Best Indexed Universal Life Insurance With Chronic Illness or Long-Term Care Riders

Research Snapshot

• Topic: Indexed universal life insurance with chronic-illness, long-term-care, or similar living-benefit riders.
• Target buyer: A consumer who wants permanent indexed universal life coverage, cash-value potential, a financially established insurer, and rider provisions that may provide meaningful benefits if qualifying health events occur.
• Platforms included (7): openai, anthropic, deepseek, grok, perplexity, kimi, google.
• Research date: 2026-09-20 (authoritative run date). Platform-reported dates ranged from 2026-01-14 to 2026-09-21 and are provenance metadata only.
• Unique entities named: 23.
• Qualifying entities: 10.
• Eligibility rule: Named by at least two platforms during ranking discovery.
• Ranking authority: The supplied final ranking table. Order is based on platform mentions, then average listed rank, then best listed rank.
• Method: One standardized prompt sent once to each included platform. Platform mentions count only ranking-discovery mentions, not the number of platforms that later completed a fit assessment.

The Consensus Ranking

Questions This Section Answers

• What are the best indexed universal life insurance carriers for chronic illness or long-term care riders in 2026?
• Which IUL carriers with living-benefit riders were named by the most AI platforms?

Which Option Is Best for Which Version of the Buyer Need?

Questions This Section Answers

• Which IUL carrier should a buyer choose if they want cash-indemnity long-term care benefits that do not require receipts?
• Which carrier is best for a buyer who wants a reimbursement-based LTC rider with a built-in chronic-illness fallback?
• Which IUL with living benefits is best for a buyer who wants a purpose-built hybrid design with fixed premiums?

1. Nationwide

Questions This Section Answers

• Is Nationwide worth it for indexed universal life insurance with chronic illness or long-term care riders, and what are its main drawbacks?
• Which Nationwide IUL rider pays cash indemnity without requiring receipts after claim approval?

Nationwide is the consensus leader for this use case, named by 6 of 7 platforms at an average listed position of 2.83 and a best position of 1. Platforms describe its Indexed UL Accumulator III as a current accumulation-focused IUL marketed with indexed-interest strategies, a cash-indemnity LTC rider, and living-access benefits for chronic, critical, and terminal illness ^[1]. The Long-Term Care Rider II accelerates a portion of the death benefit and, according to company materials, pays monthly cash benefits without requiring receipts or reimbursement documentation once the 90-day elimination period is met and chronic illness is certified ^[2]. Nationwide also markets a built-in Chronic Illness Benefit that allows acceleration of up to 20% of the death benefit, though it uses a discounted acceleration method ^[4].

Why it ranked here. Nationwide received the most platform mentions of any carrier and was the only entity named by six platforms. It was ranked first by google, second by grok and kimi, third by deepseek, fourth by openai, and fifth by anthropic. Its average listed position of 2.83 is slightly worse than Pacific Life's 2.80, but its higher mention count places it first under the ranking rule.

Best suited for. Consumers prioritizing permanent death-benefit protection plus potential indexed cash-value accumulation; consumers who value cash-indemnity LTC benefits that generally do not require submitting receipts after claim approval; and applicants wanting a financially strong national carrier with access to both chronic-illness and LTC-oriented benefit designs.

Main strengths for the use case. The cash-indemnity LTC design may provide more spending flexibility than reimbursement-only coverage, and company materials state that benefits can pay for home care, assisted living, nursing home care, family members, or unlicensed caregivers ^[5].

2. Pacific Life

Questions This Section Answers

• Is Pacific Life or Nationwide better for indexed universal life with chronic illness riders when a choice of rider structures matters?
• What should a buyer check before choosing Pacific Life's Premier Chronic Illness Rider or Premier LTC Rider?

Pacific Life ranks second, named by 5 of 7 platforms at an average listed position of 2.80 — the best average in the study — with a best position of 1. Its relevant product is Pacific Horizon IUL 2, which platforms describe as offering three living-benefit rider options: Premier Living Benefits Rider 2 (no monthly charge; requires illness to be permanent), Premier Chronic Illness Rider (monthly charge; does not require permanence), and Premier LTC Rider (actual long-term care insurance with monthly indemnity and additional underwriting) ^[6]. The Premier LTC Rider offers a 2% or 4% maximum monthly benefit option and requires eligibility and underwriting approval ^[9].

Why it ranked here. Pacific Life was named by five platforms and ranked first by deepseek, third by kimi, openai, and perplexity, and fourth by google. Its average listed position of 2.80 is marginally better than Nationwide's 2.83, but its lower mention count places it second under the ranking rule.

Best suited for. Consumers prioritizing permanent death-benefit coverage plus optional living benefits; buyers comfortable comparing rider language, policy illustrations, charges, caps, participation rates, and state-specific forms; and applicants who may qualify for Pacific Life's underwriting and want a choice between chronic-illness and qualified long-term-care benefit structures.

Main strengths for the use case. Pacific Life publicly identifies both chronic-illness and long-term-care rider pathways for the relevant IUL product. The Premier LTC Rider includes stated 2% or 4% maximum monthly-benefit options ^[9]. Both Horizon IUL 2 and Trident IUL include an Age 90 No-Lapse Guarantee Rider automatically at no additional cost for eligible policies (issue age up to 79) ^[10].

3. Mutual of Omaha

Questions This Section Answers

• Is Mutual of Omaha worth it for IUL with a long-term care rider if the buyer needs reimbursement-based benefits and a no-cost chronic illness fallback?
• Which Mutual of Omaha IUL rider has no upfront cost, and which one charges a recurring monthly premium?

Mutual of Omaha ranks third, named by 5 of 7 platforms at an average listed position of 5.00 and a best position of 1. Its relevant products are Income Advantage IUL and Life Protection Advantage IUL, both issued by United of Omaha Life Insurance Company, with an optional Long-Term Care Rider and a built-in Chronic Illness Rider ^[11]. The LTC Rider provides accelerated death benefits reimbursing covered expenses for nursing-home, assisted-living, home-health, and adult-day-care services, with a one-time 90-calendar-day elimination period ^[13]. The Chronic Illness Rider is built into qualifying policies at no additional cost and without additional underwriting ^[15].

Why it ranked here. Mutual of Omaha was named by five platforms and ranked first by grok, second by anthropic, sixth by google, seventh by perplexity, and ninth by deepseek. Its average listed position of 5.00 reflects wide dispersion across platforms, but its mention count ties it with Pacific Life for second.

Best suited for. Buyers who want permanent life insurance, indexed interest-crediting potential, and an LTC reimbursement rider in one policy; applicants who value a carrier with established financial-strength ratings and dedicated LTC experience; and buyers who can accept that LTC benefits accelerate and reduce the death benefit rather than provide separate unlimited LTC coverage.

Main strengths for the use case. The dual-rider structure lets buyers choose between a no-cost built-in chronic-illness option and a separately purchased LTC rider with higher benefit maximums.

4. John Hancock

Questions This Section Answers

• Is John Hancock LifeCare worth it for a buyer who wants one permanent policy providing both a death benefit and long-term care benefits?
• Which John Hancock IUL riders cannot be combined on the same policy?

John Hancock ranks fourth, named by 4 of 7 platforms at an average listed position of 2.75 — the second-best average in the study — with a best position of 1. Its relevant product is LifeCare, a hybrid indexed universal life policy with long-term-care benefits, offering a LifeCare Long-Term Care Rider and a LifeCare Long-Term Care Inflation Rider ^[17]. LifeCare offers 2-year, 4-year, or 6-year LTC benefit periods and an optional 5% compound annual inflation rider ^[18]. The product also supports an Accelerated Death Benefit for Chronic Illness rider on Protection IUL and Accumulation IUL, with a maximum monthly benefit of $30,000 or the IRS per diem limit, whichever is lower ^[20].

Why it ranked here. John Hancock was named by four platforms and ranked first by anthropic, second by google, and fourth by deepseek and kimi. Its average listed position of 2.75 is the second-best in the study, but its lower mention count places it fourth under the ranking rule.

Best suited for. Consumers wanting one permanent policy intended to provide both a death benefit and long-term-care benefits; buyers who value a fixed-premium hybrid IUL LTC design and can accept that LTC benefits accelerate or may reduce the death benefit; and consumers interested in chronic-illness benefits with potentially unrestricted use of accelerated proceeds, subject to rider terms.

Main strengths for the use case. LifeCare directly targets the combined life-insurance/LTC use case rather than merely adding a generic living-benefit rider. The buyer can choose standard LTC benefits or a higher-premium 5% compound inflation option ^[17]. John Hancock also offers a separate chronic-illness rider design with no-receipts language in its consumer material ^[21]. LifeCare premiums are contractually fixed and guaranteed never to increase on the base product structure ^[22].

5. Protective Life

Questions This Section Answers

• Is Protective Life worth it for IUL with a chronic illness rider now that Indexed Choice UL closed to new sales?
• Which Protective Life rider pays indemnity benefits without requiring bills or receipts?

Protective Life ranks fifth, named by 4 of 7 platforms at an average listed position of 5.50 and a best position of 1. Its relevant product is Protective Indexed Choice UL paired with the optional ExtendCare chronic-illness rider ^[23]. ExtendCare advances part of the policy death benefit when the insured is certified as chronically ill, with direct monthly payments, no requirement to submit bills or receipts, and preservation of unused death benefit for beneficiaries ^[24]. The rider operates on an indemnity model, meaning benefits are paid directly to the policyowner without requiring monthly receipts or medical bill submissions ^[25].

Why it ranked here. Protective Life was named by four platforms and ranked first by openai, fourth by grok, eighth by kimi, and ninth by anthropic. Its average listed position of 5.50 reflects significant platform disagreement about the product's current availability.

Best suited for. Consumers wanting permanent life insurance plus optional access to part of the death benefit for qualifying chronic illness; buyers who value cash-value accumulation potential and downside protection in the indexed account; and applicants who prefer a financially strong insurer and can sustain the illustrated premiums and policy charges.

Main strengths for the use case. ExtendCare may provide flexible cash benefits without requiring proof of specific care expenses ^[24]. The rider qualifies as an accelerated death benefit under IRC Section 101(g) and is intended for tax-favorable treatment ^[26]. Protective reports, as of June 30, 2026, insurer financial-strength ratings for Protective Life Insurance Company of A+ from A.M. Best, AA- from S&P Global Ratings, AA- from Fitch, and Aa3 from Moody's ^[27]. The product provides guaranteed death benefit protection to age 90 ^[28]. With the third consecutive annual chronic illness certification, all policy premiums and policy expenses are permanently waived ^[29]. .

6. National Life Group

Questions This Section Answers

• Is National Life Group worth it for IUL with a chronic care rider that accelerates the full death benefit without discounting?
• Which National Life Group rider provides non-discounted chronic-care benefits up to $3 million, and where is it unavailable?

National Life Group ranks sixth, named by 2 of 7 platforms at an average listed position of 2.50 — the best average in the study — with a best position of 2. Its relevant product is FlexLife Indexed Universal Life, issued by Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, with the optional Premium Chronic Care Rider ^[30]. The rider allows access to the full death benefit during the insured's lifetime, up to $3 million, with no waiting period, and the payout is generally selected at issue at 2% or 4% monthly, subject to the IRS per-diem limit and policy terms ^[30]. Unlike discounted accelerated-benefit chronic illness riders, the Premium Chronic Care Rider is described as dollar-for-dollar and without discounting ^[32].

Why it ranked here. National Life Group was named by only two platforms (google and perplexity) but received the best average listed position in the study at 2.50, ranked second by perplexity and third by google. Its low mention count places it sixth under the ranking rule.

Best suited for. Consumers prioritizing chronic-illness access to life-insurance benefits within an IUL design; buyers comfortable with non-guaranteed indexed interest crediting, ongoing policy charges, and agent-mediated illustration and underwriting; and applicants seeking coverage issued by an insurer with a current AM Best A+ Superior rating.

Main strengths for the use case. The Premium Chronic Care Rider provides full death benefit access (not discounted) up to $3 million upon qualifying chronic illness diagnosis ^[33]. All FlexLife IUL policies include standard Accelerated Benefits Riders at no additional cost, covering terminal illness, chronic illness, critical illness, and critical injury ^[34]. AM Best affirmed an A+ Superior financial-strength rating with a stable outlook for National Life Insurance Company and Life Insurance Company of the Southwest in 2026 ^[35].

7. Equitable Life and Casualty Insurance Company

Questions This Section Answers

• Is Equitable Life and Casualty Insurance Company worth it for IUL with a long-term care services rider, and what are its main drawbacks?
• Which Equitable IUL rider offers selectable 1%, 2%, or 3% monthly benefit percentages?

Equitable Life and Casualty Insurance Company ranks seventh, named by 2 of 7 platforms at an average listed position of 3.00 and a best position of 1. Its relevant product is BrightLife Grow indexed universal life insurance with the Long-Term Care Services℠ Rider ^[37]. The rider provides monthly benefits through acceleration of policy death benefits, with Death Benefit Option A permitting a selected acceleration percentage of 20% to 100% ^[38]. The buyer can select a monthly benefit percentage of 1%, 2%, or 3%, and the company states that no receipts are required for indemnity claims and that funds may be used at the client's discretion ^[38]. Equitable states that the policy cannot lapse while on an LTCSR claim until the benefit amount is exhausted, and rider charges are not collected while the company is paying a valid claim ^[37].

Why it ranked here. Equitable was named by only two platforms (google and perplexity) but received an average listed position of 3.00, ranked first by perplexity and fifth by google. Its low mention count places it seventh under the ranking rule.

Best suited for. A consumer who wants permanent indexed universal life insurance and values a built-in living-benefit option more than a separate standalone LTC policy; applicants who meet the rider's underwriting requirements and want potential indemnity-style monthly benefits for qualifying chronic illness or long-term-care needs; and buyers who want unused LTCSR capacity to remain available as life insurance benefits for beneficiaries.

Main strengths for the use case. The LTCSR offers 1%, 2%, or 3% monthly benefit selections and an indemnity-style feature without receipts according to company materials ^[38]. Unused LTC capacity remains payable as life insurance benefits, subject to contract terms ^[37].

8. Prudential

Questions This Section Answers

• Is Prudential worth it for IUL with a chronic illness accelerated death benefit rider, and what are its main drawbacks?
• Which Prudential rider accelerates up to 100% of the death benefit for chronic or terminal illness?

Prudential ranks eighth, named by 2 of 7 platforms at an average listed position of 5.50 and a best position of 5. Its relevant product is PruLife Founders Plus Indexed Universal Life with the optional BenefitAccess Rider ^[39]. BenefitAccess can accelerate up to 100% of the policy death benefit when the insured is certified as chronically or terminally ill and satisfies the rider terms ^[40]. Prudential states that BenefitAccess is an accelerated death-benefit rider, is not long-term-care insurance, and is not intended to replace LTC insurance ^[41]. The rider is available for ages 20–80 with a minimum of $100,000 in basic insurance and a maximum aggregate of $5,000,000 ^[42].

Why it ranked here. Prudential was named by only two platforms (deepseek and grok) and ranked fifth by grok and sixth by deepseek. Its average listed position of 5.50 places it eighth under the ranking rule.

Best suited for. Consumers seeking permanent life insurance with indexed interest-crediting options and an optional chronic- or terminal-illness benefit; applicants who value a strong insurer financial-strength profile and can sustain flexible-premium IUL funding; and buyers who understand that BenefitAccess accelerates the death benefit rather than providing a separate LTC pool.

Main strengths for the use case. BenefitAccess can accelerate up to 100% of the death benefit, and Prudential materials say rider proceeds can be used without restrictions and may cover expenses unrelated to care, such as household costs or mortgage payments, once the rider is triggered ^[43]. Prudential's disclosed ratings as of August 4, 2026 were A+ from A.M. Best, AA- from S&P, Aa3 from Moody's, and AA- from Fitch for The Prudential Insurance Company of America and PRUCO Life Insurance Company ^[45].

9. Symetra

Questions This Section Answers

• Is Symetra worth it for IUL with a chronic illness rider that offers selectable 50% or 100% death-benefit acceleration?
• What should a buyer check before choosing Symetra Protector IUL's Chronic Care Advantage Rider?

Symetra ranks ninth, named by 2 of 7 platforms at an average listed position of 7.50 and a best position of 6. Its relevant product is Symetra Protector IUL with the optional Accelerated Death Benefit for Chronic Care Advantage Rider ^[46]. Protector IUL includes an Accelerated Death Benefit for Chronic Illness Rider and offers the optional Chronic Care Advantage Rider, which allows selection of either 50% or 100% death-benefit acceleration and a 2% or 4% monthly payout, subject to the policy and rider terms ^[46]. The chronic-illness provisions use qualifying health conditions rather than a general-purpose cash-value withdrawal feature, with the trigger described as inability to perform at least two of six activities of daily living for at least 90 days or severe cognitive impairment requiring substantial supervision ^[46].

Why it ranked here. Symetra was named by only two platforms (kimi and perplexity) and ranked sixth by kimi and ninth by perplexity. Its average listed position of 7.50 places it ninth under the ranking rule.

Best suited for. Consumers prioritizing permanent death-benefit protection with index-linked cash-value potential and living-benefit access; applicants who qualify for the optional Chronic Care Advantage Rider and want a selectable 50% or 100% death-benefit acceleration with monthly payouts; and consumers who value an insurer with an A (Excellent) A.M. Best financial-strength rating.

Main strengths for the use case. Protector IUL is the closest match to the requested IUL use case, combining permanent life insurance, index-linked interest options, lapse-protection features, and chronic-illness living-benefit options ^[46]. The optional Chronic Care Advantage Rider offers a comparatively clear benefit-election framework: 50% or 100% acceleration and 2% or 4% monthly payout ^[46]. A.M. Best affirmed Symetra Life Insurance Company's A (Excellent) financial-strength rating with a stable outlook on May 29, 2026 ^[47].

10. Brighthouse Financial

Questions This Section Answers

• Is Brighthouse Financial SmartCare worth it for a hybrid IUL with long-term care benefits, and what are its main drawbacks?
• Which Brighthouse SmartCare option provides cash-indemnity LTC benefits without receipts?

Brighthouse Financial ranks tenth, named by 2 of 7 platforms at an average listed position of 7.50 and a best position of 7. Its relevant product is Brighthouse SmartCare, an indexed universal life insurance policy with long-term-care benefits provided through riders ^[48]. The product provides an LTC benefit pool through riders, with benefits generally requiring the insured to be chronically ill under applicable tax-law criteria and receiving covered qualified long-term-care services under a physician-prescribed plan of care ^[48]. Brighthouse materials state that eligible policyholders may access available benefit dollars without receipts or tracked expenses under the described benefit structure ^[48]. One platform described the LTC portion as a cash-indemnity plan ^[49].

Why it ranked here. Brighthouse Financial was named by only two platforms (kimi and perplexity) and ranked seventh by kimi and eighth by perplexity. Its average listed position of 7.50 places it tenth under the ranking rule.

Best suited for. Consumers prioritizing a hybrid permanent life/LTC design rather than stand-alone LTC insurance; buyers who value a guaranteed death benefit if LTC benefits are never used, subject to premium and policy-in-force requirements; and consumers comfortable purchasing through a licensed financial professional and reviewing an individualized illustration.

Main strengths for the use case. SmartCare is specifically an IUL/LTC hybrid rather than a conventional IUL without living-benefit riders ^[48]. The design may retain death-benefit value for beneficiaries if LTC benefits are not used, subject to contract terms ^[48]. As of July 2024, SmartCare offers four LTC growth paths: indexed (linked to market indices with caps and floor), level (no growth), fixed 3% compound, and fixed 5% compound ^[50]. Two no-additional-charge return-of-premium riders were added in July 2024 ^[51]. Once LTC benefits start, remaining required premium payments are waived ^[52].

What the Cross-Platform Study Reveals About This Market

Questions This Section Answers

• What do AI platforms consistently say about the IUL market for chronic illness and long-term care riders?
• Which IUL carriers with living-benefit riders appear across the most AI platform responses?

The cross-platform study reveals a market where a small group of carriers dominates AI platform recommendations, but where the depth and reliability of publicly available rider information varies enormously. Nationwide, Pacific Life, and Mutual of Omaha were named by five or more platforms, while the remaining seven qualifying carriers were named by only two to four platforms each. This concentration suggests that AI platforms converge on carriers with substantial public marketing materials, agent-facing documentation, and press coverage rather than on carriers with the best-documented rider terms.

A second pattern is the persistent gap between chronic-illness riders and true long-term-care riders. Most carriers in this study offer accelerated death benefit riders that reduce the policy death benefit when used, rather than standalone LTC insurance with a separate benefit pool.

Where the AI Platforms Agreed

Questions This Section Answers

• Which IUL carriers with chronic illness riders did all AI platforms agree on?
• What do AI platforms agree are the main limitations of IUL living-benefit riders?

Platforms agreed on several material points. First, they agreed that Nationwide, Pacific Life, and Mutual of Omaha are the most frequently recommended carriers for this use case, with all three named by at least five platforms. Second, they agreed that living-benefit riders generally accelerate the death benefit rather than providing a separate LTC pool, and that using these benefits reduces the amount available to beneficiaries. Third, they agreed that rider availability, terms, and costs vary by state and underwriting, and that buyers must verify state-specific availability before purchase. Fourth, they agreed that no carrier publishes a standardized consumer premium schedule for these products, making individualized illustrations necessary. Fifth, they agreed that IUL cash-value outcomes are not guaranteed and depend on credited interest, caps, participation rates, charges, premium funding, and policy management. .

Where the AI Platforms Disagreed

Questions This Section Answers

• Where did AI platforms disagree about the best IUL carriers for chronic illness or long-term care riders?
• Which IUL carriers received conflicting fit ratings across AI platforms?

Platforms disagreed on several material points. First, fit ratings varied widely for the same carrier. Nationwide received "good," "strong," and "mixed" ratings across different platforms. Pacific Life received "good," "strong," and "uncertain" ratings. Protective Life received "good," "mixed," and "uncertain" ratings. This variation reflects differences in how much public documentation each platform was able to retrieve and how strictly each platform applied its fit criteria.

Second, platforms disagreed on the current availability of specific products. Protective Life's Indexed Choice UL was described by anthropic and grok as discontinued as of March 9, 2026, while openai and perplexity described it as a credible candidate without emphasizing the closure. This is a material disagreement that affects whether the product should be considered at all.

Third, platforms disagreed on rider payment structures.

How Buyers Should Choose

Questions This Section Answers

• What should a buyer check before choosing an IUL carrier for chronic illness or long-term care riders?
• Which IUL carrier should a buyer choose if they need a rider available in California or New York?

Buyers should start by confirming which riders are actually available in their state. California and New York have the most restrictions, with multiple carriers reporting that their chronic-illness or LTC riders are unavailable or modified in those states. Buyers in those states should verify availability before investing time in a carrier comparison.

Second, buyers should determine whether they want a chronic-illness rider, a long-term-care rider, or both. These are distinct benefit designs with different qualification standards, payment structures, and tax treatments. Chronic-illness riders typically accelerate the death benefit based on inability to perform activities of daily living or cognitive impairment, while LTC riders may offer reimbursement or indemnity benefits for qualified long-term-care services. Some carriers make these riders mutually exclusive. .

Methodology

This study used one standardized prompt sent once to each of 7 included AI platforms: openai, anthropic, deepseek, grok, perplexity, kimi, and google. The prompt asked which life insurance carriers would be recommended for a consumer who wants indexed universal life insurance with optional chronic-illness, long-term-care, or similar living-benefit riders, permanent coverage, cash-value potential, a financially established insurer, and rider provisions that may provide meaningful benefits if qualifying health events occur.

The ranking is based on platform mentions during ranking discovery, then average listed rank, then best listed rank. Platform mentions count only platforms that named the entity during ranking discovery, not the number of platforms that later completed a fit assessment. The final ranking table is the sole authority for rank, platform mentions, platform share, average rank, and best rank.

Entities qualified for the final ranking if they were named by at least two platforms. Of 23 unique entities named, 10 qualified. The study used the authoritative run research date of 2026-09-20.

Methodology Limitations

Several limitations affect the interpretation of this study. First, the study used one standardized prompt sent once to each platform. AI answers can vary by date, wording, location, account state, model, interface, browsing configuration, and the sources retrieved. A single prompt cannot capture the full range of possible AI responses.

Second, platform-reported research dates differ from the authoritative run date. Deepseek reported dates ranging from 2026-01-14 to 2026-06-11 across entity bundles, while other platforms reported dates closer to the run date. These discrepancies mean that some platform responses may reflect older product information.

Third, company-owned citations materially outnumber independent citations. Across all entity bundles, owned sources outnumbered independent sources by roughly two to one. This means that most product, rider, and pricing claims are company-reported rather than independently verified.

Fourth, not all platforms completed a fit assessment for every entity. Equitable Life and Casualty Insurance Company had 5 of 7 platforms return a usable fit assessment. Prudential had 6 of 7. Symetra had 6 of 7. Brighthouse Financial had 6 of 7.

Final Verdict

Nationwide is the consensus leader for indexed universal life insurance with chronic-illness or long-term-care riders, named by 6 of 7 platforms and ranked first under the study's ranking rule. Its cash-indemnity Long-Term Care Rider II, built-in chronic-illness acceleration, and strong reported financial-strength ratings make it a credible starting point for buyers who want permanent coverage with meaningful living-benefit access.

Pacific Life and Mutual of Omaha are the strongest alternatives for distinct buyer needs. Pacific Life offers the best average listed position in the study and a choice between chronic-illness and qualified LTC rider structures, but faces a 2026 illustration settlement and California rider restrictions. Mutual of Omaha offers a dual-rider structure with a no-cost chronic-illness option and a reimbursement-based LTC rider with level charges, but its riders are mutually exclusive and the LTC Rider is unavailable in California.

John Hancock ranks fourth and is the most frequently described as a purpose-built hybrid IUL/LTC design, with fixed premiums and multiple benefit-period options, but it is not Partnership Qualified and is unavailable in California and New York.