You’re our first priority.
Every time.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners.
Fabric Life Insurance Review 2024
![Katia Iervasi](https://www.nerdwallet.com/assets/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24-065-6706_Katia-Iervasi_background-bone-160x160.png)
Assistant Assigning Editor | Life insurance, disability insurance, health care
Katia Iervasi is an assistant assigning editor at NerdWallet. An insurance authority, she previously spent over six years covering insurance topics as a writer, where she loved untangling complicated topics and answering readers’ burning money questions. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication and has studied writing, fact-checking and editing with Poynter. Her writing and analysis has been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, Yahoo, Entrepreneur, Best Company and FT Advisor. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Katia currently lives in New York City.
![Erica Corbin](https://www.nerdwallet.com/assets/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Headshot2-160x160.png)
Assigning Editor
Erica Corbin is a former assigning editor at NerdWallet. Erica joined NerdWallet in 2020 as an assistant assigning editor at large. In 2023, she was promoted to assigning editor and helped lead the credit cards vertical at NerdWallet Canada. She previously wrote and edited content at companies such as GOBankingRates and Nasdaq. Her work has been syndicated to USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN and more.
Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
![insurance-product-card-logo](https://www.nerdwallet.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85/cdn/insurance/logos/fabric_gl.png)
Fabric
3.5
on Nerdwallet
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Pros
- Simple online and mobile application process.
- Platform offers financial planning tools for parents.
- Most applicants won’t need a medical exam for term life insurance.
Cons
- Not available in every state.
![insurance-product-card-logo](https://www.nerdwallet.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85/cdn/insurance/logos/fabric_gl.png)
on Nerdwallet
Fabric
3.5
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Pros
- Simple online and mobile application process.
- Platform offers financial planning tools for parents.
- Most applicants won’t need a medical exam for term life insurance.
Cons
- Not available in every state.
In our life insurance reviews, our editorial team considers the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:
Policies offered. There are many types of life insurance on the market, and they fall into three key categories:
Term life insurance offers temporary coverage and a guaranteed payout if the policyholder dies during the term.
Permanent life insurance typically lasts a lifetime and builds cash value that can be borrowed against in the future.
No-exam life insurance issues coverage without the need for a medical exam.
Financial strength. We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. For life insurance, NerdWallet typically recommends considering insurers with ratings of A- or higher. Here’s the breakdown:
Exceptional: A+, A++.
Strong: A-, A.
Moderate: B, B+.
Complaints. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best life insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.
Buy online. This indicates whether an insurer allows you to apply for and buy a policy completely online.
Dive deeper: Ratings methodology for life insurance
Launched in 2017, Fabric sells term life insurance via its site and mobile app. Fabric’s application process is simple, taking as little as 10 minutes to complete. You can choose from a wide range of term lengths and buy a large amount of coverage without the need for a medical exam.
Previously known simply as Fabric, the company recently changed its brand to Fabric by Gerber Life. Its policies are issued by a related insurer, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company. Gerber Life and Western-Southern Life have the same parent company.
» MORE: Compare life insurance quotes
Fabric life insurance rating
3.5
NerdWallet ratingFabric earned 3.5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer experience, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and financial strength ratings.
» MORE: Best life insurance companies
Fabric life insurance policies
Term life insurance. Fabric sells term life insurance lasting 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years to people 21 to 70 years old. The term length(s) you qualify for will depend on your age. You can buy a policy worth $100,000 to $5 million if you’re willing to take a medical exam, or up to $1.5 million without an exam. Either way, you’ll need to fill out a health and lifestyle questionnaire to apply.
Fabric’s term life insurance also includes an accelerated death benefit rider, which allows you to access a portion of the policy’s payout early if you're diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Policies are currently available in all U.S. states except New York.
Western-Southern customer complaints and satisfaction
Over three years, Western-Southern Life Assurance — the company that issues Fabric’s policies — has drawn more than the expected number of complaints to state regulators for a company of its size, according to a NerdWallet analysis of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
» MORE: Gerber life insurance review
How Fabric compares to other insurers
Fabric | Ladder | Ethos | |
---|---|---|---|
Star rating | 3.5 NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more. | 3.0 NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more. | 3.0 NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more. |
Financial strength | Exceptional. | Exceptional. | Strong. |
NAIC complaints | More than expected. | More than expected. | More than expected. |
Policy types offered | Term, no-exam. | Term, no-exam. | Term, permanent, no-exam. |
Read full reviews |
More about Fabric
You can apply for a policy and manage your account through Fabric’s website or mobile app.
Fabric’s app, which is compatible with Apple and Android devices, has several added-value features. You can use it to create a free will, open an investment account for your child and sync finances with your partner or spouse.
![](https://www.nerdwallet.com/assets/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/image-2.png)
Life insurance buying guide
Before you start comparing companies, choose the type of life insurance you want, such as term or whole life. Decide which life insurance riders, if any, you want the policy to include. Calculate how much life insurance you need and how long you want the coverage to last. Check that the insurers you’re considering offer the coverage you’re looking for.
When comparing rates, be sure the quotes are for the same amount of coverage over the same period of time. It’s also important to make sure the policy’s medical requirements match your needs. For example, if you want to skip the life insurance medical exam but don’t mind answering health questions, confirm that the application process for each policy you're comparing aligns with that.
Price may not be the biggest driver behind your decision to buy. Look at the number of consumer complaints each company receives, as high numbers can be a red flag about the quality of service.
For more guidance, see our life insurance buying guide.
Methodology
Life insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s life insurance ratings are based on consumer experience, complaint index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for individual life insurance, and weighted averages of financial strength ratings, which indicate a company’s ability to pay future claims. Within the consumer experience category, we consider ease of communication and website transparency, which looks at the depth of policy details available online. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare with one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
In This Review . . .
DIVE EVEN DEEPER IN INSURANCE
Life Insurance Policies and Quotes for September 2024
Read more
7 Best Term Life Insurance Companies in September 2024
Read more
![](https://www.nerdwallet.com/assets/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/email-verification-320x318.png)