Sentinel Final Expense Insurance Review

Sentinel Security Life has been in business for over 70 years. Sentinel Security Life formed in 1948, and was known at that time as Sentinel Mutual Insurance Company. Not all insurance companies are available in every state, and Sentinel is no exception. Sentinel is currently available in the following states: AK, AR, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MS, MN, MD, MO, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TX, UT, WY. While not currently available in every state, Sentinel is continually adding new states, and should be available in additional states in the near future.

While Sentinel offers a number of different plans, we are going to exclusively discuss and review Sentinel’s final expense insurance policy, known as New Vantage.

Let’s start with the fundamentals of how these policies operate. Sentinel’s final expense plans are designed to pay benefits directly to the policyowner’s chosen beneficiary(ies). This means that once the beneficiary has taken care of all of the final expenses, anything left over stays in the beneficiary’s pocket. Since most people choose loved ones – such as spouse, children, or siblings – as beneficiary, this means that any leftover money will stay with the insured’s loved ones – rather than a funeral home. Pretty awesome, right?

All of Sentinel’s New Vantage plans are life insurance products that build cash and loan values. They move easily with you, if you need to relocate for health reasons, or just to be closer to your family in retirement. They are also designed to pay claims quickly and easily upon death, and are easily assigned to a funeral home, if needed. They provide peace of mind and relieve the financial burden for loved ones at the most critical time.

Sentinel’s final expense plans have three key features – 1) premiums that are fully guaranteed to remain level and NEVER to increase, 2) coverage that is fully guaranteed NEVER to decrease, and 3) coverage that is fully guaranteed NEVER to expire (as long as premiums are timely paid). These are permanent life insurance policies, so you know the coverage will be there when your family needs it the most.

So, how do you qualify for Sentinel’s New Vantage plans? First, you do NOT have to submit to a medical exam. You merely answer a number of yes or no health questions, and Sentinel will check your prescription history and MIB report, and will make a decision based on that information. Typically, you will know the same day you apply whether you are approved for a Sentinel New Vantage plan.

Sentinel has three different types of final expense plans– 1) New Vantage I (Level ), 2) New Vantage II (Graded), and New Vantage III (Modified).

Sentinel’s New Vantage 1 LEVEL policies have immediate first day coverage, and the lowest rates available. This means that the death benefit will be 100% paid at any time after the death of the insured – there is no waiting period. Sentinel’s Level policy is designed for those in good health and has the most affordable rates.

Sentinel’s New Vantage II GRADED policies are designed for those with minor health issues, and pays a death benefit of 30% of face value if death occurs in the first policy year, and 70% of face value if death occurs in the second policy year, and the full face value any time after the third year.

Sentinel’s New Vantage III MODIFIED policies are designed for those in poor health. The Modified plan pays out all of the premiums you have paid in, plus 10%, if the death of the insured occurs in the first or second policy year, and the full face value of the policy is if the death occurs anytime after the third year.

Want to know which plan you would qualify for? Here are the exact health questions taken from a Sentinel application to help you determine the right plan for you:

PART A – if any question in Part A is answered “Yes,” the Applicant is not eligible for any coverage

1. Is the Proposed Insured currently: bedridden, confined to a nursing or correctional facility, receiving hospice or home health care, received or been advised to receive an organ or tissue transplant, or been hospitalized within the last 3 months?

2. Does the Proposed Insured currently use a wheelchair due to a chronic illness or disease, or require assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating or toileting?

3. Has the Proposed Insured been medically treated or diagnosed by a licensed member of the medical profession, or taken medication for: a. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), AIDS Related Complex (ARC), or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)? b. Alzheimer’s, dementia, Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS), Huntington’s Disease, or prior to age 25, Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis, mental retardation, or muscular dystrophy? c. A terminal medical condition that would reasonably be expected to cause death within the next 12 months?

4. Has the Proposed Insured, within the past 12 months, been advised to have a diagnostic test, surgery, dialysis, home health care or hospitalization which has not yet been started, completed or for which results are not known?

PART B – if any question is answered ”Yes,” the Proposed Insured may be eligible for the Sentinel Plan New Vantage® III

1. Within the past 2 years, has the Proposed Insured been medically treated or diagnosed by a licensed member of the medical profession, or taken medication for: a. Drug or alcohol dependency/habit or treatment for alcoholism or drug addiction or manic depression or schizophrenia? b. Heart attack, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, stroke, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), aneurysm, or had heart or circulatory surgery? c. Treatment for insulin shock, diabetic coma, neuropathy, had an amputation or any other complication from diabetes?

2. Within the past 3 years, has the Proposed Insured been medically treated or diagnosed by a licensed member of the medical profession or taken medication for: brain tumor, internal cancer, malignant melanoma, leukemia or sickle cell anemia?

PART C – if any question is answered “Yes,” the Proposed Insured may be eligible for the Sentinel Plan New Vantage® II

1. Within the past 5 years, has the Proposed Insured been diagnosed or treated by a licensed member of the medical profession or taken medication for: a. Coronary Artery Disease, heart attack, heart surgery to include heart bypass, angioplasty, balloon procedure, stent placement or heart valve replacement, pacemaker/defibrillator, stroke, aneurysm, angina, chest pain, or any other heart or circulatory disorder? b. Chronic disorder which requires the use of oxygen, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which includes emphysema, chronic asthma, or chronic bronchitis? c. Parkinson’s Disease, Kidney Disease, kidney failure, cirrhosis or other liver disease or any auto-immune disorder including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus (SLE) or Sjogren’s? d. Diabetes treated by insulin more than 50 units daily?

If your answer is No to all the questions on the application, then you would qualify for the New Vantage I Level policy.

Let’s sum up with a quick discussion about the financial strength of Sentinel Security Life. The company has been around for over 70 years. They have a B++ (Good) financial strength rating from A.M. Best. They have over $600 million in admitted assets. Their over 70 years in existence, combined with their good financial strength rating and high solvency gives us confidence that Sentinel will be there when our clients’ families needs them.

If you decide to apply for a Sentinel New Vantage plan, you cannot apply directly through the company – you must go through an agent, like SeniorWholeLife.com.

At Senior Whole Life, we have many clients who are extremely happy when they are approved with Sentinel, due to their extremely competitive rates and easy application process.

Working with an independent agent, like the ones at Senior Whole Life, opens the doors to the best insurance companies, like Sentinel Security Life. We are familiar with the application process, underwriting niches, and competitive premiums for different ages, genders, and health conditions. We will ask you questions – not to be intrusive, but to get to know more about you so that we can find the best company for your situation.

We can help find the best company for you, and can facilitate the application process for you.