Gerber Life Insurance Review – It’s Not Just For Babies

Looking for easy-to-get life insurance? Gerber Life is best known for offering no-exam policies and simplified options. But is it the right fit for your needs?

In this guide, we review Gerber’s financial strength, life insurance products, underwriting, and when it makes sense to consider their offerings.

Founded in 1967, Gerber Life Insurance Company has become one of the most recognizable brands in simplified life insurance. While often associated with baby food, the insurance company operates under Western & Southern Financial Group, a financially strong parent organization.

Today, Gerber manages over $50 billion of life insurance in force, offering a range of policies for children, adults, and seniors.

Gerber Life is a financially stable insurer with a long-standing track record.

• AM Best: “A+”

Gerber’s AM Best rating compares to companies such as Pacific Life, Prudential, Banner Life, and Protective Life.

Gerber offers several types of life insurance to meet your needs, including:

The Guaranteed Life policy is a whole life insurance policy that offers guaranteed acceptance.

Highlights:

• Coverage: $5,000 – $25,000 (limitations vary by state)
• Ages: 50-80
• No medical exam or health questions
• Graded Benefit:
  • Years 1 & 2: Death benefit is equal to 110% of premiums paid
  • After year 2: Full death benefit is paid
• This policy does not pay dividends
• The policy builds cash value
• Loans are available

This policy is for people who are uninsurable otherwise. It’s a last resort type of product that compares to Colonial Penn, Trustage, AARP, and Mutual of Omaha.

If you have a health history of cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, you may still qualify for an underwritten policy that provides better benefits at a lower price.

Gerber offers this non-participating (non-dividend-paying) whole life insurance policy.

Highlights:

• Issue Ages: 18-80
• Coverage: $50,000 – $1,000,000 ($500k for age 56-80)
• Non-participating – no dividends
• Simplified underwriting for:
  • Up to $1,000,000 for ages 18-55
  • Up to $100,000 for ages 56-80
• Riders:
  • Accelerated Death Benefit Rider
• The policy builds cash values

If you’re going to consider whole life insurance, make sure you get comparisons from companies like Northwestern Mutual, MassMutual, Guardian, New York Life, and Penn Mutual.

Gerber’s Accident Protection Plan provides coverage for both accidental death and disabling injuries.

This is somewhat unique compared to other accidental policies, as different companies typically only cover death.

Highlights:

• Issue ages from 18-69
• Face amounts from $50,000 – $500,000
• Acceptance is guaranteed
• There is no waiting period for benefits to begin
• Lump sum payouts for death or disability.

Accidental coverage is a good option when you want to supplement a life insurance policy or are uninsurable for health reasons.

The Gerber Grow-Up plan is a whole life insurance policy.

Highlights:

• Issue Ages: 14 days to 14 years old
• Coverage Amounts: $10,000 – $50,000
• Simplified Underwriting
• Coverage automatically doubles when the child turns 18.
• Riders:
  • PPO – Payment Protection Option pays the premiums if the owner becomes disabled.
  • GPO – Guaranteed Purchase Option allows you to purchase additional coverage.
• Ownership – The adult buying the policy is the owner until the child turns 21. At that time, the child automatically becomes the owner.

It’s popular, but we don’t offer this plan, and we generally recommend building college savings through other means (like a Roth IRA or 529 Plan) rather than using life insurance for kids.

You can reach Gerber several ways.

• Phone: 800-704-2180
• Online: here
• Address: 445 State Street – Fremont, Michigan 49412

Gerber Life Insurance makes buying a policy simple. If you’re looking for basic coverage with minimal hassle, especially for guaranteed issue or low face amounts, Gerber may be a solid choice.

But if you’re in decent health, you can often find more coverage at a lower cost from fully underwritten options with other insurers.

Need help figuring it out? We’ll compare quotes from over 20 companies, including Gerber, and help you get the right policy for your needs.