Reliastar Life Insurance Review (2025): Reliable Coverage?

Choosing a life insurance provider is one of the most significant financial decisions you can make for your family’s future security. With so many options available, discerning between reputable life insurance companies can feel overwhelming. You want assurance that the company you choose is not only financially sound but also trustworthy and reliable when your loved ones need it most. Among the names you might encounter is Reliastar Life Insurance Company.

But is Reliastar the most reliable life insurance option for you? How does it stack up against other top trusted life insurance companies in 2025? Finding the answer isn’t just about looking at one company in isolation. It’s about understanding your unique needs and comparing policies from multiple carriers to find the perfect fit. This is precisely where Insurance By Heroes excels.

Insurance By Heroes isn’t your typical insurance agency. Founded by a former first responder and military spouse, our team is composed of professionals who understand the value of service, reliability, and trust – often because they come from public service backgrounds themselves. We are an independent agency, meaning we aren’t tied to any single insurance provider. Instead, we partner with dozens of the most reputable and financially stable life insurance companies across the nation. Our mission is simple: to shop the market on your behalf, comparing coverage options and tailoring a policy that truly meets your specific requirements and budget. We believe finding trustworthy life insurance shouldn’t be a gamble; it should be a carefully guided process.

This article will delve into Reliastar Life Insurance, examining its background, offerings, and reputation within the broader context of finding legit life insurance companies. Throughout this review, we’ll emphasize why comparing Reliastar with other carriers through an independent agency like Insurance By Heroes is crucial to securing the best possible protection for your family.

Understanding Reliastar Life Insurance Company

Reliastar Life Insurance Company has a history dating back many decades, establishing itself as a recognized name in the insurance industry. However, it’s essential to understand its current structure. Reliastar is now a subsidiary of Voya Financial, Inc. (formerly ING U.S.). Voya Financial is a major player in the financial services landscape, offering retirement, investment, and insurance products.

When considering Reliastar life insurance today, you are essentially looking at products offered under the Voya Financial umbrella. This connection is important because the financial strength and stability often associated with Reliastar are now intrinsically linked to Voya’s overall performance and ratings. Voya Financial is generally considered one of the reputable life insurance companies operating in the U.S. market.

The transition from Reliastar as a standalone brand to part of Voya signifies a common trend in the insurance industry – consolidation. While the Reliastar name might still appear on older policies or in certain contexts, new business is typically managed under the Voya brand. This association with a large, publicly traded financial entity like Voya can be seen as a positive indicator of stability for policyholders, a key factor when searching for the most financially stable life insurance companies.

However, belonging to a large corporation doesn’t automatically make any single company or its policies the universally best choice. The insurance landscape is diverse, and size isn’t the only measure of suitability. This is why Insurance By Heroes champions the independent approach – we look beyond the brand name to assess whether a specific policy from Voya (Reliastar) or another carrier truly aligns with your individual circumstances.

Types of Life Insurance Potentially Offered via Reliastar (Voya)

Life insurance carriers like Voya (operating brands including Reliastar) typically offer a range of products designed to meet different needs and financial goals. Understanding these basic types is the first step in determining what might be suitable for you.

It’s critical to remember, though, that product availability, specific features, and pricing can change. Furthermore, what Voya offers might be competitive for some individuals but less suitable for others based on health, age, coverage needs, or desired policy riders. This variability underscores the importance of comparison shopping through an independent agency.

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance provides coverage for a specific period, or “term,” such as 10, 15, 20, or 30 years. If the insured person passes away during this term, the policy pays out a death benefit to the beneficiaries. If the term expires and the insured is still living, the coverage ends (unless it’s renewed, often at a much higher premium, or converted to a permanent policy, if allowed).

Term life is often the most affordable type of life insurance, making it a popular choice for covering temporary needs like income replacement during working years, mortgage protection, or funding children’s education. Companies like Voya typically offer various term lengths and coverage amounts.

However, is a Reliastar (Voya) term policy the most cost-effective or feature-rich option for *you*? Maybe, maybe not. Some companies specialize in specific health conditions or offer more competitive rates for certain age groups. Insurance By Heroes can instantly compare Voya’s term quotes against dozens of other most trusted life insurance companies, ensuring you see the full picture and don’t overpay for essential coverage.

Permanent Life Insurance

Permanent life insurance policies are designed to provide coverage for the insured’s entire lifetime, as long as premiums are paid. These policies also typically include a cash value component that grows over time on a tax-deferred basis. This cash value can often be borrowed against or withdrawn, though doing so can impact the death benefit.

There are several types of permanent life insurance:

• Whole Life Insurance: Offers level premiums, a guaranteed death benefit, and guaranteed cash value growth. It’s generally the most straightforward but often the most expensive type of permanent insurance.
• Universal Life (UL) Insurance: Offers more flexibility than whole life. Policyholders may be able to adjust their premium payments and death benefit amount (within policy limits). Cash value growth is typically tied to current interest rates. Different variations exist, such as Indexed Universal Life (IUL), where cash value growth is linked to the performance of a market index (like the S&P 500), often with a floor and a cap.

Companies like Voya often provide options within the permanent life insurance category. These policies can be valuable tools for estate planning, covering final expenses, or creating a legacy.

But the complexity and cost of permanent policies make comparison even more critical. The guarantees, fees, interest crediting methods, and flexibility options can vary significantly among the most reputable life insurance companies. Insurance By Heroes helps you navigate these intricate details. We can explain the differences between a Voya permanent policy and similar offerings from other top carriers, ensuring the policy structure and long-term performance potential align with your financial objectives. We understand that finding trustworthy life insurance involves looking deep into the policy details, not just the premium.

Policy Riders

Policy riders are optional additions that allow you to customize your life insurance coverage. Common riders might include:

• Accelerated Death Benefit Rider: Allows access to a portion of the death benefit if diagnosed with a qualifying terminal illness.
• Waiver of Premium Rider: Waives future premium payments if you become totally disabled.
• Accidental Death Benefit Rider: Pays an additional amount if death occurs due to a covered accident.
• Child Term Rider: Provides term coverage for your children.

The availability and cost of riders can differ significantly between insurance providers. While Reliastar (Voya) may offer certain riders, another company might offer a rider that’s particularly important for your situation at a better price or with more favorable terms. This is another area where Insurance By Heroes adds significant value – we compare not just the base policy but the entire package, including riders, across multiple most reliable life insurance companies.

Is Reliastar (Voya) a Reliable and Trustworthy Life Insurance Company?

This is the core question for many consumers looking for security and peace of mind. When people search for “reliable life insurance company,” “most trusted life insurance company,” or “safest life insurance companies,” they’re looking for assurance that the insurer will be around and able to pay claims decades into the future.

Several factors contribute to assessing an insurance company’s reliability and trustworthiness:

Financial Strength Ratings

Independent rating agencies like AM Best, Standard & Poor’s (S&P), Moody’s, and Fitch Ratings evaluate the financial health and claims-paying ability of insurance companies. They assign grades (e.g., A++, A+, A, A-, B++, etc.) reflecting their assessment of the insurer’s stability.

Generally, Voya Financial (the parent company of Reliastar) holds strong financial strength ratings from major agencies. These ratings suggest that the agencies believe Voya has a solid capacity to meet its ongoing insurance obligations. High ratings are a crucial indicator when seeking the most financially stable life insurance companies.

However, ratings are not static; they can change based on economic conditions and company performance. Furthermore, while high ratings are essential, they don’t tell the whole story about whether a company is the *right* fit for an individual. A company can be financially strong but have higher premiums or less flexible policies compared to another highly-rated competitor.

At Insurance By Heroes, we consider financial strength ratings as a fundamental screening criterion. We primarily work with carriers possessing strong ratings, ensuring a baseline level of reliability. But our analysis goes deeper, comparing highly-rated companies like Voya against other stable insurers to find the optimal combination of strength, value, and policy features for *you*.

Company History and Stability

Reliastar’s long history, now continued under the Voya banner, demonstrates longevity in the market. Voya Financial itself is a large, established entity. A company’s ability to navigate economic downturns and market changes over many years can be a positive sign of stability and management competence. This history contributes to its standing among reputable life insurance companies.

Customer Service and Claims Experience

Reliability isn’t just about financial solvency; it’s also about how a company treats its policyholders, especially during the claims process. Assessing this can be more subjective.

Resources like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index, and customer reviews can offer some insights. J.D. Power also conducts studies on customer satisfaction within the life insurance industry. It’s wise to look at trends rather than isolated complaints, as even the best companies will have some dissatisfied customers.

The NAIC complaint index compares a company’s share of complaints to its share of premiums. An index above 1.0 suggests more complaints than expected for its size, while below 1.0 suggests fewer. Checking Voya’s current NAIC index can provide a data point.

However, individual experiences can vary greatly depending on the specific situation, the agent involved (if any), and the complexity of the policy or claim. This is another reason working with a dedicated independent agency like Insurance By Heroes is beneficial. We act as your advocate, assisting not just with the initial purchase but also providing support if issues arise later on. Our team, rooted in public service values, understands the importance of dependable support.

Policy Features and Transparency

Trustworthy life insurance companies are typically transparent about their policy terms, conditions, fees, and exclusions. Policy illustrations (especially for permanent policies) should be clear and based on reasonable assumptions. A reliable company offers well-defined products that deliver on their promises.

Evaluating Reliastar (Voya) on these factors suggests it is generally considered a legit life insurance company operating within industry standards. It’s backed by a financially strong parent company and offers products common in the marketplace.

But the ultimate question remains: Is it the *most* reliable, *most* trustworthy, or *safest* option *for you*? That depends entirely on comparing its specific offerings, pricing, and underwriting against your personal profile and needs. What makes a company “safe” or “reliable” for one person might be different for another. For example, someone with a specific health condition might find another reputable insurer offers better underwriting and is therefore a more “reliable” choice for obtaining affordable coverage.

Insurance By Heroes was founded on the principle of finding that personalized reliability. As former first responders and military family members, we know that trust is earned through dependable performance and tailored solutions. We meticulously compare carriers like Voya against dozens of others, focusing on finding the most stable and suitable coverage that aligns perfectly with your life and budget.

Potential Pros and Cons of Reliastar Life Insurance (via Voya)

Like any major insurance provider, choosing Reliastar (Voya) comes with potential advantages and disadvantages. It’s crucial to weigh these in the context of your own needs.

Potential Pros:

• Financial Strength: Backed by Voya Financial, a large company with generally strong financial ratings, offering policyholder security. This aligns with searches for the most financially stable life insurance companies.
• Brand Recognition: Voya is a well-known name in financial services, which some consumers find reassuring.
• Range of Products: Typically offers a standard suite of life insurance products (term, permanent options) that can meet various needs.
• Part of a Larger Financial Ecosystem: For individuals already using Voya for retirement or investment services, there might be perceived convenience in keeping insurance with the same provider (though this rarely translates to significant discounts or benefits).

Potential Cons:

• Pricing Competitiveness: While potentially competitive for some demographics, Voya may not always offer the lowest premiums compared to other top trusted life insurance companies, especially those specializing in certain niches or health conditions.
• Product Innovation: While offering standard products, other carriers might have more innovative policy designs, riders, or underwriting programs (e.g., accelerated underwriting for healthy individuals) that could be a better fit.
• Customer Service Variability: As with any large organization, customer service experiences can be inconsistent. Direct interaction might be less personalized than working through a dedicated independent agent.
• Not Always the Best Fit: No single company excels in every scenario. Voya’s underwriting guidelines or product features might not be optimal for your specific age, health status, or coverage goals compared to what other legit life insurance companies can offer.

This pro/con list highlights the fundamental challenge: judging a company in isolation doesn’t work. What appears as a “pro” (e.g., brand recognition) might be irrelevant if the premiums are too high. A “con” (e.g., potentially less competitive pricing) might only be discovered through comparison.

This is precisely why Insurance By Heroes exists. We take the guesswork out of the equation. We present you with quotes and policy details from Reliastar (Voya) *alongside* comparable options from numerous other most reputable life insurance companies. We explain the pros and cons as they apply specifically *to you*, empowering you to make a truly informed decision based on value, features, and long-term reliability.

How Does Reliastar (Voya) Compare to Other Reputable Life Insurance Companies?

The US life insurance market is incredibly competitive, featuring hundreds of companies vying for your business. These companies differ in many ways:

• Company Structure: Some are stock companies (like Voya, owned by stockholders), while others are mutual companies (owned by policyholders). Mutual companies may potentially pay dividends to eligible policyholders, though these are not guaranteed.
• Size and Reach: Companies range from massive international corporations to smaller regional or niche players.
• Product Focus: Some companies excel at low-cost term insurance, others specialize in complex permanent policies, and some cater to specific markets (e.g., high-net-worth individuals, specific occupations, or certain health impairments).
• Underwriting Niches: Underwriting is how insurers assess risk (your health, lifestyle) to determine eligibility and pricing. Different companies have different “sweet spots.” One company might be more lenient with well-controlled diabetes, while another offers better rates for smokers trying to quit, and yet another provides favorable terms for pilots or scuba divers. Finding the company whose underwriting niche matches your profile is key to getting the best rates.
• Pricing Strategies: Rates for seemingly identical policies can vary significantly between even the most trusted life insurance companies based on their target markets and internal pricing models.
• Rider Availability and Cost: The options to customize your policy differ greatly.

Reliastar (Voya) fits into this landscape as a large, financially strong stock company offering a relatively standard product suite. It competes with other giants like Prudential, MetLife, Lincoln Financial, Pacific Life, John Hancock, New York Life, Northwestern Mutual, MassMutual, and many others considered among the most reliable life insurance companies.

How does it specifically compare? It depends entirely on *you*.

• For a healthy 30-year-old seeking basic term life, Voya might be competitive, but several other companies specializing in low-cost term might offer better rates.
• For someone with a specific health history, Voya’s underwriting might be standard, while another top-rated company has a program specifically designed for that condition, potentially offering a much better health class and premium.
• For someone interested in indexed universal life, Voya’s product features (caps, floors, participation rates, loan options) need to be compared meticulously against offerings from companies known for their IUL expertise.

This comparison requires access to quoting software that includes dozens of carriers and the expertise to understand the nuances between policies. This is the core function of Insurance By Heroes. We don’t just pull a quote from Reliastar (Voya); we pull quotes from across the spectrum of reputable life insurance companies. We analyze underwriting guidelines and policy details to find the provider that offers the most advantageous terms for your unique situation. Our commitment, born from a background of public service, is to find the most trustworthy and reliable solution tailored for you, regardless of which company provides it.

Why Choose an Independent Agent like Insurance By Heroes?

Understanding the difference between insurance agent types is crucial when seeking the best coverage.

• Captive Agents: Work for a single insurance company (like State Farm, Allstate, etc.). They can only sell products offered by that specific company. While they may know their company’s products well, they cannot offer alternatives or compare pricing with competitors.
• Independent Agents/Brokers: Work with multiple insurance companies. They are not employed by any single insurer and can therefore offer policies from a wide range of carriers.

Insurance By Heroes operates as an independent agency, and this offers significant advantages to you, the consumer:

1. Access to a Broader Market: We partner with dozens of the nation’s top trusted life insurance companies, including major names like Voya (Reliastar) and many others – large carriers, niche specialists, mutual companies, stock companies. This wide selection drastically increases the chances of finding the perfect policy at the best price.
2. Unbiased, Client-Focused Advice: Our loyalty is to you, not to an insurance company. Because we aren’t tied to selling one brand, we can provide objective recommendations based solely on your needs and best interests. Our goal is to find the most reliable life insurance solution for *you*.
3. Comparison Shopping Made Easy: We do the legwork for you. Instead of you contacting multiple companies for quotes (a time-consuming and confusing process), we use sophisticated tools to compare rates and policy features from numerous carriers simultaneously. We present the options clearly, explaining the pros and cons of each.
4. Tailored Solutions: We take the time to understand your specific situation – your family, finances, health, lifestyle, and goals. We then leverage our market access to find policies that truly fit, rather than trying to make a one-size-fits-all product work.
5. Expertise and Guidance: The world of life insurance can be complex. We explain the different types of policies, riders, and underwriting considerations in plain language. Our team, many with backgrounds in demanding public service roles, brings diligence and a commitment to clarity to help you make confident decisions.
6. Long-Term Relationship & Advocacy: Our service doesn’t end with the sale. We are here to answer questions, assist with policy service requests, and provide support throughout the life of your policy. If you need help, you have a dedicated point of contact who understands your situation.

Choosing Insurance By Heroes means partnering with professionals who understand the importance of reliability and service. Our founder’s background as a first responder and military spouse instills a deep appreciation for protecting families and planning for the unexpected. We bring this perspective to helping you secure trustworthy life insurance from the most stable life insurance companies, whether that ends up being Reliastar (Voya) or another highly-rated provider that better suits your needs.

Getting Reliastar Life Insurance Quotes (and Why Comparison is Key)

You might be able to get a life insurance quote directly from Voya Financial’s website or through one of their representatives. However, getting a single quote provides no context. You won’t know if the price is competitive or if the policy features are optimal for you compared to what else is available.

Life insurance quotes are highly personalized, based on factors like:

• Age: Younger applicants generally get lower rates.
• Gender: Rates often differ between men and women due to life expectancy statistics.
• Health: Your medical history, current conditions, height/weight ratio, and family health history are major factors.
• Lifestyle: Smoking, dangerous hobbies (e.g., aviation, scuba diving), driving record, and foreign travel can impact rates.
• Coverage Amount: The size of the death benefit you need.
• Policy Type and Term Length: Term vs. permanent, and the duration of term coverage.
• Riders: Adding optional riders will increase the premium.

Because of this personalization, a quote that looks good on the surface might not be the best you can qualify for. Another company among the most reliable life insurance companies might view your health profile more favorably or have a better rate class available for your specific circumstances.

The most effective way to see how Reliastar (Voya) truly stacks up is to compare it against the broader market through an independent agency. Insurance By Heroes makes this process seamless. When you request a quote from us, we don’t just check one company. We input your information (securely and confidentially) and instantly compare quotes from dozens of legit life insurance companies, including Voya/Reliastar where appropriate.

We then present you with the top options, explaining the differences in price, features, and company ratings. This allows you to see clearly whether Reliastar (Voya) is a competitive choice for *your specific profile* or if another reputable life insurance company offers a better value or a more suitable policy structure. Our goal is transparency and finding you the most reliable coverage at the best possible price.

Conclusion: Find Your Most Reliable Coverage with Insurance By Heroes

Reliastar Life Insurance Company, now operating under the Voya Financial umbrella, is a recognized name associated with a large, financially stable parent company. It is generally considered a reputable and legit life insurance provider, offering standard types of life insurance products.

However, determining if Reliastar (Voya) offers the “most reliable,” “most trusted,” or “safest” life insurance for *you* requires more than just looking at brand recognition or financial ratings. True reliability comes from finding a policy that matches your specific needs, health profile, and budget, offered by a financially sound company at a competitive price. This almost always involves comparing multiple options.

No single insurance company, including Reliastar (Voya), is the perfect fit for everyone. The life insurance market is vast, and companies have different strengths, weaknesses, underwriting niches, and pricing strategies. Relying on a single quote or company review means potentially missing out on better coverage or more affordable rates elsewhere.

This is where Insurance By Heroes provides invaluable service. As an independent agency founded by individuals with deep roots in public service and a commitment to protecting others, we put your interests first. We leverage our access to dozens of the most reputable, trustworthy, and financially stable life insurance companies across the country to find the coverage that truly fits your life.

We understand the importance of reliability and trust, especially when it comes to securing your family’s future. Let us handle the complexity of shopping the market, comparing policies, and translating the jargon. We’ll provide clear, unbiased advice to help you make an informed decision.

Ready to find the most reliable and trustworthy life insurance coverage tailored specifically for you? Don’t navigate the complex choices alone. Let the experienced, service-driven team at Insurance By Heroes compare quotes from Reliastar (Voya) and dozens of other top-rated carriers on your behalf. Secure peace of mind knowing you have the right protection at the best possible value.

Fill out our simple quote form on this page right now to get started. It takes just a minute, and it’s the first step toward securing your family’s future with confidence.