CICA Life Insurance Review (2026): Is CICA Life Legit?
CICA Life Insurance Company of America is a legitimate, state-licensed life insurer associated with Citizens, Inc. It is a smaller, less well-known carrier than the major final-expense names, but its simplified-issue underwriting accepts treated major conditions where stricter carriers decline. Whether CICA is your best option depends on your health profile and state.
The Verdict
Is CICA Life Insurance Legit?
Yes. CICA Life Insurance Company of America is a legitimate, state-licensed life insurance company, and you can independently confirm its licensing through your state's Department of Insurance and its complaint record through the NAIC Consumer Information Source. Asurgo is an appointed CICA Life agent and places its policies directly.
That said, "legit" is not the same as "well-known" or "the best value for everyone." CICA Life is a smaller, more obscure carrier than the household final-expense names like Mutual of Omaha, Transamerica, or Aetna. Its premiums run 30 to 50 percent higher than market leaders for the same coverage amount. Buyers should compare CICA against better-known options before deciding.
Where CICA earns its place on our roster is underwriting. Its simplified-issue application accepts treated major conditions at the standard (Level) tier where stricter carriers decline or move applicants to a graded benefit. For the right buyer, that is a meaningful advantage. Asurgo can also quote 25+ other carriers head-to-head, so you only buy CICA if it is genuinely your best option.
CICA Life is a legitimate carrier whose exceptionally lenient simplified-issue underwriting fills a real gap for applicants declined by stricter carriers. Premiums are notably higher than market leaders, availability is limited to 43 states, and the brand is obscure. Best for buyers whose health profile needs CICA's lenient underwriting, not as a default first choice.
The Product
What Does CICA Life Insurance Offer?
CICA Life Insurance Company of America offers simplified-issue whole life insurance with two benefit tiers, positioned for final expense and burial coverage, available to applicants ages 0 to 85. There is no medical exam. CICA does not distinguish between tobacco and non-tobacco applicants, meaning smokers pay the same rate as non-smokers.
| Detail | CICA Life Whole Life |
|---|---|
| Product type | Simplified-issue whole life |
| Issue ages | 0 to 85 |
| Coverage (Standard Issue) | $1,000 to $30,000 (ages 0-50), $1,000 to $20,000 (ages 51-70), $1,000 to $10,000 (ages 71-85) |
| Coverage (Guaranteed Issue) | $1,000 to $30,000 (ages 0-70), $1,000 to $10,000 (ages 71-85) |
| Medical exam | No (8 yes-or-no health questions) |
| Tobacco distinction | None (same rate for smokers and non-smokers) |
| Premiums | Level, locked for life |
| Benefit tiers | Standard Issue (Level, day-one) and Guaranteed Issue (graded, 2-year) |
| State availability | 43 states (not available in CA, DE, ME, MA, NJ, NY, VA) |
| Parent company | Associated with Citizens, Inc. |
The two tiers work like this:
- Standard Issue (Level Benefit): Full death benefit payable from day one, no waiting period. You qualify by answering "No" to all 8 health questions on the application.
- Guaranteed Issue (Graded Benefit): If any health question is answered "Yes," you receive the Guaranteed Issue tier. During the first two policy years, a non-accidental death pays 110% of all premiums paid rather than the full face amount. From year three onward, the full death benefit is payable regardless of cause. Accidental death pays the full benefit from day one on both tiers.
Because it is whole life, premiums are locked for life and never increase, the death benefit never decreases, and the policy builds a small cash value over time. Coverage does not expire at a certain age.
Get a CICA Life quote through Asurgo
Asurgo is an appointed CICA Life agent. Apply in minutes, and we will compare it against 25+ other carriers so you only buy if it is genuinely your best option.
Corporate Structure
Is CICA Life the Same as Citizens, Inc.?
CICA Life Insurance Company of America is associated with Citizens, Inc., a publicly traded insurance holding company. They are related entities but not the same company. Citizens, Inc. is the parent organization, and CICA Life operates as the insurance carrier that underwrites and issues policies.
The financial strength of the parent matters for long-term claims-paying ability. A whole life policy may not pay a claim for 20 or 30 years, so the stability of the organization behind it is relevant. Buyers should verify the current financial-strength rating and corporate relationship directly at AM Best before purchasing.
Citizens, Inc. also operates in international insurance markets. CICA Life's domestic whole life product is a separate line from the international business. The two share a parent company but serve different markets. For a U.S. final-expense buyer, the relevant entity is CICA Life, not the broader Citizens, Inc. portfolio.
Pricing
CICA Life Coverage, Rates, and Underwriting
CICA's coverage amounts, premiums, and underwriting rules determine whether it is a competitive final-expense option for a given applicant. Because CICA is a smaller carrier with higher base premiums, its value should be checked against better-known carriers rather than assumed.
Standard Issue (Level) Rates: $10,000 Coverage, Monthly
| Age | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $31 | $34 |
| 55 | $38 | $43 |
| 60 | $49 | $55 |
| 65 | $62 | $72 |
| 70 | $83 | $102 |
| 75 | $111 | $145 |
| 80 | $152 | $207 |
How CICA Rates Compare
CICA's premiums run 30 to 50 percent higher than the lowest-cost simplified-issue carriers at most ages. For example, a 60-year-old female pays $49/month for $10,000 of CICA Standard Issue coverage. The same coverage through Mutual of Omaha Living Promise Level costs $33/month. At age 70, the gap is $83 versus $53.
The price difference exists because CICA accepts a wider range of health conditions at its Standard Issue tier. You are paying a higher premium for broader acceptance. For a healthy applicant who qualifies for Mutual of Omaha, Aetna, or Transamerica, those carriers will almost always cost less. CICA becomes the better value when those carriers decline or grade you and CICA still writes you at Standard Issue with day-one coverage.
Asurgo quotes all of these carriers in real time, so you will see exactly where CICA stands against 25+ alternatives for your specific profile. Use our burial cost calculator to estimate how much coverage you need before requesting a quote.
The Underwriting Advantage
CICA's underwriting is where the product earns its spot on our roster. The application asks 8 yes-or-no health questions. The key is how CICA structures one question: it asks whether certain major conditions were diagnosed in the past 10 years but NOT treated or medicated. If you are currently being treated for the condition, you answer "No" and pass Standard Issue.
In practice, this means applicants being treated for conditions like COPD, congestive heart failure, diabetes, stroke, or heart disease can often qualify for CICA's Standard Issue tier with full day-one coverage. At stricter carriers like Mutual of Omaha, those same conditions typically result in a Graded benefit or a decline.
Conditions that do trigger Guaranteed Issue include: HIV/AIDS, active or metastatic cancer, ALS, Alzheimer's or dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, recent substance abuse treatment, and organ transplant advice within five years. Applicants currently hospitalized, bedridden, in hospice, or diagnosed with a terminal illness also move to GI.
Nobody is hard-declined by CICA except for age or state ineligibility. If you do not qualify for Standard Issue, you receive Guaranteed Issue automatically. That is a genuine safety net that not all carriers offer.
The Balance Sheet
CICA Life Insurance Pros and Cons
CICA fills a specific niche on Asurgo's carrier panel. See every carrier on our panel to understand where CICA sits relative to the full field. Here is a fair accounting of what it does well and where it falls short compared to better-known alternatives.
Pros
- Exceptionally lenient simplified-issue underwriting. Treated major conditions (COPD, CHF, diabetes, stroke, heart disease) can qualify for Standard Issue with full day-one coverage.
- No hard declines. Every applicant within the age and state range receives either Standard Issue or Guaranteed Issue. Nobody is turned away.
- No medical exam. Eight yes-or-no health questions, completed in a single call with a licensed agent.
- No tobacco distinction. Smokers and non-smokers pay the same rate, which benefits tobacco users who would pay a 30-50% surcharge at most other carriers.
- Broad age range. Issue ages 0 to 85, wider than most final-expense carriers.
- Whole life with level premiums. Premiums never increase, death benefit never decreases, and the policy builds cash value.
- Publicly traded parent. Associated with Citizens, Inc., a publicly traded insurance holding company. Verify the current financial-strength rating at AM Best.
Cons
- Premiums are 30 to 50 percent higher than the lowest-cost simplified-issue carriers (Mutual of Omaha, Aetna) at most ages.
- Limited to 43 states. Not available in California, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, or Virginia.
- Obscure brand. Far less well-known than Mutual of Omaha, Transamerica, or Aflac. Harder to research independently, and fewer consumer reviews are available online.
- No tobacco discount. Non-smokers do not benefit from lower rates, unlike most competitors where non-tobacco applicants pay less.
- Lower face-amount caps at older ages. Standard Issue maxes at $10,000 for ages 71 to 85, limiting coverage for older applicants who need more.
- Complaint history and customer reviews should be verified independently at the NAIC Consumer Information Source and the BBB.
Best Fit
Who CICA Life Is Best For, and Who Should Compare Alternatives
CICA Life may suit a buyer whose health profile makes it the strongest available option after comparing all carriers on Asurgo's panel. Most seniors shopping for straightforward final-expense coverage should compare CICA against better-known carriers before deciding.
Best for
- Applicants with treated major conditions (COPD, heart disease, diabetes, stroke) who have been declined or graded by stricter carriers and need day-one Standard Issue coverage
- Tobacco users who want to avoid the 30-50% smoker surcharge that most competitors charge
- Seniors for whom a broker's multi-carrier comparison identifies CICA as the strongest available option in their state and situation
- Applicants who want a guaranteed path to coverage (Standard Issue or Guaranteed Issue, no hard declines)
Should compare alternatives
- Healthy non-smokers who qualify for the lowest-rate carriers (Mutual of Omaha, Aetna, Transamerica). Those carriers cost significantly less for applicants who pass their health questions.
- Applicants in California, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, or Virginia, where CICA is not available
- Buyers who want an easy-to-research, well-established brand with extensive consumer reviews
- Applicants who need more than $10,000 of coverage at age 71 or older (CICA's Standard Issue cap at those ages is $10,000)
Asurgo sells CICA AND 25+ other carriers. If CICA is genuinely your best fit, we place you there. If another carrier offers more coverage for the same premium or a lower rate for your health profile, we show you that instead. The comparison is the point.
See where CICA stands against 25+ carriers
Asurgo is an appointed CICA Life agent. Apply in minutes, and we will compare it against every carrier on our panel so you only buy if it is your best option. Most applicants have coverage in force within 24 hours.
References
Sources
- AM Best Financial Strength Ratings - AM Best Company (verify CICA Life's and Citizens, Inc.'s current ratings)
- NAIC Consumer Information Source - National Association of Insurance Commissioners (complaint index and licensing lookup)
- Better Business Bureau - BBB (company profile and complaint history)
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CICA Life a good insurance company?
CICA Life is a legitimate, state-licensed insurer associated with Citizens, Inc. It fills a niche for applicants whose health conditions get them declined by stricter carriers, because its simplified-issue underwriting accepts treated major conditions at the standard tier. Premiums run higher than market leaders, and it is not available in all states. It is a good option for the right buyer, not the default recommendation.
Is CICA Life insurance legit?
Yes. CICA Life Insurance Company of America is a legitimate, state-licensed life insurance company. You can independently verify its licensing through your state's Department of Insurance and its complaint record through the NAIC Consumer Information Source. Asurgo is an appointed CICA Life agent and places its policies directly.
What does CICA Life insurance offer?
CICA offers simplified-issue whole life insurance with two tiers: Standard Issue (Level benefit, day-one full coverage) and Guaranteed Issue (graded benefit during the first two years, full benefit from year three). Issue ages are 0 to 85. No medical exam is required. Coverage ranges from $1,000 up to $30,000 depending on age and tier. CICA does not distinguish between tobacco and non-tobacco applicants.
Does CICA Life require a medical exam?
No. CICA Life's whole life product is simplified issue. Applicants answer a set of yes-or-no health questions instead of taking a medical exam. If all answers clear the standard questions, you receive Standard Issue (Level) coverage with full day-one benefit. If any answer triggers a flag, you receive Guaranteed Issue coverage with a graded benefit period.
What is the maximum coverage with CICA Life?
Maximum coverage depends on your age and benefit tier. Standard Issue (Level): up to $30,000 for ages 0 to 50, up to $20,000 for ages 51 to 70, and up to $10,000 for ages 71 to 85. Guaranteed Issue: up to $30,000 for ages 0 to 70, and up to $10,000 for ages 71 to 85. Minimum coverage is $1,000.
Is CICA Life the same as Citizens Inc?
CICA Life Insurance Company of America is associated with Citizens, Inc., a publicly traded insurance holding company. They are related entities but not the same company. Citizens, Inc. is the parent organization, and CICA Life operates as the insurance carrier that underwrites and issues policies. The financial strength of the parent matters for long-term claims-paying ability. Verify the current relationship and ratings at AM Best.
Related Reviews
Ready to see if CICA Life is your best fit?
Asurgo is an appointed CICA Life agent. Apply in minutes, and we will compare it against 25+ other carriers so you only buy if it is genuinely your best option. Most applicants have coverage in force within 24 hours.
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Nicholas Norminton, Licensed Insurance Specialist
Specialties: final expense, carrier comparison, independent broker placement, simplified-issue underwriting.
Nicholas is a nationally licensed insurance specialist who has personally helped thousands of clients secure life insurance coverage. He built Asurgo into a trusted, tech-forward brokerage serving clients in all 50 states with access to 25+ carriers. He places CICA Life policies as part of a multi-carrier comparison approach, using CICA's lenient underwriting for applicants whose health profiles are declined by stricter carriers.