Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Review
last updated on April 4, 2024Guarantee Trust Life is one of the best burial, cremation, funeral, or final expense life insurance companies to review if you have significant pre-existing health issues.
We have worked with them for many years, and their Heritage Plan is massively better than guaranteed issue waiting period life insurance plans.
Let’s look at their Heritage Plan whole life insurance for seniors to help you decide if the GTL insurance product is the right fit for you.
Table of Contents
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What to Ask Before Buying Guarantee Trust Life Insurance
What Are My Policy Options With Guarantee Trust Life?
Guarantee Trust Life offers Heritage Plan graded benefit whole life insurance designed for people 50-90 years old with significant health problems who do not want a policy with a two-year waiting period.
What insurance plan does Guarantee Trust Life offer?
Guarantee Trust Life offers their whole life Heritage Plan offers the following benefits:
- No Medical Exam
- Limited Health Questions
- Ages 50-90 years old are accepted
- Permanent Coverage that never expires
- Your monthly premium will never increase
- $2,500 – $20,000 available coverage amount
- Cash value buildup that can be borrowed against in emergencies
How Does Heritage Plan Work?
Guaranteed Trust Life Heritage Plan is a burial insurance policy designed to pay for burial, cremation, funeral, or final expenses.
The Heritage Plan has simple health questions and easy underwriting, and they approve most health issues.
If you qualify for this plan, your insurance benefits will begin the day you pay your first premium. However, your death benefit will be phased in during the first two years of the policy.
Death Benefit Payout Schedule:
- 1st-Day Coverage – Any accidental or catastrophic cause of death
- Months 1-12 – Death benefit is equal to premiums paid plus 5%
- Months 13-24 – Death benefit is 50% of the coverage amount
- After 24 Months – Death benefit is 100% of the coverage amount
For accidental death (during the first two years) GTL would pay the full coverage amount.
Does Guarantee Trust Life Have Any “Fine Print” In Their Policy?
There is no “fine print” with the GTL Heritage plan.
However, there are some policy details to be aware of to ensure this is the right plan for you.
Although coverage begins on the first day, they phase in the death benefit according the timeline below:
- Issue Ages: 50-90 years
- Death Benefit Amounts: $2,500 to $20,000
• Death Benefit in year one is Premiums Paid plus 5%
• Death Benefit in year two is 50% of the face amount
• Death Benefit after year two is 100% of the face amount
GTL will pay the full face amount for any accidental death. Accidental death coverage is a first-day benefit.
What Are The Pros & Cons Of Guarantee Trust Life Insurance?
Heritage Plan Graded Benefit Whole Life
PROS
- Easy application and phone approval
- Wider age availability (50-90 years old)
- They approved smokers at non-smoker rates
- No medical exams and simple health questions to answer
- Competitive pricing compared to most insurance companies
- Cash value builds in the policy. You can borrow in case of financial need
- GTL has lenient underwriting. They approved most health issues for coverage
CONS
- Limited coverage amount of $20,000 maximum
Are There Any Riders Or Other Benefits With Guarantee Trust Life Life Insurance?
Guarantee Trust Life Riders
- Guarantee Trust Life includes no riders in their Heritage Plan.
Guarantee Trust Life Other Benefits
- Temporary Accidental Death Benefit: “If the insured dies solely because of accidental bodily injuries during the first 2 policy years, we will pay the full face amount under the temporary accidental death benefit.”
What discounts does Guarantee Trust Life offer?
Guarantee Trust Life offers these discounts:
- No height or weight chart to qualify
- Smokers qualify for non-smoker rates
- Premium discounts compared to other companies for people with significant health problems.
How Do I Get Approved By Guarantee Trust Life?
Guarantee Trust Life’s graded benefit whole life insurance will ask if you’ve had health issues in the last 24 months.
What Are Guarantee Trust Life’s Application Questions?
If any answer to questions 1 through 6 is YES, you are not eligible for coverage.
- Within the last twenty four (24) months, have you been receiving kidney dialysis, require daily oxygen use (excluding CPAP), have an implanted defibrillator or received or been advised by a medical professional to get an organ transplant?
- Have you ever been diagnosed with or treated by a medical professional for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia or are currently being treated for memory loss?
- Within the last twenty four months, have you been diagnosed as having, or been prescribed medication by a medical professional or been treated by a medical professional for cancer (excluding Stage A Prostate Cancer, Carcinoma in Situ, Squamous Cell or Basal Cell Carcinoma)?
- Have you ever had or been recommended to have an amputation due to complications from diabetes?
- Are you currently bedridden, confined to a hospital, nursing home, mental care facility, long term care facility, hospice or have you been diagnosed with an end-stage or terminal illness, or been told by a medical professional that you have less than 12 months to live?
- Have you been diagnosed by a medical professional as having the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), ARC or AIDS?
To qualify for the Guarantee Trust Life Heritage Plan, you must answer “No” to the health questions above.
How do you qualify for a GTL burial, cremation, or final expense insurance plan?
One good thing about GTL underwriting is that they do not check your MIB (Medical Information Bureau) records. This makes your application submission and approval process simple and easy.
Is Guarantee Trust Life your best option if you have health issues?
Guarantee Trust life is your best option if you have any of these health problems:
- Aneurysm
- Angina
- Angioplasty
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Circulatory surgery
- Emphysema
- Epilepsy
- Fibrosis
- Heart attack
- Heart Bypass
- Liver cirrhosis
- Liver disease
- Liver failure
- Lung disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nephropathy
- Neuropathy
- Pacemaker, Heart Valve replacement
- Parkinson’s disease
- Retinopathy
- Schizophrenia
- Seizures
- Stent Implant
- Stroke
- Systemic Lupus
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- Zero Activities of Daily Living (ADL) questions
With most other insurance companies, if you have any of the above health issues, they would only offer you a two-year waiting period policy (which we never recommend!).
Does Guarantee Trust Life Have The Same Day Approval Process?
Guarantee Trust Life has a simple application process through Funeral Funds of America.
We can complete your application in less than 15 minutes and get your policy in force within 24 hours.
How Can I Get Life Insurance Pricing?
Guarantee Trust Life rates are based on your age, gender, health, coverage amount, and the state you live in at the time of application.
| FEMALE AGE | $5,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | $21.08 | $38.17 | $55.25 | $72.33 |
| 55 | $25.25 | $46.50 | $67.75 | $89.00 |
| 60 | $29.00 | $54.00 | $79.00 | $104.00 |
| 65 | $34.42 | $64.83 | $95.25 | $125.66 |
| 70 | $41.50 | $79.00 | $116.50 | $153.99 |
| 75 | $59.00 | $114.00 | $168.99 | $223.99 |
| 80 | $91.50 | $178.99 | $266.49 | $353.99 |
| 85 | $112.33 | $220.66 | $328.99 | $427.24 |
| 90 | $170.66 | $337.32 |
| MALE AGE | $5,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | $29.42 | $54.83 | $80.25 | $105.66 |
| 55 | $31.92 | $59.83 | $87.75 | $115.66 |
| 60 | $36.50 | $69.00 | $101.50 | $133.99 |
| 65 | $45.66 | $87.33 | $128.99 | $170.66 |
| 70 | $54.00 | $104.00 | $153.99 | $203.99 |
| 75 | $75.66 | $147.33 | $218.99 | $290.66 |
| 80 | $124.83 | $245.66 | $366.49 | $487.31 |
| 85 | $160.46 | $316.49 | $472.73 | $628.97 |
| 90 | $195.66 | $387.32 |
*Pricing is for illustration purposes only and is subject to change without notice.
How does Guarantee Trust Life Life insurance compare?
We always recommend first-day coverage if possible and don’t recommend GTL if you are in good to below-average health.
However, if you have some significant health issues, Guarantee Trust Life is a great way to get coverage that doesn’t take a full two years (like those garbage plans you see offered on TV).
If you are open to looking at better insurance companies with better rates, we can offer you some help!
Common Guarantee Trust Life Company Questions
What Is Guarantee Trust Life’s Operational History
Guarantee Trust Life is a family-owned mutual reserve company. It was established in 1936 by Richard Holson.
The Holson family has remained at the company’s helm for three generations. GTL provides accident, life, and special risk insurance programs to individuals, families, and groups.
Company Address
Guarantee Trust Life
1275 Milwaukee Avenue
Glenview, IL 60025
Contact Info
Website: https://www.gtlic.com
Customer Service: (800) 338-7452
What Is Guarantee Trust Life’s Financial Rating?
Guarantee Trust Life has an A- (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best, the country’s number-one rating agency. This rating shows the financial strength of the company and its ability to pay claims on time.
Does Guarantee Trust Life Have Any Consumer Complaints?
Guarantee Trust Life has six complaints recorded in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Most of the complaints are regarding claim handling.
What Should You Know Before Buying Guarantee Trust Life Life Insurance?
What is Guarantee Trust Life’s Sales Process?
Funeral Funds of America as an approved agency to sell their life insurance products. GTL does not have any agents that work within the company to help you buy their insurance products.
Working with an independent agency like Funeral Funds of America allows us to shop many other life insurance companies to see who will give you the best pricing and 1st-day coverage or benefits.
Are Any Health Conditions Not Accepted By Guarantee Trust Life?
They do not accept these health issues for GTL Heritage Plan:
- Alzheimer’s or Dementia
- AIDs, HIV, ARC
- Current cancer
- Defibrillator implant
- Dementia
- Dialysis
- Diabetic Amputation
- End-stage Renal Disease
- Hospice
- Long-term Care Confinement
- Nursing Home Confinement
- Mental Care Confinement
- Organ or Tissue Transplant
- Daily Oxygen Use
- Terminal Illness
How Can I Get Pricing Help Today?
Use our quoting software below to see how Guarantee Trust Life pricing compares to other companies.
- $10,000 to 15,000 is often appropriate for burial needs
- $3,000 to $7,000 is often appropriate for cremation needs
What Are The Top 10 Questions About Guarantee Trust Life?
Is Guarantee Trust Life a good company?
GTL has an A- (Excellent) financial rating, which means they can pay claims on time.Do you need a medical exam to qualify for Guarantee Trust Life?
You do not need to take a medical exam to qualify for the GTL Heritage plan.Who owns Guarantee Trust Life?
GTL is owned by the Holson family.What is the maximum age to apply for Guarantee Trust Life?
The maximum age to apply is 90 years old.Is Guarantee Trust Life expensive?
GTL has competitive pricing.Does Guarantee Trust Life accumulate cash value?
GTL Heritage Plan is whole life insurance that accumulates cash value over time.Can I borrow money against my life insurance with Guarantee Trust Life?
GTL accumulates cash value you can borrow when you have financial need.Does the Guarantee Trust Life Heritage plan expire?
GTL Heritage Plan is whole life insurance that does not expire.How old do you have to be to apply for Guarantee Trust Life?
You must be 50-90 years old to apply for GTL Heritage Plan.What are the common terms used when searching for Guarantee Trust Life Insurance
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Here are some common terms people use when searching for, or describing Guarantee Trust Life life insurance Products:
- Guarantee Trust Life Burial Insurance
- Guarantee Trust Life Cremation Insurance
- Guarantee Trust Life Final Expense Insurance
- Guarantee Trust Life Funeral Insurance
- Guarantee Trust Life Term Life Insurance
- Guarantee Trust Life Universal Life Insurance
- Guarantee Trust Life Whole Life Insurance
Sources Cited In This Article:
- OICServices. “Heritage Plan Client Brochure.” Accessed November 15, 2022. https://www.ociservices.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GTLs-Heritage-Plan-Client-Brochure.pdf
- NAIC. “Reasons Why Complaints Were Submitted” Accessed November 15, 2022. https://content.naic.org/cis_refined_results.htm?TABLEAU=CIS_CODE&COCODE=64211&:refresh
