Fabric by Gerber Life has streamlined the process of getting term life insurance. With a focus on families, they make the process of getting life insurance easy.
Although, while the process is easy, they do seem a little bit behind other online term life insurance agencies. Some applicants may still need a medical exam, and have fewer policy choices.
However, Fabric may be a strong contender for you, and it only takes about 10 minutes to apply. Check out Fabric here or read our Fabric review below.
Quick Summary
- Online term life insurance company
- May require a medical examination
- Doesn't offer as low a starting premium as others
Fabric Life Insurance Details | |
|---|---|
Product Name | Fabric |
Min Premium | $9.36/mo |
Policy Amounts | $100,000 to $5,000,000 |
Insurance Types | Term Life |
Medical Exam Required? | Maybe |
What Is Fabric Life Insurance?
Fabric is a life insurance company that allows applicants to complete the signup process online. Fabric removes the traditional system of agents and brokers from the equation.
The company co-founders are Adam Erlebacher and Steven Surgnier. Fabric was founded in 2015 and is based in Brooklyn, NY. It was funded by a seed round of $2.5 million in 2017 and a series A round of $10 million in 2018. It was acquired by Gerber Life Insurance in 2022.
Policies are issued by Western Southern Life Assurance Company, which has an AM Best “A+” (“Superior”) rating.
Fabric has a Trustpilot 4.8/5 rating out of 1,271 reviews. The company also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
“Fabric takes a completely different, modern approach. If you have a question, you can chat with one of our licensed insurance professionals and fill out an application in minutes — entirely online. We’ve also helped alleviate the issue of unclaimed life insurance benefits, as that’s a tragedy if it happens even once. That’s why we empower our customers to grant their spouse beneficiaries access to their policy details online. That way, beneficiaries always have access to up-to-date coverage information and a direct way to access Fabric support,” said Erlebacher, in an interview with The Native Society.
What Do They Offer?
Fabric offers term life insurance. On its website, you can get an insurance estimate in about a minute. The full application process takes between 5 and 10 minutes.
Their software algorithm looks at your application, and sometimes you may be offered coverage immediately without having to take a health exam.
Fabric offers 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25- and 30-year policy terms. Policies range from $100,000 to $5 million in increments of $50,000.
Fabric’s life insurance policy covers most causes of death, such as:
- Fire
- Homicide
- Vehicular crashes
- Illness (i.e., heart attacks)
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Natural causes
Things not covered include committing suicide within two years of the policy’s issue date and misrepresenting yourself during the application.
Currently, Fabric is not available in New York.
You can convert your term life insurance policy into a whole life insurance policy (but we don't recommend it).
Filing a Claim
You can file a claim by sending Fabric a message and completing an Initial Death Claim Notification, have the death certificate available and submit it with your claim. If no investigation is needed, claims are paid within three business days of the claim being processed.
Note that the claim must be filed within 20 days of the insured’s death.
What Do Fabric’s Policies Cost?
Fabric provides three examples of real people who received 20-year term life insurance policies:
- A 29-year-old female in excellent health with $250,000 of coverage: $14.61/month
- A 35-year-old male in excellent health with $750,000 of coverage: $34.17/month
- A 42-year-old female in good health with $500,000 of coverage: $41.46/month
You can probably see the trend — the younger and healthier you are, the less you’ll pay in insurance. Being an InsureTech firm, Fabric uses algorithms to determine how much risk it is taking on by insuring you. If the risk is low, an offer is made. If not, humans must step in and look at the application more closely.
Unlike many other insurance companies, Fabric allows you to pay for your policy using a credit or debit card. So if you are into racking up points by using your credit card, this is another great way to do it. Just remember to update your Fabric payment method if the card expires. Otherwise, your policy can be canceled because of nonpayment.
How Do I Get Started?
To get an estimate and fill out an application, go here.
Is My Information Safe?
Yes. Fabric uses 256-bit encryption on its website and does not share your information with third parties. More details are available on their privacy policy.
How Does Fabric Compare?
Fabric is one of many online term life insurance companies. While they are focused on low costs and helping your family, you should always get multiple quotes.
As always, make sure you shop around and see the list here of the best online life insurance companies.
With that in mind, here's a quick comparison:
Header |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
Rating | |||
Min Coverage | $100,000 | $50,000 | $100,000 |
Max Coverage | $5,000,000 | $1,500,000 | $3,000,000 |
Terms | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 Year | 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 Year | 10, 15, 20, 30 Year |
Types | Only Term | Only Term | Only Term |
Exam? | Maybe | Not Required | Maybe |
Cell |
Is It Worth It?
Fabric is a credible company, and its policies are written by one of the oldest insurance companies in the industry. That said, shopping around may reveal lower term life insurance policies. Shopping around can be time-consuming, but it can also save you money.
If you like the terms, price, and customer service provided by Fabric, it may certainly be worth it to sign up with them.
Fabric Details
Min Policy Amount | $100,000 |
Max Policy Amount | $5,000,000 |
Policy Terms | 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 Years |
Policy Types | Term |
Riders/Customization | No |
Medical Exam | May or may not be required |
Online Account Management | Yes |
Policy Underwriters | Western Southern Life Assurance Company |
AM Best Rating | A+ |
Availability | 42 States |
Customer Service Phone Number | N/A (Chat or Message Only) |
Customer Service Hours | Mon-Fri, 9 AM - 6 PM (ET) |
Mailing Address | Fabric 20 Jay Street, Suite 438 Brooklyn, NY 11201 |
Promotions | None |
Fabric Life Insurance Review
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Summary
Fabric is an online term life insurance provider that has a focus on helping your family’s finance. They also include tools to make a will, open a savings account, or even save for college.
Pros
- Easy online term life insurance policies
- Full suite of options to help you manage your families finances
- May not require a medical exam to get coverage
Cons
- Limited availability nationwide
- Policies only offer up to 20 year terms
Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Richelle Hawley
Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.