2.0/5
Overall Score

Choice Mutual’s ratings are determined by a review formula that weights the following four factors to determine a score between 0 and 5:

Factor Score Value
Price of Coverage
40%
No-Waiting-Period CoverageNo Waiting Period
20%
Financial Strength
20%
NAIC Complaint Index
20%
Overall Maximum
100%

Our ratings are tested with scoring model 1.1, a review formula that ensures consistency and accuracy in our assessments.

Score Breakdown
Price of Coverage
Price of Coverage
40% of overall score

Using this quote calculator, we compare the price of the insurer’s coverage to competitors with equivalent products. The score they receive is based on how close their price is to those three least expensive providers:

  • 5
    0-5% more expensive
  • 4
    6-10% more expensive
  • 3
    11-20% more expensive
  • 2
    21-30% more expensive
  • 1
    ≥ 40% more expensive
1.0
No-Waiting-Period CoverageNo Waiting Period
No-Waiting-Period Coverage
20% of overall score

This scoring factor assesses whether an insurer offers coverage with no waiting period and, if so, how difficult it is to qualify for it. If an insurer does not provide coverage with no waiting period, it gets an automatic 1. A score from 2 to 5 indicates that immediate coverage is possible, and the higher the rating, the easier it is for the average applicant to qualify for it.

  • 5
    Most applicants qualify
  • 4
    Fairly easy qualification
  • 3
    Somewhat difficult qualification
  • 2
    Very difficult qualification
  • 1
    No-waiting-period coverage unavailableNo-waiting-period unavailable
1.0
Financial Strength
Financial Strength
20% of overall score

Our financial strength scores are based on A.M. Best’s Financial Strength Ratings (FSR), which measure an insurer’s financial strength and ability to meet its ongoing insurance policy and contract obligations. The scores they receive are based on the following scale:

  • 5
    Superior (A+ or A++)
  • 4
    Excellent (A- to A)
  • 3
    Fair/Good (B- to B++)
  • 2
    Weak/Marginal (C- to C++)
  • 1
    Poor (D or Not Rated)
5.0
NAIC Complaint IndexNAIC Complaints
NAIC Complaint Index
20% of overall score

The NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) complaint index measures how frequently an insurer obtains consumer complaints relative to a median score across all insurers. Our scoring model is based on an insurer’s NAIC complaint index for the most recently available year and for ‘Individual Life’ products:

  • 5
    0.0 - 1.0 (avg or below avg complaints)
  • 4
    1.01 - 1.5 (slightly above avg complaints)
  • 3
    1.51 - 2.0 (up to 2x avg complaints)
  • 2
    2.01 - 3.0 (up to 3x avg complaints)
  • 1
    ≥ 3.01 (more than 3x avg complaints)
5.0
Our Verdict

Gerber’s guaranteed acceptance life insurance does not require a medical exam or completion of health questions. Yet, there is a two-year waiting period, which is the primary drawback.

Gerber Life is a stable, trustworthy insurance company. However, this policy is often not the best choice if you’re looking for final expense insurance.

Pros

  • There are no exams or health questions (acceptance is guaranteed).
  • The policy lasts forever and has a fixed price.
  • Flexible payment options include ACH, credit card, or mailing in a money order or check.

Cons

  • 24-month waiting period for any natural cause of death.
  • Much lower prices are available with other providers.
  • No options above age 80.

A+
Superior
Moody's
NR
Not Rated
S&P Global
NR
Not Rated

AM Best’s Financial Strength Rating (FSR) is an independent opinion of an insurer’s financial strength and ability to meet its ongoing insurance policy and contract obligations. The scores range from A++ to D-.

Moody’s Investors Service rates the creditworthiness of companies. The Moody’s Rating Scale has 21 possible scores ranging from “Aaa” (highest mark) down to “C” (lowest mark).

S&P Global Inc. issues credit ratings on a scale from “AAA” (highest rating) to “D” (lowest rating).

Customer Review Ratings
BBB
1.04/5
45 reviews
2.2/5
10 reviews
3.3/5
73 reviews
1.3/5
22 reviews
Consumer Protection Organization Scores
A+
Not Accredited

The Complaint Index compares a company’s performance to other companies in the market. The National Complaint Index is always 1.00. That means a company with a complaint index of 2.00 is twice as high as expected in the market. Reported scores are for the most recently available year and for “Individual Life” products.

The BBB rating is based on information BBB is able to obtain about the business, including complaints received from the public. BBB seeks and uses information directly from businesses and from public data sources. BBB assigns ratings from A+ (highest) to F (lowest). If a business has been accredited by the BBB, it means BBB has determined that the business meets accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints.

Ratings and scores valid as of 06/18/2025.
Policy Type
Whole Life
New Applicant Age Range
50-80 (50-75 in NY)
Death Benefit Options
$5,000-$25,000
Builds Cash Value
All
Builds Cash Available
Yes
Has Health Questions
No
2-Year Waiting Period
Yes
Medical Exam Required
No
Age When Policy Expires
Never
Prices Increase
Never

How Does Gerber Guaranteed Life Insurance Work?

Gerber Life’s guaranteed issue life insurance is a whole life policy with no health questions or medical exams. You are guaranteed approval. Like all guaranteed life policies, there is a two-year waiting period. If you die (except accidental death) within the first 24 months of the policy, Gerber Life will only refund 110% of your premiums.

When you die, Gerber will pay your loved ones the death benefit as a tax-free cash payment. There are no restrictions on how they spend the money, meaning the funds can be used for expenses other than funeral costs.

Since it’s a whole life policy, it will last your entire life, the rate will never increase, and it builds cash value.

 

How Much Does Gerber Life Guaranteed Acceptance Insurance Cost?

Since there are no health questions, the cost of Gerber Life guaranteed coverage is based solely on your age, gender, state of residence, payment method, and coverage amount.

Age & Gender$5,000$10,000$25,000
Female age 50$18$34$85
Male age 50$23$44$109
Female age 55$23$44$109
Male age 55$29$58$143
Female age 60$26$51$126
Male age 60$32$64$158
Female age 65$32$63$155
Male age 65$43$85$212
Female age 70$38$76$187
Male age 70$50$99$247
Female age 75$55$108$269
Male age 75$70$140$347
Female age 80$89$176$440
Male age 80$124$247$617
Source for monthly prices: Choice Mutual quote calculator. Rates are for guaranteed acceptance coverage, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 06/18/2024.

 

Is Gerber Guaranteed Acceptance Coverage A Wise Purchase?

Gerber Life may be a good company, but this policy is rarely if ever, a good buy. There are multiple issues in play here, such as:

  • Multiple other final expense insurance companies, such as Mutual of Omaha, AAA, and Physicians’ Mutual, also offer cheaper guaranteed acceptance coverage.
  • All applicants are subject to a two-year waiting period. Truthfully, most seniors can absolutely qualify for a policy with no waiting period, even if they have high-risk pre-existing conditions.
  • Guaranteed acceptance policies are almost always more costly compared to those that require health questions.

Below is a cost chart analysis to illustrate how Gerber Life compares in terms of cost to other guaranteed acceptance providers.

Charts comparing Gerber Life's guaranteed life insurance to some of its competitors.

You should work with an independent insurance broker who can compare multiple providers on your behalf. They can objectively compare each one side by side to isolate your best option at the lowest cost possible.

Working with a broker is free, and there are no additional charges for the insurance you purchase through them. In fact, you’ll surely pass less than you would have had you not used a broker.

Anthony Martin
Anthony Martin
Choice Mutual CEO
Author
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 15 years of experience
  • Personal annual production that puts him in the top .001% out of all life insurance agents in the nation.

Anthony Martin is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over 15 years of experience and has personally served over 10,000 clients with their life insurance needs. He frequently authors entrepreneurial and life insurance content for Forbes, Inc.com, Newsweek, Kiplinger, and Entreprenuer.com. Anthony has been consulted as an expert life insurance source for dozens of high-profile websites such as Forbes, Bankrate, Reuters, Fox Business, CNBC, Investopedia, Insurance.com, Yahoo Finance, and many more.

Jeff Root
Jeff Root
Life Insurance Expert
Editor
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 19 years of experience
  • Best selling Amazon author.

Jeff Root is a nationally licensed life insurance expert with over 19 years of experience. He has personally helped over 3000 clients with their life insurance needs. Jeff is a best-selling Amazon author and the managing partner of a highly successful insurance brokerage that manages over 2,500 licensed insurance agents across the USA. He has been a featured life insurance source for prestigious websites such as Forbes, Bloomberg, MarketWatch, Nerdwallet, and many more.

David Duford
David Duford
Life Insurance Expert
Editor
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 14 years of experience
  • Best selling Amazon author of five insurance sales books.

David Duford is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over 14 years of experience. He has personally helped more than 15,000 clients buy life insurance. David has been featured as an expert source for highly authoritative publications such as A.M. Best and Insurancenewsnet. He also runs one of the largest Youtube channels to help aspiring insurance agents serve their clients better.

Jeff Root
Jeff Root
Life Insurance Expert
Editor
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 19 years of experience
  • Best selling Amazon author.

Jeff Root is a nationally licensed life insurance expert with over 19 years of experience. He has personally helped over 3000 clients with their life insurance needs. Jeff is a best-selling Amazon author and the managing partner of a highly successful insurance brokerage that manages over 2,500 licensed insurance agents across the USA. He has been a featured life insurance source for prestigious websites such as Forbes, Bloomberg, MarketWatch, Nerdwallet, and many more.

David Duford
David Duford
Life Insurance Expert
Editor
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 14 years of experience
  • Best selling Amazon author of five insurance sales books.

David Duford is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over 14 years of experience. He has personally helped more than 15,000 clients buy life insurance. David has been featured as an expert source for highly authoritative publications such as A.M. Best and Insurancenewsnet. He also runs one of the largest Youtube channels to help aspiring insurance agents serve their clients better.

Choice Mutual often cites third-party websites to provide context and verification for specific claims made in our work. We only link to authoritative websites that provide accurate information. You can learn more about our editorial standards, which guide our mission of delivering factual and impartial content.

  1. A.M. Best. https://ratings.ambest.com/CompanyProfile.aspx?BL=0&ambnum=7299&AltNum=14937299&AltSrc=3
  2. BBB. https://www.bbb.org/us/mi/fremont/profile/life-insurance/gerber-life-insurance-company-0372-15002380
  3. Trustpilot. https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.gerberlife.com
  4. Google. https://www.google.com/search?q=gerber+life+fremont+MI&client=firefox-b-1-d&sca_esv=9267af3241730e66&sca_upv=1&ei=VOKsZqenD8WlkPIPxK-GwQU&ved=0ahUKEwinoYiEuNaHAxXFEkQIHcSXIVgQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=gerber+life+fremont+MI&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFmdlcmJlciBsaWZlIGZyZW1vbnQgTUkyCxAuGIAEGMcBGK8BMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCBAAGIAEGKIEMggQABiABBiiBEj8ElDGBFiVEXABeAGQAQCYAY0BoAGeCKoBAzUuNbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCC6ACwgjCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHwgILEAAYgAQYkQIYigXCAgUQABiABJgDAIgGAZAGCJIHAzMuOKAHrVU&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#lrd=0x881940eb19895789:0xb568aa499238f0b,1,,,,
  5. Yelp. https://www.yelp.com/biz/gerber-life-insurance-company-fremont
  6. NAIC Complaint Index. https://content.naic.org/cis_refined_results.htm?TABLEAU=CIS_COMPLAINTS&COCODE=70939&REALM=PROD&COCODE=70939&REALM=PROD
  7. BBB Score & Accreditation. https://www.bbb.org/us/mi/fremont/profile/life-insurance/gerber-life-insurance-company-0372-15002380
Article Published
2 days ago