 9th day just to get insurance that the application was getting processed. I was told that yes and then the last 10-day would be Friday and "you would be receiving your check." I said okay on the 12th day, I called New York Life and I said, "Did you process the check yet," they said no.

Misleading on the rates! Does not truly show that rate will increase (Small prints only). Best to sit down with an agent to see an actual illustration of what you expected to pay and whether it is a level or increasing DEATH BENEFITS! Your local agents are best practices. In time of needs, your loved ones may not know what is going on with claims!!??

I just received an increase rate on a policy that I’ve had for over 15 years. I’m 75 years old with no major health issues. I was informed that as of Mar. 26, 2025 my $50,000 term life policy was increasing from $207.25 to the new rate of $366.92 per month. I would advise anyone who is planning on a long life to stay away from this company. Oh and the policy terminates at age 80 years old.

Terrible customer service! My dad passed away in October and I have had to take quite a few days off work to sit on hold and I never received any status or updates on my dad's life insurance claim. They told me the benefits would be paid to his ex-wife but they never were. If I had not followed up with yet another phone call and demanded claim documents/status be mailed to me I probably would never know nor payment ever made to the rightful person.

This is a fraud company. Don’t use them. They will rob you for your money!!!! If you don’t have family and you have cancer and you in the hospital and the only person paying your bills is you they would not pay you but instead fight you in court not to pay due to the lack of months you was in the hospital. I’m in the process of going further with this matter!!!

Back on August 9th, I mailed a change of ownership claim for my three accounts. On August 27th, they told me that their mailroom was backed up and they had not yet received the paperwork. They asked me to upload the documents online. On August 28th, I called and they confirmed receipt. They said that the claim would be processed within 7 business days. It has now been 28 days since I uploaded the documents and 46 days since I mailed the documents. However, the three claims have not been processed. When I call, I am put on hold for 45 minutes. They have disconnected the chat support line and their e-mail inbox.

My 96 year old mother has a $5,000.00 life insurance policy that she has paid into the amount of $8803.00 up until 2019. I called yesterday to cash render her policy to help pay for healthcare and I was told the cash render amount was $4417.00. This make no sense. She has hand written notes that when she called AARP / New York Life in February 2019 they told her the money is in her Life Insurance Account and receiving interest. Now $4417.00? Agreed my mother did over pay for the policy but why did AARP / New York Life keep sending her invoices in the mail? I would think when the policy is paid in full the invoices would stop. Neither AARP or New York Life keeps track of how many payments are being paid? God forbid she missed a payment, there would be late notices everyday. If you have a 5 year car loan do you pay it for 6 1/2 years? Maybe that is why AARP / New York Life does not send out payment books. This is pretty shady.

This has been nothing short of a nightmare for 2 months trying to jump through their hoops to qualify for the Advanced early benefit, which, according to my policy, I have. I would receive 1/2 payout now, to use for home health, meds, etc, and the other half to my beneficiary upon my death. They have made my oncologist, my doctor through hospice, as well as myself jump through every single hoop and put us off for weeks and weeks. Their insurance examiner has promised to call for the last three weeks. Conveniently, it’s always on a Friday, when they say they’re going to call and guess what? They never call.

My mother passed away May 26, 2024. I was her poa before death, and executor after. She wanted her beneficiary changed 5 days before she passed, as her husband (the then beneficiary) was in a nursing home with Alzheimer's. We did this online at her request. We notified them of her death, and sent all requested documents. We have gotten nothing but a runaround and are being told still 2 months later, it is under review. She paid her premiums for almost 19 years, and now they won’t pay the small 10k policy. They are making a terrible time in our lives even worse. Would never recommend this company to anyone!

This company send you through so much. On a policy, they have no problem collecting payments on. A loved one was murdered, they wanted the police report, autopsy, death certificate and more. Like what? Why isn’t the death certificate enough, AARP? People are already grieving but hey you don’t care! Plus on going investigations, HOMICIDE you can’t get a police report but you all aren’t hip to that yet!

This is a total scam! AARP sent me once a week a "guaranteed" quote of $35 a month for a $50,000 policy at my age (52). I sent in all the paperwork and voided check. I received a bill for $51.01 a month. I called AARP and was transferred to a woman who barely spoke English (India) and kept repeating the terms of the policy. After the third time, I told her "I know the terms already, why is it $15 dollars more than the guaranteed rate". She finally transferred me back to a English-speaking person who said "We have to record of that $35 a month rate." I told her, "I'm looking at it, you mailed it to me", she denied that AARP even mailed it to me... AARP is a waste and a scam...STAY AWAY!

This is the absolute worse experience with any company I've ever had. To put it bluntly they stink. Stay clear of this company!!! The phone service is the worse ever. Plus after you are with them for a few years they double your premium and lower your benefits. I do not in any way recommend this company. This company signifies much of what is wrong with service in America today. Non existent.

Please run from this insurance. My 91 year old aunt will be paying this policy, which only has a value of $5000.00 until she is 95. At that time she would have paid $10850.00 for it. They do not stop it after a certain point, she will have to pay for it until the age of 95 or lose it. When I called for the end date, since the policy is now overpaid its value (no interest on it either). They told me that they collect until 95 because if someone dies before they pay for the entire value of their policy someone has to make up for it (those were his exact words). That is your seniors on SS who do not want to be a burden to their family when the time comes.