Quick Answer: Royal Neighbors of America is an A-rated fraternal benefit society that offers affordable life insurance, with a focus on women, families, and community service. Their Ensured Legacy Final Expense product is particularly popular among seniors ages 50-85 who want simplified-issue coverage without medical exams. As a nonprofit, they reinvest in members rather than shareholders.
If you’re researching Royal Neighbors of America, you’re probably wondering whether this company is a good fit for your life insurance needs. It’s a fair question. With so many insurance companies out there, it’s hard to know which ones are legitimate and which ones actually deliver on their promises.
Here’s what makes Royal Neighbors different: they’re not trying to make Wall Street happy. As a fraternal benefit society, they exist to serve their members and communities rather than generate profits for stockholders. We’ve worked with Royal Neighbors policies for years, and they’ve consistently honored their commitments.
Let’s break down what they offer, who they’re best suited for, and whether their products make sense for your situation.
Affordable Senior Life Insurance—Peace of Mind for You & Your Loved Ones
No Medical Exam. Guaranteed Coverage. Easy Approval.
Protect your family from unexpected expenses with a simple, affordable final expense plan. Get the coverage you need to ensure funeral costs don’t burden your loved ones.
🔹 Guaranteed Approval (Ages 50-85)
🔹 Fixed, Affordable Monthly Rates
🔹 Covers Funeral, Medical, & Other Final Expenses
What Is Royal Neighbors of America?
Royal Neighbors of America was founded in 1895 with a mission that was revolutionary for its time: providing life insurance to women and children when most companies wouldn’t. Today, they remain one of the few major insurers operated largely by women, and their commitment to families and communities continues.
As a fraternal benefit society, Royal Neighbors operates as a nonprofit organization. This means the money that would typically go to shareholders instead gets reinvested into member benefits and community programs. It’s a different model than you’ll find with most insurance companies.
They’re headquartered in Rock Island, Illinois, and serve members across the United States.
Contact Information:
Royal Neighbors of America
230 16th Street
Rock Island, IL 61201
Phone: (800) 627-4762
Note: We are not Royal Neighbors of America. We’re an independent agency that can help you compare their products against other carriers.
Royal Neighbors Financial Strength
Before buying any life insurance policy, you want to know the company will be around to pay your claim. Royal Neighbors holds an A (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best, which is the gold standard for insurance company ratings.
This rating means Royal Neighbors has demonstrated strong financial stability and the ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders. They maintain over $1 billion in total assets under management.
Royal Neighbors Life Insurance Products
Royal Neighbors offers four main product lines designed for different needs and situations. Here’s what you need to know about each one.
Ensured Legacy Final Expense
This is Royal Neighbors’ flagship product for seniors looking to cover funeral costs, medical bills, and other end-of-life expenses. We find this product works well for people who want straightforward coverage without the hassle of medical exams. If you’re over 70, you may also want to explore additional no-exam coverage options to compare rates.
Key features:
- Guaranteed coverage options available for ages 50-85
- No medical exam required for most applicants
- Death benefits from $5,000 to $25,000
- Multiple riders available to customize your coverage
- Flexible payment scheduling to fit your budget
The Ensured Legacy product comes in two versions: level benefit and graded benefit. Understanding the difference matters for your planning.
Level Benefit: If you qualify based on the health questions, you get full coverage from day one. Your beneficiaries receive the complete death benefit regardless of when you pass away.
Graded Benefit: If you have health conditions that prevent you from qualifying for level benefits, the graded option provides coverage with a two-year waiting period. During the first two years, death from natural causes pays a return of premiums plus interest rather than the full death benefit. After two years, you have full coverage. Deaths from accidents are covered in full from day one.
The graded benefit option costs slightly more, but it provides a path to coverage for people who might otherwise be declined.
Accelerated Death Benefit: All Ensured Legacy policies include this rider at no extra cost. If you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness expected to result in death within 12-24 months, you can access a portion of your death benefit early to help with medical expenses or other needs.
Jet Term Life
Royal Neighbors’ term insurance is designed for people who need substantial coverage for a specific period. Think mortgage protection, income replacement while kids are young, or covering a business loan.
Key features:
- Coverage periods of 10, 15, 20, or 30 years
- Jet e-App process for fast, point-of-sale approvals
- Accelerated underwriting that reduces the need for traditional medical exams
- Conversion options to permanent coverage during the policy period (availability varies by policy and state)
- Multiple riders available for additional protection
Term insurance is the most affordable way to get significant coverage. A healthy 35-year-old can often get $500,000 in coverage for less than $30 per month.
Jet Whole Life
For those wanting permanent coverage that lasts your entire lifetime, Jet Whole Life provides guaranteed protection plus cash value accumulation.
Key features:
- Permanent coverage that never expires as long as premiums are paid
- Jet e-App process for streamlined applications
- Accelerated underwriting using data sources instead of lengthy medical exams
- Cash value growth at guaranteed interest rates
- Policy loans available against your accumulated cash value
Whole life works well for people who want coverage they’ll never outlive, plus a savings component they can access if needed.
Jet Single Premium Whole Life
If you have a lump sum available and want to secure permanent coverage with one payment, this product eliminates ongoing premium obligations.
Key features:
- One payment secures lifetime coverage
- Streamlined Jet e-App for quick processing
- Immediate cash value from your premium
- Wealth transfer benefits for estate planning
- Access to funds through policy loans if needed
This option makes sense for people who’ve received an inheritance, sold a business, or simply prefer to handle insurance with a single transaction rather than monthly payments.
Who Should Consider Royal Neighbors?
Based on our experience, Royal Neighbors tends to be a strong fit for:
Seniors seeking final expense coverage: The Ensured Legacy product offers competitive rates and the graded benefit option provides a path for people with health issues who might be declined elsewhere. For a broader look at your options, check out our senior life insurance guide.
People who value community involvement: As a fraternal benefit society, Royal Neighbors actively supports member communities through scholarships, charitable programs, and volunteer initiatives. If that matters to you, your premiums contribute to those efforts.
Those who prefer nonprofit organizations: Some people simply feel more comfortable with a company that isn’t driven by shareholder demands. Royal Neighbors’ structure means decisions focus on member benefit rather than quarterly earnings.
Applicants wanting simplified underwriting: The Jet e-App process and accelerated underwriting make Royal Neighbors a good choice if you want coverage without extensive medical requirements.
Royal Neighbors Final Expense Rates
Here are sample monthly rates for a $15,000 Ensured Legacy policy for non-smokers in good health:
| Age | Male Non-Smoker | Female Non-Smoker |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $58.15 | $49.20 |
| 55 | $68.17 | $55.02 |
| 60 | $73.86 | $56.05 |
| 65 | $86.89 | $65.64 |
| 70 | $110.86 | $82.08 |
| 75 | $164.30 | $118.40 |
| 80 | $229.39 | $164.30 |
| 85 | $317.77 | $221.85 |
These rates are for illustration purposes only. Your actual rate depends on your specific health profile, coverage amount, and state of residence. Request a personalized quote to see your exact pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fraternal benefit society?
A fraternal benefit society is a nonprofit organization whose members share common interests and band together for mutual benefit. Unlike traditional insurance companies that answer to shareholders, fraternal societies like Royal Neighbors reinvest surplus funds into member programs and community initiatives. Members have voting rights and can participate in the organization’s governance.
What’s the difference between level and graded death benefits?
Level death benefit means your beneficiaries receive the full policy amount from day one, regardless of when you pass away. Graded death benefit includes a waiting period, typically two years, during which natural death pays only a return of premiums plus interest. After the waiting period ends, graded policies provide full coverage. Graded options exist for people who can’t qualify for level benefits due to health conditions.
Does Royal Neighbors require a medical exam?
It depends on the product and coverage amount. The Ensured Legacy final expense product typically requires no medical exam. The Jet product line uses accelerated underwriting that pulls information from medical databases and other sources, often eliminating the need for exams. Higher coverage amounts or certain health histories may still require traditional underwriting.
Can I convert my term policy to permanent coverage?
Royal Neighbors term policies typically include conversion options that let you switch to whole life or universal life coverage during your policy period without proving insurability again. This is valuable if your health changes and you decide you want permanent coverage. Conversion availability varies by policy and state, so confirm details when you apply.
How do I file a claim with Royal Neighbors?
Contact Royal Neighbors directly at (800) 627-4762 or through their website. You’ll need to provide a certified copy of the death certificate and complete their claim forms. As an independent agency, we can also help guide you through the claims process if you purchased through us.
Key Takeaways
- Royal Neighbors is A-rated by A.M. Best, indicating strong financial stability and claims-paying ability
- As a fraternal benefit society, they operate as a nonprofit focused on members rather than shareholders
- Ensured Legacy Final Expense is their most popular product, offering coverage up to $25,000 for ages 50-85 without medical exams
- Graded benefit options provide a path to coverage for people with health conditions who might be declined elsewhere
- The Jet product line offers streamlined applications for term, whole life, and single premium coverage
- Accelerated death benefit comes standard on final expense policies at no extra cost
Get Your Personalized Quote
Want to see what Royal Neighbors coverage would cost for your specific situation? We can run quotes from Royal Neighbors alongside other top-rated carriers to help you find the best fit.
