Gerber Life Insurance Review 2024

Gerber is best known for its life insurance policies for children, but the company also sells small term and whole life insurance policies for adults. In 2022, Gerber’s parent company, Western and Southern Financial Group, acquired Fabric life insurance, which now issues Gerber Life policies.

If you’re considering buying life insurance on a child, it’s important to look past the sales pitches and consider the pros and cons. Your money may be better put elsewhere, such as a 529 college savings plan.

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Gerber life insurance rating

Gerber earned 3 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.

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Gerber life insurance policies

Term life insurance. Terms of 10, 20 or 30 years are available for $100,000 to $300,000 of term life insurance coverage for adults. Most people won't have to take a medical exam and many will get a decision on the application in minutes. An exam is required for people ages 51 and older who apply for more than $100,000 of coverage. You can call a Gerber representative to discuss coverage amounts above $300,000, up to $1 million.

Whole life insurance. Gerber sells three types of whole life insurance.

• Whole life: Coverage of $50,000 to $300,000 is available for adults. Medical history is considered, but a medical exam may not be required. You can call a Gerber representative to discuss coverage amounts above $300,000.

• Guaranteed issue whole life: In most states, adults between 50 and 80 can apply for $5,000 to $25,000 of coverage. The exceptions are South Dakota, where the maximum amount is $15,000 and New York where the maximum age to apply is 75. No medical exam is required, and acceptance is guaranteed.

• Guaranteed whole life for children and teens.

  • The Gerber Life Grow-Up Plan is a whole life insurance policy for children with coverage options of $5,000 to $50,000. Parents, grandparents and legal guardians can apply when children are between 14 days and 14 years old. The coverage amount doubles at age 18, and the child becomes the policy owner at age 21.

  • Gerber also offers a whole life policy for teens called Life Insurance for Young Adults. Parents or grandparents can purchase this for teens ages 15 to 17. Again, the coverage amount automatically doubles at age 18.

Endowment life insurance: The Gerber Life College Plan is pitched as a college savings plan that doubles as adult life insurance. The policy pays out a lump sum on a certain date or when the insured dies, whichever comes sooner. Typically, this type of insurance insures a parent, and the maturity date is timed to coincide with a child’s high school graduation. Coverage options range from $10,000 to $150,000. The rate of return varies depending on the policy. Returns are taxable income.

Accidental death and dismemberment insurance: Gerber’s accident protection insurance pays out if the insured person dies or suffers a disabling injury, such as the loss of a foot, hand or eyesight, from an accident. Unlike life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance does not pay out if the insured dies from illness or natural causes. Coverage is available in amounts from $50,000 to $250,000, and from $25,000 if you’re buying for a spouse.

» MORE: Should you buy life insurance for children?

Gerber customer complaints and satisfaction

Over three years, Gerber 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.

What Reddit users say about Gerber

Reddit is an online forum where users share their thoughts in “threads” on various topics. The popular site includes plenty of discussion on financial subjects like life insurance, so we sifted through Reddit forums to get a pulse check on how users feel about insurers. People post anonymously, so we cannot confirm their individual experiences or circumstances.

Many Reddit threads about Gerber insurance are discussions on whether child life insurance, Gerber’s best-known type of coverage, is worth buying. Many commenters argue that children don’t need life insurance because they don’t have dependents, and that parents would be better off putting their money into a 529, investment or savings account. Others say having a small amount of life insurance on a child can help pay for funeral or medical expenses in case the worst happens.

There are also several Reddit posts from young adults wondering what to do with a Gerber whole life insurance plan their relatives bought for them when they were children. Instead of keeping the policy and paying the premiums, Redditors often advise them to cash out the plan and use the money for something else — especially if they don’t have dependents relying on their income.

Questions from Reddit: Our experts answer

Should I buy a Gerber life insurance policy for my child?

In general, it’s more important for parents to have life insurance for themselves than to buy a policy for their child. The payout can help cover lost income, child care or other expenses if a parent dies. If you do decide you want some coverage for your children, a child term rider is worth considering as an alternative to a separate policy. A child term rider is an extra type of insurance you can add to your term life insurance policy to cover your child. Learn more about whether you should buy child life insurance.

What should an adult do with the Gerber life insurance policy their parents or grandparents bought for them?

It depends on your circumstances. If you are in poor health and would have trouble finding life insurance elsewhere, it might be a good idea to keep the policy. But if you’re young and healthy, you might instead want to buy term life insurance, which could offer more coverage for less money. If you don’t have any dependents, you may not need life insurance at all — in which case you could consider cashing out the policy and putting the funds toward investing or paying off debt. A financial advisor can help you think through the decision.

Where Gerber stands out

Gerber offers a wide selection of term and whole life policies, with unique options for children and teens. The company’s website shows detailed information about all of its policies. Plus, you can apply for term life online, and may be approved for coverage the same day. 

Where Gerber falls short

Gerber’s consumer complaint ratio is higher than other companies. Also, its term life coverage amounts are lower than what some insurers offer.

» MORE: Life insurance: Policies, cost and best companies

More about Gerber

Gerber Life’s website provides FAQs and blog posts to learn more about life insurance basics. You can also get a quote, pay your bill, view your policy and update beneficiary information via the customer portal.

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