Open Care Life Insurance, marketed as “Open Care Seniors,” is a legitimate insurance marketing agency, not an insurance company. It is operated by TZ Insurance Solutions and connects seniors with final expense (burial) policies that are actually underwritten by real carriers like Mutual of Omaha or Transamerica. So it is legit, but it is a middleman, and its rates are not automatically the cheapest. The advertised “$7.49 a month” is a teaser for tiny coverage; a realistic $10,000 policy runs about $25 to $75 a month depending on your age and health. It offers two plan types, and the guaranteed-acceptance one carries a two-year waiting period, which is the source of most confusion. Before you call, know which carrier will hold your policy, and compare at least two others.
Open Care Life Insurance: key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A marketing agency, not an insurer | ChoiceMutual |
| Operated by | TZ Insurance Solutions LLC | Insure Final Expense |
| Actual underwriters | Carriers like Mutual of Omaha, Transamerica | PinnacleQuote |
| Products | Final expense, guaranteed issue, some term life | ChoiceMutual |
| Advertised price | “$7.49/month” is a teaser, not typical | Multiple |
| Realistic cost | About $25–$75/month for a $10,000 policy | Insure Final Expense |
| Guaranteed issue | Two-year waiting period (graded benefit) | PinnacleQuote |
| Most complaints | Marketing mail and calls, not claim denials | Insure Final Expense |
The mailer in your mailbox
If you are a senior between about 55 and 85, you have almost certainly seen an Open Care ad. It might be a red-and-white envelope promising coverage from $7.49 a month, or a TV spot urging you to call before a deadline. Those ads work, which is why you are here checking whether the company is real.
Here is the one fact that clears up most of the confusion: Open Care is not the company that will actually insure you. It is a marketing agency that sells you a policy from another insurer. That single distinction explains the pricing, the complaints, and the fine print. Once you understand it, the rest of this review is straightforward.
What is Open Care Life Insurance, and who owns it?
Open Care is a brand, not an insurer, and knowing who is really behind it matters. Getting this straight protects you from surprises later.
Open Care, often called “Open Care Seniors” or the “Open Care Senior Plan,” is a licensed insurance marketing agency. It is operated by TZ Insurance Solutions LLC and based in Florida. It is best known for heavy TV and direct-mail advertising aimed at seniors. Crucially, Open Care does not underwrite, price, or pay claims on any policy. Instead, it acts as a middleman. It connects you with a final expense policy issued by a real carrier, such as Mutual of Omaha, Transamerica, or Foresters. Think of Open Care as a travel agent and the carrier as the airline. Your ticket, the policy, is really with the airline. One honest criticism is that Open Care does not clearly disclose which carriers it uses. So you often do not learn who your actual insurer is until you are on the phone with an agent.
Is Open Care Life Insurance legit?
Yes, with an important caveat. Open Care is a real, licensed agency, not a scam, but “legitimate” is not the same as “the best value for you.”
The policies Open Care sells are genuine and are backed by established insurers, so your coverage is real. What you will not find is a rating for Open Care itself. Because it is a marketer rather than an insurer, it has no AM Best financial-strength rating. It is also not accredited by the Better Business Bureau under that name, with little verified consumer feedback tied directly to it. That absence is not proof of wrongdoing. But it does mean you should judge the strength of the carrier behind your policy, not the Open Care brand. The practical takeaway: ask which carrier will underwrite you, then check that carrier’s AM Best rating and complaint record. That is where the real accountability lives.
How Open Care works: the two plan types
Open Care’s final expense coverage comes in two flavors, and the difference between them is the most important thing to understand before you buy. One pays from day one; one makes you wait.
The first is a simplified issue plan. It asks health questions but requires no medical exam. If you are approved, your full coverage begins immediately, on day one. The second is a guaranteed issue, or guaranteed acceptance, plan. It asks no health questions and accepts virtually everyone, which sounds ideal. But it comes with a two-year waiting period for natural death. Guaranteed issue also costs roughly 20% to 30% more than a medically underwritten plan. Here is the key point that trips people up. Many seniors default to guaranteed acceptance because the ad emphasizes “no health questions.” Yet they could often qualify for a simplified issue plan with day-one coverage at a lower price. Do not assume you need guaranteed issue.
How much does Open Care cost per month?
The advertised price and the real price are two different things, so let us separate them. The “$7.49 a month” you see in ads is technically accurate but deeply misleading.
That figure typically reflects only about $2,000 in coverage for a healthy, non-smoking 50-year-old woman. That is far less than most people need. Realistically, a $10,000 final expense policy costs about $25 to $75 a month for someone in their 60s or 70s. A 65-year-old non-smoking woman might pay around $52 to $68 a month for a $10,000 simplified issue policy. Your exact rate depends on your age, gender, smoking status, health, and coverage amount. On competitiveness, independent analysis puts Open Care’s rates in the middle of the pack. They often fall within about 5% to 12% of buying directly from Mutual of Omaha or Transamerica. That margin is essentially the cost of its matchmaking. A much larger $100,000 whole life policy is not final expense at all. Expect a far higher premium, often several hundred dollars a month for a senior, since whole life at that size is expensive.
“Give all your money back”: the return-of-premium truth
One of the most searched questions is whether senior life insurance really gives all your money back. The honest answer involves the guaranteed-issue waiting period, and it is not the savings gimmick the phrase suggests.
With a guaranteed issue policy, if the insured dies of natural causes during the first two years, the carrier does not pay the full death benefit. Instead, it refunds all premiums paid plus interest, typically around 10%. Death from an accident is usually covered fully from day one. After the two-year period ends, the full face amount is payable for any cause. This “return of premium plus interest” is a standard contractual feature of guaranteed-issue coverage. It is called a graded or modified benefit, and it is not fraud. It is, however, the source of painful surprises. A family may expect a full payout and receive only premiums back. The lesson is simple: if you can qualify for a simplified issue plan, you skip this waiting period entirely.
Open Care reviews and complaints
Open Care has limited traditional reviews, but the complaint patterns are clear and worth understanding. Most of them are not about the policies at all.
The single most common complaint is marketing volume. Once you respond to an ad, your information is often sold to multiple agents. As a result, you may receive four to eight mailers a month and a flurry of calls from different numbers. These are legitimate grievances about marketing practices, not signs of a bad policy. A smaller but real category involves families who received only a premium refund because the insured died within the two-year guaranteed-issue window, which is the graded-benefit issue above. On the positive side, feedback on the actual enrollment and quoting process is often decent, with agents described as responsive. Post-sale service draws more criticism. Once your policy is active, service shifts to the underlying carrier rather than Open Care. That handoff can feel abrupt. Watch for ad language like “state-regulated program” or “approved for seniors,” which can imply government backing that does not exist.
What does Dave Ramsey say about burial insurance?
Because his name comes up in these searches, here is his documented position, summarized fairly rather than quoted. Dave Ramsey is broadly skeptical of final expense and whole life insurance.
Ramsey generally advises against burial and whole life policies, viewing them as poor value per dollar of coverage. His standard guidance is to buy affordable term life insurance instead. He then suggests you invest the difference, build an emergency fund, and aim to become “self-insured.” That means accumulating enough savings that a small burial policy becomes unnecessary. He acknowledges that for someone who genuinely cannot qualify for term coverage and has no savings, a small final expense policy can be a reasonable last resort. But his default recommendation is term insurance plus disciplined saving, not a marketed senior burial plan. Treat his view as one respected framework, and weigh it against your own health and savings.
The disadvantages of funeral and final expense insurance
Final expense insurance serves a real purpose, but it has genuine drawbacks you should weigh. It is convenient, not cheap.
The main disadvantage is cost per dollar of coverage: these small whole life policies are expensive relative to the payout, and if you live a long time, your total premiums can approach or even exceed the face amount. Guaranteed issue versions add a two-year waiting period. Coverage amounts are modest, usually $2,000 to $50,000, so they are not income replacement. And if you are relatively healthy, you can almost always do better with a simplified issue plan that pays from day one, or by self-insuring through savings. The convenience of a quick, no-exam application is real, but it comes at a price. For many healthy seniors, comparing carriers directly beats responding to a mailer.
Is Open Care good for seniors, and who is it best for?
Open Care fits a specific situation, and it is worth being honest about who benefits. It is not the right default for everyone.
Open Care can genuinely help a senior with health problems who wants simple, no-exam coverage. For someone declined elsewhere, guaranteed acceptance may be one of the few options available. But most seniors can qualify for cheaper simplified issue coverage with day-one benefits. That includes many with controlled conditions like managed diabetes or high blood pressure. They can often find it from a carrier directly or through a transparent broker. There is no single “most trustworthy” life insurer for everyone, so rather than chasing a brand, compare carriers on their AM Best rating and complaint index. For final expense specifically, Mutual of Omaha is frequently cited for low rates and no waiting period on its level plans, but compare it against others for your situation.
The honest read: what to do before you call Open Care
Open Care is legitimate, but treat it as a starting point, not a destination. Before you enroll, do three things. Ask which carrier will actually underwrite your policy, and look up that carrier’s AM Best rating. Ask whether you qualify for a simplified issue plan with day-one coverage before accepting guaranteed issue with its two-year wait. And get quotes from at least two other final expense insurers on identical coverage.
Do not be rushed by a deadline in an ad. Final expense pricing does not expire the way the mailers imply. Take the time to compare, disclose your health honestly so your policy cannot be voided, and buy the plan that pays from day one if you qualify. Handled that way, you may end up with a policy from one of Open Care’s own carriers, or a better one, at a lower price.
Conclusion
Open Care Life Insurance is a legitimate marketing agency, not an insurer, that connects seniors with final expense policies underwritten by real carriers. The coverage is real, but the advertised $7.49 price is a teaser, the guaranteed-issue plan carries a two-year waiting period, and most complaints concern heavy marketing rather than claim problems. Before enrolling, identify your actual carrier, check whether you qualify for day-one simplified issue coverage, and compare at least two competitors. Do that, and you will get honest value instead of just answering an ad.
FAQs
Is Open Care Life Insurance legit?
Yes. Open Care is a legitimate, licensed insurance marketing agency operated by TZ Insurance Solutions. It is not a scam, but it is a middleman, not an insurance company. The policies it sells are underwritten by established carriers like Mutual of Omaha. Legitimate does not always mean cheapest, so compare before buying.
Who owns Open Care Insurance?
Open Care, marketed as “Open Care Seniors,” is operated by TZ Insurance Solutions LLC, a licensed insurance marketing organization based in Florida. It is a marketing agency rather than an insurance carrier, so it does not underwrite policies or pay claims. Those functions belong to the third-party insurer that issues your specific policy.
How much does Open Care cost per month?
The advertised “$7.49 a month” reflects only about $2,000 in coverage for a healthy 50-year-old. That is not a typical policy. Realistically, a $10,000 final expense policy costs about $25 to $75 a month for someone in their 60s or 70s. Your rate depends on age, health, smoking status, and coverage amount.
How does Open Care life insurance work?
Open Care is a marketing agency that connects you, by phone or online, with a final expense policy from a partner insurer. You answer some health questions, choose a plan and coverage amount, and the third-party carrier underwrites and issues the policy. Open Care handles the sale; the carrier handles claims and long-term service.
Is Open Care good for seniors?
It can help seniors with health issues who want quick, no-exam coverage, especially anyone declined elsewhere. However, many seniors, including those with controlled conditions, qualify for cheaper simplified issue plans with day-one coverage elsewhere. Open Care is a reasonable option to compare, but rarely the only or cheapest one, so shop around first.
What does Dave Ramsey say about burial insurance?
Dave Ramsey is generally skeptical of burial and whole life insurance, viewing them as poor value. He typically recommends buying term life, investing the difference, and building savings until you are “self-insured” and no longer need a small burial policy. He allows that final expense can be a last resort for those who cannot qualify for term coverage.
Does senior life insurance really give all your money back?
With guaranteed-issue plans, if you die of natural causes in the first two years, the insurer refunds your premiums plus about 10% interest rather than the full benefit. Accidental death is usually covered fully from day one. After two years, the full benefit applies. It is a graded-benefit feature, not a savings plan that returns all your money.
What are the disadvantages of funeral insurance?
Final expense insurance is expensive per dollar of coverage, offers only small amounts (often $2,000 to $50,000), and guaranteed-issue versions include a two-year waiting period. If you live a long time, total premiums can approach the payout. Healthier seniors can usually get better value from simplified issue coverage or by self-insuring through savings.
Is Open Care a legitimate company?
Yes, it is a legitimately licensed insurance agency, not a scam. The caveat is that it is a marketing middleman, not an insurer, and it does not clearly publish which carriers underwrite its policies or a transparent corporate phone line. Judge the strength of the actual carrier behind your policy, not just the Open Care brand.
What is Open Care’s phone number?
Open Care advertises toll-free numbers that route to call centers rather than a single published headquarters line, and it directs consumers to OpenCareSeniors.com. Because service shifts to your underwriting carrier after purchase, the most reliable long-term contact is the actual insurer’s official customer-service number, listed on your policy documents.
How much is a $100,000 whole life insurance policy per month?
A $100,000 whole life policy is much larger than typical final expense coverage and costs far more, often several hundred dollars a month for a senior, depending on age and health. Most Open Care final expense policies are small, roughly $2,000 to $50,000. For $100,000 of coverage, compare whole life and term quotes from several insurers.
What is the difference between simplified issue and guaranteed issue?
Simplified issue asks health questions but no exam, and if approved, coverage starts on day one. Guaranteed issue asks no health questions and accepts almost everyone, but adds a two-year waiting period and costs about 20% to 30% more. If you can qualify for simplified issue, it is usually the better choice.
Are there better alternatives to Open Care?
Possibly. Because Open Care is a middleman, you can often get the same or better coverage by going directly to carriers like Mutual of Omaha, Transamerica, Aetna, or Foresters, or through a transparent independent broker. Compare at least two or three quotes on identical coverage, and prioritize plans with day-one coverage.
Who is the most trustworthy life insurance company?
There is no single most trustworthy insurer for everyone. Judge trustworthiness by objective measures: a strong AM Best financial-strength rating and a low NAIC complaint index. For final expense specifically, Mutual of Omaha is frequently praised for low rates and no waiting period, but compare several carriers for your age and health.
Does Open Care require a medical exam?
No. Open Care’s final expense plans do not require a medical exam. Simplified issue plans still ask health questions that affect eligibility and price, while guaranteed issue plans ask no health questions but add a two-year waiting period. Term life options sold through Open Care do require health questions and underwriting.
About this review
This review was produced by the InsuranceGuidances Editorial Team.
Methodology: We assessed Open Care using independent reviews and 2026 rate analyses from ChoiceMutual, PinnacleQuote, Insure Final Expense, and other final expense specialists, along with the company’s own advertising and website claims, and complaint patterns reported across the BBB and consumer forums. We verified that Open Care is a marketing agency (operated by TZ Insurance Solutions), not a carrier, and we route trust judgments to AM Best and NAIC data on the underlying insurers. We summarize public figures’ documented views without inventing quotes, and we do not crown a single company “best.” We accept no payment for coverage or placement. Details change; verify before acting.
Reviewed: 2026 · .
Sources
Mutual of Omaha, final expense and living promise coverage: https://www.mutualofomaha.com/life-insurance/whole-life-insurance
ChoiceMutual, Open Care Seniors review (agency, carriers, cost): https://choicemutual.com/life-insurance-reviews/open-care-seniors/
PinnacleQuote, Open Care Senior Plan review (waiting period, carriers): https://www.pinnaclequote.com/blog/open-care-senior-plan/
Insure Final Expense, Open Care review (TZ Insurance Solutions, complaints, cost): https://insurefinalexpense.com/open-care-life-insurance-reviews-cost/
FexGuy, Open Care life insurance review (marketing model, complaints): https://fexguy.com/open-care-life-insurance-review/
Final Expense Benefits, Open Care Senior Plan guide (pricing, transparency): https://finalexpensebenefits.org/open-care-senior-plan-guide/
Seniors Mutual, Open Care Senior Plan review (products, pricing): https://seniorsmutual.com/open-care-senior-plan-review/
Ramsey Solutions, term life vs. whole life insurance: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/insurance/term-life-vs-whole-life-insurance
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, consumer complaint information: https://content.naic.org/consumer.htm
AM Best, financial strength ratings guide: https://www.ambest.com/ratings/guide.pdf
