If you’ve seen Jonathan Lawson on Colonial Penn commercials talking about “price, price, price” — this guide answers every question you have. Who is he? Is the $9.95 plan a good deal? What does the commercial not say? And what should you do before picking up the phone?
The bottom line upfront: Jonathan Lawson is a real Colonial Penn employee, not a hired actor. The $9.95 plan is a real product — but $9.95 buys only one unit of coverage, and one unit buys far less than most people expect, especially at older ages. Most healthy seniors can get the same $10,000 in coverage with no waiting period for 40–55% less per month through an independent broker.
Jonathan Lawson is a real person — not a hired actor. He is a Marine Corps veteran and a long-time Colonial Penn employee who worked in the company’s quality assurance and escalations department before becoming the public face of their television advertising campaigns.
Colonial Penn chose Jonathan for good reason. His military background and calm, direct communication style project exactly the qualities seniors respond to: trustworthiness, discipline, and straightforward honesty. When he looks into the camera and mentions “price, price, price,” it feels less like a sales pitch and more like advice from a fellow veteran or a neighbor you can trust.
None of that means the product he’s promoting is the right choice for you. Jonathan Lawson works for Colonial Penn. He can only tell you about Colonial Penn’s products. He has no way of knowing what Mutual of Omaha, American Amicable, Royal Neighbors, or any other carrier charges for the same coverage. An independent broker can show you all of them at once.
The key distinction: Jonathan Lawson is a trustworthy person promoting a single company’s product. An independent broker is a trustworthy person who compares 10+ companies to find your best option. One conversation is a sales call. The other is a comparison.
The product Jonathan Lawson promotes is Colonial Penn’s guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance. It is marketed to seniors ages 50 to 85 and structured around several features that sound simple in a TV commercial but require careful examination:
Guaranteed acceptance: No health questions are asked and no medical exam is required. Everyone between ages 50 and 85 is accepted regardless of health status. This sounds like a major benefit — and for applicants with very serious health conditions who cannot qualify anywhere else, it is.
Sold in units at $9.95 each: Colonial Penn does not sell coverage in normal dollar amounts. Instead, they sell “units” at a fixed $9.95 per unit per month. The coverage amount each unit provides depends on your age and gender — and decreases significantly as you get older.
Mandatory 2-year waiting period: All Colonial Penn guaranteed acceptance plans have a 2-year waiting period for death from natural causes. If you pass away from illness or natural causes within the first 2 years, your family receives only a refund of premiums paid plus interest — not the full death benefit.
Maximum 15 units: You can purchase a maximum of 15 units at $149.25 per month total. For older applicants, 15 units may not even reach $10,000 in coverage.
Colonial Penn’s commercials are carefully crafted to emphasize the $9.95 price and guaranteed acceptance while omitting the information that would cause most seniors to reconsider. Here is what you will not hear Jonathan Lawson explain in a 30-second ad:
✖ The 2-year waiting period is not a fine print technicality. It is a core feature of the policy that means if you pass away from natural causes in year 1 or year 2, your family receives only your premiums back plus interest — not the death benefit you thought you were purchasing. A senior paying $99.50/month for 18 months who passes away would leave her family approximately $1,791 in returned premiums, not $10,000.
To understand the $9.95 plan, you need to understand how units work. The following table shows how much coverage one $9.95 unit buys at key ages, and what you’d pay monthly to reach $10,000 in total coverage.
| Age | Female — coverage per unit | Female — cost for $10K | Male — coverage per unit | Male — cost for $10K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | ~$2,176 | $49.75 | ~$1,669 | $59.70 |
| 55 | ~$1,672 | $59.70 | ~$1,430 | $69.65 |
| 60 | ~$1,431 | $69.65 | ~$1,116 | $89.55 |
| 65 | ~$1,254 | $79.60 | ~$911 | $109.45 |
| 70 | ~$1,004 | $99.50 | ~$814 | $149.25 |
| 75 | ~$966 | $109–$129 | ~$549 | $149.25 (only $8,235 max) |
| 80 | ~$608 | $149.25 (only $9,120 max) | ~$426 | $149.25 (only $6,390 max) |
For the complete rate chart by every age from 50 to 85, see our dedicated Colonial Penn rate chart guide.
The most important comparison any senior can make before calling Colonial Penn is a side-by-side look at what independent broker carriers charge for the same $10,000 in coverage — with no waiting period. The difference is significant at every age.
| Age & Gender | Colonial Penn ($10K + 2yr wait) | Mutual of Omaha ($10K, no wait) | Royal Neighbors ($10K, no wait) | Monthly savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female, 60 | $69.65/mo | $32/mo | $30/mo | ~$38–$40/mo |
| Female, 65 | $79.60/mo | $38/mo | $37/mo | ~$41–$43/mo |
| Female, 70 | $99.50/mo | $51/mo | $49/mo | ~$48–$50/mo |
| Female, 75 | $109–$129/mo | $69/mo | $67/mo | ~$42–$62/mo |
| Male, 65 | $109.45/mo | $51/mo | $49/mo | ~$58–$60/mo |
| Male, 70 | $149.25/mo | $67/mo | $65/mo | ~$82–$84/mo |
✓ Same $10,000 death benefit. No waiting period. 40–55% less per month. These are real carrier rates available through independent brokers for non-smoking seniors in average health who can answer basic health questions. The only difference is where you buy it.
There is no need to figure this out alone. Call and I’ll compare your options in plain language in about 10 minutes — no pressure, no commitment.
Giving Colonial Penn a fair assessment means acknowledging when the product is legitimately the right choice. There are specific situations where the guaranteed acceptance structure makes it worth considering:
1. Declined by every other carrier: If you have been declined by multiple simplified issue carriers and AIG/Corebridge guaranteed issue is not a better option in your state, Colonial Penn’s guaranteed acceptance may be your remaining choice. Some coverage after the waiting period is better than no coverage.
2. Very recent serious health events: A heart attack in the last 12 months, active cancer treatment, hospice care — these situations make even most guaranteed issue carriers unavailable. Colonial Penn accepts everyone.
3. Someone who fully understands the terms: If a senior clearly understands the 2-year waiting period, the unit pricing structure, and the coverage limits — and still chooses Colonial Penn for personal reasons — that is an informed decision and a legitimate choice.
Important note on AIG/Corebridge: Before accepting a Colonial Penn policy, always compare AIG/Corebridge guaranteed issue. AIG/Corebridge also asks no health questions, covers applicants up to age 80, and consistently offers better rates than Colonial Penn for the same guaranteed acceptance premise. See our AIG/Corebridge review for a direct comparison.
10 minutes with an independent broker will show you exactly what Colonial Penn charges vs. what 10+ other carriers charge for the same coverage. Free, no obligation. Larry answers personally.