Fabric by Gerber Life Insurance Review

Pros Explained

• Free wills for you and your spouse: Regardless of whether you are a policyholder or not, Fabric by Gerber offers its Will Kit to make estate planning a simple matter.
• Modern app with easy navigation: There is an iOS and Android app that offers simple accessibility and extra tools that you and your spouse can share.
• Added security features: Fabric by Gerber protects your information with bank-level security that incorporates adaptive risk-assessment security, 256-bit encryption, two-factor authentication, automatic lockout, and biometrics.
• Excellent support features: To help you understand your policy better, Fabric by Gerber has tons of blogs and articles. You can also use Fabric by Gerber's questionnaire to receive a personalized checklist of financial tools to help your family grow.

Cons Explained

• No multiple users: Fabric by Gerber’s plans do not support more than a single user on the same account. If your spouse wants to purchase coverage, it needs to be done using an individual application and separate email address.
• Limited whole life insurance: Whole life insurance is only available from Fabric by Gerber when you convert an existing term policy.
• Not a great choice for seniors: Fabric by Gerber is a company designed to meet the unique needs of young adults and growing families, so its products may not be ideal for a senior’s needs.
• Not available in every state: Though available in most states, Fabric by Gerber has certain products that are not available in all states.  

Available Plans

Fabric by Gerber offers term life insurance, 529 plans, wills, and high-yield savings accounts.

Term Life Insurance

Fabric by Gerber's focal product is term life insurance, which provides a certain amount of coverage for a specific amount of time. Fabric by Gerber term life insurance is straightforward, with the option for coverage ranging from $100,000 to $5 million. 

The length of your term depends on the state in which you live. Terms last between 10 and 30 years and are available for purchase in five-year increments. However, some states may limit your term policy to just 20 years. 

After your term expires, you can choose to convert your policy to a whole life insurance policy. This is the only form of whole life available from Fabric by Gerber; aside from its convertible term policies, Fabric by Gerber does not offer whole life insurance.

Fabric by Gerber is upfront about what your policy covers and what it does not, taking time to explain the basics of your policy that can often be hidden in the fine print.

A health exam is not required for most applicants, but if one is, Fabric by Gerber will do all the heavy lifting by paying for the exam and sending a trained professional to your home or work. It involves some medical questions and a blood draw.

Accidental Death Insurance

Fabric by Gerber also offers accidental death insurance policies for policyholders under the age of 50 years. Coverage lasts until the age of 60 and then automatically terminates. 

Unlike term life insurance, Fabric by Gerber's accidental death insurance does not carry a specific term and instead is renewable on a monthly basis as long as you maintain your premiums to keep your policy active. 

Whole Life Insurance

You cannot buy whole life insurance from Fabric by Gerber, but if you have a term insurance policy, it can be converted to whole life in the future. To convert your policy, there are a few limitations:

• You must convert your policy before the policy anniversary preceding your 65th birthday.
• The amount of whole life coverage will be based on the value of your term policy, so while you cannot add additional coverage, you do have the option to reduce your coverage if preferred.

A separate whole life insurance application is required to convert coverage. There are not any additional underwriting requirements, and pricing will be based on your age at conversion.

529 Plan

Fabric by Gerber's 529 Plan is designed as a savings vehicle that parents can use to begin saving for their children’s education. As time passes, the value of the fund increases. It takes just 10 minutes to apply via Fabric by Gerber's online application.

Wills

To help with your will and estate planning, there is the Will Kit to help you create a new will or edit an existing one. Although you will want to consult an attorney, Fabric by Gerber provides an easy start with simple instructions in plain language that are easy to understand. Crafted using legal expert advice, Fabric by Gerber offers a user-friendly approach so young parents can ensure their families are protected after they are gone.

Available Riders

A rider is a type of additional coverage that you can purchase to further customize your life insurance policy. 

Fabric by Gerber offers accidental death insurance, available in under two minutes. There is a guaranteed issue policy for policyholders between the ages of 25 and 50 years old.

Accidental death insurance is specific coverage for certain events.

Your specific coverage depends on the state in which you live with available options offered when you sign up for your policy.

Customer Service

You can reach Fabric by Gerber support via the online chat or support form or using the mobile app compatible with Android and iOS. To answer your questions, there is online chat support with a reply time typically under five minutes. You can also send an email to support@meetfabric.com. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. 

Complaint Index

To assess customer service, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) rates companies based on the number of customer complaints it receives each year. The baseline score is 1.0, which indicates an average rating in NAIC’s customer complaint index. 

Fabric by Gerber is not rated independently from NAIC, instead falling under Vantis Life. Vantis scores extremely well with no complaints for a 0.0 rating in 2021 and in 2020. Representing an improvement from 2019 when it received a single complaint. With scores like these, it shows that customers of Vantis Life are generally very happy with the customer service they receive.

Third-Party Ratings

AM Best is another leading ratings provider that grades companies based on their financial strength. It is an important consideration before you purchase an insurance policy because a great AM Best score often signifies efficient and reliable claims processing. 

As with its NAIC score, Fabric by Gerber is rated under Vantis Life, which receives an A+ rating from AM Best. 

Cancellation Policy

When you purchase a new Fabric by Gerber life insurance policy, you have 30 days to finalize your decision. As Fabric by Gerber notes on its website, “It’s like having insurance on your life insurance.”

If you decide to cancel your coverage, you have 30 days from the date of purchase to write Support from your Fabric by Gerber account, and Fabric by Gerber will give you a full refund of your payment. If you cancel your policy after 30 days, you will not get any premiums paid back.

Price

Pricing depends on several factors, including the underwriting class you are assigned. Fabric by Gerber has several underwriting classes for its plans.

*Not available via the online quoting tool but may be assigned during the underwriting process.

Pricing varies per person and depends on the plan and term you choose. Pricing starts at $13.71 per month for a 10-year term with $100,000 minimum coverage.

To help provide a better portrait of overall rates, Fabric by Gerber offers pricing based on a 35-year-old male for 10-year term life insurance.

Accidental Death Insurance

Fabric by Gerber offers upfront, standard pricing for its accidental death life insurance plans, regardless of health. Pricing varies by both state and applicant.

Market Price Comparison

You could pay as little as $1 per day for $1 million in coverage if you are a 35-year-old, non-smoking male who lives in Colorado and is in excellent health. To spend $1 per day with other insurance companies, you would receive significantly less coverage. 

Based on these competitors, Fabric by Gerber offers the most coverage at the best price.

Fabric by Gerber offers free quotes via a 10-minute application on its website to receive a quote and qualify for coverage. You need to give your age, state of residence, and tobacco use. You also are asked to classify your medical health as excellent, good, or okay. 

Fabric by Gerber shares supportive, modern attitudes regarding gender identity, boasting a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It requires that you provide your gender, with just two options of male or female to receive a quote. However, if you are transgender or nonbinary, Fabric by Gerber provides specific instructions to help you through the process. There is similar support available for pregnant applicants or stay-at-home parents. 

Fabric by Gerber currently only accepts payments on a monthly basis using a major debit or credit card.

Competition

Vantis Life scores well in NAIC rankings for customer satisfaction, but Fabric by Gerber itself lacks any exclusive ratings for its company, instead falling to Vantis Life and Penn Mutual. While the wellness initiatives are appreciated and the price competitive, Fabric by Gerber simply lacks the industry ratings to give that extra peace of mind. New York Life, on the other hand, is one of largest insurers in the U.S. with an excellent reputation and a plethora of product offerings. Therefore, our vote goes to New York Life as one of the best life insurance companies. 

Our Methodology: How We Review Life Insurance Carriers

Investopedia’s proprietary methodology helps to provide a current and accurate portrayal of today’s leading insurance companies. To find the best life insurance companies, we critique each provider, considering available coverage options, like the type and number of plans available, and term lengths. Pricing is evaluated when available, as well as eligible and underwriting requirements. Finally, we look to the industry’s best ratings providers, such as AM Best for financial stability and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) for customer satisfaction.