Pacific Life Insurance Review
Company Reviews

Pacific Life Insurance Review – Pros & Cons – FAQs

Since 1868, Pacific Life Insurance has provided a wide range of life insurance products, annuities, and mutual funds, and offers a variety of investment products and services to individuals, businesses, and pension plans.  Pacific Life counts more than half of the 100 largest U.S. companies as its clients

Here’s What You Need to Know About Pacific Life Insurance

  • They have excellent prices for term life insurance and guaranteed universal life insurance
  • 153 years in business 
  • $1.2 Trillion life insurance in force
  • Ranked 269th on Fortune 500 by total revenue
  • Forbes Advisor named Pacific Life the best life insurance company for 2020 based on its cost, competitiveness, strong product portfolio, investment performance, and financial strength

Pros and Cons of Pacific Life Insurance

Pros

  • Very competitive term and guaranteed universal life prices compared to the competition.
  • May be able to qualify with out taking a medical exam because of their PL Promise Swift underwriting.
  • Living benefit riders available – may be able to access part of the death benefit if you become terminal or critically ill.

Cons

  • Does not provide instant quotes on their website.  You must contact a broker.
  • Can not purchase a policy for less than $50,000 for term life insurance and $25,000 for guaranteed universal life insurance
  • Will have to take a medical exam if you to not qualify for their accelerated underwriting program.

How is Pacific Life Insurance Different?

Pacific Life is always competitive in the term life insurance and the guaranteed universal life insurance market.  Most of the time in the Top 3 when compared to other leading carriers in the life insurance market.

What Types of Insurance Can You Purchase from Pacific Life Insurance

Pacific Life offers many types of life insurance coverage:

What Policies Does Pacific Life Offer

The two most popular policies Pacific Life offers are term life insurance call PL Promise Term and guaranteed universal life insurance called PL Promise GUL.  Below are some of the product details. 

PL Promise Term Life Insurance

10 to 30 year term periods -Level pay premium period of 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 Years

Minimum face amount – $50,000

Underwriting Classes 

  • Preferred Best No Nicotine Use
  • Preferred No Nicotine Use
  • Select No Nicotine Use
  • Standard No Nicotine Use
  • Preferred Nicotine Use
  • Standard Nicotine Use

Max Issue Age By Underwriting Class

  • Preferred Best No Nicotine Use:  10 Yr. – Age 80 | 15 Yr. – Age 75 | 20 Yr. – Age 65| 25 Yr. – Age 60 | 30 Yr. – Age 55
  • Preferred No Nicotine Use: 10 Yr. – Age 80 | 15 Yr. – Age 75 | 20 Yr. – Age 65| 25 Yr. – Age 60 | 30 Yr. – Age 55
  • Select No Nicotine Use: 10 Yr. – Age 80 | 15 Yr. – Age 75 | 20 Yr. – Age 65| 25 Yr. – Age 60 | 30 Yr. – Age 55
  • Standard No Nicotine Use: 10 Yr. – Age 80 | 15 Yr. – Age 75 | 20 Yr. – Age 65| 25 Yr. – Age 60 | 30 Yr. – Age 55
  • Preferred Nicotine Use: 10 Yr. – Age 80 | 15 Yr. – Age 70 | 20 Yr. – Age 65| 25 Yr. – Age 55 | 30 Yr. – Age 50
  • Standard Nicotine Use: 10 Yr. – Age 80 | 15 Yr. – Age 70 | 20 Yr. – Age 65| 25 Yr. – Age 55 | 30 Yr. – Age 50

Minimum issue age 18.  Coverage expires at age 95

Conversion Benefit

You have the option to convert all or part of the PL Promise Term policy’s death benefit to a new universal life insurance policy that Pacific Life makes available at the time of conversion.  This conversion right is available for the durations of the guaranteed level premium period, or up to you attained age 70, whichever comes first.  Not available for age 70 or above.

Available Life Insurance Riders:

  • Accelerated Death Benefit Rider:  Included.   There is no additional cost for the Accelerated Death Benefit Rider.   The rider accelerates a portion of the death payment benefit if have a qualifying terminal illness.   The accelerated portion is treated as a lien, which accrues interest.  Upon death, the total death benefit will be reduced by the total amount of the lien.  
  • Chronic Illness Care Rider: Optional.  You may receive advance payment of up to $3 Million of your policy’s death benefit as annual or monthly benefits if you develop a chronic illness and are unable to preform 2 of the 6 activities of daily living (bathing, continence, dressing eating, toileting or requiring substantial supervision due to severe cognitive impairment.  The rider benefit can be sued for any reason like to pay a family member to ;help care for you in your own home or to meet any other extra expenses.
  • Children’s Level Term Insurance Rider: Optional.   A single charge covers all covered children, issue age 15 days to 18 years old.  The maximum coverage amount is $10,000 per policy, with a total of $20,000 per child for all policies you have with Pacific Life.  Coverage terminates on the earlier of the child’s 25th birthday or the policy anniversary when the insurance turns 65 years old.  The rider can also be converted.  
  • Wavier of Premium Rider: Optional.  Waves the premium payments if you become totally disabled.  Written notice and proof of total disability that the total disability has existed continuously for 180 days or more is required.  Wavier of Premium Rider terminates when you are age 65 or sooner if you cancel the policy.   However, if you become disabled prior to  age 60 and disability continues to age 65, premium are waived for the life of the policy.

PACIFIC LIFE’S PL PROMISE TERM LIFE INSURANCE SAMPLE QUOTES

PL Promise Term Life Insurance – 10 Year Term Life Insurance – Sample Monthly Quotes –  Preferred Plus

$250,000$500,000$1,000,000
Age 30$10.41 M $9.25 F$14.02 M $12.12 F$20.82 M $18.23 F
Age 40 $13.17 M $11.90 F$18.86 M $16.72 F$29.30 M $25.90 F
Age 50$24.41 M $20.99 F$41.60 M $34.42 F$72.29 M $ 58.93 F
Age 60$60.34 M $43.24 F$110.49 M $75.13 F$209.78 M $137.90 F
Age 70$177.51 M $117.51 F$316.93 M $197.20 F$598.74 M $366.77 F
Want to see more sample quotes for PL Promise Term Life Insurance? See: How Much Does Life Insurance By Pacific Life Cost?

PL Promise GUL (Guaranteed Universal Life)

Unlike term life insurance which provides guaranteed coverage for a limited period, a GUL policy provides guaranteed coverage for longer period of time.   For a higher premium than term life insurance, you can extend your guaranteed coverage for the duration of your choice – up to age 121 (lifetime)

Product Highlights

  • A potentially more affordable alternative to whole life insurance
  • Minimum face amount: $25,000
  • Designed to perform well with lifetime level premium
  • Targeted for most competitive premiums to age 100 no-lapse guarantee and shorter – as low as age 90
  • Premium paid up to one month early or late will not adversely impact the no lapse guarantee.
  • Return of Premium feature available

Issue Ages:

  •  0 to 90 year old

Death Benefit:

  • Level death benefit option only.  No increases allowed.  You can decrease the death benefit by at least $1,000 once per year after the first policy year.

Surrender Charge:

  • Applies upon a full policy surrender and any face amount decrease or withdrawal occurring in the first 19 years of the policy. A $25 fee also applies for withdraws.

Policy Charges:

  • Policy will incur monthly policy charges which include cost of insurance charges, administrative charges, expense charges, and any applicable rider charges.  In addition, a premium expense charge is deducted from each premium payment.

Additional Riders:

  • Terminal Illness Rider: Optional.  You can request a prepayment of up to 75% of the policy’s death benefit, not to exceed $500,000 if you become terminally ill with 12 months or fewer to live.
  • Chronic Illness Care Rider: Optional.  You may receive advance payment of up to $3 Million of your policy’s death benefit as annual or monthly benefits if you develop a chronic illness and are unable to preform 2 of the 6 activities of daily living (bathing, continence, dressing eating, toileting or requiring substantial supervision due to severe cognitive impairment.  The rider benefit can be sued for any reason like to pay a family member to ;help care for you in your own home or to meet any other extra expenses.
  • Return of Premium:  Optional.  Also know as the Enhanced Surrender Value Rider is included at no charge.   In certain policy years, at certain ages, and at certain face amounts, you may surrender the policy and get a percentage of the premium returned to you.  The Enhanced Surrender Value Rider is availble on poliies $50,000 or more with an elected no-lapse guarantee to at least age 100.   For ages 70 and above, the no-lapse guarantee durations must be at least 30 years.
  • Wavier of Monthly Deduction Rider: Optional.  Waives monthly policy charges if you are disabled and unable to work prior to age 65.
  • Children’s Term Rider: Optional.  Single charge for all children.  Add up to $10,000 per child.  At the child’s 25th birthday or the insured’s 65th birthday, the coverage can be converted for a universal life insurance policy on the child for up to 5x their coverage amount or up to $50,000.  

PACIFIC LIFE’S PL PROMISE GUL – GUARANTEED UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE SAMPLE QUOTES

PL Promise GUL – Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance Sample Monthly Quotes – Preferred Plus

$250,000Age 30Age 40Age 50Age 60Age 70
To Age 100$96.42 M $86.04 F$144.71 M $130.81 F$222.94 M $202.72 F$357.66 M $310.74 F$661.02 M $536.15 F
To Age 121$96.42 M $87.74 F$147.44 M $136.05 F$233.10 M $218.44 F$384.32 M $337.81 F$717.38 M $603.33 F
Want to see more sample quotes for PL Promise GUL – Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance? See: How Much Does Life Insurance By Pacific Life Cost?

CAN I GET A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY FROM PACIFIC LIFE WITHOUT A MEDICAL EXAM?

It is possible to get a life insurance policy from Pacific Life without a medial exam if you qualify for the PL Swift Sailing or the PL Smooth Sailing programs.

PL Swift Sailing is the name for Pacific Life’s accelerated underwriting.  By using digital tools, available data and predictive modeling, PL Swift Sailing offers a more convenient and less invasive underwriting process.  PL Swift sailing requires no medical exams, needles, fluids, or attending physician statements.  Qualified people up to age 60 can get up to $2 million in coverage, even with nicotine use.

Who Qualifies?

  • Available only on PL Promise Term 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 year level premium periods.
  • Ages 18-60
  • Up to $2 million of coverage
  • In good health with full disclosure of you medical history.
  • Evidence of a routine medical care in the past 3 years
  • No applications with Pacific Life in the past year
  • Not previously rated or declined
  • Standard of better rate classes

Not everyone will qualify for PL Swift Sailing accelerated underwriting.  Certain medical and non- medical conditions may result in full underwriting.  You must answer “NO” to 

  • Major medical conditions:  Such as but not limited to – Atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmia, Bariatric surgery, Barrett’s esophagus, Bipolar disorder, Cancer, Cardiomyopathy, COPD, Cirrhosis, Clotting disorder, Crohn’s/Inflammatory bowel disease, Diabetes, Emphysema, Epilepsy/seizure, Hear disease/surgery, Hepatitis B or C, Kidney disease, Leukemia, Lupus/Scleroderma, Lymphoma, Melanoma, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular dystrophy,  Pancreatitis, Parkinson’s disease, Peripheral vascular/artery disease, Pituitary disorder, PTSD, Rheumatoid arthritis, Schizophrenia, Stroke/ TIA
  • Overweight with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 35 or underweight with BMI less than 17.5
  • Pending medical tests
  • Alcohol abuse or treatment
  • Drug abuse or treatment
  • History of DUI within the last 5 years
  • Criminal history or pending criminal charges
  • Bankruptcy
  • Outstanding liens or judgments
  • Participation in hazardous activities
  • Occupation is considered hazardous or you are a professional athlete or entertainer
  • Had a policy with an exclusion, refused, postponed, limited, rescinded, withdrawn or cancelled in the last 12 months.
  • Evidence of high insurance shopping activity in the last 12 months.  
  • Previously rated or declined.

People who do not qualify for PL Swift Sailing accelerated underwriting will automatically be assessed for PL Smooth Sailing fluid less underwriting for ages and face amounts that overlap ( Ages 50-69, up to and including $1 Million)  Those who do not qualify for either program will have to go through full underwriting.

What is the difference between PL Swift Sailing vs. PL Smooth Sailing?

PL Swift Sailing

  • Available on PL Promise Term only
  • Accelerated and fluid less underwriting
  • Up to $2 Million in coverage
  • No medical exams, labs, or attending physician statements required
  • Ages 18-60
  • Standard or better rate classes, including nicotine
  • Underwriting based on numerous data sources
  • Quicker decisions

PL Smooth Sailing

Fluid less underwriting

  • Available on PL Promise Term OR PL Promise GUL
  • Up to $1 Million in coverage
  • Physical and blood work must be available from a physician with in the last 18 months.
  • Ages 50-69
  • For all rate classes up to rated class Table 4
  • Underwriting based on attending physicians statement
  • Decisions generally in normal time – 4 to 6 weeks

A Brief History of Protective Life Insurance

1868 – The Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company of California is founded in Sacramento

1881 – The home office moves to San Francisco

1885 – The company begins offering accident policies to protect policyholders from unexpected loss of income

1905 – Pacific Life has $61 million of life insurance in force and a presence in 40 states and territories

1906 – The home office is destroyed in an earthquake, and the Pacific Life headquarters moves to Los Angeles.

1997 – Pacific Life converts to a mutual holding company to increase its financial flexibility.

2005 – The company moves its state of domicile to Nebraska and saves millions in taxes.

2018 – Pacific Life celebrates 150 years of supporting financial advisors and policyholders.


PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCTS

In addition to term life insurance and guaranteed universal life insurance, Pacific Life offers these other types of life insurance products to help with your financial planning:

  • Variable Universal Life Insurance 
  • Indexed Universal Life Insurance
  • Whole Life Insurance
  • Life Insurance with Long Term Care Benefits
  • Variable Annuities
  • Fixed Indexed Annuities
  • Fixed Annuities
  • Immediate Annuities
  • Deferred Income Annuities

Pacific Life also has it own mutual funds called Pacific Funds.


Pacific Life Insurance Coverage Details and Guidelines

WHO ISSUES THEIR POLICIES?

 Insurance policies are issued by Pacific Life Insurance Company in all states except New York and in New York by Pacific Life & Annuity Company. 

HOW DO I GET AN ONLINE QUOTE THROUGH PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE?

Pacific Life does not provide online quotes on their website.  However, you can get a Pacific Life Insurance Quote right here on this website.  You can also call us at (888) 681-4952 and will give you a quote right over the phone.

HOW DO I GET A LOW RATE?

Pacific Life Insurance is competitive no matter what underwriting class you qualify for.  Their rates are low if you get a Preferred or Standard underwriting class.  That being said, the healthier you are, the less expensive your rates will be. 


Who is Pacific Life Insurance For?

Pacific Life Insurance is for people who are shopping around for one of the most competitive life insurance rates offered in the market.  The is especially true for those who are looking for a term life insurance or guaranteed universal life insurance policy.

WHO IS THE IDEAL PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE APPLICANT?

The ideal Pacific Life Insurance applicant is either a male or female, smoker or non-smoker, not overweight,  in relatively good health currently with no significant health issues in the past.  They would also have to have no criminal history, a clean driving record, and not currently in bankruptcy.

WHAT IF I’M NOT PERFECTLY HEALTHY?

Go ahead and still apply to Pacific Life Insurance Company even if you are not perfectly healthy.  No matter what underwriting class you are approved at, Pacific Life Insurance Company’s price is always competitive compared to other leading carriers.


How To Apply For Life Insurance with Pacific Life

Pacific Life’s products are sold through independent Financial Professionals associated with financial planning firms, securities broker-dealers, wire houses, banks, and other financial institutions, which are located nationwide.

The easiest way is to run a Pacific Life Insurance quote and hit the “request an application” button on this website or call us at (888)681-4952.

Otherwise Pacific life has a “Find a Financial Professional” button on their website.  Just enter you zip code and they will provide a list of professionals to call. 

SIGNING UP FOR PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE

If you are interested in signing up for Pacific Life Insurance, go ahead and run a quote on this website. Select the Pacific Life quote from the comparison and hit the “request an application” button.  Leave your contact information and we’ll call you back shortly to get the process started.  Or if you like,  you can call us at (888) 681-4952 instead.

HOW DOES THE APPLICATION PROCESS WITH PACIFIC LIFE WORK?

After you submit the life insurance application, you will receive a call from the Pacific Life fulfillment center.  They will conduct a confidential telephone interview that will take about 30 minutes.  You should be prepared to tell the interviewer about any medical conditions you have now or have be diagnosed with in the last 10 years:

  • Name of condition and date of diagnosis
  • Name and address of the doctor seen
  • Names and dates of any medications taken for the condition
  • Names, dates, and results of treatments and tests performed
  • Name, address and phone number of any treatment facilities consulted

You will be asked for your driver’s license number.

If required, the interviewer will then offer the option of scheduling a medical exam.

If you are age 71 or older a Functional Cognitive Assessment will be conducted as part of your medical exam.  

If your application does not require a medical exam, your application will be forwarded to Pacific Life where the underwriting process will begin.

PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY FINANCIAL STRENGTH AND BBB RATINGS

Pacific Life Insurance Company’s ratings are in the top tier of these independent rating agencies:

  • A.M. Best: A+ Superior (2nd of 16 ratings)
  • Fitch: AA- Very Strong (4th of 21 ratings)
  • Moody’s: A1 Good (5th of 21 ratings)
  • Standard & Poor’s: AA- Very Strong (4th of 21 ratings)
  • COMDEX Score of 93 (Scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the highest rating)
  • BBB: Not accredited

Pacific Life Reviews and Complaints

J.D Power, which conducts surveys of customer satisfaction, ranked Pacific Life Insurance Company 7th out of 23 companies in J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Life Insurance Study.

The NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) tracks the number of complaints submitted to state insurance departments by people with their national complaint index.  A score of 1 is baseline average, and a score of 0 means there are hardly any complaints at all.

Pacific Life’s NAIC score of 0.09 means there was a very small number of complaints submitted to state insurance departments.

There were no reviews currently written on Trustpilot about Pacific Life.


Frequently Asked Questions About Pacific Life Insurance

Is Pacific Life a good / legitimate company?  

YES.  Pacific Life Insurance company is a  good / legitimate company.  They have been around for 153 years and have $1.2 Trillion of life insurance in force. 

How does Pacific Life’s price compare to the competition?  

Most of the time Pacific Life is in the Top 3 for the most competitive price in the market compared to the competition.

What kind of life insurance does Pacific Life sell?  

Pacific Life has an array of life insurance products.  The most popular are term life insurance and guaranteed universal life insurance

Do I have to take a medical exam to buy life insurance from Pacific Life?  

If you qualify for either PL Swift Sailing or PL Smooth Sailing accelerated underwriting, you may not have to take a medical exam.  If you do not qualify for either program, you will have to take a medical exam.

What 3rd party information will Pacific Life look at when I apply for life insurance?  

Pacific Life with check your credit history, run a criminal background check, check your motor vehicle report, as well as check the Rx prescription drug data base.

Do I have to give my social security number when I apply for life insurance through Pacific Life?  

Yes.  Your social security number will be used to verify your identify and as your tax id number.  In addition, Pacific life will ask for other personal information like your date of birth, driver’s license number.

What type of payment does Pacific Life accept?  

Pacific Life accepts personal checks, business checks, cashiers checks, wire transfers, and preprinted money orders.  All payments must be drawn or originate for a United States Bank.  Credit card payments are only accepted on the initial payment.

What is life expectancy?

Life expectancy is the statistical expectation of how long someone will live at birth based on a number of factors such as socioeconomics, demographic, geographic, thermographic, stenographic, idiographic, and historiographics.


The Bottom Line

Pacific Life Insurance Company has excellent prices for their life insurance products.  Generally, always in the Top 3 compared to the competition.  

The PL Swift and PL Smooth Sailing accelerated underwiring programs, makes applying to Pacific Life Insurance Company an easy experience as well.  In addition, the living benefits (provided by the terminal illness and critical illness riders) plus other riders, make a Pacific Life Insurance policy good value for your money.  

We always strongly recommend getting at least 2 or 3 competitive quotes, before you buy Life Insurance; no matter where you shop! Pacific Life should definitely be included in your comparision shopping, which you can start— right here…

GET A FREE INSTANT LIFE INSURANCE QUOTE

Call Anytime for Assistance!
888-681-4952

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