Gerber Life Insurance is a financially strong company with an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best. Owned by Western & Southern Financial Group, Gerber offers term life, whole life, and guaranteed issue policies for children and adults. Their guaranteed issue plan accepts applicants ages 50 to 80 with no health questions, though it comes with a two-year graded death benefit.
Gerber Life Insurance Company is one of the most recognized names in life insurance. Most people know Gerber from baby food, but the insurance side of the business has been around since 1967. Today, Gerber Life manages more than $50 billion in life insurance coverage and serves millions of policyholders across all 50 states.
But is Gerber Life actually a good choice? In this review, we’ll break down Gerber’s financial strength, product lineup, and their popular guaranteed issue plan for seniors. We’ll also cover the pros, the cons, and who this company works best for.
About Gerber Life Insurance Company
Gerber Life Insurance Company started in 1967 as an affiliate of the Gerber baby food brand. While the baby food connection still drives brand recognition, the insurance company now operates under Western & Southern Financial Group, which acquired Gerber Life in 2018.
Western & Southern is a Fortune 500 company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. This parent company also owns several other well-known insurance brands. That financial backing gives Gerber Life a solid foundation that few smaller insurers can match.
Gerber Life is headquartered in White Plains, New York. They’re licensed in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and Canada.
Gerber Life Financial Strength and Ratings
Financial strength matters when you’re buying life insurance. You want to know the company will be around to pay your claim when your family needs it most.
Gerber Life holds an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best, which was upgraded from A (Excellent) in February 2024 and most recently affirmed in March 2025. AM Best is the leading independent rating agency for insurance companies, and A+ is the second-highest rating they award. This tells you Gerber Life has a very strong ability to meet its financial obligations to policyholders.
The Better Business Bureau gives Gerber Life an A+ grade as well, though the company is not BBB accredited. Customer complaints have been a mixed bag over the years, with most issues relating to claims processing and billing. That said, this is common across the insurance industry and doesn’t signal anything unusual for a company of Gerber’s size.
Gerber Life Insurance Products
Gerber Life offers several types of coverage for different life stages. Here’s a quick look at what’s available:
| Product | Coverage Amounts | Ages | Medical Exam? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term Life | $100,000 to $2,000,000 | 18-70 | Not required for most under 56 |
| Whole Life (Adults) | $50,000 to $300,000 (higher amounts may be available) | 18+ | Not required for many applicants |
| Guaranteed Life (Final Expense) | $5,000 to $25,000 | 50-80 | No exam, no health questions |
| Grow-Up Plan (Children) | $5,000 to $50,000 | 14 days to 14 years | No |
| Accident Protection | $50,000 to $250,000 (up to $500,000 combined with spouse) | 18-69 | No |
Gerber Life also offers the Fabric by Gerber Life platform, which launched after the company acquired Fabric Technologies in 2022. This gives applicants a fully digital option for buying term life insurance online with a streamlined application process.
One thing Gerber doesn’t offer is universal life insurance. If you’re looking for flexible premium payments or an adjustable death benefit, you’ll need to look at other carriers.
Gerber Guaranteed Life Insurance Plan
The Guaranteed Life plan is where Gerber fits squarely into the final expense market, and it’s the product most relevant to seniors shopping for burial insurance.
This is a whole life insurance policy designed for adults between the ages of 50 and 80 (75 in New York). There are no health questions on the application and no medical exam required. If you’re in the age range and you’re a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you’re accepted. Period.
Coverage ranges from $5,000 to $25,000, with a combined maximum of $25,000 across all Gerber Life guaranteed policies. Once approved, your premium stays locked in for life and the policy never expires as long as you keep paying.
The important catch: the graded death benefit. If the insured passes away from a non-accidental cause within the first two years of the policy, beneficiaries don’t receive the full death benefit. Instead, they receive 110% of earned premiums. After two years, the full death benefit applies. Accidental death is covered in full from day one.
This is standard for guaranteed issue policies across the industry. It’s how insurance companies manage risk when they accept everyone regardless of health. But it’s something every buyer needs to understand before signing up.
Gerber also offers a small discount if you sign up for automatic premium payments from your bank account.
Pros and Cons of Gerber Life Insurance
What Gerber does well:
- A+ AM Best rating backed by the financial strength of Western & Southern Financial Group
- Guaranteed acceptance for seniors ages 50 to 80 with no health questions
- Wide range of products covering children, adults, and seniors
- Recognizable, trusted brand with nearly 60 years in business
- Digital option through Fabric by Gerber Life for tech-savvy applicants
Where Gerber falls short:
- Guaranteed issue coverage maxes out at $25,000, which may not cover all final expenses depending on your situation
- Two-year graded death benefit means limited payout if you pass away early in the policy
- No universal life insurance options
- No mobile app for policy management (outside of the Fabric platform)
- Customer complaints around claims processing and billing, though volume is within the expected range for their size
Who Is Gerber Life Insurance Best For?
Gerber Life works best for a few specific groups of people.
If you’re a senior between 50 and 80 and you’ve been turned down for life insurance due to health issues, the Guaranteed Life plan gives you an option when other doors have closed. It’s not the cheapest coverage available, and the two-year waiting period is a real limitation. But for people who can’t qualify for anything else, it provides peace of mind.
If you’re in decent health, you’ll almost certainly find better rates and higher coverage amounts with a simplified issue or fully underwritten policy. That’s how guaranteed issue life insurance works across the industry. You pay more because the insurer takes on more risk.
For parents and grandparents, the Grow-Up Plan is popular for locking in insurability while a child is young and healthy. The coverage doubles automatically at age 18, which is a nice feature.
If you’re a healthy adult looking for straightforward term life insurance, Gerber offers competitive coverage up to $2 million. But this is also a space where many other carriers compete aggressively, so it’s worth comparing quotes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gerber Life Insurance a legitimate company?
Yes. Gerber Life has been in business since 1967 and is owned by Western & Southern Financial Group, a Fortune 500 company. They hold an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best and are licensed in all 50 states. They’ve paid out billions in claims over the decades.
What is the Gerber guaranteed life insurance waiting period?
Gerber’s Guaranteed Life plan has a two-year graded death benefit. If the insured dies from a non-accidental cause within the first two years, beneficiaries receive 110% of earned premiums instead of the full death benefit. After two years, the full benefit applies. Accidental death is covered immediately.
How much does Gerber guaranteed life insurance cost?
Premiums depend on your age, gender, and the coverage amount you choose. Gerber offers between $5,000 and $25,000 in guaranteed issue coverage. You can get a small discount by enrolling in automatic bank payments.
Can I get Gerber Life Insurance if I have health problems?
Yes. The Guaranteed Life plan requires no health questions and no medical exam. If you’re between 50 and 80 years old and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you’re automatically accepted. For Gerber’s other products like term and whole life, some health information may be required.
Does Gerber Life Insurance build cash value?
The Guaranteed Life plan and all of Gerber’s whole life products do build cash value over time on a tax-deferred basis. You can borrow against this cash value if needed, though policy loans accrue interest at up to 8% and may reduce your death benefit. Gerber’s term life insurance does not build cash value.
Who owns Gerber Life Insurance Company?
Gerber Life is a subsidiary of Western & Southern Financial Group, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Western & Southern acquired Gerber Life in 2018. Despite the brand name, Gerber Life operates independently from Gerber baby food products, though they share the same brand heritage.
Key Takeaways
- Gerber Life Insurance holds an A+ (Superior) AM Best rating, affirmed March 2025, making it one of the more financially stable carriers in the market.
- The Guaranteed Life plan accepts all applicants ages 50 to 80 with no health questions, but comes with a two-year graded death benefit.
- Coverage for the guaranteed issue plan ranges from $5,000 to $25,000, designed specifically for final expense needs.
- If you’re in good health, you can likely find more coverage at a lower cost through a fully underwritten policy.
- Gerber’s product lineup covers children through seniors, but they don’t offer universal life insurance.
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