Aetna is a legitimate, A-rated carrier with a genuine final expense product. It covers seniors up to age 89, offers a unique Medicare Supplement discount, and accepts a moderate range of health conditions. But it is not always the best fit — and knowing when to use it versus one of our other carriers is what this review is about.
Aetna has been in the insurance business since 1853 and is now part of CVS Health following a 2018 acquisition. For final expense insurance, Aetna operates through two subsidiary companies: Accendo Insurance Company (the CVS Health-branded product) and Continental Life Insurance Company of Brentwood, Tennessee. Both underwrite final expense whole life insurance with slightly different pricing and underwriting parameters depending on the product series and state.
The two product lines are the Aetna Protection Series and the Accendo Final Expense product. From the consumer’s perspective, both offer the same core structure: whole life insurance with fixed premiums, no medical exam, and three benefit tiers. The differences are primarily in pricing by state and which company is on the policy document. An independent broker who works with Aetna will place you in the right product for your state automatically.
Aetna final expense is available through independent agents only — it is not sold directly to consumers. This is a meaningful structural advantage: it means Aetna competes on price and underwriting in the independent broker market rather than relying on captive agents or TV advertising to drive sales.
Aetna is a carrier I actively work with and place clients into — but not for everyone. Where Aetna earns its spot in my comparison is the age 89 max and the Medicare Supplement discount, which no other carrier I work with matches. For clients with moderate health conditions at older ages, or who already have an Aetna Med Supp, Aetna often comes in as the right answer. For healthier, younger applicants, Royal Neighbors or Mutual of Omaha typically price better. I run all 10+ carriers before recommending any of them. Call me and I’ll tell you where Aetna fits for your specific profile: (754) 800-1152.
Aetna’s final expense product has three distinct tiers. Which tier you qualify for is determined by your answers to the health questionnaire, a prescription database check, and an MIB review. The decision typically comes back within 90 minutes on an electronic application.
⚠ On the Modified plan: If you are placed in Aetna’s Modified tier, always compare it against AIG/Corebridge guaranteed issue before applying. GI has the same 2-year waiting period structure, no health questions, and may price similarly or better for certain profiles. Modified should never be the automatic fallback — it should be a deliberate choice after comparison.
Aetna prices competitively — not at the top of the market but not at the bottom either. For the same $15,000 in level benefit whole life coverage, here is how Aetna compares to alternatives we actively place business with:
| Age & Gender | Aetna (Preferred) | Royal Neighbors | Mutual of Omaha | American Amicable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female, 55 | ~$52/mo | $38/mo | $40/mo | $42/mo |
| Female, 60 | ~$63/mo | $45/mo | $47/mo | $50/mo |
| Female, 65 | ~$76/mo | $56/mo | $58/mo | $62/mo |
| Female, 70 | ~$97/mo | $74/mo | $76/mo | $80/mo |
| Female, 75 | ~$131/mo | $100/mo | $103/mo | $109/mo |
| Male, 65 | ~$98/mo | $74/mo | $76/mo | $82/mo |
| Male, 70 | ~$129/mo | $98/mo | $100/mo | $108/mo |
| Male, 75 | ~$174/mo | $134/mo | $137/mo | $148/mo |
Aetna is consistently 15–25% above the lowest available rate in the independent broker market. For healthy applicants with full access to Preferred pricing, Royal Neighbors and Mutual of Omaha typically offer better value. Where Aetna can close the gap — and sometimes win outright — is at ages 80–89, where fewer carriers accept applications at all, and among applicants with an existing Aetna Medicare Supplement who qualify for the 10% Super Preferred discount.
With the 10% Super Preferred discount: A 65-year-old female’s ~$76/month Aetna Preferred rate drops to approximately $68/month — bringing it much closer to market alternatives and sometimes making Aetna the right answer for existing Aetna Medicare Supplement policyholders.
If you have an Aetna or Accendo Medicare Supplement policy underwritten within the past 180 days — or if you apply for both products simultaneously — you qualify for the Super Preferred rate: 10% off the Preferred plan premium. This discount applies for the life of the policy and is not available at any other carrier we work with. For seniors who already have or are shopping for an Aetna Medicare Supplement, this changes the Aetna final expense comparison significantly. Ask about this when you call.
Aetna’s underwriting is average for the final expense market — not as lenient as Royal Neighbors or American Amicable on many conditions, but not as restrictive as Mutual of Omaha on others. The table below shows how specific conditions are handled at Aetna and how that compares to our overall carrier roster:
| Condition | Aetna result | Better option if available |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (no insulin, diagnosed 40+) | Preferred or Standard — level benefit day one | Royal Neighbors also Preferred • American Amicable level benefit |
| Diabetes with insulin, no complications | Standard — level benefit day one | American Amicable and Royal Neighbors also competitive at Standard equivalent |
| COPD / emphysema (no oxygen, 2+ years) | Standard only — level benefit, no waiting period | Transamerica and Royal Neighbors may offer Preferred-equivalent rates |
| COPD with oxygen use | Decline or GI referral | AIG/Corebridge guaranteed issue — no health questions |
| Asthma (controlled) | Preferred — level benefit day one | Also Preferred at most carriers — Aetna competitive here |
| Congestive heart failure (CHF) | Decline at level benefit | Transamerica — the only carrier offering level benefit for CHF |
| Heart attack (2+ years ago) | Standard or Modified depending on details | Transamerica level benefit • Royal Neighbors Standard |
| Heart attack (within 2 years) | Modified or decline | Transamerica graded • AIG/Corebridge GI backup |
| Pacemaker (stable) | Standard — level benefit | Royal Neighbors and American Amicable also Standard |
| AFib (controlled) | Standard — level benefit | Transamerica Preferred • competitive across carriers |
| Stroke / TIA (2+ years ago) | Standard — level benefit | Transamerica and Royal Neighbors also available |
| Stroke / TIA (within 2 years) | Modified or decline | Transamerica graded • AIG/Corebridge GI |
| MS / Multiple Sclerosis | Standard — level benefit | Royal Neighbors and American Amicable also Standard — compare rates |
| Parkinson’s Disease | Standard — level benefit | Royal Neighbors and American Amicable also available |
| Cancer (2+ years remission) | Standard — level benefit (most types) | American Amicable competitive • verify cancer type |
| Active cancer treatment | Decline | AIG/Corebridge GI — no health questions |
| Kidney disease / CKD (not dialysis) | Modified only | Royal Neighbors graded • AIG/Corebridge GI |
| Dialysis | Decline | AIG/Corebridge guaranteed issue |
| Alzheimer’s / Dementia | Decline | AIG/Corebridge guaranteed issue |
| Oxygen use (current) | Decline | AIG/Corebridge guaranteed issue |
✓ Where Aetna genuinely wins on underwriting: Aetna’s Standard tier accepts a solid range of managed conditions for level benefit with no waiting period — including COPD without oxygen (2+ years), controlled AFib, stable pacemaker, MS, Parkinson’s, and stroke/TIA 2+ years ago. For applicants with one or two of these conditions who are between ages 80–89 and have limited carrier options, Aetna is often the right call.
Most final expense carriers stop accepting new applications at age 80 or 85. Aetna accepts new Preferred and Standard applicants up to age 89. This is genuinely rare in the market and becomes the most important factor for seniors in their mid-to-late 80s who are shopping for coverage.
At age 86, 87, 88, or 89, your carrier options narrow dramatically. Aetna’s willingness to issue level benefit whole life policies at these ages — with no medical exam and a decision in 90 minutes — makes it the right first call for this age bracket.
Aetna final expense is not available in 11 states. This is a meaningful limitation that eliminates Aetna as an option for a large portion of the U.S. population before any underwriting conversation begins. The excluded states are primarily West Coast and Northeast:
| Situation | Aetna is… | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 80–89, standard health | Often the right call | Few carriers issue at these ages • Aetna’s 89 max is rare |
| Has Aetna Medicare Supplement | Strong consideration | 10% Super Preferred discount narrows pricing gap significantly |
| COPD without oxygen (2+ years) | Competitive at Standard | Level benefit, no wait • compare Transamerica and Royal Neighbors rates |
| MS or Parkinson’s | One of several options | Standard level benefit available • Royal Neighbors and American Amicable also accept at similar or better rates |
| Healthy, ages 50–75 | Usually not the best rate | Royal Neighbors and Mutual of Omaha typically 15–25% lower for clean health profiles |
| Congestive heart failure (CHF) | Wrong carrier | Decline at level benefit • Transamerica is the only carrier accepting CHF for day-one coverage |
| Oxygen use, dialysis, active cancer | Not available | Decline • AIG/Corebridge guaranteed issue is the right path |
| Lives in CA, NY, WA, or other excluded states | Not available | Product not offered • comparison defaults to other carriers |
In 10 minutes, we’ll match your age, state, and health history against all 10+ carriers and tell you where Aetna ranks for your specific situation. Free, no obligation.
Get My Free Comparison →We compare Aetna against 10+ A-rated carriers before recommending anything. In 10 minutes, we’ll tell you where Aetna ranks for your specific age, state, and health history — and which carrier is actually your best fit. Free, no obligation.