Is the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn $9.95 Plan Really Worth It in 2026?
If you are seeing Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn commercials over and over in 2026, you are not alone. Many seniors start wondering, “If this $9.95 plan is so simple, why does it sound too good to be true?”
Maybe you already have some coverage but worry it is not enough.
Maybe you have nothing in place and feel guilty every time you see Jonathan Lawson talk about “price, price, price.”
You might be asking yourself a hard question: “If I sign up for this, will my family really be protected—or am I just paying for another TV ad?”
The truth is that the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn $9.95 plan is a very specific type of guaranteed-acceptance policy.
It is sold in “units,” the coverage per unit is low, and there is a 2-year waiting period for natural death.
Independent experts have repeatedly shown that most healthy seniors can get more coverage, with no waiting period, for about the same or even less money.
Colonial Penn Life Insurance
“$9.95 units” final expense TV plan • Founded 1968
Data current as of 12/09/2025
Overall ratings
In this updated 2026 guide, we will break down who Jonathan Lawson is, how the Colonial Penn $9.95 plan really works, what you actually get for your money, and when it might or might not make sense.
Above all, you will see clear comparisons to fully shopped burial insurance plans—so you can decide if trusting Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn is worth the risk, or if a different path serves your family better.
Who Is Jonathan Lawson at Colonial Penn in 2026?
Before you decide whether to trust the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn commercials, it helps to know who he is and why the company chose him.
Jonathan Lawson is not a random actor pulled from a casting call. He is a long-time Colonial Penn employee and a Marine Corps veteran who later moved into the company’s quality assurance and escalations department. Public profiles and independent reviews show he has worked inside Colonial Penn for years, and now serves as the public face of their $9.95 guaranteed-acceptance plan.
Colonial Penn uses Jonathan’s military background and calm, friendly style to project trust, discipline, and reliability. When he looks into the camera and talks about “price, price, price,” many seniors feel like a fellow veteran or neighbor is giving them honest advice.
The key question is not whether Jonathan Lawson is a real person. The real question is whether the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn $9.95 plan he promotes is truly in your best interest.
What Is the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn $9.95 Plan Exactly?
The product Jonathan Lawson promotes is Colonial Penn’s guaranteed-acceptance whole life policy. It is marketed as simple burial insurance for people ages 50 to 85. On TV, you hear that “coverage options start at just $9.95 a month” and that you cannot be turned down because of your health.
Behind the scenes, this Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn plan has some very specific rules:
- It is guaranteed acceptance, so there are no health questions and no medical exam.
- The plan is sold in units, not in normal coverage amounts like $10,000 or $15,000.
- Your monthly price per unit is always $9.95, but the coverage per unit shrinks as you get older.
- There is a mandatory two-year waiting period for natural death before your family receives the full benefit.
Those features can sound attractive at first, especially if you have health issues. But they are also the reason many experts say the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn $9.95 plan is usually a poor value for most healthy seniors.
How Do $9.95 Colonial Penn Units Really Work for Seniors?
To understand the plan, you have to understand units. Colonial Penn does not quote coverage the way most companies do. Instead of saying, “$15,000 of coverage costs $X per month,” they say, “Each unit costs $9.95 per month.” Your age and gender decide how much coverage you get for that one unit.
First, grasp the pattern. Then you can see why so many people feel misled by the ads.
Here is a simplified look at what independent rate charts show one $9.95 unit can buy for non-smokers:
- Around age 50, one unit may be roughly $1,600–$2,000 of coverage.
- Around age 60, one unit drops closer to $1,100–$1,500.
- Around age 70, one unit can be only $600–$1,000.
- Around age 80, one unit may fall to about $400–$600 of coverage.
The older you are, the smaller the benefit per unit. But you still pay $9.95 per unit. To get even basic funeral coverage, many seniors would need several units, and the total cost can end up higher than policies from top final-expense carriers that do not use this unit system.
Colonial Penn Unit vs. Real Coverage calculator that compares 1–8 units to a normal burial insurance for seniors quote from multiple carriers.
| Option | Type of Plan | Waiting Period | Estimated Monthly Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colonial Penn $9.95 Plan (Jonathan Lawson) | Guaranteed-acceptance whole life | 2 years (natural causes) | ≈ $90–$110 |
| Properly Shopped Burial Policy (Independent) | Level-benefit final expense | Day-one coverage (if eligible) | Often ≈ $50–$70 |
Male – $10,000 in Whole Life
| Age |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $59.70 | $27.35 |
| 55 | $69.65 | $32.78 |
| 60 | $89.55 | $41.74 |
| 65 | $109.45 | $53.75 |
| 70 | $149.25 | $69.23 |
| 75 | $149.25 ($8,235) | $96.58 |
| 80 | $149.25 ($6,390) | $134.16 |
| 85 | $149.25 ($6,270) | $192.49 |
| 90 | N/A | $354.11 |
Female – $10,000 in Whole Life
| Age |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $49.75 | $21.78 |
| 55 | $59.70 | $26.26 |
| 60 | $69.65 | $32.60 |
| 65 | $79.60 | $41.01 |
| 70 | $99.50 | $52.03 |
| 75 | $129.35 | $71.64 |
| 80 | $149.25 ($9,120) | $97.50 |
| 85 | $149.25 ($7,020) | $131.66 |
| 90 | N/A | $299.77 |
Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn Unit Calculator
What Is “MY” Price With the $9.95 TV Plan?
Select your gender and age to see how much coverage each Colonial Penn $9.95 “unit” really buys.
What Does Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn Not Emphasize in the Ads?
When you watch a Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn commercial, notice what is missing. He mentions the low monthly price and guaranteed acceptance. He rarely leads with what you actually get for $9.95—and what happens in the first two years of the policy.
Independent reviews highlight two key points that the ads do not emphasize:
- Two-Year Waiting Period for Natural Death
If you die from natural causes in the first 24 months, your family usually gets a refund of premiums plus a small amount of interest, not the full death benefit. That means the plan does not fully protect your family for the first two years, even though you are paying from day one. - Low Coverage per Dollar Compared to Competitors
When you compare the per-unit coverage to quotes from other companies, the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn $9.95 plan typically buys less protection for the same or more money. Many carriers that are featured in your own content—such as Mutual of Omaha burial insurance or other top final-expense companies—can often offer first-day coverage with much higher benefits at similar premiums for reasonably healthy seniors.
So, is it a “scam”? That word is too strong because the policy does what the contract says. But the marketing can be misleading if you assume $9.95 means a full burial policy. The reality is that $9.95 is only the cost of a small unit of coverage, and you may need several units to get close to a realistic funeral amount.
- ● Focuses on the $9.95 price and makes it sound like a full life insurance plan for most final expenses.
- ● Highlights “no health questions” and “guaranteed acceptance” as the main benefit.
- ● Mentions “units of coverage” but does not clearly show how much each unit actually pays at your age.
- ● Emphasizes that rates never increase, which feels safe and predictable.
- ● Gives the impression that one or two units might cover most funeral and final expenses.
- ● $9.95 is per unit – and the coverage per unit shrinks as you get older. Seniors often need many units to reach a realistic benefit.
- ● Because coverage is low per unit, the total benefit can be thousands short of today’s funeral costs.
- ● Most policies include a two-year limited benefit: if you pass from natural causes in that period, your loved ones may only receive a refund of premiums plus interest, not the full benefit.
- ● “Guaranteed acceptance” usually means no health underwriting, which often comes with higher cost per dollar of coverage compared to fully shopped plans.
- ● Rates may stay the same, but inflation does not—so the fixed, small benefit can lose real buying power over time.
Are There Better Alternatives than the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn Plan in 2026?
For most healthy seniors, the answer is yes. Independent comparisons consistently show that seniors can often get:
- More coverage for the same premium.
- First-day coverage instead of a two-year waiting period.
- Simpler pricing based on a clear dollar amount of coverage instead of confusing units.
This is where working with an independent agency that can compare multiple carriers becomes critical. Rather than calling the number in a TV ad, you can have someone shop several leading companies at once, including options already explained in your other guides such as best burial insurance for seniors<, final expense insurance for seniors with health issues, or guaranteed issue life insurance for seniors when needed.
When you stack those offers next to the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn $9.95 plan, it becomes clear that the TV plan is rarely the best combination of price, coverage, and protection.
Real Reviews and Complaints About Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn
Reviews and complaints should never be your only decision-maker, but they are worth reading carefully. Common themes in consumer feedback about Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn include:
- Surprise at how little coverage each $9.95 unit actually provides.
- Confusion or frustration over the two-year waiting period.
- Disappointment when families realize the policy will not cover a full funeral.
- Mixed experiences with customer service and claim processing.
Some reviewers also express anger at the marketing tone, feeling that the commercials lean on trust and military service without clearly explaining the product’s limits. At the same time, there are policyholders who say the plan did exactly what they expected because they read the fine print ahead of time.
The lesson is simple: do not rely on the commercial alone. Read the contract, compare coverage to your real burial costs, and use guides like your Colonial Penn $9.95 plan review and burial insurance for seniors resources to see how it stacks up against other carriers.
Why so many seniors regret the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn $9.95 plan
These are summaries of recent 1-star customer reviews from public review sites about Colonial Penn’s $9.95 “unit” plan. The common theme: small payouts, confusing units, and frustrating service when families need help the most.
Important: These summaries reflect customer opinions from public review platforms. They show how the $9.95-per-unit structure, two-year waiting periods, and small benefits can leave families disappointed when they expected full coverage for final expenses.
Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company’s customer service at (800) 523-9100
Who Might the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn Plan Ever Make Sense For?
Even with a cautionary tone, we should be fair. There are a few situations where the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn plan might be considered:
- Severely Impaired Health with No Other Options
If you have been declined by multiple companies and cannot qualify for any other coverage, a guaranteed-acceptance policy like Colonial Penn may be one of the only options left. In that case, some coverage after the waiting period may be better than none. - Small Supplement to Existing Coverage
A person who already has a main policy might use a single unit purely to cover a small extra expense, knowing it will not replace a full funeral plan. - People Who Fully Understand the Waiting Period and Low Coverage
If a client clearly understands that their family will not be fully protected for the first two years and still chooses the policy for personal reasons, that is an informed choice.
However, in each of these scenarios, it is still wise to compare the Colonial Penn contract against other guaranteed issue life insurance for seniors products. Many competitors offer similar “no health question” policies with better coverage per dollar.
Colonial Penn $9.95 Plan – 1 Unit Coverage
See how much coverage one $9.95 unit actually buys at each age.
| Age | Coverage for 1 Unit ($9.95) |
|---|
Step-by-Step: What to Do Instead of the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn Plan
If you have watched the commercials and now feel uneasy, here is a simple path to follow to avoid regret later.
First, focus on the goal: protecting your family from real funeral costs—not just signing up for the first offer you see on TV. Then follow these steps.
- Estimate a Realistic Funeral Budget
Look at local pricing or use guides like cremation costs by state and funeral cost articles to decide how much coverage you actually need (for example, $10,000–$20,000). - Check Any Existing Coverage First
Review old policies using a <u>life insurance policy review for seniors</u> approach. You may already have some coverage that can be updated or supplemented. - Work with an Independent Agent, Not a Single TV Company
An independent agency can compare Colonial Penn to other carriers and often show that you can get level-benefit, first-day coverage from companies like those featured in your 10 best burial insurance companies and best burial insurance for seniors guides. This does not cost you extra. - Compare Per-Dollar Coverage and Waiting Periods
Put offers side by side: “For $X per month, how much coverage do I get, and is there a waiting period?” In most cases, the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn plan gives less coverage, with a waiting period, for a similar or higher price. - Choose the Plan That Protects Your Family Best, Not the One with the Catchy Commercial
Once you see the numbers, the right choice usually becomes obvious.
Cancellation Policies
Knowing how to cancel your policy and any associated penalties is crucial. Be sure to understand these terms before committing.
You can call Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company’s customer service at (800) 523-9100 for assistance. Customer support is available Monday through Friday, 8 AM–8 PM ET.
FAQs About Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn in 2026
Before listing the most common questions, remember that many seniors are asking the same things you are. Short, clear answers can prevent costly mistakes.
Jonathan Lawson is both a Colonial Penn employee and a paid spokesperson. He is a licensed insurance agent and has held internal roles such as Director of Quality Assurance & Escalations, but in the commercials he is performing as an actor promoting the company’s $9.95 guaranteed-acceptance plan.
As of recent public information and marketing materials, Jonathan Lawson continues to appear in Colonial Penn advertising as the face of their $9.95 plan. Independent articles still reference him as a current employee and spokesperson.
$9.95 buys only one unit of coverage, and the benefit per unit depends on your age and gender. For example, charts from independent reviews show that a 70-year-old male might get under $700 of coverage for $9.95, while a 50-year-old female might receive around $2,000. The older you are, the less coverage each unit provides.
Because Colonial Penn asks no health questions, they use a two-year waiting period for natural death to reduce their risk. If you die from natural causes during the first two years, your loved ones usually receive a refund of premiums plus interest, not the full face amount. Competing <u>guaranteed issue life insurance for seniors</u> policies often work the same way—but some may offer better coverage per dollar.
Often, yes—especially if you can answer basic health questions. Many final-expense carriers offer level-benefit policies with no waiting period for natural death when applicants are reasonably healthy. This is why comparing offers through an independent broker is so important before you decide to rely on the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn plan.
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Final Verdict: Should You Trust the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn $9.95 Plan with Your Burial Insurance?
The real question is not, “Is Jonathan Lawson a good person?” The question is, “Does the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn $9.95 plan do the best job of protecting your family?”
If you stay with the TV offer, you are saying yes to:
- Small amounts of coverage sold in confusing units.
- A two-year waiting period where your family is not fully protected.
- A price that often buys less coverage than what top competitors offer.
For most healthy seniors in 2026, the honest answer is that there are better options—more coverage, first-day protection, and clearer pricing—from companies you can reach through an independent agency. In rare cases, when health is very poor and every other door is closed, the Jonathan Lawson Colonial Penn plan may still be used as a last resort, but it should not be the starting point.
Ask yourself: “When my family needs this money, do I want them to discover fine print—or to have the full amount ready and waiting?” That single question usually tells you whether you should keep following the commercial or move toward a fully shopped, transparent burial insurance plan.
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4 Comments
Loretta
Just wanted to make a comment on colonial Penn and their spokesperson, Jonathan. I would be tempted to look into a colonial pen based on Jonathan however, after reading All the reviews, I think colonial Penn needs to step up and provide a good insurance program that Represents the integrity of Jonathan.
Danny Ray
Loretta, there are so much better options. Always feel free to reach out to us, 855-380-3300. You will only speak to me Danny Ray, or my wife Lisamarie.
Sharon Cantrell
Shame on this insurance company . Everyone needs to sign a petition to get rid of this company. The cheat you out of the insurance if you pass away within the first two years . If you sue in the first two years your family only gets some of the premiums back ( not what you were paying for . It says in small writing LIMITED 2 YEAR BENIFITS but does explain this … SHAME ON YOU ..
Cathie McClain
Are you related to Charlete?