Is Ladder a sustainable company?

Ladder has made strides toward sustainability since its founding in 2015. In 2019, Ladder donated 17,000 meals to Feeding America, a significant increase from its 2018 donation of just 250 meals. In June 2022, Ladder announced its partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects. Ladder pledged to plant one new tree for each new life insurance customer. In addition to the partnership, Ladder established an internal environmental, social and governance committee to further drive sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

How do I file a life insurance claim with Ladder?

To file a claim, notify Ladder by emailing claimhelp@ladderlife.com or submit the online claim form. You’ll usually need to provide information about the policyholder (like name, policy number, date of birth and death, cause of death and their address). You’ll typically need to provide contact details so the company can send you additional forms to fill out. In some cases, you might have to submit documentation. Then, Ladder will process your claim, and a representative will contact you once the company makes a decision. If the claim is successful, Ladder will pay the beneficiary in one lump sum. Although the beneficiary does not have to file taxes on the death benefit, you do have to report any interest earned from the death benefit.

Who is Ladder backed by?

Ladder partners with four different underwriting partners. Depending on where you live, your policy may be underwritten by one of the Allianz Life Insurance companies, Amica Life Insurance, Fidelity Security Life Insurance or S. USA Life Insurance.

What kind of insurance is Ladder?

Ladder only offers life insurance and specifically focuses on providing term life insurance policies. These policies are available nationwide for eligible applicants between the ages of 20 and 60. Ladder writes its term life policies in increments of 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years.

Why doesn’t Ladder have a Bankrate Score?

While we strive to provide comprehensive reviews and ratings for a wide array of companies, not every company receives a Bankrate Score. This is particularly true for insurers like Ladder Life Insurance, which collaborates with multiple underwriting partners to offer its policies. The variability in coverage options, financial strength and other critical factors among these partners can lead to differences in the quality of the policies offered, making it challenging to assign a universal rating. Therefore, when considering Ladder Life Insurance, it's essential to evaluate the specific terms and conditions as they relate to your individual needs and circumstances.

Ladder life insurance review 2024

Written by

Ashlyn Brooks

Edited by

Natasha Cornelius, CLU

Edited by

Natasha Cornelius, CLU

Updated Dec 18, 2024

At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict ,this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for .This content is powered by HomeInsurance.com (NPN: 8781838). For more information, please see our .

At a glance

Bankrate's take

Ladder offers an entirely digital interface for purchasing and managing term life insurance. However, policies are basic, with no riders available for customization, and there are strict age requirements for eligibility.

Offers 100 percent digital application process for policies under $3 million
Term life coverage can extend up to $8 million
Advertises affordable coverage as low as $5 per month
No riders available for customization but its laddering feature can help meet life’s changes

Ladder life insurance

Based on Bankrate’s analysis of Ladder life insurance, the company may be a choice worth considering for people between the ages of 20 and 60 who are interested in term life insurance policies. The company was founded in 2015 and offers term life insurance nationwide through a 100 percent online interface. This enables prospective policyholders to complete everything from obtaining a life insurance quote to filling out an application to securing coverage online.

Here’s what you should know about the types of life insurance products Ladder offers:

Term: Term life insurance policies are the only type of life insurance offered by Ladder. Term policies, unlike permanent life insurance, are not lifelong. Instead, term life insurance is only active for a set number of years (as long as premiums are paid). Ladder’s terms are 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years and do not require a medical exam for coverage amounts below $3 million. In fact, if you are seeking less than $3 million in coverage, your application may be approved in minutes. For policies between $3 million and $8 million, you may need to complete a medical exam.

“Laddering” coverage: Ladder’s titular feature allows policyholders to adjust their life insurance amounts as many times as they would like throughout the term of their policy. Ladder does not charge its customers for the adjusting process; however, you will likely face a higher premium if you increase your coverage amount.

Life insurance can be a complex product, but Ladder’s streamlined approach might make the shopping process less daunting. Still, for those who want to customize their policy with riders or to purchase permanent life insurance, Ladder may not be the best choice. Additionally, note that Ladder does not underwrite its own life insurance policies. Instead, they are issued by Fidelity Security Life Insurance Company, Amica Life Insurance, Allianz Life Insurance Company and S.USA Life Insurance Company, all of which have high financial strength ratings with AM Best.

Pros and cons of Ladder life insurance

When evaluating Ladder Life Insurance, it's beneficial to consider both the advantages and limitations of their offerings. Ladder provides a streamlined, digital-first approach to life insurance, focusing on term policies with specific eligibility criteria. Understanding these key aspects can help you decide if Ladder aligns with your insurance needs and preferences.

Pros

Policies under $3 million don't require medical exams
Provides convenient digital platforms for managing and applying for policies
Partner underwriting companies rated A (Excellent) or better by AM Best

Cons

Only offers term life insurance policies
Only adults between 20-60 can apply
No policy riders available for personalization

Ladder life insurance riders

Ladder does not offer any policy endorsements or riders. Rather, the company takes a simplified approach by only offering term plans with no endorsement options. Ladder has stated that they don't see the benefit of riders as being worth the increased premium costs to customers.

Ladder customer satisfaction

Our Ladder life insurance review would not be complete without looking at the company’s third-party ratings. Ladder was not scored in the 2024 J.D. Power Individual, but Bankrate looked at AM Best scores for Ladder’s underwriting partners. The results were promising: all four of Ladder’s underwriting partners received high marks for financial strength, which indicates that Ladder has a strong likelihood of being able to pay out its claims. Here are the AM Best scores for each company:

Allianz: A+ (Superior)
Amica: A+ (Superior)
Fidelity Security Life: A- (Excellent)
S. USA: A- (Excellent)

Ladder insurance customer complaints

Looking at Ladder’s complaint index from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) can give you a better image of how pleased Ladder customers are with the company as a whole. Established in 1871, the NAIC is a regulating body for the insurance industry. Among other obligations, the NAIC rates companies based on customer complaints. The NAIC system has a 1.0 rating as the baseline of average complaint levels. Higher complaints push companies over 1.0, while fewer complaints push them below it. The NAIC rates companies as a whole and for each insurance product it sells.

We evaluated the NAIC individual life insurance complaint index for each of Ladder’s underwriting partners. The results were mixed: Allianz and Amica’s indexes were on the lower ends of the spectrum, while Fidelity and S. USA skewed higher.

Compare life insurance providers quickly and easily

Answer a few questions to check availability with Ladder

Age

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Coverage amount

The amount of coverage you need depends on many factors, including your age, income, mortgage and other debts and anticipated funeral expenses.

Please select Coverage amount

Policy type

Whole life insurance combines life insurance with an investment component.

Coverage for life
Tax-deferred savings benefit if premiums are paid
3 variations of permanent insurance: whole life, universal life and variable life include investment component

Term life insurance is precisely what the name implies: an insurance policy that is good for a specific term of time.

Fixed premium over term
No savings benefits
Outliving policy or policy cancellation results in no money back

Please select Policy type

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Compare Ladder with other insurers

If you're looking for different types of life insurance policies but are still interested in a digital insurance experience, other companies may be worth investigating. To find the most affordable life insurance, it may benefit you to consider some of the best cheap life insurance companies selected by Bankrate’s industry experts. And if you’re unsure how much you should be paying for quality life insurance, Bankrate’s explainer on life insurance costs may help to clarify what constitutes a good deal.

Ladder vs. Bestow

Another digital life option, Bestow offers up to $1.5 million in term life insurance without a medical exam. Bestow might be a good choice for people interested in term policies for $1.5 million or below and those who either can't or don't want to find policies through Ladder insurance. Those who do not qualify for Ladder life due to their age may find this a viable alternative.

Learn more: Bestow Insurance review

Ladder vs. Ethos

Ethos uses algorithmic underwriting to offer many instant life insurance approvals for term or whole life through five highly-rated life insurance companies. In many cases, Ethos does not require medical exams of its applicants. People who want an online experience with life insurance but don't qualify for Ladder life and those who are interested in whole life policies may find Ethos to be a good alternative.

Learn more: Ethos Insurance review

Ladder vs. Lemonade

Customers can apply for up to $1.5 million in term life insurance through Lemonade’s 100 percent digital platform. Philanthropic-minded individuals may enjoy learning that leftover company profits are donated annually to a charity of their choice. Lemonade also offers car and home insurance policies. Since Ladder only offers life insurance, those who want to bundle their policies may find Lemonade to be a better choice.

Learn more: Lemonade Insurance review

Why you can trust Bankrate

Our insurance editorial team includes licensed agents with decades of combined experience, and we used our intimate knowledge of the industry to conduct this in-depth Ladder insurance review.

years of industry expertise

122

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20.7K

ZIP codes examined

1.2M

quotes analyzed

Is Ladder a good insurance company?

Ladder may be a good life insurance company for some, but it has limited options when it comes to insurance products. The company only sells term life insurance and does not offer any riders on those policies. Still, the companies that underwrite Ladder life policies are highly rated, and Ladder offers a host of digital conveniences for policyholders. If you're only interested in term life and prioritize digital policy management, Ladder could be a good choice for you.

Ladder’s unique, adjustable approach to term life insurance may be convenient to policyholders whose changing circumstances could require them to alter their coverage level at a moment’s notice. Additionally, Ladder’s digital-first approach to insurance and sleek web design may be well-suited for customers who prefer to manage their policies online — but not the best choice for those looking to work with a live agent.

What are real-life customers saying about Ladder?

To gain insight into the customer experience with Ladder Life Insurance, we've explored feedback from real users on platforms such as Trustpilot and Reddit. It's important to note that most customer reviews for life insurance, including those for Ladder, tend to focus more on the initial sign-up process, customer service and policy management rather than the claims process and payouts. This is largely because, given the nature of life insurance, not all policyholders directly engage with the claims aspect themselves. These platforms offer a lens into how Ladder interacts with its customers and manages its policies, providing a glimpse into what potential policyholders might expect.

Reddit and Trustpilot reviews

Customer experiences with Ladder Life Insurance, shared on Reddit and Trustpilot, offer a spectrum of insights. On Reddit, users like one from April 2023 commend Ladder for its affordability and the backing by reputable companies, suggesting a sense of reliability and value. Trustpilot reviews echo this sentiment, with a September 2023 reviewer highlighting the "incredibly easy and straightforward registration process," praising the user-friendly interface and the simplicity of providing information.

However, not all feedback is glowing. A December 2019 Trustpilot review raises concerns about a "bait and switch" tactic, where the initial low rates offered during the application process significantly increased post-medical examination, despite no new health disclosures. Similarly, an April 2023 review describes a frustrating underwriting process that “took entirely too long (over four months) and communication was scarce” and a lack of proactive engagement with healthcare providers to clarify medical records.

These accounts reflect varied aspects of customer interactions with Ladder Life Insurance, from the ease of application to potential challenges during the underwriting phase. While some customers report a seamless and positive experience, others express difficulties, especially regarding rate adjustments and communication during underwriting, underscoring the importance of setting clear expectations and maintaining open lines of communication.

Ladder company details

For those considering Ladder for their insurance needs, here are some key contact details and resources to help you get started or manage your existing policies:

Customer service: 844-533-7206
Claims: Fill out this form or email claimhelp@ladderlife.com
Company website: ladderlife.com
Mailing address: Ladder Financial Inc., 100 Forest Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301

State availability

Ladder offers life insurance policies through its partnered underwriters in all 50 U.S. states. Depending on where you are in the country, your policy may be issued by one of the Allianz Life Insurance companies, Amica Life Insurance, Fidelity Security Life Insurance Company or S. USA Life Insurance Company.

Ladder tools and benefits

Ladder partnered with SoFi to offer its members a quick and convenient way to purchase adequate life insurance, which has expanded to estate planning. SoFi members who buy life insurance through the SoFi Protect homepage can now get a step-by-step guide to gathering estate planning documents with the ability to draft and execute wills at no cost through NetLaw's legal document platform.

Frequently asked questions about Ladder

Ladder has made strides toward sustainability since its founding in 2015. In 2019, Ladder donated 17,000 meals to Feeding America, a significant increase from its 2018 donation of just 250 meals.

In June 2022, Ladder announced its partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects. Ladder pledged to plant one new tree for each new life insurance customer. In addition to the partnership, Ladder established an internal environmental, social and governance committee to further drive sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
To file a claim, notify Ladder by emailing claimhelp@ladderlife.com or submit the online claim form. You’ll usually need to provide information about the policyholder (like name, policy number, date of birth and death, cause of death and their address). You’ll typically need to provide contact details so the company can send you additional forms to fill out. In some cases, you might have to submit documentation. Then, Ladder will process your claim, and a representative will contact you once the company makes a decision. If the claim is successful, Ladder will pay the beneficiary in one lump sum. Although the beneficiary does not have to file taxes on the death benefit, you do have to report any interest earned from the death benefit.
Ladder partners with four different underwriting partners. Depending on where you live, your policy may be underwritten by one of the Allianz Life Insurance companies, Amica Life Insurance, Fidelity Security Life Insurance or S. USA Life Insurance.
Ladder only offers life insurance and specifically focuses on providing term life insurance policies. These policies are available nationwide for eligible applicants between the ages of 20 and 60. Ladder writes its term life policies in increments of 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years.
While we strive to provide comprehensive reviews and ratings for a wide array of companies, not every company receives a Bankrate Score. This is particularly true for insurers like Ladder Life Insurance, which collaborates with multiple underwriting partners to offer its policies. The variability in coverage options, financial strength and other critical factors among these partners can lead to differences in the quality of the policies offered, making it challenging to assign a universal rating. Therefore, when considering Ladder Life Insurance, it's essential to evaluate the specific terms and conditions as they relate to your individual needs and circumstances.