Erie Life Insurance Review

When you start shopping for life insurance, you can be overwhelmed by the number of options that you have. There are hundreds and hundreds of life insurance companies on the market. How in the world are you supposed to decide which one is the best for you?

That’s why I’m here to help. I’ve reviewed dozens of different insurance companies to give you an idea of which one might work best for you.

Life insurance is one of the most important investments that you’ll ever make for your family, and it’s vital that you make the best decision for your family.

One of the most important factors that you should consider is the type of life insurance policy that you are going to buy. There are several different kinds of coverage that you will need to review based on your needs.

In addition, it is also recommended that you review the background of the insurance company you are considering buying this type of coverage.

That is because you will want to ensure that the carrier is strong financially and that it has a good name in the industry for timely payment of its policyholder claims. One insurance carrier that meets these points is Erie Insurance Company.

The History of Erie Life Insurance Company

Erie Insurance Company has been in the business of offering coverage protection to its customers for nearly 100 years. The company was founded in the early 1920s when two employees of the Pennsylvania Indemnity Exchange decided to form their own insurance carrier.

In moving forward with their new company, H.O. Hirt and O.G. Crawford raised more than $30,000, and won over 90 stockholders – all from a handwritten business plan. Then, in April of 1925, the Erie Insurance Exchange opened its doors.

Over the years, the company has grown and expanded exponentially, adding many different types of coverage, such as homeowners, motorcycle, boat, life, business, and personal valuables coverage.

Erie Life Insurance Company Review

Today, Erie Insurance Company has more than 5,000 employees who serve its customers and policyholders. The company’s products are offered via approximately 12,000 independent insurance agents across the United States.

In addition to providing a variety of insurance coverage, Erie Insurance Company gives back to the communities in which it serves.

For example, the company is involved in entities such as Meals on Wheels, coaching Little League sports, and helping people to rebuild following natural disasters and catastrophes.

Erie is considered to be a strong and stable life insurance company from a financial standpoint. The company has also been listed as number 411 on the 2016 Fortune 500 list. (The company made its initial debut on this list back in 2003).

Also, for the fifth year in a row, Erie Insurance was given the “Highest Satisfaction with the Auto Insurers Shopping Experience” award in the J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study. In 2023, out of a possible score of 1,000 Erie obtained a score of 878.

BBB Grade and Ratings

Due to its strong financial foothold, Erie has received very high ratings from the insurer rating agencies.

Here, the Erie Insurance Group has earned an A+ (Superior) rating from A.M. Best and Company, and the Erie Family Life Insurance Company has earned an A.M. Best grade of A (Excellent).

In addition to its high insurer ratings, Erie Insurance has also been given a grade of A+ (on a scale of A+ to F) from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Although Erie Insurance is not an accredited member of the BBB, the company has closed out a total of 59 customer complaints over the past three years (of which 16 were closed out during the past 12 months).

Of the total 59 customer complaints that Erie has closed via the BBB, 39 had to do with problems with the company’s product and/or service, and 15 had to do with billing and/or collection issues.

An additional two were in regard to advertising and/or sales issues, two had to do with delivery issues, and the remaining one was in regard to the company’s guarantee and/or warranty issues.

Life Insurance Coverage Offered by Erie Life Insurance Company

Erie Insurance offers a variety of different life insurance coverage options to choose from. These include both term and permanent policies.

With a term life insurance policy, death benefit protection is offered, without any type of savings or cash value build-up. Because of this, the premium that is charged for term life insurance is usually much lower than that of a comparable permanent plan.

With a term life insurance policy, coverage is purchased for a certain period of time, such as 10 years, 20 years, or even 30 years. Typically, these policies will have a fixed amount of death benefit, as well as a fixed premium charge for the life of the plan.

Erie Insurance offers level term life insurance protection, and policies can be chosen in time periods of 10, 15, 20, or 30 years.

This coverage can be purchased starting at age 0, and in many instances, the policyholder will have the opportunity to convert the term policy over into a permanent life insurance policy – which can then provide coverage for the remainder of the insured’s lifetime.

With Erie, there is oftentimes no medical exam required on its term life policies of up to $90,000 in death benefit protection. All an applicant has to do is just simply answer a few health-related questions.

And, because there is no blood work or medical exam results to wait for, this coverage can usually be approved and issued within just days (or possibly even sooner).

The company also offers permanent life insurance coverage. With a permanent life insurance policy, there is death benefit protection, as well as cash value build-up.

The assets that are inside of the cash component of the policy can grow on a tax-deferred basis. Essentially there is no tax due on the gain until these funds are withdrawn.

Erie Insurance offers both whole life and universal life for permanent life insurance coverage. With a whole life insurance policy, the insured will have guaranteed life insurance protection with a death benefit amount that will not decrease – even as he or she ages throughout the years.

These whole life plans also offer guaranteed cash value, as well as a set premium that will not be raised – even if the insured contracts an adverse health condition in the future. Plus, the insurance company cannot cancel the policy for any reason, if the premium is paid.

There are several different premium payment options that a whole life insurance policyholder can choose from – based on what suits their needs the best. There are also several different riders that may be added to the whole life insurance coverage – some at no additional charge.

Just like with the term insurance policies, whole life insurance plans through Erie offer a fast and easy application process. For those who wish to purchase coverage of up to $90,000, only new medical questions need to be answered.

Whole life insurance protection from Erie can be purchased for adults and children (or other younger relatives, such as grandchildren and nieces/nephews). These plans can help the younger insureds to build up savings in a tax-deferred manner, and to attain guaranteed insurability in the future.

Erie Insurance also offers universal life insurance. Universal life, or UL, is another form of permanent life insurance coverage.  In many ways, UL is considered to be more flexible than whole life.

This is because the policyholder – within certain guidelines – may choose how much of the premium will go towards the death benefit, and how much will go into the cash value portion of the policy.

They may also be able to change the due date of the policy’s premium, based on their changing needs.

Universal life insurance can be advantageous for individuals and for business owners, as it offers guaranteed cash value, as well as the ability to get policy loans with tax-free income potential.

These types of life insurance plans can also be ideal for a wide variety of coverage needs, such as:

• College Expense Planning
• Estate Planning
• Income Replacement
• Charitable Giving
• Wealth Transfer
• Inheritance
• Mortgage Balance Payoff
• Payoff of Personal or Other Types of Debt Balances
• Retirement Income Planning
• Deferred Compensation Plans
• Business Continuation Coverage
• Key Person Coverage

While a universal life insurance policy offers both death benefit coverage and cash value, the premium on this type of coverage may be more affordable than that of a whole life insurance policy, depending on the insured’s specific parameters.

Burial Insurance

If you’re worried about leaving those you care about with funeral and final expenses, having a burial insurance policy can help.

Today, the average cost of a funeral can be in the range of $8,500 to $10,000 – especially when factoring in items like the memorial service itself, along with flowers, transportation, and music, as well as a burial plot and a headstone.

Burial insurance – which is also oftentimes referred to as funeral insurance or final expense life insurance – is a type of coverage that will pay out a benefit quickly to your named beneficiary so that final expenses can be paid…and so that your survivors don’t have to dip into saving or use credit to pay these costs.

With that in mind, having a burial insurance policy can be one of the greatest gifts you give to your family.

Before you purchase a burial insurance policy, though, it is important that you have a good idea of the type and the amount of coverage you’ll need.

For example, you may want to only cover the anticipated cost of a funeral service.

Or, alternatively, you may also want to add in some additional protection so that your loved ones can pay off other debts, such as final medical expenses and/or the cost of hospice care.

Other Products and/or Services Offered

In addition to just selling life insurance policies, Erie Insurance Company offers a long list of valuable products and services.

These include the following:

• Auto Insurance
• Motorcycle Insurance Coverage
• Insurance Coverage for Car Collectors, ATVs, and RVs
• Insurance for Teen Drivers
• Boat Insurance Coverage
• Home Owners Insurance
• Renters Insurance Coverage
• Condo Insurance
• Mobile Home Insurance
• Personal Valuables Insurance
• Flood Insurance
• Retirement Solutions
• Personal Catastrophe Liability Insurance
• Identity Theft Recovery Coverage
• Business Insurance

Erie also offers various industry insurance packages that can be fit to companies in a variety of industries, such as auto services, contractors, hotels and hospitality, landlords and property owners, manufacturers, offices and professional services, restaurants, retail, and wholesaler-distributors.

Looking For The Best Premium Rates on Life Insurance Coverage from Erie Insurance?

If you are seeking the best premium rate on life insurance coverage from Erie Insurance Company – or from any insurer – it is recommended that you work together with an independent life insurance agency or broker.

That way, you will be in a better position to compare, side-by-side, the coverage and the premium prices of numerous insurers – but in an impartial manner. You can then determine which will be best for you.

When you are ready to shop around, we can help you. How? We work with the best life insurance providers.

We can provide you with the important details that you need to make a well-informed decision – and we can do this for you directly from your own computer. When you are ready to proceed, just simply fill out our short quote form.

We get that buying life insurance coverage is a big decision. There are many different parameters to keep in mind – and you want to be sure that you are going with the right type and amount of coverage through the best insurance company.

This process of purchasing life insurance protection can be made so much easier by working with an aid on your side who can guide you through the entire way, from beginning to end. So, contact us today – we’re here to help.

The Bottom Line – Erie Life Insurance Review

Choosing the right insurance provider is crucial, and Erie Insurance Company stands out as a reliable choice. With nearly a century of industry experience, Erie has demonstrated financial stability and a commitment to community support.

High ratings from agencies like A.M. Best and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau reflect its strength and reliability.

Offering a variety of life insurance products, including term, whole, and universal policies, Erie provides flexible options to meet diverse needs. When seeking the best coverage for your family, Erie Insurance Company is a name worth considering.

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