Americo Final Expense – Underwriting Guide & Disqualifying Conditions (Eagle Select 1–3)

Carrier: Americo

Product: Eagle Select Final Expense

Product Type: Simplified Issue Whole Life

Plan Tiers: Eagle Select 1, 2, 3

Target Market: Final Expense

Product Overview

Americo's Eagle Select Final Expense is a simplified issue whole life insurance product designed for clients seeking permanent coverage to cover funeral, burial, and final expenses. The product offers three tiered coverage types (Eagle Select 1, 2, and 3), which match the client to the most appropriate class based on underwriting. Policies are available for applicants age 40 to 85 and offer face amounts up to $40,000.

The Eagle Select application process is fully electronic, includes an instant decision at point-of-sale, and is optimized for touchscreen use with email/text-based signatures.

Issue Ages and Face Amounts

• Eagle Select 1 & 2 Non-nicotine: 40–85

• Eagle Select 1 Nicotine: 40–85

• Eagle Select 2 Nicotine: 40–75

• Eagle Select 3: 40–75

Minimum Face Amount: $5,000
Maximum Face Amount:

• Eagle Select 1 & 2: $40,000

• Eagle Select 3: $25,000

Available Plan Types

• Eagle Select 1: Level benefit with highest qualification tier

• Eagle Select 2: Modified benefit for moderate-risk applicants

• Eagle Select 3: Graded benefit for applicants with higher-risk health conditions

Underwriting Guidelines

• Instant decision available 24/7 via online eApp

• Third-party data sources used: MIB, prescription history, and motor vehicle report (MVR)

• Nicotine use and certain combinations of conditions (e.g. diabetes with heart disease) determine eligibility for tiers

Knock-out Conditions:

• Organ/tissue transplant

• Multiple sclerosis

• Systemic lupus

• ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

• Alzheimer’s or dementia

• Huntington’s Disease

• Brain tumor

• Parkinson’s Disease

• Amputation due to disease

• Liver disease

• Leukemia

Decline if within the last 12 months:

• Received assistance with ADLs

• Received hospice care

• Used supplemental oxygen

• Dependent on a wheelchair or motorized mobility device

• Advised to have surgery or hospitalization not yet completed

• Awaiting a medical diagnosis or test results

Build Chart:

Prescription Medication Exclusions

No explicit drug exclusion list is provided, but medications flagged during underwriting may contribute to a downgrade or decline. Americo uses prescription history as part of their tiered instant decision algorithm. All applicants authorize prescription database checks during the eApp process.

Individual Consideration

Certain conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory issues, or stroke/TIA are reviewed based on combination risk. For example:

• Diabetes + Heart Disease or Stroke → likely Eagle Select 2

• Smoking + Heart Disease or Stroke → likely Eagle Select 2 Nicotine

If multiple conditions are present, the best offer may be Eagle Select 3 or a decline.

Included Rider

Accelerated Benefit Payment Rider (Eagle Select 1 & 2 only)

• Triggered by diagnosis of terminal illness with life expectancy of 12 months or less (24 months in some states)

• Pays up to 50% of the death benefit, capped at $20,000

• One-time use only

• Administrative fee of up to $250 deducted from benefit

• Creates a policy lien with interest applied until death or repayment

Optional Riders

Accidental Death Benefit Rider (Eagle Select 1 & 2 only)

• Pays an additional benefit equal to the policy’s face amount for accidental death

• Double benefit if death occurs as fare-paying passenger on a common carrier

Child and Grandchild Term Rider

• Coverage from age 15 days to 17 years

• Maximum: $5,000 per child or base face amount

• Cost: $2.10 per $1,000 annually per child

• Expires at age 25

• Conversion available at age 18 or upon base insured’s death, no later than age 22

Quit Smoking Advantage (Unique Feature)

Smokers may qualify for Non-Nicotine rates in the first 3 years if issued under Eagle Select 1 or 2. To retain these rates beyond year 3, they must prove they have not used any nicotine products for 12 consecutive months and submit the required form.

Benefit Option A: Face amount decreases in year 4; premium remains level
Benefit Option B: Face amount remains level; premium increases in year 4
Benefit Option C: Face amount and premium remain level — available only with proof of 12-month nicotine cessation

If no benefit option is selected, default is Option A.

Policy Loans and Nonforfeiture

• Loans available at 7.4% annual interest (effective rate 8%)

• Loan balance cannot exceed cash value; otherwise, policy will terminate

• Nonforfeiture options: Reduced Paid-Up, ETI, Cash Surrender

Conversion

Only the Child and Grandchild Term Rider includes a conversion feature, available before age 22 or upon death of base insured.

Other Eligibility Notes

• Policies are available in all states except NY

• eSignature process via email or text using a 6-digit code

• Commissions paid daily by EFT

This internal-use guide is based on Americo's May 2025 Eagle Select Agent Guide and should be used for onboarding and AI training purposes only.