AARP Life Insurance Reviews

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.

This company does nothing to help people in this horrible time in life. I have had nothing but the run around from the very beginning! They will tell you one thing and will not hold up to their service offered. One lie after another. They are good on putting you on hold for several minutes and give you the same results and lies they told you in previous conversations. These guys would get a flat 0 stars if it were an option!!!!

My mom had a policy for several years and she passed away in January 2023. The claims process went smooth and fairly quick. It would be helpful if they provided direct deposit of the payout but they do not. A large check or any check for that matter should be sent with a tracking number. It should require a signature to receive it. This company sends the payout regular US Post Office mail in a plain white envelope with no return address or markings at all. Even the claims processor says that they are often overlooked or trashed because it looks like junk mail.

In January of 2021 I contacted AARP Life Insurance company to take out a $5000 policy on my brother. My brother did not have insurance and so I asked him if it was okay. I told him it would be paid by me. As he no longer resided in my home when the paperwork came I would take it to him to be signed in his designated area of the form. I asked my brother if I could be owner as I would have payments taken out of my bank account, provided them with a voided check to begin the process. I was owner, beneficiary and my daughter was contingent in case I no longer was around to pay the premiums. I was able to afford the premiums for $24.30 a month as I had lost my granddaughter to death two years prior and no longer had to pay for her. I had insured her, my daughter, grandson, my husband, myself through another insurance company that was great. I have been in that insurance for over 50 years.

Had an AARP NY Life policy. Apparently, my $10K policy was changed to a 5,500k policy. Could not discuss this with customer service because the policy number I had on file was no longer valid. My premium was still being collected. Took three phone calls to get a copy of the 5,500K policy (which I have no recollection of changing). Cancelled the policy only to find that the beneficiaries listed were not those listed by me originally. My wife was listed as first beneficiary (correct), but her address and date of birth and SSN were wrong.?? The secondary beneficiary was an "In-law Kevin **" (no address or other data listed). I have no such in-law. Did successfully update the beneficiaries information and sent a cancellation form to AARP. Stay tuned.

My father had life insurance through AARP and got sick and died. He missed his last payment due to some fraud in his account and AARP honored it. I want to cry because I wasn't sure how we were going to afford everything including funeral expenses etc. These are truly genuine people with morals and values and not some heartless corporation. Thank you so much.