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Ladder Review
Ladder Review
Ladder Review
Ladder Review
June 23, 2022 / Michael Graw
Ladder Review
Ladder Review
June 23, 2022 / Michael Graw
Coverage up to $8 million
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Ladder
Editorial Score 9.4
Policy options and coverage
Term life insurance policies with coverage ranging from 10 to 30 years, good range of coverage amounts, limited customization
9.0
Premium rates
Competitive premiums that are generally lower than the industry average, rates are affordable for those in good health
9.5
Claims process
Efficient claims process with a high rate of approvals, claims processed within 3-5 business days, payouts are within 1-2 weeks
10
Rider options and add ons
Does not offer riders due to its reliance on algorithms to create quick quotes
9.0
Customer support
Reliable support during standard business hours by phone and email, support staff are licensed insurance agents
9.5

Overview

Ladder offers term life insurance policies that “ladder,” or scale, over time as your financial situation changes. You can opt for a more expensive policy with a bigger payout when you have a mortgage and young kids, then scale back your policy when your mortgage is paid off and your kids leave the house. With Ladder, you can scale your policy and make changes at any time. Most policies can be purchased without a medical exam, and you can select a term up to 30 years.

Pros:

  • Policies can scale over time to match your financial needs
  • Fully online application
  • No medical exam needed up to $3 million
  • Choose from 10- to 30-year policy terms

Cons:

  • Only offers term life insurance
  • No riders or supplemental insurance
  • Only available for people ages 20 to 60

Suitable For?

Life insurance through Ladder is best suited for young families, young homeowners, and anyone else with growing financial obligations. Its policies enable you to get the coverage that you need in case anything were to happen to you tomorrow, while also enabling you to scale your policy back over time as your financial obligations may begin to shrink. It’s a good option for making sure you have the coverage that you need at all times, while not paying for coverage that you may no longer need.

In addition, Ladder is worth considering for anyone in search of affordable term life insurance policies. Premiums start as low as $5 per month*, and policies with $3 million or less in coverage don’t require a medical exam, just a few health questions as part of the online application.

Ladder isn’t as suitable for individuals who want whole life insurance or who want to add supplemental insurance. The company only offers term life policies up to 30 years, and coverage terminates at a maximum age of 70, but is renewable for up to 5 years after the guaranteed level premium term. Also, Ladder doesn’t currently offer riders to meet unique situations that its standard term policies don’t cover.

Features/Highlights

  • Flexible coverage: A big part of what differentiates Ladder from other term life insurance services providers is that your policy is flexible. Depending on your financial outlook, you can manually change your coverage at any time or opt to leave your coverage right where it is.
  • 10- to 30-year terms with up to $8 million in coverage: Ladder offers term life insurance policies with 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, or 30-year terms. You can choose between $100,000 and $8 million in coverage.
  • Premiums from $5 per month: Premiums at Ladder start as low as $5 per month subject to underwriting qualifications. A 30-year policy for a 35-year-old healthy male with $2 million in coverage costs $137 per month.
  • No medical exam: Policies with coverage up to $3 million do not require a medical exam. If you’re applying for more than $3 million, an exam is required, and you can do it at home for free.
  • No waiting period: Most policies through Ladder do not have a waiting period. Your coverage takes effect immediately after the first payment.
  • 30-day trial: If you’re not happy with your policy, you can cancel within the first 30 days for a full refund. You can also discontinue your coverage at any time with no fees.

Policy Types and Terms Available

Ladder only offers term life insurance policies with terms of 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years. You can choose as little as $100,000 or as much as $8 million in coverage. Ladder does not offer riders or supplemental insurance.

Application Process

Ladder’s application process is fully online and straightforward. Anyone between the ages of 20 and 60 can apply. In addition, you must be a US citizen or resident of the US for at least 2 years to qualify.

You can get a personalized rate for free in minutes. Here’s how it works:

  • Enter your name, email, birthdate, and basic health information.
  • Customize your policy term and coverage to get an estimate of what your premium will be.
  • Answer a few questions about your lifestyle and behavioral history, including drug use and traffic violations.
  • Enter your address so Ladder can verify your identity and run a soft credit check. This will not impact your credit score.
  • Ladder will instantly approve or deny your application or let you know if you need to undergo a medical exam before approval. If you’re approved, you can pay for your policy online, and it will take effect immediately.

Overall, Ladder’s online application process is quite easy. It doesn’t require any documentation, and the questions are mainly what you’d expect from a life insurance services provider. If you have questions about the online application, you can contact Ladder’s support team for help.

How Safe Is It?

Ladder has a 4.8-star rating on Trustpilot after more than 2,400 reviews.

The company’s policies are issued by multiple highly rated insurers. That means these insurance carriers are ultimately the companies responsible for adjudicating claims and making payouts in the event of your death.

If you’re not happy with Ladder, you can cancel within the first 30 days for a full refund.

Help & Support

Ladder offers customer support by live chat, phone, and email only from 8AM-5PM (PT), Monday-Friday.

To make a claim, beneficiaries must notify Ladder of the insured’s passing by email. Ladder will send claim forms, which are then submitted to the carrier for approval. If your claim is approved, the carrier will pay your beneficiaries directly. You can add beneficiaries to your policy to streamline this process. Ladder offers a “just in case” card with your policy details that you can share with beneficiaries.

Ladder At A Glance

Ladder offers term life insurance policies that scale with your financial obligations over time. As your kids grow up and/or you pay off your mortgage, you can decrease your policy’s coverage, so you’re never paying for life insurance that you don’t need. Ladder offers policies with terms up to 30 years and $8 million in coverage, but its most affordable policies start at just $5 per month. You can get a free quote and apply online, and most Ladder life insurance policies don’t require a medical exam or a waiting period.

Physical Address

Ladder Financial Inc., P.O. Box 456, Menlo Park, CA 94026

Disclaimer

*Price based on 20-year-old female rated Preferred-Plus for a $100k policy with a 10-year term. Actual prices may vary. Rate valid as of 2/4/2022.

Ladder Insurance Services, LLC (CA license # OK22568; AR license # 3000140372) distributes term life insurance products issued by multiple insurers – for further details see ladderlife.com. All insurance products are governed by the terms set forth in the applicable insurance policy. Each insurer has financial responsibility for its own products. Coverage amounts vary by state.

Get started now, visit Ladder
By Michael Graw
Michael Graw is a freelance journalist and photographer based in Bellingham, Washington. His interests span a wide range from business technology to finance to creative media, with a focus on new technology and emerging trends. Michael's work has been published in TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Business Insider, Fast Company, Salon, and Harvard Business Review.