Can I Get Life Insurance After 65?

Turning 65 doesn’t have to mean the end of your life cover options. While many South African insurers close their doors to new applicants once they hit their mid-sixties, the honest answer to “can I get life insurance after 65?” is: it depends on the insurer – and at AllLife, there is a place for you.

Below, we break down exactly which AllLife products are available at, before, and after age 65, so you can see where you fit and what to expect.

The ages shown by product indicate the maximum entry age for that specific product. Once a policy has been issued, cover generally continues for the life of the insured, provided premiums are paid, and the policy remains in force in accordance with its terms and conditions.

Why age 65 is a turning point for life insurance

Age 65 is a common cut-off in the life insurance industry because it typically marks retirement, and insurers see it as the point where mortality risk starts to climb more steeply. This is true not just in South Africa but globally. Many insurers narrow their offering, raise premiums, or stop accepting new applicants altogether once you’re past this age.

That said, “common” doesn’t mean “universal.” Every insurer sets its own age rules, and it pays to know exactly where you stand before you assume you’re no longer insurable.

AllLife’s Standard Life Insurance (Prestige): Get life cover even at 75 years old

If you’re approaching or have just passed 65, AllLife’s standard life insurance product is worth a close look. It’s built for South Africans in general good health and offers:

• Life cover for people aged 18 to 75 — so if you’re 65, 68, or even 74, you can still apply
• Life cover for up to R10 million
• Cover commences in accordance with the policy terms once the first premium has been received
• Cover that lasts for the rest of your life, if premiums are kept up to date
• An optional Disability Cover add-on, available up to age 65

In other words, at AllLife, 65 years of age isn’t a wall – you can apply for life cover, and with AllLife there are additional insurance benefits for you which come with your life insurance policy:

• Terminal illness cover – claim up to 50% of your life cover if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness
• A cash payout for helping to cover funeral costs, relieving your loved ones from some financial burden

AllLife also provides you with emergency medical services. You can read about all the benefits and services we offer as part of our standard life insurance policy here. 

Diabetes Life Insurance (Optimum): Qualify for life cover up to the age of 74 years

If you are living with diabetes and want to leave a legacy for your family, this product may be a suitable option. 

Key details of this product:

• Available to South Africans aged 18 to 74
• Up to R10 million life cover
• Immediate cash payout to help cover funeral costs
• Claim 50% of your life cover if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness

AllLife has arranged for additional medical services you and your family can use while you are living, to help you in times of need:

• Private ambulance services to get you to the nearest hospital when seconds count
• A 24/7 medical helpline, when you need professional medical advice 
• Reminders when to go for your health check-ups

Why should your life insurance not add value while you are living? It is all explained on our diabetes life insurance page.

HIV Life Insurance (Advantage Life): Take out life cover up to the age of 59 years. 

Living with HIV has its challenges, but taking ARVs, caring for yourself by living a healthy lifestyle and going for regular screenings could contribute to living a long and meaningful life with your loved ones. It is also reassuring to know that you could qualify for life cover that will protect your family financially when you are no longer there, with AllLife’s HIV life insurance.

Key details of this product:

• Available to South Africans aged 18 to 59
• Up to R10 million life cover
• Immediate cash payout to help cover funeral costs
• Claim 50% of your life cover if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness

Get these medical services you and your immediate family can use right now. 

• Private ambulance services to get you to the nearest hospital when seconds count
• A 24/7 medical helpline, when you need professional medical advice
• Reminders when to go for your check-ups

With AllLife you can take out HIV life cover until the age of 59 years old, but the sooner you have cover in place, the sooner you’ll have peace of mind knowing your family is taken care of financially. Here are all the details you need to know about HIV life insurance.

Chronic Life Plan: Apply now before you are 65 years old

If you’ve been declined life cover in the past because of a health condition such as cancer, a heart condition, hypertension or high BMI, AllLife’s Chronic Life Plan was created with you in mind.

Key details of this product:

• Available to South Africans aged 18 to 65
• No medical tests required to qualify
• Up to R3 million life cover
• Cover begins from the day your first premium is paid.
• Designed specifically for people living with chronic conditions 

So, if you’re under 65 and have struggled to get life insurance because of a chronic condition, this product exists to close that gap. 

AllLife Products: A Quick Comparison

Coverage lasts your entire life as long as you keep paying the monthly premiums.

Does getting older really make life cover harder to find?

It’s a fair concern, and international research on the topic backs up why insurers treat age as such a major factor. Not just in South Africa, but internationally, premiums for older applicants are generally higher because the likelihood of a claim increases with age.

This is standard practice by insurers everywhere, not just in South Africa. 

Key takeaway

There’s no single, universal age at which life insurance becomes unavailable. It genuinely comes down to the type of cover and the ages that the insurer stipulates, which is why it is worth looking into the AllLife life insurance options. 

What to Do If You’re Nearing or Past 65

1. Decide which product fits your current health status. If you’re still under the age of 65, both AllLife’s standard and diabetes life insurance and our Chronic Life Plan may be open to you.
2. Be upfront about your health. If you have a chronic condition, Chronic Life Plan was designed to make cover accessible without medical tests.
3. Apply sooner rather than later. Life cover premiums typically increase with age, so locking in life cover now usually means a lower monthly premium than waiting a few more years.
4. Get a quote. A quick call with AllLife will confirm which product suits your age, health, and cover needs. Just complete the form and an AllLife consultant will call you during business hours.

Can you get life insurance after 65 with AllLife?

With AllLife, yes, if you are in good health, you can take out standard life insurance or if you are living with diabetes, you can take out diabetes life insurance. If you suffer from any chronic condition, their Chronic Life Plan provides up to R3 million in life cover, but you have to apply if you are 65 years old or younger. 

Get a quote today.

Sources

1. MoneyGeek: Webpage,“Is There an Age Limit on Life Insurance?“ Accessed July 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Readers should consider their individual financial needs and circumstances before taking out any financial product.

AllLife (Pty) Ltd is an Authorised Financial Services Provider, FSP No 4946. Products insured by Old Mutual Alternative Risk Transfer Limited (OMART Life).