Nationwide life insurance, reviewed.
Nationwide is one of the country’s large mutual insurers, member-owned and based in Columbus, Ohio. The short version: a financially strong carrier with a full product line from term to variable universal life, and living-benefits riders, like long-term care, that it is genuinely known for.
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What it does well
Strength you can feel good about.
Nationwide is a carrier other big names get measured against, and these are the reasons why.
A large mutual insurer
Nationwide is a big, member-owned mutual company, the kind of scale and structure that matters when a claim is filed decades from now.
A+ (Superior) from AM Best
Nationwide Life Insurance Company carries an A+ (Superior) financial-strength rating from AM Best, the second-highest of its fifteen grades, with a stable outlook.
A full product line
Term, whole, universal, indexed universal, and variable universal life all sit under one roof, useful when your needs grow or change over time.
Living-benefits riders it is known for
Nationwide is well known for long-term-care and chronic-illness riders that let you use part of the death benefit while living, a real building block for later-life planning.
A no-exam way in
Its Life Essentials term coverage can be applied for online with no medical exam up to a set amount, a quick option to compare when you want speed.
A low complaint history
Over recent years Nationwide has drawn fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company its size, per NAIC data, a quiet but telling signal.
Want Nationwide’s number for your age? A licensed professional will run it and compare it to the market. No obligation.
Call (855) 809-1893What they offer
A plan for temporary, permanent, and living-benefit needs.
Nationwide’s shelf spans low-cost term, several kinds of cash-value permanent coverage, and the long-term-care and chronic-illness riders it is known for (per Nationwide):
Term life
Level term, 10 to 30 years
Level-premium term coverage in 10-, 15-, 20-, and 30-year lengths, most of it convertible to a permanent policy later without a new medical exam.
Permanent life
Whole, universal, indexed & variable
Cash-value coverage that lasts for life, spanning whole life, universal life, indexed universal life, and variable universal life to match different goals.
Living benefits
Long-term-care & chronic-illness riders
Riders that let you draw on the death benefit for qualifying care needs while living, the feature Nationwide is best known for.
Whole life starts at modest coverage amounts, term runs in 10-, 15-, 20-, and 30-year lengths, and the indexed and variable universal options give cash-value growth tied to a market index or subaccounts. Which one fits depends on what you want the money to do.
The part people ask about
Living benefits, in plain terms.
A living benefit lets you use part of your death benefit while you are still alive, if a qualifying health event happens. It is the reason a lot of families put Nationwide on the list, and it is worth understanding before you buy.
Long-term-care riders
Access part of the death benefit to help pay for qualifying long-term-care needs, an alternative to buying a standalone LTC policy.
Chronic-illness riders
Draw on the benefit if a chronic illness leaves you unable to perform certain daily activities, subject to the policy terms.
Accelerated death benefit
A common terminal-illness feature that pays part of the benefit early after a qualifying diagnosis, so the money is there when it is needed.
Riders vary by product and state, and using a living benefit reduces what your beneficiary receives later. That is not a knock, it is just the tradeoff, and it is exactly the kind of detail worth walking through with someone before you sign.
Is it a good fit?
A strong default, and a standout when living benefits matter.
Nationwide fits a lot of people well. You get a large, member-owned mutual insurer, an A+ (Superior) financial-strength rating from AM Best, and a product shelf wide enough to cover temporary, permanent, and cash-value goals alike.
Where it really stands out is living benefits: if long-term-care or chronic-illness coverage inside a life policy is on your mind, Nationwide belongs on the list. The only way to know it is your best value is to set it beside two or three others. That comparison is free.
When a carrier this strong also leads on living benefits, it earns a place on the list, especially if long-term care is on your mind. We still compare it, because the right carrier is the one that fits your profile best.
Financial strength
Can Nationwide pay the claim?
By the ratings, yes. Nationwide Life Insurance Company holds an A+ (Superior) financial-strength rating from AM Best, the second-highest of AM Best’s fifteen ratings, affirmed in late 2025 with a stable outlook. A financial-strength rating is one agency’s read on a carrier’s ability to pay claims down the road.
Ratings can change, so treat any figure here as a snapshot and confirm the current mark at ambest.com before you decide. Alongside the rating, Nationwide has drawn fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for its size in recent years, per NAIC complaint data, another useful signal of how the carrier treats policyholders.
Already have a policy?
Confirm you’re getting their best rate.
If you already hold a Nationwide policy, a licensed professional will read it with you and check whether the same premium could buy more elsewhere. With a carrier this strong, often you are in good shape, and we will say so plainly.
Free · no obligation · Mon-Sat · 10am-9pm
- Whether term, permanent, or a living-benefits rider fits your goals
- If converting a term policy makes sense before the window closes
- Whether another strong carrier beats it for your profile
- That your beneficiary is current and correct
Straight answers
Nationwide questions, answered.
Reviewed by Braxton Mondell, licensed insurance agent (NPN 22045329) · Updated July 2026
01Is Nationwide life insurance good?
Yes, Nationwide is a large mutual insurer with a full life line and an A+ (Superior) financial-strength rating from AM Best, the second-highest of its fifteen grades. It is especially worth a look if living-benefits riders like long-term care matter to you, since that is an area Nationwide is known for.
02What does Nationwide life insurance offer?
Nationwide writes a full shelf: level term (10 to 30 years), whole life, universal life, indexed universal life, and variable universal life. It also offers long-term-care and chronic-illness riders that let you use part of the death benefit while living, plus a no-exam Life Essentials term option you can apply for online.
03What is Nationwide’s AM Best rating?
Nationwide Life Insurance Company holds an A+ (Superior) financial-strength rating from AM Best, the second-highest of AM Best’s fifteen ratings, affirmed in late 2025 with a stable outlook. Ratings can change, so it is worth confirming the current mark at ambest.com before you decide.
04Does Nationwide have a good reputation?
By the numbers, yes. Over recent years Nationwide has drawn fewer complaints to state insurance regulators than expected for a company its size, according to NAIC data, and it carries strong financial-strength ratings. That combination is what most people mean when they ask whether a carrier is dependable.
05Can I convert a Nationwide term policy to permanent coverage?
In most cases, yes. Nationwide term policies are typically convertible to a permanent policy before a set deadline without new medical underwriting, which can be valuable if your health changes. The exact conversion window and eligible products depend on your policy, so it is worth confirming the terms before the window closes.
06How much does Nationwide life insurance cost?
It depends on your age, sex, health, the type of policy, and the coverage amount. Term is typically the lowest-cost way in; permanent coverage costs more because it lasts for life and builds cash value. A quick call gives you a real quote for your situation, and lets you compare it against other strong carriers at the same time.
07How do I reach Nationwide customer service?
Existing policyholders can reach Nationwide through the number on their policy or at nationwide.com. If you would like someone to read your policy with you first, a licensed professional on our team can walk through it and help you contact the carrier.
This is an independent review. Policy Review Center is a free insurance comparison and referral service, not an insurance agency or insurer, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nationwide; product names are used for identification only. Plan details and ratings come from the carrier and AM Best and can change. Confirm current terms with Nationwide. Educational only, not financial or tax advice; a review may conclude your current policy is worth keeping, and any coverage changes are completed through independent licensed insurance professionals.
Keep reading
- Prudential life insurance review (another large national insurer, worth comparing on term and permanent coverage).
- Mutual of Omaha life insurance review (a fellow mutual insurer, useful side by side on living benefits).
- Transamerica life insurance review (a large carrier that came in low in our rate sample, a good price contrast).
- Curious how indexed universal life builds cash value? See our guide to indexed universal life.
- Want a second opinion on what you own now? Start with a free life insurance policy review.
See every option. Then choose.
Call and a licensed professional will compare Nationwide against the broader market for your age and health, and tell you straight which gives you the most.