Knights of Columbus Life Insurance 2025 Review

About Knights of Columbus Life Insurance

Originally formed in 1882, the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal benefit society headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, with nearly 2 million members worldwide.

Along with its extensive charitable work, Knights of Columbus provides members of the organization and their families access to multiple benefits, including eligibility to purchase life insurance through Knights of Columbus. As a fraternal society, it is not a stock or mutual company in the traditional sense, but rather governed by and for its members, with a strong focus on charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.

Knights of Columbus policies are issued and serviced through local field agents throughout North America. Like policyholders, Knights of Columbus agents must also be members of the organization.

Financial Ratings & Strength

Rating Agency	Rating	Notes
A.M. Best	A+ (Superior)	Maintained for 42 consecutive years as of 2025
S&P Global	AA+	Very strong financial security characteristics
Fitch	Not Rated	N/A
Moody’s	Not Rated	N/A
Comdex Ranking	98	Out of 100
Better Business Bureau	A+	No complaints reported in recent years

The strong financial position and consistently high ratings from A.M. Best suggest that Knights of Columbus is a safe option for life insurance.

Over its long history, Knights of Columbus has earned a reputation for a conservative investment philosophy and consistent financial security. The organization currently has assets totaling $24 billion and more than $100 billion of in-force life insurance policies outstanding.

Additionally, Knight of Columbus has put well over a billion dollars toward charitable causes over the last ten years, with over $175 million donated to charities in 2024 alone.

2025 Updates & Milestones

125th Anniversary of the Fourth Degree

In February 2025, Knights of Columbus celebrated 125 years of its patriotic Fourth Degree, emphasizing faith and citizenship. This milestone was marked with a major event at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, highlighting the organization’s continued commitment to its founding principles.

Community Impact Achievements

In 2024, the organization reached impressive charitable milestones:

• Over 73.5 million hours contributed in community service
• More than $175 million donated to charitable causes
• Continued expansion of volunteer initiatives across communities

Products & Services Overview

Knights of Columbus offers a comprehensive suite of insurance and financial products exclusively to its members and their families:

• Life Insurance
  • Term Life Insurance
  • Whole Life Insurance
  • Final Expense Insurance
  • Universal Life Insurance
• Other Financial Products
  • Long-Term Care Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Annuities (fixed and variable options)

Life Insurance Policies

Term Life Insurance

Accelerator Term Life Insurance:

The Accelerator Term policy is available to members between ages 18 and 70 in coverage levels starting at $100,000. Initial term periods of 10, 15, and 20 years are available.

Term life insurance premiums are fixed for the initial term, and coverage can be renewed through age 85, with premiums increased upon renewal. Policyholders can increase coverage amounts by up to 25% during the initial term for a relatively small premium increase.

Knights of Columbus term policies include conversion options, allowing the policyholder to convert the term coverage to permanent insurance without any further underwriting requirements.

Annual Renewable Term:

Coverage is issued for one-year periods only, but can be renewed at the end of the year. Premiums are adjusted upon each renewal.

Young Adult Insurance:

Available only for members and spouses from age 18 to 29, Knights of Columbus Young Adult Insurance is a low-priced term option designed to provide inexpensive, relatively short-term protection to insureds just starting out in their careers.

Whole Life Insurance

Like other limited pay whole life policies, Knights of Columbus’ version offers fixed premiums and guaranteed-for-life death benefits. Policies accrue cash value that earns tax-deferred growth at guaranteed interest rates.

Cash value can be used as collateral for a policy loan or cashed out to help fund retirement. Policyholders can choose the premium schedule, allowing policies to be fully paid-up as early as 5 years after issuance or as late as the insured’s 100^th birthday.

Knights of Columbus also offers a graded-premium modified whole life insurance option which, if selected, starts with lower premium payments for the first few years after a policy is issued.

Whole life policies are eligible for dividends, which, though not guaranteed, can be put back into the policy when received to increase cash value and the death benefit.

Single Premium Whole Life:

A single premium whole life policy is paid-up from the start with one initial, lump-sum premium payment. Policies have cash value that earns tax-deferred interest and can be accessed through policy loans or surrenders. Like other life insurance, the death benefit is not subject to income tax when paid out to beneficiaries.

Final Expense Insurance

Graded Death Benefit Whole Life:

Marketed as a final expense insurance policy, Graded Death Benefit Whole Life does not require any medical screening in the application process. New applicants must be between ages 18 and 65 and can obtain up to $7,500 in permanent coverage.

Graded-benefit policies have a two-year waiting period before coverage fully takes effect. If death occurs during that period, the beneficiary will receive all premiums paid into the policy to date, plus interest.

The waiting period does not apply in the event the insured’s death results from an accident.

The graded death benefit is essentially a tradeoff for the guaranteed acceptance.

Universal Life Insurance

Protector No Lapse Guaranty Universal Life:

Knights of Columbus’ Protector universal life policy is a fairly standard universal life insurance policy.

Premiums are flexible, subject to a monthly minimum, and policyholders can opt to pay higher premiums to increase the policy’s cash value and death benefit.

A built-in Lapse Protection Rider guarantees that coverage will remain in force as long as the required minimum premium is paid.

A similar Survivorship Universal Life policy covers two insureds and pays out when both insureds have passed away.

Available Life Insurance Riders

Knights of Columbus offers several riders to customize your life insurance policy to your specific needs:

Rider	Description
Conversion Rider	Convert term coverage to whole or universal life before age 65 or end of initial term, without additional underwriting.
Terminal Illness Rider	Standard with most policies; allows acceleration of a portion of death benefit if diagnosed with less than 12 months to live.
Chronic Illness Accelerated Death Benefit Rider	Standard with universal life survivorship policies; allows acceleration of a portion of death benefit if diagnosed with qualifying chronic illness.
Disability Waiver of Premium	If insured becomes totally disabled before age 60, premiums are waived during the period of disability.
Spousal Waiver of Premium Rider	Included at no charge when spouses purchase permanent policies simultaneously; waives premium obligations for surviving spouse if other spouse dies.
Guaranteed Purchase Option	Contractual right to increase coverage amount at defined intervals with no additional underwriting.
Children’s Term Insurance	Provides term coverage for insured’s children until child’s 26th birthday or primary insured’s 65th birthday, whichever comes first.
Income Protection Rider	Adds a supplemental death benefit in the form of monthly income payments upon insured’s death.
Accidental Death Benefit	Provides supplemental death benefit if insured’s death results from qualifying accident; available for new insureds through age 55.

Membership Requirements

To be eligible for Knights of Columbus insurance products, you must be:

• A practicing Catholic man age 18 or older, or
• A family member of a Knights of Columbus member

The membership requirement is a unique aspect of Knights of Columbus insurance, reflecting the organization’s identity as a Catholic fraternal benefit society. This structure allows the organization to align its business practices with Catholic values while serving the specific needs of its membership community.

Contact Information

Department	Contact Information
Customer Service	1-800-380-9995
General Email	info@kofc.org
Corporate Address	1 Columbus Plaza New Haven, CT 06510, USA
Mailing Address (Canada)	PO Box 220 Montreal QC H2Y9Z9, Canada
Website	www.kofc.org
Business Hours	Monday–Thursday: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. EST Friday: 9 a.m.–12 p.m. EST

Conclusion

Knights of Columbus Life Insurance presents a unique offering in the insurance marketplace. As a Catholic fraternal benefit society, it combines strong financial security with an alignment to Catholic values and a commitment to charitable service.

The organization’s A+ rating from A.M. Best for 42 consecutive years demonstrates its consistent financial strength and reliability. With a comprehensive suite of insurance products and a variety of customizable riders, Knights of Columbus can provide tailored coverage solutions for Catholic families.

While the membership requirement does limit eligibility to Catholic men and their families, this focus allows the organization to serve its specific community with specialized products and services that align with their values and needs.

For eligible individuals seeking life insurance with a provider that shares their Catholic faith and values, Knights of Columbus Life Insurance offers competitive products backed by strong financial stability and a long-standing commitment to service.