Can you get life insurance while on probation or parole?

Being on probation or parole is one of the few things on a life insurance application that’s about right now, not just the past. At some carriers it’s a current-status knockout. At others it’s one item inside a longer lookback window — and at least one published guide offers a plan instead of a decline. That difference is the whole game.

What the applications ask

From the carriers’ own underwriting guides, as summarized on our criminal record page:

• Transamerica (FE Express and Immediate Solution): currently incarcerated, on probation or on parole — decline.
• NewBridge: “Convicted of a felony or currently have felony charges pending, on parole, or on probation” within the last 24 months — not eligible. More than two years — Preferred, its best class.
• American Amicable Family Choice (ages 0–49): a felony conviction within 24 months, or probation or parole within 12 months, is a knockout question.
• United Home Life: pending felony charges, or a conviction, parole or probation within seven years — its graded whole life plan (no term). More than seven years — Premier.
• Royal Neighbors: not accepted if the insured or the owner has a felony, on any final expense plan.

Your options while you’re still under supervision

1. A graded plan where the guide allows it. United Home Life’s published table routes probation or parole to graded whole life rather than a decline. Graded coverage is permanent, with a limited benefit for natural-cause death in the early years.
2. Guaranteed issue, if health is also a problem. These plans ask no health questions, but non-medical eligibility rules still apply — so we verify each product before quoting rather than promise it.
3. Plan the upgrade. Coverage you can get now protects your family now. When supervision ends and the windows pass, better classes open up, and we can re-shop.

What changes when supervision ends

• Transamerica’s current-status decline no longer applies. Once the felony charge is more than two years old, FE Express places it at Premier.
• American Amicable’s probation-or-parole question looks back 12 months; NewBridge’s looks back 24.
• United Home Life reaches Premier once the felony is more than seven years behind you.

Write down two dates before you call anyone: the date of the conviction and the date your probation or parole ended (or will end). Those two dates decide most of this.

Currently incarcerated?

Transamerica lists current incarceration as a decline on both of its final expense products. We don’t have published guidance from other carriers on it, so we’d verify directly before quoting anything. The person being insured also has to complete and sign their own application.

Can a family member buy it for you?

Possibly — but owner rules matter. Royal Neighbors excludes an owner with a felony, not just an insured, and NewBridge requires the insured to own the policy. Either way, you still answer the questions and sign yourself.

Tell the truth on the application

In Michigan, knowingly giving false material information on an insurance application with intent to deceive is a fraudulent insurance act (MCL 500.4503). Worse for your family, it’s how a claim gets denied. Give us your real dates and we’ll find the carrier whose rules already fit. Start here or call 586-343-1505.

Sources: Carrier underwriting guides from Transamerica, NewBridge (Continental General), American Amicable, United Home Life and Royal Neighbors of America, as compiled on our criminal record and felony guide (verified September 2026) · Michigan Compiled Laws §500.4503 (fraudulent insurance acts)