How Much Does A $5000 Life Insurance Policy Cost?


  • May 20, 2024
Briefcase filled with bundles of US dollars.

Many people choose $5,000 life insurance policies to relieve their families from worrying about funeral and burial expenses. These policies are budget-friendly and help cover important final costs.

Thanks to their lower premiums and easier approval processes, these smaller policies are perfect for those not in great health or looking to keep expenses low.

If you’re looking to decide on $5K of coverage, this guide will show you:

  • What your options are
  • How much you’ll pay
  • Which companies are best

See how much you could save

Compare rates from 19 carriers in 60 seconds

Types Of $5,000 Life Insurance Policies

When looking into getting $5K in life insurance coverage, you have a couple of good options:

  • Simplified Issue Whole Life Insurance
  • Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Insurance

Simplified Issue Whole Life Insurance

Simplified issue whole life insurance provides coverage that lasts your entire life, with no medical exam needed. This  coverage builds cash value over time. 

Pros: No medical exam required, fixed premiums, and strong cash value growth over time.

Cons:   On a coverage per dollar basis, you would pay less if you got higher amounts of coverage

Guaranteed Whole Life Insurance

Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Insurance offers a $5,000 death benefit to anyone who’s eligible by age and state of residence. This option is your safety net when other policies seem out of reach. It doesn’t ask you to pass a medical exam or complete lengthy health questionnaires.

Pros: No health check whatsoever; allows those who cannot qualify for traditional policies to cover their families

Cons: High premiums, two-year waiting period.

How Do Life Insurance Companies Decide Your Cost?

Life insurance companies want you to live a long time.

Why?  So they don’t have to pay out a big lump sum of cash!  

People who make them pay out cash soon (i.e., pass away soon) get declined or get higher rates.  And if they get to keep their money for years (i.e., you live a long life), they can’t wait to have you, and will charge you a low rate to win you over.  

Factors Affecting Life Insurance Costs

FactorAge
Impact on CostYounger applicants pay less because they have more years ahead to contribute premiums.
FactorHealth
Impact on CostGood health means longer life expectancies and qualifies you for lower rates.
FactorGender
Impact on CostWomen statistically live longer and enjoy lower rates than men.
FactorLifestyle
Impact on CostHazardous habits like smoking can drive up your premiums.
FactorOccupation
Impact on CostWorking in high-risk environments will result in higher rates.
FactorPolicy Type
Impact on CostWhole life insurance policies have higher prices due to their indefinite coverage period.
FactorLength of Term
Impact on CostThe longer the term of the policy, the higher the premiums you pay.

Check Out: How much is $25,000 of life insurance?

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How Much Does A $5K Policy Cost?

Curious about the cost of a $5,000 life insurance policy? 

The important thing is that you are getting the facts – surveys suggest that most individuals overestimate the cost of life insurance by several hundred percent. 

The Cost of a $5,000 Simplified Issue Whole Life Insurance Policy

How much is a $5k simplified issue whole life insurance policy?

The tables below show an age-by-age breakdown of the cost of 5000 of whole life insurance for individuals between the ages of 45 and 89.

How Much Is $5000 of Life Insurance For Men?

For male non-smokers, premiums rise gently from age 45 to 70, starting from a lower base. You might see costs beginning around $16 monthly at age 45, gradually increasing as you age. The climb in rates becomes steeper for those in their later years, underscoring the increased risk and costs for insurance companies to provide coverage as clients age, with cost reaching $172 at age 89

Column 1Age 45
Men$14.62
Male (Smoker)$18.70
Column 1Age 46
Men$15.41
Male (Smoker)$19.95
Column 1Age 47
Men$16.20
Male (Smoker)$21.20
Column 1Age 48
Men$16.99
Male (Smoker)$22.45
Column 1Age 49
Men$17.78
Male (Smoker)$23.70
Column 1Age 50
Men$18.53
Male (Smoker)$24.99
Column 1Age 51
Men$19.28
Male (Smoker)$25.49
Column 1Age 52
Men$20.03
Male (Smoker)$25.99
Column 1Age 53
Men$20.78
Male (Smoker)$26.49
Column 1Age 54
Men$21.53
Male (Smoker)$26.99
Column 1Age 55
Men$22.32
Male (Smoker)$27.49
Column 1Age 56
Men$23.20
Male (Smoker)$28.82
Column 1Age 57
Men$24.07
Male (Smoker)$30.15
Column 1Age 58
Men$24.95
Male (Smoker)$31.49
Column 1Age 59
Men$25.82
Male (Smoker)$32.82
Column 1Age 60
Men$26.74
Male (Smoker)$34.15
Column 1Age 61
Men$27.32
Male (Smoker)$35.57
Column 1Age 62
Men$27.91
Male (Smoker)$36.99
Column 1Age 63
Men$28.49
Male (Smoker)$38.40
Column 1Age 64
Men$29.07
Male (Smoker)$39.82
Column 1Age 65
Men$29.57
Male (Smoker)$41.23
Column 1Age 66
Men$30.99
Male (Smoker)$43.98
Column 1Age 67
Men$32.40
Male (Smoker)$46.73
Column 1Age 68
Men$33.82
Male (Smoker)$49.48
Column 1Age 69
Men$35.24
Male (Smoker)$52.23
Column 1Age 70
Men$36.65
Male (Smoker)$54.98
Column 1Age 71
Men$39.40
Male (Smoker)$59.39
Column 1Age 72
Men$42.15
Male (Smoker)$63.81
Column 1Age 73
Men$44.90
Male (Smoker)$68.22
Column 1Age 74
Men$47.65
Male (Smoker)$72.64
Column 1Age 75
Men$50.40
Male (Smoker)$77.05
Column 1Age 76
Men$54.06
Male (Smoker)$83.97
Column 1Age 77
Men$57.73
Male (Smoker)$90.88
Column 1Age 78
Men$61.39
Male (Smoker)$97.79
Column 1Age 79
Men$65.06
Male (Smoker)$104.71
Column 1Age 80
Men$68.72
Male (Smoker)$111.62
Column 1Age 81
Men$74.05
Male (Smoker)$121.78
Column 1Age 82
Men$79.38
Male (Smoker)$131.95
Column 1Age 83
Men$84.72
Male (Smoker)$142.11
Column 1Age 84
Men$90.05
Male (Smoker)$152.27
Column 1Age 85
Men$95.38
Male (Smoker)$162.44
Column 1Age 86
Men$114.54
Male (Smoker)$190.42
Column 1Age 87
Men$133.70
Male (Smoker)$218.41
Column 1Age 88
Men$152.86
Male (Smoker)$246.40
Column 1Age 89
Men$172.01
Male (Smoker)$274.39

What about smokers looking for a $5,000 policy? Male smokers can expect to start with slightly higher premiums of $18 at age 45. The rate of increase over time is sharper, reflecting the higher health risks associated with smoking reaching $274 at age 89. 

How Much Is $5000 of Life Insurance For Women?

Column 1Age 45
Female$13.41
Female (Smoker)$18.24
Column 1Age 46
Female$13.74
Female (Smoker)$18.95
Column 1Age 47
Female$14.08
Female (Smoker)$19.66
Column 1Age 48
Female$14.41
Female (Smoker)$20.37
Column 1Age 49
Female$14.74
Female (Smoker)$21.07
Column 1Age 50
Female$14.99
Female (Smoker)$21.87
Column 1Age 51
Female$15.54
Female (Smoker)$22.03
Column 1Age 52
Female$16.08
Female (Smoker)$22.20
Column 1Age 53
Female$16.62
Female (Smoker)$22.37
Column 1Age 54
Female$17.16
Female (Smoker)$22.53
Column 1Age 55
Female$17.78
Female (Smoker)$22.74
Column 1Age 56
Female$18.53
Female (Smoker)$23.53
Column 1Age 57
Female$19.28
Female (Smoker)$24.32
Column 1Age 58
Female$20.03
Female (Smoker)$25.11
Column 1Age 59
Female$20.78
Female (Smoker)$25.91
Column 1Age 60
Female$21.45
Female (Smoker)$26.66
Column 1Age 61
Female$22.07
Female (Smoker)$27.57
Column 1Age 62
Female$22.70
Female (Smoker)$28.49
Column 1Age 63
Female$23.32
Female (Smoker)$29.40
Column 1Age 64
Female$23.95
Female (Smoker)$30.32
Column 1Age 65
Female$24.57
Female (Smoker)$31.24
Column 1Age 66
Female$25.57
Female (Smoker)$32.90
Column 1Age 67
Female$26.57
Female (Smoker)$34.57
Column 1Age 68
Female$27.57
Female (Smoker)$36.24
Column 1Age 69
Female$28.57
Female (Smoker)$37.90
Column 1Age 70
Female$29.57
Female (Smoker)$39.57
Column 1Age 71
Female$31.24
Female (Smoker)$42.07
Column 1Age 72
Female$32.90
Female (Smoker)$44.57
Column 1Age 73
Female$34.57
Female (Smoker)$47.06
Column 1Age 74
Female$36.24
Female (Smoker)$49.56
Column 1Age 75
Female$37.90
Female (Smoker)$52.06
Column 1Age 76
Female$40.40
Female (Smoker)$57.14
Column 1Age 77
Female$42.90
Female (Smoker)$62.23
Column 1Age 78
Female$45.40
Female (Smoker)$67.31
Column 1Age 79
Female$47.90
Female (Smoker)$72.39
Column 1Age 80
Female$50.40
Female (Smoker)$77.47
Column 1Age 81
Female$53.81
Female (Smoker)$83.13
Column 1Age 82
Female$57.23
Female (Smoker)$88.80
Column 1Age 83
Female$60.64
Female (Smoker)$94.46
Column 1Age 84
Female$64.06
Female (Smoker)$100.13
Column 1Age 85
Female$67.47
Female (Smoker)$105.79
Column 1Age 86
Female$83.80
Female (Smoker)$125.53
Column 1Age 87
Female$100.13
Female (Smoker)$145.28
Column 1Age 88
Female$116.45
Female (Smoker)$165.02
Column 1Age 89
Female$132.78
Female (Smoker)$184.76

Simplified Issue Whole Life Insurance Policy for women aged 45-89, with separate rates for smokers and non-smokers. Premiums start at $13 for a 45-year-old non-smoker, gradually increasing with age, and for smokers, reaching $184 for an 89-year-old smoker. 

The Cost of a $5,000 Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Insurance Policy

Let’s explore the cost of a $5,000 guaranteed issue whole life insurance policy.

Given that guaranteed issue policies do not factor in health status or smoking habits, the age-associated premium variations in simplified issue policies are less dramatic here. However, age still influences the premium cost.

Age Age 50
Male $22.50
Age Age 51
Male $24.14
Age Age 52
Male $25.66
Age Age 53
Male $27.08
Age Age 54
Male $28.31
Age Age 55
Male $29.41
Age Age 56
Male $30.24
Age Age 57
Male $30.97
Age Age 58
Male $31.61
Age Age 59
Male $32.07
Age Age 60
Male $32.39
Age Age 61
Male $34.73
Age Age 62
Male $36.93
Age Age 63
Male $39.03
Age Age 64
Male $41.05
Age Age 65
Male $43.02
Age Age 66
Male $44.76
Age Age 67
Male $46.27
Age Age 68
Male $47.69
Age Age 69
Male $48.93
Age Age 70
Male $50.03
Age Age 71
Male $54.52
Age Age 72
Male $58.92
Age Age 73
Male $63.04
Age Age 74
Male $66.89
Age Age 75
Male $70.19
Age Age 76
Male $81.87
Age Age 77
Male $93.10
Age Age 78
Male $103.86
Age Age 79
Male $114.17
Age Age 80
Male $124.07

The table for male policyholders aged 50-80 shows premiums starting at $22.50 for a 50-year-old and rising gradually, reaching $124.07 for an 80-year-old. Although not influenced by health or smoking factors, the premiums for guaranteed issue policies for men increase with age, making age a key determinant in the cost of coverage.

Age Age 50
Female$17.68
Age Age 51
Female$18.92
Age Age 52
Female$19.98
Age Age 53
Female$20.94
Age Age 54
Female$21.81
Age Age 55
Female$22.59
Age Age 56
Female$23.46
Age Age 57
Female$24.14
Age Age 58
Female$24.83
Age Age 59
Female$25.47
Age Age 60
Female$25.98
Age Age 61
Female$27.49
Age Age 62
Female$28.86
Age Age 63
Female$30.05
Age Age 64
Female$30.97
Age Age 65
Female$31.75
Age Age 66
Female$33.35
Age Age 67
Female$34.68
Age Age 68
Female$35.92
Age Age 69
Female$37.11
Age Age 70
Female$38.21
Age Age 71
Female$41.87
Age Age 72
Female$45.36
Age Age 73
Female$48.70
Age Age 74
Female$51.77
Age Age 75
Female$54.52
Age Age 76
Female$62.31
Age Age 77
Female$69.6
Age Age 78
Female$76.51
Age Age 79
Female$82.93
Age Age 80
Female$88.61

For female policyholders aged 50-80 in guaranteed issue policies, where health and smoking habits are not considered, age continues to influence premium costs. Premiums for a $15,000 Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Insurance Policy start at $17 for a 50-year-old and gradually increase, reaching $88 for an 80-year-old. The impact of age on premium costs for female policyholders highlights the role of age as a key factor in determining the overall cost of coverage in these types of policies.

Best Companies For A $5,000 Life Insurance Policy

We’ve explored a network of life insurance carriers to bring you our top picks for a $5,000 life insurance policy.

Simplified Issue Whole Life Insurance: Mutual of Omaha

United of Omaha offers simplified issue whole life insurance through their Living Promise Whole Life Insurance. This includes both their Level Benefit Plan and Graded Benefit Plan. These policies suit those seeking affordable $2,000-$50,000 permanent life insurance coverage.

  • No medical exam
  • Flat rates
  • Death benefits that are income-tax-free for beneficiaries
  • Cash value that grows over time and is yours to use at any point, for anything
  • Accelerated death benefits for terminal illness or nursing home confinement

Company Highlights:

  • Part of Mutual of Omaha, a top insurer with a reputation of over 75 years
  • A+ financial strength rating from A.M. Best

United of Omaha’s Living Promise products provide whole life coverage through simplified underwriting. It makes them a good choice for an affordable policy to cover final expense and burial costs. 

Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Insurance: Gerber Life

Gerber Life offers life insurance to Americans 50+ through their Guaranteed Issue policy. This provides up to $25,000 of permanent coverage for final expenses through a straightforward application process.

  • Guaranteed acceptance regardless of health
  • Rates never increase
  • Benefit payout is tax-free to beneficiaries
  • Cash value grows tax-deferred at a guaranteed interest rate; policy loans available with no credit check

Company Highlights:

  • Well-known brand for 90+ years
  • Rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best for financial stability and strength

Faith Boluwatife

Faith is an enthusiastic medical copywriter who is passionate about creating educational content especially around healthy living and Medicare. She holds a Master in Public Health and functions as a regular contributor for a number of health blogs where she writes valuable pieces to educate individuals.