My husband loves all things Costco, in fact, he calls Costco his ‘mistress’ (yuck)! But there’s one thing I’ve instructed my husband never to buy from Costco… Life insurance.Here’s the problem with Costco life insurance: No Variety! They’ve got 100 choices of wine & beer, but only 1 life insurance company to choose from… and that’s a big problem.Read on to find out why… PLUS two other problems.

I’ll also tell you what you should do instead, if you want the absolute lowest life insurance rates.Ok Costco, now you’re in my wheelhouse! … you’ve got me wondering, “What can Costco offer my clients that I can’t?”  In a word or two, not much! Here’s the FIRST problem: Costco life insurance is not like the Costco produce section where you have dozens of choices.Costco only offers coverage from 1 company: Protective Life Insurance Sure Protective is a very good carrier – I should know, because they are one of the companies we are contracted with, so we quote them and sell their products all the time.

…BUT…and this is one BIG BUT! Is Protective really the best choice for everybody? Nope, it sure isn’t! Protective sometimes offers (but not usually) the lowest price.Compare Rates Now! Did you know even a few bucks per month difference can mean a $720 increase over the life of a 20-year policy?  YOU WANT the best deal, and Protective doesn’t always have it.What is it about Costco, the enormous warehouse store, that makes me open my purse and hand over my debit card time and time again? There are actually many great things about Costco’s life insurance company, Protective Life Insurance.

They are rated A+ with most financial rating companies.That’s a very good start.They also are among our better-than-average aggressive carriers.

This means they are willing to consider coverage for folks with health issues.Would I sell Protective products to my clients? You bet!  I take them into account every time I run a quote.  But that doesn’t mean that I would ever consider selling ONLY Protective Life Insurance to ALL my clients.Why not? Because many other companies offer better approvals with particular health issues and personal circumstances!  As an independent agent, people come to me to help them choose the best company with the best product that best meets their specific needs.

The catch here is that all people are NOT all created equal – that’s for sure! For example, I am a fluffy redhead with type 2 diabetes; my husband is of average build, with sleep apnea and a birthday in 3 months; our son-in-law is in his late 30’s with high blood pressure; my dad has heart disease, and my next-door neighbor quit smoking 18 months ago.Armed with actuarial tables drawn from the company’s claims history, the underwriter will place you in a risk class based on the likelihood that you will expire before your policy matures, thus forcing the company to take a loss on you.Bankrate.com Top 10 Health Hazards for Life Insurers Now you may be asking yourself right now “So what?”.

Pre-existing health conditions? AIG Direct specializes in insuring people just like you.From high blood pressure to diabetes, AIG Direct has seen it all and since they have access to multiple companies, they can find you the absolute lowest rates! Click below to see if you qualify.FREE AIG DIRECT QUOTE Quotes are quick, easy, and free! Life Insurance Companies Approach Underwriting Differently Well, in each of these cases above, Costco life insurance is probably NOT the best choice since Protective doesn’t offer the most aggressive premiums for these particular circumstances.

Each one of the life insurance companies we deal with has its own strengths.That’s why it’s so important to use an independent agent, because we have access to an extensive database that enables us to pinpoint the best possible rates for you.So let’s see how Protective stacks up in regard to common health concerns: Protective Life Insurance and Smokers Smoking: Obviously, all insurance companies charge much less if you don’t smoke.

But what if you smoke cigars, a pipe, or you are an E-cigarette user? Well, in that case, you better not call Costco.Protective will rate you as a SMOKER.Smokers can expect to pay double or more for their premiums! If, however, you use an independent agent, like Huntley Wealth Insurance, we can place you with a company that could give you a non-smoker rating, despite your use of tobacco products! Quit Smoking? Good for you! But don’t call Costco if you quit between 1-2 years ago.

Protective will not rate you as well as some other carriers, which means higher prices! RELATED: Check Sample Life Insurance Rates by Age (No Personal Info Required) Protective Life Insurance and Mental Health PTSD and Social Security Disability: That’s a tough issue with all life insurance companies.A few will consider you on a case by case basis but, unfortunately, not Protective.If this is your situation, you should give us a call, and we will run a quick quote with the carriers most likely to offer you coverage.

Depression: Lots of people struggle with this or other mental conditions, and you’d never even know it.If this is you, please don’t just apply through Costco, as you will miss out on a more cost-effective offer from other carriers.​Protective and Personal Circumstances Nearest Age: Protective uses your nearest age (as do most other carriers) to determine the price you will pay.

So, since my husband has a birthday in 3 months, he is already being priced as 1 year older than his actual age.Some carriers use actual age, such as Prudential and Mutual of Omaha, so they may be a better choice for folks nearing a birthday! Family History: Protective guidelines don’t allow clients to get the best rating if they have a parent or sibling with a history of cardiac disease or certain cancers.They will offer those clients the second best rating, which means a higher price for coverage.

Some carriers don’t downgrade a client unless the family member in question died of the condition.A good independent agent will steer you to the insurer that will give you the best rating.This means you will save money, despite your family history.

Compare Quotes Now! Protective and Other Common Health Conditions Sleep Apnea: My husband has sleep apnea.It’s a common but serious ailment that requires treatment.You will do better with another carrier for this condition as Protective is pretty strict about compliance.

GERD with Barrett’s Esophagus: GERD stands for Gastric Esophageal Reflux Disease.It may be severe enough that cellular changes occur in the cells of the esophagus, which may result in a precancerous condition called Barrett’s Esophagus.So this is why doctors tell you not to ignore your heartburn.

It can actually become quite serious! This is another condition better covered by another insurance company.Since Protective is not as aggressive in regard to this condition as some of the other companies we use, this would be another example of why you should watch out for Costco life insurance.The result is higher premiums.

Type 2 Diabetes: According to the CDC, over 29 million people in the USA have diabetes, so this is a disease that impacts many of us.If you have type 2 diabetes, do not turn to Costco for the best-priced life insurance.Protective is not the most aggressive carrier when it comes to this condition.

Prostate Cancer: Another very common disease, but not one best suited for coverage from Costco.You will need a skilled independent agent to find the very best product for you.Skip the Needles! Want to take the “pain” out of life insurance? We don’t blame you! Bestow is one of our top recommended no-exam companies offering 10 and 20 year plans up to age 55.

See if you qualify for “no exam” today.FREE NO EXAM QUOTE Quotes are quick, easy, and free! Here’s another issue with Costco life insurance & Protective.Call them up and you’re going to get a call center.

Call up Huntley Wealth, and you’ll get one of only a handful of our warm & friendly agents.We’re smaller, so we can provide better, more customized service.So, before you add life insurance to that Costco cart piled high with great bargains, remember, life Insurance needs more review than your trip down the aisle of a busy store will allow.

Before you apply for a Protective policy through Costco, please do yourself a favor, and call your favorite independent life insurance professional.We can target the perfect insurer for your individual needs and this translates into substantial savings! I’m a mom and grandmother with a family I love very much.Needless to say, there are a number of people I need to think about when it comes to life insurance.

If something were to happen to me, my beneficiaries will be completely taken care of.So I am well aware of the needs and concerns of families and how diverse the circumstances can be.As independent agents, we have access to dozens of the best life insurers.

Have questions or need some advice? No problem! We are here to serve you and not the life insurance companies.We build long term relationships with all our clients and specialize in high-risk life insurance for pre-existing medical conditions.So if you have specific needs we are well equipped to give you sound advice.

Call Huntley Wealth and Insurance Services today at 888-603-2876 today.We can help! Find Out If You Qualify for Special Rate Life Insurance Health IQ offers exclusive active lifestyle discounts.You may qualify if you are an active runner, cyclist, yogi, vegetarian, swimmer, or other.

Find out how much you can save! FREE HEALTH IQ QUOTE Quotes are quick, easy, and free! *While we make every effort to keep our site updated, please be aware that "timely" information on this page, such as quote estimates, or pertinent details about companies, may only be accurate as of its last edit day.Huntley Wealth & Insurance Services and its representatives do not give legal or tax advice.Please consult your own legal or tax adviser.