TruStage Life Insurance Review (2026): CMFG, Guaranteed Acceptance & Verdict
Updated July 24, 2026
TruStage is backed by CMFG Life, a solid A-rated company. The caution is the product and price: its burial coverage is guaranteed-issue with a 2-year wait, its term rates climb over time, and because it’s sold direct you can’t shop it — most healthy seniors pay less elsewhere.
If you belong to a credit union or watch daytime TV, you’ve seen TruStage — the friendly, no-medical-exam life insurance pitch. Behind the name is CMFG Life, the old CUNA Mutual, a solid A-rated company. The catch isn’t the insurer; it’s the product. For burial coverage, TruStage leans on guaranteed-acceptance and term plans that most healthy seniors can beat on both price and terms by shopping around.
Here’s what TruStage sells, how its guaranteed-acceptance plan really works, the catches to know, and the stronger options to compare it against.
Key takeaways
- Backed by CMFG Life (CUNA Mutual) — A (Excellent), a solid company.
- Burial coverage is guaranteed-issue: no health questions, but up to $25,000 and a 2-year wait.
- Term rates rise over time, and it’s sold direct — you can’t shop it against other carriers.
- Healthy applicants usually pay less for day-one coverage from an A-rated final expense carrier.
What TruStage Actually Sells
TruStage is a brand name. The company that actually issues and pays your policy is CMFG Life Insurance Company — better known by its old name, CUNA Mutual Group, which has insured credit union members for generations. You’ll run into TruStage through your credit union, in the mail, or on TV.
For life insurance, TruStage sells three things: a Guaranteed Acceptance Whole Life plan (no health questions, coverage up to $25,000), a Simplified Whole Life plan with a few health questions (up to $100,000), and a term policy. The plan most burial shoppers land on is the guaranteed-acceptance one — and, like all guaranteed-issue coverage, it comes with trade-offs.
Two things to know up front: TruStage is sold direct, not through an independent broker who compares it against other carriers, and CMFG Life holds an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best. The company is solid; the questions are about product value.
How TruStage’s Guaranteed Acceptance Works
The Guaranteed Acceptance plan asks no health questions and can’t turn you down. For someone who’s been declined elsewhere, that’s the appeal. Coverage runs up to $25,000, and it’s available to members ages 45 to 80.
Because everyone is accepted, the plan carries a two-year waiting period. If you pass away from natural causes in the first two years, your family receives a refund of the premiums you paid (plus an amount set by the policy) rather than the full coverage. Accidental death is generally covered from day one, and after two years the full benefit is payable no matter the cause.
It’s whole life, so the premium is locked and the coverage doesn’t expire. The structure is standard for guaranteed-issue coverage — the real question, as with any guaranteed-issue plan, is whether you need it, because you’re paying guaranteed-issue prices for it.
Real Costs vs. What You Actually Get
A funeral in the U.S. runs about $8,000 to $12,000 once you add a plot, a headstone, and services. Because TruStage’s burial plan is guaranteed-issue — the insurer accepts everyone — it’s priced above a plan that asks a few health questions, and because it’s sold direct, there’s no broker shopping your case for a better rate.
TruStage doesn’t publish a per-age rate chart, so the useful number is the benchmark any quote should beat. Here’s what $10,000 of day-one coverage costs when you shop A-rated carriers:
| Age (Female) | Shopped day-one coverage ($10k) |
|---|---|
| 55 | ~$28–$34/mo |
| 65 | ~$41–$48/mo |
| 75 | ~$72–$86/mo |
Representative day-one, simplified-issue rates (non-tobacco, July 2026) from A-rated carriers you can shop — Aflac, Aetna, and Mutual of Omaha. Use these as the benchmark to compare any TruStage quote against. TruStage does not publish per-age rates; its guaranteed-acceptance plan also carries a 2-year wait, while these shopped plans pay from day one.
If you can answer a few health questions, that shopped simplified-issue plan gives you full coverage from day one — no two-year wait — usually for less than TruStage’s guaranteed-acceptance price. The only reason to accept TruStage’s terms is if you genuinely can’t qualify for a health-screened plan.
The Catch: Priced Above Shopping, and Term Rises
Two things keep TruStage off our recommended list for most seniors. First, it’s sold direct. You buy straight from TruStage, so no independent agent is putting it up against a dozen carriers to find your best price — and guaranteed-issue coverage bought that way tends to cost more than a shopped simplified-issue plan.
Second, watch the term product. TruStage’s term life premiums increase over time rather than staying level, so a policy that looks affordable at first can climb as you age — the same trap we flag on other direct-to-consumer term plans. For lifelong burial coverage, a level-premium whole life plan is the right tool, and you can usually get one for less elsewhere.
Customer Complaints and Claims Experience
On the company itself, TruStage is on solid ground. CMFG Life holds an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best, reaffirmed in December 2024, and its NAIC complaint index has run right around the 1.0 industry average — neither a standout nor a red flag (NAIC). It pays its claims.
A quick word on the company. CMFG Life is the insurance arm of what was long known as CUNA Mutual Group, built around serving credit unions and their members, and rebranded under the TruStage name in 2023. It’s a large, established mutual insurer with deep roots — the concern here isn’t stability, it’s that you’re paying direct-to-consumer, guaranteed-issue prices for coverage you can often get cheaper by shopping.
Who TruStage Is Actually Right For
TruStage fits a specific set of buyers:
- Someone who genuinely can’t answer health questions and needs guaranteed-acceptance coverage from a solid company.
- A credit union member who values the TruStage relationship and the simplicity of buying direct.
- Anyone who only needs a small amount of coverage ($25,000 or less) and won’t shop around.
For most people, though, it’s the wrong first move. If you can answer a few health questions — even with controlled conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure — a shopped simplified-issue plan gives you day-one coverage, usually for less than TruStage’s guaranteed-acceptance price. And even if you can’t qualify for simplified issue, compare TruStage against other guaranteed-issue plans before you sign; the same guarantee is often available for less.
Better Alternatives to Consider
Before you buy on the strength of the TruStage name, see how it lines up against the carriers we recommend most.
| Company | Best for | Coverage type | Day-one coverage | AM Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TruStage / CMFG | Credit-union members | Guaranteed / simplified | No (GI, 2-yr wait) | A |
| American-Amicable | Fairest, most flexible underwriting | Simplified-issue whole life | Yes (Immediate) | A |
| Aflac | Easiest app, best price under 80 | Simplified issue | Yes | A+ |
| Aetna | Predictable approval, to age 89 | Simplified issue | Yes | A |
| Mutual of Omaha | Best rates when you qualify | Simplified issue | Yes | A+ |
AM Best ratings as published by each carrier; product features are for the primary final-expense plan and vary by state and health.
The short version: Aflac and Aetna give most healthy seniors day-one coverage from A or A+ rated companies, usually for less than TruStage’s guaranteed-acceptance price. TruStage is worth a look mainly if you can’t qualify for a health-screened plan — and even then, compare guaranteed-issue options first.
TruStage is a legitimate, A-rated company — CMFG has been insuring credit union families for decades. But I rarely place it for burial coverage. Its guaranteed-acceptance plan means a two-year wait and a higher price, and because you buy it direct, there’s no one shopping it against the market for you. For anyone who can answer a few health questions, I can almost always find day-one coverage for less.
Sources
- TruStage / CMFG Life Insurance Company — Guaranteed Acceptance and Simplified Whole Life product details (coverage, ages, 2-year waiting period). trustage.com, retrieved July 2026.
- AM Best — CMFG Life Insurance Company Financial Strength Rating A (Excellent), reaffirmed December 2024. ambest.com.
- NAIC Consumer Information Source — company complaint index, individual life (~1.0). naic.org.
- NFDA — 2023 median cost of a funeral with burial ($7,848). nfda.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TruStage life insurance good?
The company behind it, CMFG Life, is solid — A (Excellent) from AM Best with an about-average complaint record. But TruStage’s burial coverage is guaranteed-issue, which means a two-year wait and a higher price, and it’s sold direct. If you can answer health questions, a shopped simplified-issue plan usually costs less with day-one coverage.
Who actually underwrites TruStage insurance?
TruStage is a brand; the policies are issued and paid by CMFG Life Insurance Company, formerly known as CUNA Mutual Group. It’s sold through the TruStage Insurance Agency, often via credit unions.
Does TruStage have a waiting period?
Yes, on the Guaranteed Acceptance whole life plan: a two-year wait. If you pass away from natural causes in the first two years, your family receives a refund of premiums paid rather than the full benefit. Accidental death is generally covered from day one, and the full benefit applies after two years.
How much does TruStage cost?
TruStage doesn’t publish a per-age rate chart, and its guaranteed-acceptance plan is priced above a health-screened plan. For $10,000 of day-one coverage at age 65, A-rated carriers run roughly $41 to $48 a month — a good benchmark to compare any TruStage quote against.
Do TruStage’s premiums increase?
On its whole life plans, no — premiums are level for life. On its term life product, premiums increase over time, so the early price is not what you’ll pay as you age.
Should I buy TruStage burial insurance?
For most people, not as a first choice. If you can answer health questions, an A-rated carrier like Aflac or Aetna usually offers day-one coverage for less. TruStage makes the most sense if you can’t qualify for a health-screened plan — and even then, compare guaranteed-issue options first.
Pros
- Backed by CMFG Life — A (Excellent), an established mutual insurer.
- Guaranteed acceptance — no health questions, can’t be declined.
- Whole life premiums are level and never increase.
Cons
- Guaranteed plan has a 2-year wait and a $25,000 cap.
- Sold direct — priced above a shopped simplified-issue plan.
- Term premiums rise over time.
The bottom line
TruStage is backed by CMFG Life, a solid A-rated company that pays its claims. But its burial coverage is guaranteed-issue — a two-year wait and a price most healthy seniors can beat by shopping a simplified-issue plan with day-one coverage. It earns its place mainly if you can’t answer health questions; otherwise, compare before you commit.