West Virginia annuities

West Virginia annuity rates, rules, and carriers.

Illustrative MYGA rate examples from the carriers we list — confirm each carrier is admitted in West Virginia before you apply, as we do not yet verify licensing state by state. Plus West Virginia-specific information on free-look periods and premium taxes.

6.30% 5-year MYGA example, effective yield
10 days WV free-look period
1.00% annuity premium tax

Get a West Virginia quote See full rate table

Updated August 25, 2026

West Virginia annuity facts

The state-specific numbers that affect your annuity purchase in West Virginia.

5-year MYGA example 6.30%effective annual yield Aspida Life

Guaranty fund limit $250,000 per insurer, per person

Free-look period 10 days West Virginia mandate

Premium tax 1.00% on non-qualified annuities

Carriers available 18 broadly licensed carriers we compare

Illustrative SPIA payout ~$698/mo^* per $100k, male age 65, life-only

*Illustration, not a quote or offer, and not specific to West Virginia: single-life, life-only immediate annuity, male aged 65 — the highest-paying option, which stops at death. Women and joint-life or period-certain options receive less. Backed by the issuing insurer’s claims-paying ability, not FDIC.

Illustrative MYGA rate examples by carrier and term

Per-carrier MYGA rates read from published product pages (CANNEX / AdvisorWorld carrier feed as republished by AnnuityRatesHQ), last checked 2026-10-13; where a carrier's source page could not be read on that date, its most recent reading is retained — the date shown with each carrier is that carrier's own. One representative product per carrier at the premium band recorded in data/annuity-carriers.json → mygaVerified. Highest-by-term is the highest EFFECTIVE annual yield among those examples from carriers rated A.M. Best A- or better (the site's stated strength floor); lower-rated carriers remain in the full table with their rating flagged. Illustrative examples, not quotes. The carriers below are those licensed in 45 or more states nationally; we do not yet verify licensing state by state, so confirm that a carrier is admitted in West Virginia before you apply.

Carrier	3-year	5-year	7-year	10-year
Aspida Life A-Synergy Choice MYGA · rates eff. October 13, 2026	5.70%	6.30%	6.35%	—	Get quote
Global Atlantic ASecureFore · rates eff. October 12, 2026	5.65%	6.00%	6.00%	—	Get quote
Symetra ASelect Max · rates eff. October 9, 2026	5.55%	6.00%	6.10%	—	Get quote
Americo Financial Life APlatinum Assure · rates eff. October 6, 2026	4.45%	5.90%	6.00%	—	Get quote
Athene A+Athene MYG · rates eff. September 25, 2026	5.60%	5.85%	5.90%	—	Get quote
North American Co. A+NAC Guarantee Plus · rates eff. October 12, 2026	5.45%	5.85%	5.65%	—	Get quote
Lincoln Financial AMyGuarantee Plus · rates eff. October 12, 2026	—	5.80%	5.95%	6.00%	Get quote
MassMutual A++Premier Voyage · rates eff. October 12, 2026	5.45%	5.70%	5.75%	—	Get quote

Illustrative rates for comparison — not a live quote. Figures are effective annual yields before taxes (interest retained, no withdrawals or rider charges) for one named product per carrier, read from its published rate page on the date shown under each carrier name; where a product credits simple interest with a first-year bonus, its published headline rate is shown beneath. Confirm current rates with a licensed specialist. See the full national rate table for all 20 carriers.

Annuity carriers to consider in West Virginia

Broadly licensed nationally and ranked by 5-year effective annual yield — A.M. Best financial-strength rating shown for each.

1
Aspida Life A- Highest rates for short MYGA terms
4.6/5 — 5-year MYGA example: 6.30% effective at $100,000+ · Min: $25,000

Read review
2
Global Atlantic A Strong fixed-indexed annuity specialist
4.6/5 — 5-year MYGA example: 6.00% effective at $100,000+ · Min: $10,000

Read review
3
Symetra A Trusted Sumitomo Life subsidiary
4.5/5 — 5-year MYGA example: 6.00% effective at $100,000–$249,999 · Min: $10,000

Read review
4
Americo Financial Life A Strong short-term MYGA option
4.4/5 — 5-year MYGA example: 5.90% effective · Min: $25,000

Read review
5
Athene A+ Strong MYGA rates across terms
4.8/5 — 5-year MYGA example: 5.85% effective at $100,000+ · Min: $5,000

Read review

See full rankings →

What's different about buying an annuity in West Virginia

Five state-specific factors West Virginia buyers should understand.

West Virginia guaranty fund coverage

The West Virginia Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association protects up to $250,000 per insurer per individual. That matches the $250,000 most states use. The limit applies per insurer, per person, and is subject to the association's conditions and exclusions.

West Virginia free-look period

West Virginia requires a free-look period of 10 days from contract delivery. You can return the contract during this window without a surrender charge — usually for your full premium; on a variable annuity the refund can be the current account value, which may be less. Use this time to verify the carrier's rating, get a second opinion, and confirm every term in the contract matches what you were quoted.

West Virginia premium tax

West Virginia levies a 1.00% premium tax on non-qualified annuity contracts. The tax is remitted by the insurer; how it reaches you varies — some carriers absorb it in pricing, others pass it through, so ask how a quote treats it. West Virginia is one of the few states that imposes this tax.

Carrier availability in West Virginia

Not every carrier operates in every state, and we do not yet verify licensing state by state. Confirm with the carrier or a West Virginia-licensed agent that a given contract is available where you live before you apply.

West Virginia income tax on withdrawals

Annuity growth is federally tax-deferred. West Virginia has a state income tax, but how much of a withdrawal it taxes depends on its rules; some states exempt part or all of retirement income. Confirm with a West Virginia-licensed CPA or tax advisor before withdrawing large amounts.

Understanding West Virginia's guaranty association

An annuity isn't FDIC-insured. If a carrier fails, the West Virginia Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association provides a limited backstop — up to $250,000 in present value per insurance company, per person. It exists to catch a worst case; it is not a reason to buy, and in most states it is illegal for an agent to present it as one. Choose on carrier financial strength first — the right goal is a carrier that never needs the safety net.

West Virginia's premium tax quietly lowers your yield

West Virginia levies a 1.00% premium tax on non-qualified annuities. On a $100,000 contract that's roughly $1,000 of drag versus a no-premium-tax state — small, but real, and worth factoring when you compare the headline rate to states without it.

$100,000 in a 5-year MYGA vs a 5-year CD

Illustrative, 24% tax bracket, both lines after tax: $9,276 more over 5 years, almost all of it from the rate difference (6.3% vs 4.4%) rather than from deferral. The 4.4% CD leg is an assumed APY, not a quote; the FDIC all-institution average is 1.41%. A MYGA is an insurance contract, not FDIC-insured.

The gap above is mostly the rate difference rather than the tax treatment, but the deferral is the structural reason to prefer a MYGA over a taxable account holding the same rate; West Virginia's premium tax shaves a little off it. Use the 10-day West Virginia free-look window to have an independent professional review any contract before it's final.

Go deeper: how to vet carrier safety, the free-look period, and annuity tax rules.

West Virginia annuity FAQs

What's the annuity guaranty fund limit in West Virginia?

The West Virginia Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association covers up to $250,000 per insurance company, per individual. The limit applies per insurer, per person. 1% premium tax on non-qualified annuities. NOLHGA member. Limits, conditions and exclusions are set by state law and vary, and coverage is not a substitute for the insurer's financial strength. Confirm the terms that apply to you with the West Virginia Department of Insurance or your state guaranty association.

Are annuity rates different in West Virginia?

Quoted MYGA rates are typically the same across all states a carrier operates in, but West Virginia's 1.00% premium tax on non-qualified annuities means your effective yield is slightly lower than a no-premium-tax state. Not all carriers operate in every state, so the top rate available to you depends on which carriers are licensed in West Virginia.

What's the free-look period in West Virginia?

West Virginia requires a free-look period of 10 days. During this window, you can return the contract without a surrender charge — usually for your full premium; on a variable annuity the refund can be the current account value, which may be less. Use this time to verify the carrier's rating, confirm contract terms, and get a second opinion.

Are MYGAs subject to West Virginia state income tax?

Annuity growth is tax-deferred federally and in most states. West Virginia has a state income tax, but how much of a withdrawal it taxes depends on its rules; some states exempt part or all of retirement income. Consult a West Virginia-licensed tax advisor for your specific situation.

What are the best annuity carriers in West Virginia?

There is no single "best" carrier — it depends on the term you want, the rate, and how much financial strength you require. The carriers listed above are ordered by their current 5-year MYGA rate alone, highest first, and each one's A.M. Best financial-strength rating is shown beside it. A higher rate frequently comes from a lower-rated carrier, so read the rating, not just the rate. Rankings are Track Retirement's editorial opinion, not a recommendation, and no carrier can pay for placement.

Why you can trust Track Retirement

No carrier, advertiser, or listed agent can pay for a ranking, and none reviews our content before publication. Figures are drawn from primary sources — A.M. Best, NAIC, the IRS, SSA, and Treasury — and checked against them. Our content is researched and drafted with the help of AI tools and verified against those sources; see our editorial policy.

Independent Carriers can't pay for a ranking

Sourced Built from primary sources

WV data Guaranty, free-look & premium tax

Sample Illustrative rates

How we collect West Virginia annuity data

Rate data is compared across 20 A.M. Best-rated carriers. West Virginia-specific data (guaranty limits, free-look periods, premium tax) sourced from the West Virginia Department of Insurance and the National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations (NOLHGA). Verify exact terms with your specific carrier before purchasing. See our full methodology.