AICPA Life Insurance Review

Pros Explained

• Good variety of riders: You can customize an AICPA life insurance policy by adding riders and optional policies to fill gaps in coverage.
• Several no-exam policies: AICPA offers simplified issue life insurance that may not require a medical exam in order to get approved.
• Easy to apply online: You can submit a life insurance application on AICPA’s website, which takes about 20 minutes to complete.

Cons Explained

• Limited policy types: Currently, AICPA only sells term and variable universal life products. The variable universal policy is only available to groups.
• Basic customer support: Contacting an AICPA representative can only be done by calling during business hours or by filling out the online form. 

Available Plans

There are several plans available through AICPA, with term life options. The organization also offers a group variable universal life insurance policy. All of AICPA’s life insurance policies are issued by Prudential, which has been fulfilling customers' insurance needs since 1875. 

Depending on your policy type, you might be eligible for an Annual Cash Refund.

CPA Life Express

The CPA Life Express policy is available for AICPA members between the ages of 18 and 39, with up to $1 million in coverage, which is available until age 80. You can also get coverage if you belong to your state’s CPA society, but the maximum coverage limit is $500,000. The CPA Life Express application doesn’t contain any health questions, and no medical exam is required.

CPA Life 

AICPA’s CPA Life policy is a simplified issue life policy that is available for AICPA members between the ages of 18 and 74. Depending on your age, you can get up to $2.5 million in coverage, which is available until age 80. Approval is based on your answers to some basic health questions on the application, and most people don’t have to take a traditional medical exam. According to AICPA, expect it to take about 20 minutes to complete the entire online application from start to finish. Like the CPA Life Express plan, this policy doesn’t have a cash value component.

Spouse Life 

With AICPA’s Spouse Life policy, you can ensure that your spouse or partner has adequate coverage. Your spouse can get as much as $2.5 million in coverage, and they can apply if they are under 75 years old. It’s life coverage that is guaranteed up until age 80, as long as you maintain your AICPA membership. However, the Spouse Life policy has step rates, which means the premium will increase in five-year age bands after age 30. There is no medical exam required for Standard or Select rates, only some basic health questions on the application.

Level Premium Term Life

The Level Premium Term Life policy offers coverage over a certain number of years. It offers up to $2.5 million in coverage with level premiums over the term. AICPA members who are 55 or younger can get a 10- or 20-year term, but members between the ages of 56 and 65 can only choose a 10-year term period. Once the term ends, you can purchase another term life policy, or you can extend your existing policy by paying annual premiums until age 95.

Spouse Level Premium Term Life

The AICPA Spouse Level Premium Term Life policy is the company’s term life plan for spouses. It has the exact same term lengths, coverage limits, and age requirements as the traditional Level Premium Term Life Policy for AICPA members. The only difference is that the amount of coverage your spouse or partner is eligible for cannot exceed the amount of coverage you qualify for as an AICPA member.

Group Variable Universal Life

The group variable universal life policy offers up to $2.5 million in life insurance coverage at competitive group-negotiated rates. Coverage lasts until age 100. The policy also has a cash value account that can be grown using investment options. The cash value can be withdrawn or borrowed from by the insured when they have a need for it.

Available Riders

Life insurance riders are optional policies that provide additional coverage for specific situations that your standard policy does not cover. AICPA offers a handful of riders that allow you to customize a policy based on your family’s unique needs.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment Rider

The accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) rider may double your death benefit for loss of life, loss of both hands, both feet, the sight of both eyes, one hand and one foot, and one hand and sight of one eye, and one foot and sight of one eye.

Accelerated Death Benefit Rider

The accelerated death benefit rider allows you to use money from your death benefit to pay for end-of-life expenses if you get diagnosed with a qualifying terminal illness. This rider cannot exceed 75% of your life insurance, or $1 million, whichever is less.

Dependent Child Rider

The dependent child rider covers up to $10,000 in term life insurance coverage for your dependent children, assuming they meet specific eligibility requirements. This optional coverage costs only $6 per year.

Waiver of Disability Rider

If you become completely disabled before age 60, the waiver of disability rider will allow you to keep your life insurance coverage without paying the premiums. To use this rider, you must wait nine months from the date you became disabled or until you can provide proof of the disability, whichever is later.

Customer Service

AICPA has average customer service. To contact the company, call (800) 223-7473 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. You can also get in touch via email by submitting the online form.

Complaint Index

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Company Complaint Index scores licensed insurance companies based on customer feedback weighed against market share. It accounts for things like claim settlements, policy premiums, customer service, and policy cancellation issues.

Because AICPA is not a licensed insurance company, it’s not rated in the NAIC Company Complaint Index. But Prudential, the insurance company that underwrites AICPA policies, is rated. 

In 2022, Prudential had a complaint index of 0.31 which is good. This indicates the company received fewer complaints than expected during that year.

Third-Party Ratings

Because AICPA doesn’t have many third-party ratings, we’ll consider Prudential’s ratings for this section. Prudential has an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best, which indicates that the company has enough money to repay policyholders after a claim and is unlikely to file for bankruptcy. 

The company is also rated in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Life Insurance Study, which looks at overall customer satisfaction. Prudential faired poorly in the study. Their score was 773 out of 1,000, compared to an average of 774. The company was ranked 11th out of 22 insurance companies.

Cancellation Policy

Contact the company for information regarding cancellation.

Price

Every person pays a different life insurance premium. Insurance companies look at individualized factors such as age, overall health, smoking history, and the amount of coverage required when they calculate your rate.

You can get a rate quote online. The company also provides some pricing examples. For the CPA Life policy, a 32-year-old male would pay $24 per month for $1 million in coverage. For the Spouse Level Premium Term Life policy, a 41-year-old female would pay $21 per month for $500,000 in coverage for a 10-year term.

Another factor that affects life insurance rates is your gender assigned at birth. Non-binary individuals can still get life insurance, but on the AICPA life insurance application, you will be asked to mark “male” or “female” as your gender. If you identify as transgender or non-binary, we suggest reaching out to AICPA to learn about their specific underwriting processes.

Competition

If you’re shopping for life insurance, one of the best companies on the market is Mutual of Omaha. Like AICPA, Mutual of Omaha offers multiple policies, but overall, it’s a much better provider than AICPA.

Mutual of Omaha has a great customer satisfaction rating from J.D. Power in 2022, with a strong, above-average score of 801 out of 1,000. It ranked third on the list of 22 providers. They both offer a similar number of policies, but Mutual of Omaha's policy types are more varied. Mutual of Omaha also offers at least five life insurance policies, whereas AICPA offers five.

Final Verdict

If you are an AICPA member and you’re looking for basic life insurance coverage, AICPA is not a bad option. The company offers a good list of riders, you can easily apply for coverage online, and the company has a good history of paying Annual Cash Refunds. However, AICPA doesn't offer whole life or standard universal life. If you're looking for those options you'll need to go to another provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does AICPA Offer Whole Life Insurance?

AICPA offers five different plan options for members. However, it does not have a whole life or standard universal life option available to members. Those looking for this type of plan will need to seek a different life insurance provider.

What Is the Age Limit for AICPA Life Insurance?

AICPA Life Insurance offers coverage up to age 80. However, the Level Premium Term Life policy allows you to extend your policy coverage up to age 95 as long as you continue to make the annual premiums. Other plans offer coverage up to 100 years old.

Who Underwrites AICPA Life Insurance?

AICPA Life Insurance is underwritten by Prudential Insurance Company of America. Prudential has strong financial strength in the market and has been providing coverage to CPAs since the 1940s.

How Much Are AICPA Membership Dues?

The membership fee for the AICPA is listed as $340 for regular membership and must be renewed every year. There are different types of membership depending on your status, including regular, affiliate and retired. Some memberships like international associate cost more.

Methodology

Our reviews of life insurance companies are based on a quantitative methodology that analyzes each insurer on their stability and reliability, customer service, claims experience, diversity of product lines, and cost. We compare the terms of each type of policy offered—including available coverage amounts, optional riders, and premium payment options—with those of other major life insurance companies. Lastly, we look at how the company is rated by third-party organizations to determine its reliability and overall reputation.