Life Insurance Questions

The Grow-Up^® Plan is a whole life insurance policy for a child that builds cash value. You’re the policy owner until your child reaches age 21. At that time, your child becomes the policy owner and is guaranteed lifelong insurance protection, as long as premiums are paid. Plus, your child has the option to buy additional coverage as an adult, regardless of health or occupation.

Each time you make a monthly premium payment for your child’s Grow-Up^® Plan, Gerber Life sets aside a small amount of that money. Over time, this becomes the cash value of your policy. This money is available for you to borrow if you ever have the need for ready cash. As an adult, your child will have the option to turn in the policy and receive the available cash value. Click here to learn more about cash value.

The cost of a Grow-Up^® Plan varies based on the amount of coverage you choose, your child’s age at the time of your application, and the state where you live. Scroll below to get a free quote instantly.

No! With the Grow-Up^® Plan, your premium is guaranteed to stay the same for your child’s lifetime. In other words, your child will get more coverage at a better value.

Yes. You can borrow from the cash value, as long as premiums are paid, by taking a policy loan. Policy loans are subject to 8% interest rate and may impact cash value and death benefit. You can also surrender the policy and receive the available cash value.

No, there is no obligation to buy additional insurance. As long as premiums are paid, your child’s existing whole life insurance coverage will continue automatically. As an adult, your child is guaranteed the option to buy additional life insurance at our standard age-based rates should they want greater protection, no matter their health or occupation.

Once coverage begins, and as long as the premiums are paid, Gerber Life cannot cancel the insurance for any reason. Only you (or your child at age 21) can cancel the Grow-Up^® Plan.

Yes. If you decide to cancel the policy, you’ll receive the accumulated cash value that has built up over time, minus any outstanding debt against the policy. The same is true after your child becomes the policy owner.

You can pay your monthly premium by mail, by phone, or online using a checking/savings account or a credit/debit card. You can save 10% on your Grow Up premium by setting up automatic payments from your checking or savings account. You can also set up automatic payments to make managing your policy even easier through our eService platform.

You can apply for a Grow-Up^® Plan policy online, by mail or by phone. Applying online is quick and easy – just provide some basic information about you and the child you want to insure, and choose your coverage amount. Your application will be reviewed by our underwriting team and you will be notified as soon as it’s approved. You may be contacted by our underwriters if any additional information is needed to approve your application.

To apply for a Grow-Up^® Plan policy for another child, please complete and submit a new application. You can do this by filling out the form at the bottom of this page and following the easy instructions.

Yes. A child’s parent, grandparent or permanent legal guardian may apply for the Grow-Up^® Plan – a parent’s signature is needed only where required by law. The person applying is the policy owner until the child reaches age 21.

You should select the state that you live in when filling out the application.

If the Insured dies by suicide within two years from the Issue Date (one year in ND), the only amount payable by Gerber Life will be the premiums paid for the policy less any debt against the policy.

Term life insurance is one of the most popular types of life insurance because it provides protection for a specified period of time – a "term” – and can cost less than other types of life insurance. Our Gerber Life Term Life Policy is available for a duration of 10, 20 and 30 years, choose the duration that works best for you and your family.

Absolutely not. The amount you agree to pay when your coverage starts stays the same throughout the duration of your policy.

At the end of the term your policy coverage ends.  If you decide your family is still in need of coverage, you can renew your policy agreement at the premium rate for your age at that time – with no physical exam. This is a large benefit for those whose health may have changed during the policy term.

Term life insurance is popular because it’s one of the most affordable ways to protect your family financially after the loss of a parent or family provider.  Term provides coverage for just the number of years you select, so it costs less than other types of life insurance.  Family left behind as “beneficiaries” would have money available to pay bills, cover final expenses, or pay for future expenses such as a child’s education.

No medical exam is necessary in most cases. Coverage is dependent on answers to health questions.  A physical may be necessary for cause or for applicants ages 51 and older who apply for more than $100,000 of coverage.  In almost all other circumstances, Gerber Life’s customers will not need a medical exam.

Financial reliability is a critical consideration when choosing a life insurance provider. You want to know that the company you choose will be there when needed. Gerber Life has a long history of being there, and is conservatively managed to ensure long-term growth and financial stability.
A.M. Best, the impartial reporting firm that rates insurance companies on financial stability and ability to meet financial obligations, has awarded Gerber Life an “A” (Excellent) rating, most recently in December 2021. It refers only to the overall financial status of the company and is not a recommendation of specific policy provisions, rates or practices of the company. This rating is the third highest awarded out of thirteen possible categories.

Whole life insurance provides permanent life insurance coverage for your entire life, as long as you pay your monthly premium, and builds cash value over time. By comparison, term life insurance offers protection for only a specified period of time and does not build cash value.

One of the key benefits of whole life insurance is having life insurance for your lifetime. You can lock in a relatively affordable premium rate that will never increase for as long as you own the policy, making your payments predictable and easier to plan your budget. Whole life insurance builds cash value over time, providing an extra financial safety net for the unexpected.

Each time that you pay your premium, the insurance company sets aside a small amount, which builds up over time as the policy’s cash value. The longer you hold the policy, the more cash value the policy builds. If a need arises, and as long as premiums are paid, you could borrow against the available cash value* to help cover lost income, rent or mortgage payments, education costs, or other expenses. Or, you can turn in the policy later on and receive the available cash value.

*policy loan interest rate is 8%. Loans may impact cash value and death benefit.

The Gerber Life Whole Life Policy offers coverage from $50,000 to $300,000** to fit various needs and budgets. Choose a coverage amount that works best for you. Find out what your premium rates can be with a free quote.

**Higher coverage amounts available up to $1 million for those who qualify. Call one of our friendly representatives for rates, 1-800-425-7542.

No, the amount you pay when your coverage starts is the same amount that you‘ll pay throughout the life of your Gerber Life Whole Life Policy. The sooner you apply, the lower your lifetime premium rate, since premiums are based on your age when your policy starts.

As long as premiums are paid, you can borrow against the available cash value that has built up in your Gerber Life Whole Life Policy.

*policy loan interest rate is 8%. Loans may impact cash value and death benefit.

That’s your choice. You could pay back the borrowed money plus accrued interest, to make your policy whole. Or, if you chose not to pay it back, then the money borrowed plus accrued interest will be deducted when the policy's death benefit is paid or the policy is cashed in.

A medical exam is not necessary in most cases. Coverage is dependent on answers to health questions. A physical may be necessary for applicants who are age 51 and older and apply for more than $100,000 of coverage.

No. Once coverage begins and for as long as premiums are paid, Gerber Life cannot cancel your Whole Life insurance policy. You are the only person who could cancel the coverage.

This individual policy, available to you and your spouse, provides cash benefits in the event of a covered accidental death or disabling injury as the result of an accident — 24 hours a day, anywhere in the world.

You can choose your coverage amount – from $50,000 to $250,000.

Your coverage starts as soon as we receive payment for your first premium.

You can pay by credit or debit card, check or money order. Premium payments that are automatically withdrawn from a bank account will receive an additional discount.

Monthly premiums are just $26.13 for $250,000.00 of coverage. Or choose $150,000.00 of coverage for only $15.68 a month. A $50,000 policy is just $5.23 a month.

No. Once you apply for accident protection insurance, your premium is guaranteed never to go up, due to age or health.

This policy is available to anyone ages 18 to 69. No medical exam is required and there are no health questions to answer. Acceptance is guaranteed, regardless of health.

Guaranteed* Life Insurance from Gerber Life is whole life insurance for adults between 50 and 80 years old (50 and 75 in New York). The coverage can last a lifetime once approved, regardless of profession or health.

*Guaranteed coverage requires that applicant is a U.S citizen residing in the US or permanent legal guardian. Total limit of all combined Gerber Life Guaranteed life policies is $25,000.

Whole life insurance does not have a specified time period of coverage. You can own the policy for a few years or for the rest of your life, as long as you pay the premiums. Whole life insurance also builds "cash value." Cash value is money that is set aside by Gerber Life for your policy, which can be borrowed against if needed.* The longer you own the whole life policy, the more cash value you have in your policy.

*Policy loan interest rate is 8%. Loans may impact cash value and death benefit.

Gerber Life offers a wide range of Guaranteed Life coverage options from $5,000 to $25,000¹. Coverage is available in $1,000 increments. Our friendly representatives can help you determine the coverage that best suits you and your family.

¹ South Dakota residents, maximum coverage of $15,000.

If you qualify, Social Security will pay $225 toward your final expenses. That is just not enough – the average cost of a funeral can run more than $9,000². Guaranteed Life Insurance from Gerber Life can be a smart choice to help offset these high costs.

² NFDA 2019 General Price List Survey. National Funeral Directors Association.

Absolutely not. With Gerber Life, the amount you pay when your Guaranteed Life coverage starts is the same amount that you'll pay throughout the life of your policy. The only time your premiums may change is if you decide to increase your coverage or the frequency of your payments.

The Gerber Life Guaranteed Life Insurance policy comes with a graded death benefit limitation. It applies to the first two years of coverage when the policy is issued. If death occurs within the first two policy years for any reason other than an accident, all premiums plus 10% interest will be paid to the beneficiary. If death is due to accidental causes within the first two policy years, the full death benefit will be paid to the beneficiary.

After the two-year Graded Period, if the insured dies for any reason, the full face amount of the policy will be paid to the beneficiary. If the insured dies by suicide within two years from the Issue Date, the only amount payable will be the premiums paid for the policy plus 10%, less any debt against the policy.

Yes. Under current Federal law, the benefits are not generally subject to Federal tax if paid to a named beneficiary. Please consult your tax advisor; in some cases, estate or inheritance taxes may apply.

No medical exam is necessary for the Gerber Life Guaranteed Life Insurance policy. If you are a U.S. citizen or legal alien between 50 and 80 years old and become approved, your coverage is guaranteed regardless of profession or health.

No. Once coverage begins, and for as long as premiums are paid, Gerber Life cannot cancel your Guaranteed Life Insurance. Only you have the option to cancel the coverage.

The Gerber Life coverage includes a "free look" feature that gives you 30 days to examine and accept your Guaranteed Life Insurance whole life policy. If you decide that you no longer want the safety and coverage that your policy offers, simply return it for a full refund of all premiums that have been paid.

The rate of return varies depending upon your specific policy, its duration, and your billing frequency. For further details about your specific policy's rate of return, please call us at 866-503-4487.

The amount you'd get back depends on when you stop paying and surrender your policy. If you are past your policy's midway point (for a 10-year policy, the midpoint is about five years), you would get back all of the money you paid in.

The Gerber Life Insurance College Plan will generate some taxable income, Gerber Life Insurance will send you a statement (Form 1099) to file with your taxes. Please consult your tax advisor, in some cases, estate or inheritance taxes may apply.

Gerber Life was founded in 1967 by the Gerber Products Company, we share a common heritage and values in caring for the millions of families who place their trust in us. Today, Gerber Life is a member of Western & Southern Financial Group Inc., one of the strongest life insurance groups in the world. With $62 billion of life insurance in force as of December 2021, you can count on us.

Gerber Life Insurance Company was founded in 1967.

Gerber Life, which does business in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, has more than $62 billion of life insurance in force as of December 2021 and insures more than 3.7 million policies. Source: Gerber Life 2021 Annual Statement.

In December 2021, A.M. Best, the impartial reporting firm that rates insurance companies on financial stability and the ability to meet financial obligations, awarded Gerber Life, for the 20th consecutive year, an “A” (Excellent ability to meet ongoing financial obligations) rating.  This rating is the third highest awarded out of 13 possible categories. The rating refers only to the overall financial status of the company and is not a recommendation of the specific policy provisions, rates or practice of the company.

The home office of Gerber Life Insurance Company is located in White Plains, New York. The Operations Division, responsible for issuing all policies and processing benefit payments is in Fremont, Michigan.

You can read the full history of the Gerber baby logo here.

Gerber Life is a licensed insurance company in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. It is important to note, however, that some Gerber Life policies are not available in all areas. To find out more, refer to the specific policies descriptions elsewhere on the site, or email your specific question. A customer service representative will reply within 24 hours.

The answer will depend on many factors and only you can determine what is right for you or your family members. For help, click here to learn more about the available options.

Gerber Life eService allows policy owners to manage their policies wherever and whenever they choose (with an internet connection, of course).

When you enroll in eService, you can:

• Pay your premiums
• Apply for a loan
• Review your payment history
• Update your contact information (phone, address, email)
• Update your billing and payment preferences
• Change your beneficiaries

eService is available to policy owners with an active Gerber Life policy.

Policy must be active (first payment received) in order to utilize the eService functions.

Enrollment is simple and will take less time than addressing an envelope and finding a stamp! To expedite the process, please have your premium notice and banking information available.

Your User ID and password are active immediately following enrollment. We will send you a confirmation email when you've successfully enrolled in eService.

Please contact our Customer Service Center at 1-877-877-3295.

Once enrolled, you can start making payments as soon as you have a bill due.

You can pay your Gerber Life bill through eService using a checking/savings account or debit/credit card. Simplify future payments by storing your account information online!

You will continue to receive a paper bill to the address listed on the policy, unless you enroll in either Paperless Billing (eBill) or automatic payments. We will also send you email reminders if you are enrolled in eBill or automatic payments.

Automatic Payments enables you to have your premiums automatically deducted from your payment account. Setting up Automatic Payments using your checking or savings account can also save you up to 10% on your premium bills!

If enrolled in Paperless Billing (eBill), we will replace the hardcopy premium notices with email reminders when your premium is due. You can then log into your eService account to submit your payment. To ensure our email reminders reach you, we will ask that you validate your email address during the enrollment process.

Yes. Gerber Life offers you the flexibility to change the due date of your premium payments based on your individual needs. This puts you in control of your payment due date, allowing you to select a new day of the month.

Yes, you can schedule payments as well as edit a scheduled payment up to the day of your scheduled transaction.

No. You can save up to 5 payment accounts in your eService profile.

You can either add all of your policies when enrolling in eService or you can add them later within your account. To add more once enrolled, go to the "My Policies" tab and then click "Add Policies."

Any changes to your policy or payments submitted will be processed by the evening of the following business day.

To retrieve your User ID or reset your password, simply send us an email.

If you need to update your postal mailing address, email address or phone number, select "My Policies" and scroll down to the "Policyholder Details" section. This will update the contact information for ALL policies within your eService account.

To update your beneficiary, go to "My Policies" and select "Manage This Policy", followed by the "Update" button next to Beneficiary. Once the form is completed you will be prompted to download a PDF to print, sign and mail your Change of Beneficiary Form.

Go to "My Policies" and select "Manage This Policy". Scroll down to the "Loan Details" section to see if your policy is eligible for a loan. Depending on the type of policy you have and how long it has been active, you may or may not have this option.

Our eService site is available on desktop and mobile devices. We support most internet browsers.

Yes. Your information is password protected and all of your transactions are secure within eService.