Insurance / Mar 12, 2026 / 9 min read

Costco Life Insurance for Seniors: How to Compare Term Coverage, Quotes, and Later-Life Options

Learn how Costco life insurance for seniors is typically structured, how term coverage through a membership-linked program may fit later-life needs, and what to compare when reviewing quotes, affordability, and no-medical-exam options.

Searching for Costco life insurance for seniors usually reflects a practical question: can a membership-linked insurance option still make sense after age 50, 60, or even 70? For many older adults, the answer depends less on the Costco name itself and more on the actual policy structure, eligibility rules, and long-term cost. That is why related searches such as life insurance for over 60s, affordable life insurance for seniors, life insurance quotes, life insurance over 50 no medical exam, and cheapest life insurance for seniors over 70 often appear in the same research journey.

Costco’s current insurance services page lists Term Life Insurance under its services lineup, and the program is offered through Manulife rather than by Costco as the insurer. At the same time, the older population continues to grow: Statistics Canada reports 8,108,467 people aged 65 and older as of July 1, 2025, with life expectancy at 65 measured at 19.43 years for males and 22.15 years for females for 2022 to 2024. That broader demographic context helps explain why later-life insurance remains an active topic.

What Costco life insurance actually is

One of the most important points for older buyers is understanding what they are comparing. Costco’s Canadian services page promotes Term Life Insurance, but the linked insurance offering is administered through Manulife. In other words, Costco functions as the membership platform, while the insurance product, quote process, and policy terms come from the insurance provider. That distinction matters because a familiar retail brand may bring trust or convenience, but the actual decision should still rest on policy wording, eligibility, premium structure, and fit for the buyer’s needs.

For seniors, this matters even more because later-life insurance shopping is usually purpose-driven. According to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, life insurance is meant to help loved ones deal with the financial impact of death through a tax-free payment that may be used to replace income, provide for dependants, pay funeral expenses, or pay off debts. That means the value of a Costco-linked policy depends on whether it fits those specific goals, not simply whether it carries a recognizable membership label.

How the Costco-linked term life option is structured
Manulife’s Costco life insurance pages show that members can access term life options including 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year plans. The general term life page says coverage ranges from $50,000 to $2 million, while the 20-year plan page notes guaranteed rates for 20 years and states that coverage can renew automatically up to age 90, with no new medical questions or exams at the time of renewal. The 10-year plan page says eligibility applies to residents between ages 18 and 70 inclusive.
That has an important implication for people searching cheapest life insurance for seniors over 70. A buyer who is already over age 70 may not fit the listed eligibility window for the 10-year term plan, at least based on the official page snippet now available. So while Costco life insurance may still be relevant to people approaching 70 or renewing existing coverage later, it may not be the most direct solution for every shopper already beyond that threshold.
Where this fits for life insurance for over 60s
For people researching life insurance for over 60s, Costco-linked term life may be worth comparing when there is still a temporary financial need. That could include covering a remaining mortgage balance, protecting a spouse from income disruption, or leaving a defined amount to handle debt or final expenses. FCAC explains that term life insurance pays a death benefit if the insured dies within a specific period, such as 10 or 20 years, after which coverage ends.
This makes term life a practical fit for some older buyers, but not all. Someone in their early or mid-60s may still want a defined term if the household’s financial obligations are time-limited. By contrast, someone primarily focused on end-of-life costs or leaving a guaranteed lifelong benefit may end up comparing permanent products outside the Costco term-only framework. FCAC notes that permanent life insurance gives lifetime coverage and may build cash value, which is a very different structure from standard term insurance.
A useful point about no-medical-exam searches
The keyword life insurance over 50 no medical exam is highly relevant to senior search behavior, but it should be used carefully in content. Costco’s Manulife offering does include situations where medical tests are “normally” not required. The 5-year term page says no medical tests are normally required for applicants age 50 or under for any amount of coverage, and also for ages 51 to 55 applying for up to $250,000. That is helpful context, but it does not mean the program is broadly a no-medical-exam solution for all seniors.
So for readers searching life insurance over 50 no medical exam, the practical takeaway is this: a Costco-linked plan may offer lighter underwriting in some age and coverage bands, but older applicants should not assume that no-exam approval automatically extends across all senior ages or coverage amounts. In later-life shopping, underwriting rules become more individualized, and the easiest quote path is not always the lowest-cost one. That is especially important for people trying to balance convenience with long-term affordability.
A comparison table for senior shoppers
Below is a simple framework for comparing Costco-linked term life with other common later-life insurance pathways.
Option
Best fit
Medical exam likelihood
Cost pattern
Main limitation
Costco-linked 5/10/20-year term
Temporary protection for debt, spouse support, or income replacement
Varies by age and amount; some lighter underwriting in limited cases
Usually lower than permanent coverage at issue
Term coverage ends, and eligibility windows matter
Standard fully underwritten term from other insurers
Healthy applicants seeking competitive pricing
Often more likely
Can be competitive if health is strong
More underwriting steps
Simplified-issue senior life insurance
Buyers wanting easier approval
Usually lower medical friction
Often higher cost per dollar of coverage
Lower limits or stricter pricing
Permanent life / final-expense style coverage
Lifetime coverage or end-of-life planning
Varies

Typically higher starting premiums
Less aligned with temporary needs
This kind of side-by-side comparison is useful because the search for affordable life insurance for seniors is rarely solved by brand alone. It is solved by matching the policy type to the actual purpose.
What affordable life insurance for seniors really means here
When people search affordable life insurance for seniors, they often mean one of two different things. Some mean the lowest monthly premium possible. Others mean the best value for the amount and duration of protection they still need. Those are not always the same thing. A smaller 5-year term may look cheaper up front than a longer guaranteed term, but it may not serve the same purpose. Likewise, a policy with easier underwriting can cost more than a fully underwritten option for a healthy applicant.
This is why life insurance quotes should be compared on a like-for-like basis. Seniors generally get a more useful comparison when they check the same coverage amount, the same term length, the same underwriting style, and the same renewal or expiry conditions. Costco’s Manulife pages make this especially relevant because plan details differ between 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year terms, including coverage levels, eligibility, and renewal mechanics.
How to think about the over-70 question
The phrase cheapest life insurance for seniors over 70 often suggests a search for a very specific solution: modest protection, manageable premiums, and less friction in the application process. In the Costco-linked context, that search should be handled carefully. The official 10-year term page lists eligibility only up to age 70 inclusive, which means buyers already above that age may need to look beyond the standard new-issue path on that page.
That does not automatically make Costco irrelevant. A person who bought earlier may still care about renewal mechanics, and someone in their late 60s may still be comparing Costco-linked term coverage before aging out of a particular entry window. But for someone already over 70 and starting from zero, the most practical comparison may extend beyond Costco and include simplified-issue or permanent alternatives that are built more directly for later-life entry. That is why the word “cheapest” should be treated as a starting point for comparison, not the final decision rule.
Why this topic keeps growing
Later-life insurance remains relevant because the older population is large and still expanding. Statistics Canada reports more than 8.1 million people aged 65 and older as of July 1, 2025. At the same time, the broader insurance sector remains significant: CLHIA says insurers paid a record $143.3 billion in insurance benefits and retirement solutions in 2024, including $18.6 billion in life insurance benefits. Those figures do not tell a household which policy to choose, but they do show that life insurance continues to play a meaningful role in financial planning and beneficiary support.
Conclusion
For readers evaluating Costco life insurance for seniors, the most useful takeaway is that this is really a question about term insurance design, eligibility, and value rather than the warehouse brand alone. Costco’s insurance services page points members to Manulife term life options, and those options may suit some buyers in their 50s and 60s who want temporary protection with a familiar access point.
But the right fit depends on the goal. Someone comparing life insurance for over 60s may find Costco-linked term coverage relevant if the need is temporary. Someone searching life insurance over 50 no medical exam should read the underwriting details carefully rather than assume broad no-exam eligibility. And someone focused on the cheapest life insurance for seniors over 70 may need to compare outside the Costco framework if age-entry limits narrow the available options. In most cases, the strongest decision comes from comparing true policy structure, underwriting conditions, and quote details side by side.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or insurance advice. Product availability, eligibility, premiums, underwriting rules, renewal terms, and policy features can change and may vary by applicant and province. Readers should review the official insurer materials and policy documents before making any insurance decision.
References
Costco Services – official services page.
Manulife Term Life Insurance for Costco Members.
Manulife 5-Year Term Life Insurance for Costco Members.
Manulife 10-Year Term Life Insurance for Costco Members.

Manulife 20-Year Term Life Insurance for Costco Members.
Financial Consumer Agency of Canada – Life insurance.
Statistics Canada – Older adults and population aging statistics.
Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association – 2024 benefits data.

Option	Best fit	Medical exam likelihood	Cost pattern	Main limitation
Costco-linked 5/10/20-year term	Temporary protection for debt, spouse support, or income replacement	Varies by age and amount; some lighter underwriting in limited cases	Usually lower than permanent coverage at issue	Term coverage ends, and eligibility windows matter
Standard fully underwritten term from other insurers	Healthy applicants seeking competitive pricing	Often more likely	Can be competitive if health is strong	More underwriting steps
Simplified-issue senior life insurance	Buyers wanting easier approval	Usually lower medical friction	Often higher cost per dollar of coverage	Lower limits or stricter pricing
Permanent life / final-expense style coverage	Lifetime coverage or end-of-life planning	Varies	Typically higher starting premiums	Less aligned with temporary needs This kind of side-by-side comparison is useful because the search for affordable life insurance for seniors is rarely solved by brand alone. It is solved by matching the policy type to the actual purpose. What affordable life insurance for seniors really means here When people search affordable life insurance for seniors, they often mean one of two different things. Some mean the lowest monthly premium possible. Others mean the best value for the amount and duration of protection they still need. Those are not always the same thing. A smaller 5-year term may look cheaper up front than a longer guaranteed term, but it may not serve the same purpose. Likewise, a policy with easier underwriting can cost more than a fully underwritten option for a healthy applicant. This is why life insurance quotes should be compared on a like-for-like basis. Seniors generally get a more useful comparison when they check the same coverage amount, the same term length, the same underwriting style, and the same renewal or expiry conditions. Costco’s Manulife pages make this especially relevant because plan details differ between 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year terms, including coverage levels, eligibility, and renewal mechanics. How to think about the over-70 question The phrase cheapest life insurance for seniors over 70 often suggests a search for a very specific solution: modest protection, manageable premiums, and less friction in the application process. In the Costco-linked context, that search should be handled carefully. The official 10-year term page lists eligibility only up to age 70 inclusive, which means buyers already above that age may need to look beyond the standard new-issue path on that page. That does not automatically make Costco irrelevant. A person who bought earlier may still care about renewal mechanics, and someone in their late 60s may still be comparing Costco-linked term coverage before aging out of a particular entry window. But for someone already over 70 and starting from zero, the most practical comparison may extend beyond Costco and include simplified-issue or permanent alternatives that are built more directly for later-life entry. That is why the word “cheapest” should be treated as a starting point for comparison, not the final decision rule. Why this topic keeps growing Later-life insurance remains relevant because the older population is large and still expanding. Statistics Canada reports more than 8.1 million people aged 65 and older as of July 1, 2025. At the same time, the broader insurance sector remains significant: CLHIA says insurers paid a record $143.3 billion in insurance benefits and retirement solutions in 2024, including $18.6 billion in life insurance benefits. Those figures do not tell a household which policy to choose, but they do show that life insurance continues to play a meaningful role in financial planning and beneficiary support. Conclusion For readers evaluating Costco life insurance for seniors, the most useful takeaway is that this is really a question about term insurance design, eligibility, and value rather than the warehouse brand alone. Costco’s insurance services page points members to Manulife term life options, and those options may suit some buyers in their 50s and 60s who want temporary protection with a familiar access point. But the right fit depends on the goal. Someone comparing life insurance for over 60s may find Costco-linked term coverage relevant if the need is temporary. Someone searching life insurance over 50 no medical exam should read the underwriting details carefully rather than assume broad no-exam eligibility. And someone focused on the cheapest life insurance for seniors over 70 may need to compare outside the Costco framework if age-entry limits narrow the available options. In most cases, the strongest decision comes from comparing true policy structure, underwriting conditions, and quote details side by side. Disclaimer This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or insurance advice. Product availability, eligibility, premiums, underwriting rules, renewal terms, and policy features can change and may vary by applicant and province. Readers should review the official insurer materials and policy documents before making any insurance decision. References Costco Services – official services page. Manulife Term Life Insurance for Costco Members. Manulife 5-Year Term Life Insurance for Costco Members. Manulife 10-Year Term Life Insurance for Costco Members. Manulife 20-Year Term Life Insurance for Costco Members. Financial Consumer Agency of Canada – Life insurance. Statistics Canada – Older adults and population aging statistics. Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association – 2024 benefits data.