Royal Neighbors Final Expense

Royal Neighbors Life Insurance Summary

Shopping for life insurance can be confusing, but we’re here to help. When it comes time to apply for Royal Neighbors’ final expense benefits, accept death claims, or receive a Royal Neighbors quick quote, Royal Neighbors customers want to be assured that their benefits and futures are safe.

Royal Neighbors was founded on the principle of providing life insurance to vulnerable women and children in an era when women did not have the right to vote or be insured. This women-led fraternal benefit organization has a membership comprised mostly of women. Once they join, members are expected to give back to their community through projects and volunteer service.

Take a look at some life insurance frequently asked questions and then dive into our Royal Neighbors final expense review. When you’re ready to choose life insurance for yourself and your family, enter your ZIP code above and use our FREE quote tool to compare rates.

Final Expense Coverage Offered

With a history spanning 125 years, Royal Neighbors primarily offers basic life term, whole life, and annuities. The company does not offer variable or universal life insurance. Royal Neighbors’ CEO, Cynthia Tidwell, has remarked in interviews that the company’s success is primarily due to its life insurance simplicity

In addition to selling annuities, Royal Neighbors offers various forms of whole and term life insurance. To purchase a policy, you need to be a Royal Neighbors member, and the future annual fee is waived once you purchase a policy.

For a Royal Neighbors final expense quick quote or for questions on your benefits, contact Royal Neighbors customer service at (866) 845-6665 or use your Royal Neighbors customer login to visit royalneighbors.org/mybenefits.

Term life is a policy that pays a guaranteed death benefit for a specified period. For example, as long as premiums are paid on time, the beneficiary would be paid a death benefit in full if the policyholder passed before the term expires. Otherwise, the policy will become void.

Term life insurance is one of the most affordable policies available and is usually recommended for people experiencing major life events, such as marriage, the birth of a child, or the purchase of a new home.

Whole

Whole life insurance provides a guaranteed death benefit for the entire lifetime of the policyholder as long as the premiums are paid in full. Royal Neighbors offers the following options:

• Whole Life for Adults – Lifelong protection
• Whole Life for Youth – A somewhat unique offering that Royal Neighbors has provided since its inception to assist families with those rarely talked about circumstances and expenses
• Single-Premium Whole Life – Lifelong protection paid in advance
• Simplified Issue Whole Life – Usually purchased as burial and final expense insurance and does not require a medical exam for approval

Individualized insurance riders are available to customize based on personal circumstances.

Royal Neighbors vs. Other Carriers’ Sample Monthly Rates

Royal Neighbors life insurance offers competitive coverage rates for both men and women in age groups 50 and older.

*All rates quoted on this page are for a super-preferred healthy individual who does not use tobacco. Monthly rates are updated as of July 2018 and are subject to underwriting approval.*

Royal Neighbors Final Expense

Royal Neighbors’ death claims and final expense insurance are permanent coverage that is used to cover the costs associated with the insured’s death.

Yes, even dying costs money, and since the deceased can’t pay for it, their loved ones will have to.

Early preparation can help prevent financial pain for your loved ones. Medical bills, burial, and funeral services or cremation are among the reasons individuals purchase this form of protection.

The premium and the death benefit remain level throughout the insured’s lifetime. Another unique advantage to Royal Neighbors’ final expense coverage is that they don’t require the applicant to undergo an exam as part of the underwriting process.

Instead, there are a few health questions to which you need to answer “yes/no.” In insurance lingo, we call it a “simplified issue” policy. Lastly, because final expense policies are whole life, they carry a cash value component that you can use in the future should you decide to surrender your policy or take out a loan.

Simplified Issue Whole Life (SIWL)

This plan is reserved for more healthy applicants. You must answer “no” to all the health questions on the application to be eligible for this type of coverage. There is no waiting period in which the policy will pay the death benefit or final expense under the life insurance policy.

This means 100 percent of the final expense amount will be paid to your beneficiaries upon your death, whether it’s the day after you purchase your policy or many years down the road. Your premium will remain the same until the age of 121.

• Immediate death benefit
• Issue ages: 50-85
• Face amounts: $3,000-$25,000
• Simplified issue with no medical exam needed
• Permanent coverage

Graded Death Benefit (GDB)

This plan is for applicants who are not in the best of health. For that reason, they will not be eligible for an immediate death benefit if approved. Instead, only 30 percent of the death benefit will be paid for the first year, 70 percent in the second year, and 100 percent in the third year and beyond.

Note that if you can’t qualify for the level benefit plan, you shouldn’t apply blindly and settle for the graded benefit plan.

The reason is, where one company can give you only graded, another may grant you a level benefit plan. This is where a broker can assist. After all, buying a policy that takes three years before paying the full death benefit is a risky proposition for your heirs.

• Graded benefit plan
  • 30 percent first year
  • 70 percent second year
  • 100 percent third year and beyond
• Issue ages 50-85
• Face amounts: $3,000-$10,000
• Simplified issue with no medical exam needed
• Permanent coverage

Riders

Riders are additions to standard policies that can be used to provide coverage for circumstances including those listed below:

• Disability
• Accidental Death
• Guaranteed Insurability
• Cancer Waiver – A unique rider that allows the policyholder to waive their premiums for up to two years upon certain cancer diagnoses

The most notable rider that Royal Neighbors offers is the Accelerated Living Benefit rider. An accelerated living benefit rider is a provision that allows the policyholder to access a portion of the death claim while they are still alive should they be diagnosed with a terminal illness and have a life expectancy of 12 months or less.

• Available on both level and graded benefit plans
• No additional premium for the rider
• Qualifying events:
  • Confined continuously to a nursing home for 90 days
  • Terminal illness with less than 12 months to live
• Available on death benefit of $7,000 or more
• Can accelerate up to 75 percent of the death amount
• Rider isn’t available in all states

Factors That Affect Your Rates

As previously mentioned, insurance rates are determined by several factors, most notably gender and age, but there are plenty of other important personal details that go into a company’s determination of risk. These companies are, after all, in the business of making money while you are still alive.

Demographics

Your gender is a primary factor. Men pay more for life insurance because they generally do not live as long as women. Age is also a primary factor because younger populations are less likely to die, making premiums significantly lower. The incentive for insurance companies is to have you pay premiums for a long time. Conversely, the incentive for young people to purchase life insurance is to lock in lower rates early.

Current Health and Family Medical History

Another factor that comes into play throughout your lifetime is your health and family history. If there are significant hereditary risks, such as heart disease and cancer, or if you have a chronic illness, such as diabetes or arthritis, insurance companies will charge higher rates.

This is another reason why obtaining life insurance at an early age, when health is generally better, makes good sense.

It can also help lock you into a permanent policy. Smoking falls into this category of risk, as smokers pay higher premiums. However, if you already have a policy in place and you quit smoking, you may be able to save money by informing an agent of this significant and improved lifestyle change.

High-Risk Occupations

If you are in a high-risk field, such as airline piloting, heavy construction, or driving a truck, you can expect generally to pay higher premiums. Depending on other combined risks, you may not be approved by certain insurers.

This is because life insurance rates factor in a policyholder’s life expectancy, so insurance companies scrutinize factors that may compromise a typical lifespan, such as a profession with a high frequency of accidents or potentially hazardous environments.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics tracks risky occupations, and insurance companies will pay attention if yours is included on the list.

High-Risk Habits

High-risk lifestyle behaviors, such as skydiving, mountain climbing, or substance use, will also adversely affect your premiums or ability to obtain certain kinds of life insurance. Like higher-risk occupations, health and lifestyle statistics also factor into an insurance company’s rates or decision to decline coverage.

Your best bet, if either of these higher risks applies to you, is to shop around for various companies’ rates. Or, you might consider no-exam life insurance as an alternative.

Veteran or Active Military Status

While Royal Neighbors does not offer additional discounts or special programs specifically for veterans, it does provide philanthropic support toward some initiatives driven by its members’ generosity. In addition, employees are encouraged to support local veterans.

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Royal Neighbors’ Ratings

Independent life insurance ratings help consumers find out more about Royal Neighbors’ financial standing and creditworthiness. Ratings are about the company’s overall reputation, not specific insurance products.

Royal Neighbors Corporate Ratings

A.M. Best

One of the most trusted names for rating data is A.M. Best, which focuses solely on the insurance industry. Its rating system provides an in-depth evaluation of an insurance company’s overall financial strength and performance.

Royal Neighbors’ rating of A- (fifth out of 16 possible ratings) indicates that it is a credible life insurance company in good standing.

Better Business Bureau (BBB)

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is one of America’s most trusted consumer watchdog organizations. Its ratings are based on reported consumer complaints and on how well business entities respond to them. BBB was founded over 100 years ago as a nonprofit organization. Let’s see about any Royal Neighbors of America complaints.

Royal Neighbors’ rating of A+ by BBB suggests that the company has responded adequately to consumers’ registered complaints. However, on the BBB website, the handful of posted customer reviews do have some worrisome comments, with complaints stating that Royal Neighbors did not handle family members’ death benefit claims promptly.

NAIC Complaint Index

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) represents every state in regulatory matters for the industry. For consumers, it maintains educational resources and an annual complaint index based on the number of expected complaints and a company’s market share, where a rating of one represents the national average.

The 2018 Royal Neighbors index rating of 1.69 indicates a higher-than-average rate of complaints, though this is a significant improvement from 2.98 in 2017.

The index fluctuates annually, and more information on the types of complaints can be found on the NAIC website. Royal Neighbors’ NAIC identification code is 57657.

Company History

Recognizing a void in the availability of life insurance for women and children, a group of nine women created Royal Neighbors in 1895 in Rock Island, Illinois. Remarkably, women and children were not insurable by conventional means nor were they permitted to vote or control property in many states at this time.

As a fraternal benefit society, Royal Neighbors was founded to provide income protection for vulnerable families. In exchange, members are encouraged to volunteer in community causes.

Today, Royal Neighbors has 225 chapters throughout 43 states, providing life insurance and annuities, and supporting economic opportunity, scholarships, and other charitable causes.

Royal Neighbors chapters act as social organizations with voting privileges; the chapters are self-governed, but leaders are required to document members’ volunteer hours to maintain the chapter’s compliance with Royal Neighbors’ policies.

Examples of Royal Neighbors’ social improvement efforts throughout its history include family disaster relief for the Great Fire of 1906 in San Francisco, advocacy for the 19th Amendment (women’s suffrage), supporting domestic efforts during World War II, and establishing college scholarships. It has predominantly benefitted women and children.

In addition to providing life insurance to its members, Royal Neighbors offers many group discounts including legal services, dental and vision insurance, prescriptions, and certain retail offers. Legal services, for example, include a free simple will. These services and discounts are extended to members’ families.

The quarterly membership magazine contains features under interesting headings you’re not likely to see in most major insurers’ communications, including philanthropy, well-being, and recipes.

Chapters, many over 100 years old, are involved with grassroots causes such as assisting the homeless, donating to schools, and sending care packages to veterans overseas. Many Royal Neighbors members are multigenerational.

Today, as a life insurance provider, Royal Neighbors continues to be financially stable. It has even experienced recent growth despite a national trend for declining membership in fraternal organizations.

Royal Neighbors’ Market Share

Royal Neighbors ranked 112th in the U.S. in 2018 with a market share of .05 percent. Despite this small percentage, the number of premiums written saw a 27 percent increase between 2016 and 2018. It covers approximately 215,000 members nationwide.

Here’s a comparison of Royal Neighbors and the top 10 life insurance providers’ market share and the value of premiums written in 2018.

Royal Neighbors Market Share vs. Top Insurance Companies

While comparatively small, it does boast a surplus of $190 million, a financial ratio of 18 percent (the industry average is nine percent), and a conservative management approach. It has also improved its NAIC complaint index rating in the last three years.

Royal Neighbors’ Position for the Future

President and CEO Cynthia Tidwell has been with Royal Neighbors since 2005 and is credited with turning around its recent sales and assets. By focusing on the membership niche and simplifying its menu of insurance products, Royal Neighbors has positioned itself for a continued growth trend.

To some industry observers, this was unexpected since the majority of fraternal insurance organizations have been trending downward in life insurance sales.

Life Annuity Specialist magazine cites Royal Neighbors as “One of the Five Fastest Growing Insurance Companies You’ve Never Heard Of.” Based on their calculations of data between 2012-2017, Royal Neighbors grew 187 percent.

It’s possible that its growth is in part due to the appeal of its philanthropic niche as well as its female leadership (10 of its 11 board members are women).

Updates to the company’s policy administration have also been implemented in recent months to allow Royal Neighbors to more accurately track records, such as term policy lapses.

Other strategies that deserve attention include the Nation of Neighbors program, Royal Neighbors’ charitable foundation, which has contributed more than $2 million to people and organizations working toward improving the lives of women and girls. Scholarships, relief aid, and volunteer projects are also funded regularly.

Royal Neighbors’ Online Presence

The website for Royal Neighbors provides a wealth of member information but is not designed for a general audience. The company does have a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. However, like the website, most of the material is targeted toward existing members.

New visitors might have some difficulty finding out whether there is a process for purchasing life insurance online. The short answer is, you can’t. You must apply for general membership and will then be instructed on the next steps for membership and chapter requirements.

A calculator function is available on the website to help individuals determine how much life insurance is hypothetically necessary. This is informational only; it doesn’t lead to a recommendation or promotion of a specific Royal Network product. Actual sales of life insurance policies eventually go through an independent agent.

In addition to Royal Neighbors’ general website presence, the charitable foundation has a series of YouTube videos featuring webinars targeted toward women.

Royal Neighbors’ Commercials

The videos and other materials provided by Royal Neighbors aren’t typical commercials. As a fraternal benefit organization, it doesn’t take a typical approach toward attracting life insurance sales. Promotion is primarily accomplished by internal marketing and individual chapters.

Royal Neighbors in the Community

Royal Neighbors’ 225 fraternal chapters are in several states; the largest are primarily concentrated in the Midwest, where chapters often exceed thousands of members. Many have been in existence since Royal Neighbors’ inception more than 125 years ago.

Volunteer service within communities is the cornerstone of Royal Neighbors’ mission. Individual chapters are required to document members’ volunteer hours to maintain support from the parent organization. Chapters must be comprised of a minimum of 10 members.

Royal Neighbors claims to have contributed $17 million worth of socially conscious good in 2018 and 258,000 documented volunteer hours by its chapter members. Chapter support includes:

• Difference Maker Fund – Provides small grants for offsetting the cost of volunteer projects
• Member Relief Fund – Provides members with assistance for catastrophic medical or property damage not covered by medical or personal insurance
• Nation of Neighbors – A program to provide additional expansion funds for organizations or individuals whose mission empowers women and children; designees must be nominated by a Royal Neighbors member

At the national level, Royal Neighbors operates a separate philanthropic foundation with these objectives:

• Know Your Worth® – Providing $10,000 grants to businesswomen or social entrepreneurs to assist them in start-up costs. Awardees are chosen annually and must be nominated by a Royal Neighbors member.
• Scholarships – Awarding financial assistance to Royal Neighbors members for continuing education.
• Building Women’s Futures Through Financial Education – A series of webinars providing continuing education and discussions on financial topics unique to women.

Royal Neighbors Employees

Of the estimated 135 employees of Royal Neighbors, 86 percent have endorsed the company favorably enough for it to earn certification as a Great Place to Work in 2018. The majority of employees work from the Rock Island, Illinois, headquarters, while others are employed at its satellite facility in Arizona.

An astonishing 96 percent of surveyed employees stated they feel good about the work the company does in the community.

Employer reviews at Indeed rate Royal Neighbors 3.5 stars out of five. Independent agents who sell Royal Neighbors life insurance state that the company is easy to work with but less well known to the general public, which may adversely affect their ability to promote their insurance products.

Shopping for Life Insurance

When shopping for life insurance, first make direct contact or query, then wait for a personal response. Keep in mind that purchasing life insurance with Royal Neighbors comes through membership first, so you’ll have to listen to those benefits and expectations. Membership is $20 annually, which is waived with the purchase of an insurance policy.

Average Royal Neighbors Male vs. Female Life Insurance Rates

Males can expect to pay between 10-25 percent more on average than females for life insurance, regardless of age.

Another significant determining factor that affects life insurance rates is smoking. The charts below outline sample quotes from Royal Neighbors for Burial and Final Expense insurance. Even though final expense insurance doesn’t require a medical exam, the implication from insurance companies is that smoking is more of a risk to yourself and the insurer.

Smokers pay significantly more than their nonsmoking peers. The difference becomes even more significant with age.

Royal Neighbors Average Burial and Final Expense Rates: Female Smoker vs. Non-Smoker

As illustrated above, female smokers at age 50 will pay 26 percent more than nonsmokers of the same age for a $5,000 policy. That difference rises to 28 percent more for a $25,000 policy. Similarly, female smokers at age 70 will pay 28 percent more than nonsmokers for a $5,000 policy. That difference rises to 30 percent more for a $25,000 policy.

Royal Neighbors Average Burial and Final Expense Rates: Male Smoker vs. Non-Smoker

For male smokers and nonsmokers, the difference in rates is similar for 50-year-olds.

Male smokers pay 22 percent more than nonsmokers for a $5,000 policy and 24 percent more for a $25,000 policy.

The difference by age 70 is more drastic, however. Male smokers at age 70 will pay 29 percent more than nonsmokers for a $5,000 policy and 33 percent more for a $25,000 policy. Remember, these Royal Neighbors rates are estimates only; they are subject to proprietary change.

Royal Neighbors’ Programs

Because it is a fraternal benefit society, you must be a Royal Neighbors member to purchase life insurance and participate in benefit programs. Membership is $20 annually, but the fee is waived if an annuity or life insurance policy is purchased. Youth membership for ages up to 15 is free.

Benefit programs include discounts on prescriptions, supplemental services (such as lab tests or hearing aids), travel discounts, and legal services. Free consultation for a simple will is available, as are academic scholarships and discounts with participating retailers. A quarterly magazine is also provided to every member.

Another unique benefit of Royal Neighbors membership is access to extensive financial education webinars. Topics include insurance basics and budgeting around the holidays.

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Canceling Your Policy

First, take a look at this short video about canceling a life insurance policy.

Reasons for canceling a policy can include coming into an inheritance, paying off a mortgage, or having finished paying for your children’s education.

How to Cancel

Any cancellations with Royal Neighbors must be done through your agent. If your agent is no longer available, contact Royal Neighbors directly.

How to Make a Claim

To make a claim after the death of the insured, contact your insurance agent.

Be prepared to provide a copy of the original policy, a death certificate, proof of identification of the beneficiary and relationship to the deceased, and any additional pertinent information to the cause of death. It’s also recommended to consult with your attorney or financial planner for assistance to avoid further emotional distress.

Design of Website/App

Is there a Royal Neighbors final expense app? No, there is no app, but the company does have a website. Royal Neighbors targets its website toward women. The site proffers promotional videos, newsletters, and articles, but information concerning life insurance products, rates, and how to sign up for membership or policies is not provided.

The website is clean and minimal, offering contact tools, calculators, and agent contacts front and center.

One of the immediate problems that stand out is the notably small icons and text, which are not ideal for viewing on a phone display, especially for those with vision problems.

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Pros and Cons

Royal Neighbors is a specialized fraternal organization, so before contacting an agent about rates and policies you should decide if that’s what you’re looking for in an insurance company. Outlined below are various pros and cons to take into consideration.

Pros

• Royal Neighbors highlights a philanthropic mission and specialization for life insurance geared toward women and children. If community involvement and volunteerism appeal to you, then it’s worth sending a query to their membership representatives.
• If you know that your community has an active local chapter or you have the desire to start one (with a minimum of 10 members), then Royal Neighbors may be for you. Some women have been lifelong members and frequently utilize the social networks of the chapters.
• Most agents who have commented publicly claim that rates are mediocre. However, the company is also recognized for its commitment to member services. An independent agent might be your best source of unbiased recommendations.

Cons

• If you don’t want to bother with a fraternal organization, then you may end up disappointed with the rates or the requirement of members to document their volunteer hours.
• The process of procuring rates and setting up an account can be tedious. The site is well designed for its promotion but lacks basic information that insurance shoppers are looking for.
• If you’re looking for a comprehensive selection of life insurance products that can be easily adjusted as you go through monumental life events, you probably won’t be impressed with Royal Neighbors’ limited offerings.

The Bottom Line

If purchasing life insurance from a 125-year-old organization with a mission to empower women appeals to you, then Royal Neighbors is worth considering.

In an era where most fraternal organizations are dealing with a decline in life insurance sales, Royal Neighbors has expanded its footprint, especially where their philanthropy is concerned.

Rates are not widely known as competitive but do have consistently strong financial and customer satisfaction ratings.

A chapter may be difficult to find, but there’s plenty of testimony from members and recipients of the organization’s goodwill to indicate that it’s still experiencing growth. The menu of products is limited but consistent.

Ready to buy Royal Neighbors Final Expense life insurance? To get affordable Royal Neighbors Final Expense life insurance, use our FREE life insurance quote tool below.

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