Bestow Review – Pros, Cons and Coverage

Bestow’s quick online underwriting, no medical exam requirement, and easy 100% digital application process make Bestow an appealing life insurance option.

Bestow is an online insurance agency that offers 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year term life insurance plans. It uses accelerated online underwriting that eliminates the need for a medical exam. People between the ages of 18 and 60 are eligible to apply.

Bestow may appeal to people who would otherwise be put off by locking into long-term plans.

New parents or newly married couples could kick-start their coverage for as little as $7.38/month, depending on factors like their age and health. This option brings peace of mind without feeling like too big of a commitment and doesn’t hurt the bank too much either.

The 100% online Bestow application process is easy. While it does require you submit your personal information, you don’t need to have a medical exam. Instead, the online underwriting process will pull available data from third parties (including the Medical Information Bureau) to determine your risk level.

This significantly cuts down on the time it takes to process an application - from possibly weeks to minutes.

For 10-year plans, applicants can be between the ages of 18 and 60. 20-year plans are limited to ages 21-45.

Bestow warns that not everyone will be eligible for coverage. Factors include criminal history, medical history, and many others.

Bestow: What You Need to Know

Bestow was founded in 2017 in Dallas, Texas. It is backed by two A.M. Best A+ rated companies. These are Munich Re and North American Company for Life and Health Insurance®.

How Does Bestow Work?

The Bestow company website points out that Bestow is not an insurance company. It is an agency that sells and underwrites policies issued by North American Company for Life and Health Insurance® and Munich Re.

Bestow's algorithm makes fast underwriting possible. In their words, “We use fancy math to get you crazy-low rates!”

When you buy and are approved for a plan, you pick a coverage limit that carries a monthly premium. Your premium won’t change for the entire duration of the plan. Coverage starts at $50,000 and goes up to $1.5 million. The higher your coverage limit, the higher your premium.

Not everyone will be eligible for the highest coverage limits.

The Bestow Application Process

The 100% online application process includes 4 components:

1. Filling out your information – including your name, address, social security number, and the like.
2. Adding your history. This includes medical, lifestyle, hobbies, and citizenship.
3. Listing your beneficiaries. That is, who will receive benefits in the event of the insured passing away.
4. Reviewing coverage and payment details. Once approved, you will choose your monthly payment option.

Where is Bestow Available?

It is available in all 50 states except New York. It is not available in Guam or Puerto Rico.

How Much Does Bestow Cost?

10-year plans start at as little as $7.38/month. Total costs depend on risk factors such as age, weight, medical history, credit history, criminal activity, driving history, prescription medicines, and past insurance claims or denials, plus other factors.

What Does Bestow Cover?

Life insurance offered by Bestow is similar to other life insurance plans. It covers the life of the insured by paying a death benefit to the beneficiaries if the unexpected happens. There are some exclusions in the policy that typically relate to risky behaviors such as:

• Mountain or rock climbing with special equipment
• Learning to fly a plane or operating a plane (except commercial pilots)
• Scuba diving below 100 feet
• Automobile or motorcycle racing

Contestability Period

Insurers may review policies within the first two years after they are purchased to make sure information is accurate. This is called the contestability period. If a claim is filed during this time, it may be examined more closely by Bestow’s insurance partners.

This could happen while a policyholder is alive or after a claim has been filed. It is very important for a policyholder to give complete information about medical issues and lifestyle.

Coverage Limits

Bestow’s term life insurance policies have coverage limits up to $1,500,000.

Bestow Features

• Founded in 2017
• Headquartered in Dallas, TX (with an office in Austin, TX)
• First 30-day no questions asked cancellation
• 60-day grace period
• Quick online underwriting process
• No medical exams required
• Only available for policyholders up to age 60
• 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year policy term lengths available
• Coverage up to $1.5 million

Pros and Cons of Bestow

Here are some pros and cons we found:

Pros

• Quick and easy 100% online application process
• Get a quote in seconds and a decision in minutes
• No medical exam necessary
• Can get coverage in minutes at low rates from $7.38/month
• Backed by two respected insurance giants
• 30-day cancellation and grace period

Cons

• Does not offer whole life insurance
• No coverage for people who have a history of heart disease or cancer
• No riders (such as accidental death benefit or long-term care)

Bestow Customer Reviews

Bestow is a Better Business Bureau-accredited business with an A+ rating and has been accredited since 2017.

Most customer reviews of Bestow are positive. As of 5/19/2021, Bestow has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 over 636 reviews on the Trustpilot platform.

“Great product, VERY easy - less than 10 minutes and NO SALESPEOPLE

I had put off getting like insurance for a long time just because of the hassle. I decided finally it was time to act and beginning to end this process literally took about five minutes. The price was the best that I found in the customer service has been outstanding.” - Steven S.

How to Apply for Bestow

1. Customers can apply for Bestow on the website Bestow.com. First, customers enter basic information like their date of birth, gender, height, and weight.
2. They get a preliminary quote.
3. Then they fill out a more detailed questionnaire about their lifestyle and medical history.
4. Customers will give authorization for Bestow to collect personal data from third parties.
5. Bestow will give a final price based on their underwriting algorithm.

If customers have questions, they can call Bestow’s Customer Care Advisors at 1-833-300-0603.

How to File a Life Insurance Claim with Bestow

An important step for policyholders after they buy their coverage is to talk to their beneficiary(ies). Make sure to tell them about the policy and tell them where the information is kept.

Policyholders also need to give Bestow their beneficiary or beneficiaries’ contact information.

We would like to note that either the beneficiary herself or a friend or family member can make the initial contact with Bestow.

1. To file a claim with Bestow, beneficiaries or their informants can either go to https://bestow.com/file-a-claim/ or call Bestow directly at 833-300-0603.
2. Claimants will receive important paperwork in the mail which they must fill out and send back.
3. Paperwork to be sent includes the claimant’s statement with bank information and the certified death certificate.
4. Bestow aims to have the claim processed and paid within 10 calendar days.
5. This time may increase if there are red flags raised during the review process.
6. Claim amount will be wired into the beneficiary or beneficiaries’ bank account(s).

How to Contact Bestow

Website: Bestow.com Customer Service: 1-833-300-0603 Hours: Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm CST Help is also available through the chat box found on www.bestow.com. Address: 750 North St. Paul Street #1900 Dallas, TX 75201

Does Bestow Offer Other Kinds of Insurance?

No. Bestow only offers Term Life Insurance coverage.

Summary

Bestow simplifies the insurance buying process by only offering one product. For some, this could be a con; for others, it could be a relief.

After all, wading through legalese on insurance policies is no one’s idea of a good time (except maybe lawyers). Term life insurance is less complex than other products, which means it can be sold without without requiring you to speak with an agent.

The lack of riders and lack of whole life insurance, which has a cash value component, may be a drawback to some.

The online underwriting process helps Bestow keep costs low.

Bestow has also reduced a lot of its risk. Only customers up to age 60 can buy policies. And it doesn’t accept customers with a history of cancer or heart disease.

Simplicity and convenience are Bestow’s best points. For the young and relatively healthy, Bestow is a quick and easy way to get both coverage and peace of mind.