CICA Life Insurance Review
CICA Life (Citizens Inc.) Guaranteed Issue Final Expense Review
CICA Life of America’s Guaranteed Issue plan asks no health questions and can’t turn you down — built for smaller final-expense amounts, $1,000–$10,000. Here’s how it works, how its financial-strength rating compares, and who it fits — reviewed by a licensed independent agent.
CICA Life guaranteed issue — key facts
| Product type | Guaranteed issue whole life (final expense), from CICA Life of America — a Citizens Inc. company. A Standard Issue (simplified) version is also offered |
|---|---|
| Issue ages | To age 85 (confirm the exact adult range by state) |
| Coverage amounts | $1,000–$10,000 on the guaranteed issue plan |
| Health questions / exam | None on the guaranteed issue plan — acceptance is guaranteed within the age window |
| Waiting period | 2-year graded benefit. In the first two years a natural-cause death returns your premiums plus interest (110%); the full benefit is paid from year three on. Accidental death is covered from day one |
| Premiums | Guaranteed level premiums — they never increase, and coverage never decreases |
| Cash value | Builds guaranteed cash value over time (whole life) |
| Financial strength | B++ (Good) from independent rating agencies — a step below the top-rated carriers we more often place |
Our verdict
CICA Life fills a specific niche well: a true guaranteed-issue policy for people who want a small, simple final-expense amount and can’t get through health questions elsewhere. If your goal is $1,000–$10,000 to cover a cremation or a modest funeral, it does exactly that, with guaranteed premiums and cash value.
Two things to weigh honestly. Its coverage caps at $10,000 — lower than the $25,000 you’ll find at Gerber or Corebridge — and its independent rating agencies rating is B++ (Good), a notch below the top-rated carriers. Neither is disqualifying, but both matter, which is exactly why we compare it side by side with top-rated options on the same coverage amount and, first, check whether you’d qualify for simplified issue at a lower price.
What we like — and what to watch
What we like
- True guaranteed acceptance — no health questions, no exam
- Good fit for small, cremation-sized amounts starting at $1,000
- Guaranteed level premiums and guaranteed cash value
- Accidental death covered from day one; a simplified Standard Issue option is also available
What to watch
- B++ (Good) independent rating agencies rating — below the top-rated carriers we usually recommend first
- $10,000 coverage cap — too low for a full traditional funeral
- Two-year waiting period on natural-cause death (standard for guaranteed issue)
- Smaller, less familiar carrier than the household names
How the two-year waiting period actually works
Like every true guaranteed-issue policy, CICA limits its risk for the first 24 months because it asks no health questions:
Die of natural causes in the first two years — your beneficiary receives the premiums you paid back, plus interest (110% total), not the full face amount. Die by accident at any point — the full benefit is paid, even on day one. After two full years — every cause of death is covered for the full face amount.
How CICA compares
On the guaranteed-issue structure, CICA lines up with the market — the meaningful differences are its lower coverage cap and its financial-strength rating.
| Feature | CICA Life | Typical guaranteed issue | Simplified issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health questions | None | None | A few yes/no |
| Waiting period | 2 years | 2–3 years | Usually none |
| Coverage cap | $10,000 | $25,000 | Often higher |
| Financial strength | B++ (Good) | Often top-rated | Often top-rated |
| Relative cost | Varies | Higher | 20–40% lower |
Named side-by-side comparisons (CICA vs. Gerber, GTL, Aetna and Corebridge/AIG) will appear here as each carrier review publishes.
Who CICA Life guaranteed issue is best for
A strong fit if you want a small final-expense policy ($1,000–$10,000), you’ve been declined elsewhere or have serious health conditions, and a straightforward guaranteed-issue plan meets your goal.
Look further if you could likely pass a few health questions, you need more than $10,000, or top-tier financial strength is important to you — in those cases an top-rated carrier usually wins on cap, rating, or price, and we’ll point you there.
See whether CICA — or a stronger option — fits
We compare CICA’s guaranteed-issue plan against top-rated carriers on the same coverage — and check if you qualify for something cheaper — in about two minutes. No health questions to get a number.
Compare my rates →Independent review by a licensed broker. CICA Life of America is a subsidiary of Citizens Inc. Product terms (issue ages, coverage limits, waiting period) are set by the carrier and vary by state — figures above reflect the guaranteed issue final expense plan as commonly offered and should be confirmed against current carrier materials. CICA Life and Citizens Inc. are trademarks of their owners; this is an independent review and is not endorsed by or affiliated with CICA Life.