Gerber Life Insurance Company

One of the most recognizable names in the life insurance industry, Gerber excels at providing competitively priced final expense policies for senior applicants, though there may be more affordable options for children’s insurance.

Product Availability

Review Breakdown

Price/Value

The cost of coverage is a major determinant when you choose a life insurance provider.

Companies weigh your age health, and other risk factors to determine what you’ll pay for a policy, with each one using their own scale.

We compared quotes for several policies and demographics to determine how cost-effective Gerber’s policies are.

Overall, Gerber life insurance is reasonably priced, though their adult policies aren’t the most competitive if you’re healthy and young.

The average applicant seeking more than $25,000 of coverage could save by looking for a medically underwritten policy elsewhere.

That being said, if you aren’t in great health and you’ve been declined or poorly rated for a fully underwritten policy, Gerber’s guaranteed policies may offer the most affordable coverage.

Gerber’s children’s policies aren’t the most expensive, but you may be able to get the same level of protection with a more affordable term rider attached to your policy elsewhere.

Financial Strength

Financial strength is another essential factor to consider when you buy life insurance. You need to purchase a policy from a provider you can count on when you need them most.

Gerber Life Insurance Company is dependable, as an “A” rated company with more than $33 billion dollars in assets in its short lifespan.

Though Gerber hasn’t been rated by Standard and Poor’s, Fitch, or Moody’s, it has an “A” rating from A.M. Best.

This rating indicates that Gerber’s financial outlook is promising and they are capable of paying out claims to policyholders.

Further solidifying Gerber’s financial strength, its parent company, Western & Southern Financial Group, has “A” level ratings across the board from all four agencies and a strong financial profile.

User Experience

In addition to cost and financial strength, user experience should be a key consideration when you choose a policy.

The best life insurance companies make life insurance simple, from how they communicate with clients to their online experience and the ease of their application.

Ratings

Ratings are helpful indicators of a company’s user experience.

Gerber is unrated by J.D. Power, who annually reviews some of the top companies in the nation based on customer experience.

However, the company boasts an “A+” from the Better Business Bureau, based on customer complaints, client communication, and Gerber’s overall business practices.

Website

Gerber’s website is easy to navigate, with helpful articles about the basics of life insurance.

It also provides a brief history of the company and contact information.

You can easily learn about all of the products Gerber has to offer, with plenty of policy details to help you pick the product you need.

From there, you can get online quotes by providing your email address and a few basic details. You can instantly see a quote to get an idea of what you can expect to pay for different levels of coverage.

If you like what you see, you can apply online for a policy.

Policyholders can also complete the following actions online with Gerber’s eService platform:

• Make and manage payments
• Update contact information
• Submit policy change forms

To file a claim, you need to call the company’s claim hotline from Monday to Saturday.

Application

Gerber is one of a growing list of companies requiring no exams.

That means you may be approved for coverage without undergoing a paramedical exam during the underwriting process.

Gerber takes it a step further, allowing you to apply for one of its policies quickly online.

After you get quotes, you can apply for one of Gerber’s smaller policies in 5 minutes, entering your personal and medical information.

Once you’ve done that, you simply make a payment, sign off on the policy, and you’re covered, though applicants with trickier medical records may need to provide further information or get an exam before being approved.

Product Availability

Although you may associate Gerber with baby food, bibs, and other knick-knacks for toddlers, Gerber’s lineup of life insurance policies is for children, young adults, and senior citizens, alike.

Children’s Insurance

If you have a child, you’ve likely received information or pamphlets on the Gerber Grow-up Plan, a permanent policy that is both affordable and beneficial for many families.

Parents and grandparents can buy this coverage for children between two weeks and fourteen years old.

This whole life policy offers up to $50,000 in coverage when the policy begins, which is as early as 14 days old, with the death benefit doubling once the insured child reaches 18.

More increases are available later in life, with cash value available for loans.

When the insured reaches adulthood, they can maintain coverage and add more protection to the policy if they choose.

Guaranteed

Gerber is one of the top life insurance companies in America for its guaranteed product line.

Available once a person reaches age 50, and going as high as age 80, the policy allows as much as $25,000 in permanent coverage.

There are no medical questions, no exams, and the insurance coverage takes effect within days.

There is a waiting period on this policy, however, of two years. Thes policies are some of the most competitively priced in the industry as well.

Whole

Gerber’s traditional whole life policies offer a bit more expansive protection and cover a wider range of people’s needs.

Coverage runs from $50,000 to $300,000, with a small additional cash value component.

Individuals between the ages of 18 and 70 can apply for these policies, often without a medical exam.

Just note that whole life insurance is the most expensive form of coverage, and Gerber is no exception.

Term

If your needs are more temporary, Gerber has a policy to meet them.

You can opt for coverage between $100,000 and $300,000 in 10, 20, and 30-year terms.

Most applicants can get approved without a medical exam, though one may be required based on your application responses.

Additionally, these policies come with flexibility, allowing you to convert to a permanent policy later in life without a medical exam.

College Savings

If you’re looking for life insurance and a college savings plan for your child, the Gerber Life College Plan could be of use.

This policy provides savings for college alongside adult term life insurance, with a guaranteed payout anywhere from $10,000 to $150,000 when the policy reaches maturity, as long as premium payments are maintained.

If you pass away before your child reaches adulthood, they will receive the full policy benefit.

These plans also have the added advantage of flexibility, as the funds can be used not just for college, but however you and your child see fit.

Accident

Gerber also offers accident protection insurance, in the following amounts:

These policies pay out between $20,000 and $100,000 for accidental death and disability.

Gerber’s accident plans are guaranteed, meaning you won’t be turned away based on your health or other risk factors.

You can obtain an accident plan from Gerber if you’re between the ages of 19 and 69, locking in premiums that will never increase.

Brand/Size

On its own, the name Gerber is highly recognizable and has been since the company’s inception in 1927 as a baby food company.

To this day, the Gerber Products Company still provides canned baby foods of all kinds to infants and toddlers all around the country.

Started in Michigan by Daniel and Dorothy Gerber, the company has always had strong ties to children since the foundation was set by Dorothy making food for their own child.

40 years later, in 1967, Gerber Life Insurance Company was founded as an extended way to assist parents and children, providing lifelong care through life insurance and accident protection products.

Although it hasn’t been around nearly as long as some other insurance companies, Gerber boasts nearly 3 million policies across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with over $50 billion of life insurance in force.

Gerber is now a member of Western and Southern Financial Group, an industry giant that has solidified its reputation and grown its customer base even more.

Brand

Certain companies hold a gold standard level of brand recognition, and Gerber Life Insurance Company is definitely one of them.

This brand recognition is not solely due to its impact in the insurance industry, but its overall ties to infants.

Gerber continues to use direct mail marketing more than any other insurance company.

From brochures in hospitals given to parents after the birth of their child to mailboxes of seniors looking for final expense life insurance, Gerber grows its policy base by using its distinct branding and traditional marketing.

The company also connects with the public online, with a large following on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

Gerber uses these platforms to engage with clients and share resourceful articles on life insurance and other topics geared towards parents and seniors.

Consensus

As you search for the right life insurance company, you should consider a range of opinions and select a provider that has a positive reputation among the industry.

We’ve taken the time to evaluate a multitude of reviews and rankings by industry experts to gauge the consensus surrounding Gerber.

There’s a generally positive consensus regarding Gerber, though it doesn’t always top the list of best companies.

That’s likely due to the fact that some of Gerber’s policies are not the most competitively priced.

While a child would likely be better off with an alternative policy, a final expense policy from Gerber often makes sense for adults.

Whatever type of coverage you’re looking for, you can count on Gerber’s financial strength, reputation, and top-notch customer service.