If you're looking for traditional policies, including term, whole and universal, consider Guardian life insurance products. A hybrid policy from Guardian also gives coverage for long-term care insurance, disability income insurance and whole life insurance.
Guardian Life Insurance Review
Guardian Life earned a MoneyGeek score of 4 out of 5 for life insurance. Term life insurance rates average $47 per month for women and $59 per month for men on a $500,000, 20-year policy for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average health.
Read our Guardian life insurance review to learn more about its coverage options.
Select age group
Updated: April 1, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
At a Glance: Guardian Life Insurance Review
Guardian Life
MoneyGeek Rating
4.0/ 5
3.9/5Affordability
4.2/5Customer Experience
4.2/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Cost
$47 (women); $59 (men)Based on 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for a 40-year-old nonsmoker with average weight and health.Ages Supported
18-75
Guardian Life Insurance Options
Term Life Insurance
With term life insurance, you pay a premium for a set period of time, usually 10 to 30 years. Your beneficiaries, such as your family, will receive a death benefit.
Guardian offers four terms (10, 15, 20 and 30 years). This insurance is good for young, healthy families with short-term financial needs.
Whole Life Insurance
This insurance has a guaranteed death benefit and a cash value component. Your beneficiaries receive the death benefit when you die, but only if your premiums are paid. A portion of each premium payment also builds cash value. You can borrow against this.
SafeGuard360™
The SafeGuard360™ is one of Guardian’s unique offerings. It's a hybrid insurance that combines whole life insurance, long-term care protection and disability income insurance into one solution. SafeGuard360™ clients also have access to a centralized claim reporting system and a team of claims specialists from Guardian to help them through the filing process.
Universal Life Insurance
A universal life insurance policy offers lifetime coverage and builds cash value you can use in tax-advantaged ways; similar to whole life, but with more flexibility in how you pay premiums and manage your policy.
Flexible Solutions VUL (2018)
This offers coverage with investment options that are linked to market indexes. The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company issues this policy through Separate Account N. You get 10 days to cancel (longer in some states) and get your full payment back or your Policy Account Value.
Consider a universal life insurance policy if you are an investor or a policyholder who values flexibility and wants faster cash value growth.
Guardian’s Life Insurance Riders
Riders are supplemental clauses to an insurance policy that can provide additional protection and benefits. Riders provide flexibility and offer added financial security and assistance, even while you're still alive, whether you're buying a permanent or term life policy.
Rider | Description |
|---|---|
Term Conversion | Convert your term policy to whole life without a medical exam. |
Waiver of Premium | Waives your premium payments if you become too disabled to work. |
Waiver Plus | Covers your term insurance costs if you become disabled. |
Guaranteed Renewability | Renew your term coverage annually after it expires at higher premiums; useful if you're diagnosed with a serious or terminal illness near your policy's end and have no other coverage options. |
Accelerated Terminal Illness | Access part of your death benefit early if diagnosed with a terminal illness. Also called an Accelerated Death Benefit. |
Charitable Benefit | Guardian adds 1% to your death benefit (up to $100,000) at no extra cost, paid directly to your chosen charity. |
Accelerated Benefit or Living Benefit | Access part of your death benefit while still alive to help cover medical costs. Unlike the Accelerated Terminal Illness rider, this applies to chronic illnesses and non-fatal conditions. |
Guaranteed Insurability | Increase your death benefit at specific life milestones without a new medical exam. |
Accidental Death | Pays an additional benefit on top of your standard death benefit if you die in an accident. |
Paid-Up Additions (PUA) | Adds paid-up insurance to grow your tax-deferred cash value and death benefit, with protection scaling based on premiums paid. |
Index Participation | Ties dividend modifications to S&P 500 Price Return Index movement. Policyholders can assign 0% to 100% of their cash value from compensated additions to this feature, subject to a cap and floor. |
Renewable Term | Provides level term insurance on a 10-year renewable, convertible term; worth considering when you need a higher death benefit for a defined period, such as while raising children. |
How Much Is a Guardian Life Insurance Policy?
Guardian's life insurance rates vary based on your age, health, gender and the type of policy you choose. Get a personalized quote for accurate premium estimates.
The table below shows average term life insurance rates for different term lengths and coverage levels.
Data filtered by:
20
40
Female
No
| $100,000 | $10 | $117 |
| $250,000 | $24 | $287 |
| $500,000 | $47 | $567 |
| $750,000 | $70 | $839 |
| $1,000,000 | $91 | $1,092 |
| $2,000,000 | $182 | $2,190 |
| $3,000,000 | $273 | $3,275 |
| $5,000,000 | $446 | $5,356 |
Rates are estimates based on average health and weight. Actual premiums differ based on your profile and coverage needs. Contact Guardian for personalized quotes.
How to Get Guardian Life Insurance
Buying life insurance feels overwhelming, but Guardian makes the process straightforward.
- 1Do your research
Research and use the online tools Guardian provides, like its term insurance calculator.
- 2Compare quotes
Compare quotes even if you find a policy that meets your insurance needs.
- 3Health check
Submit your application and go through a health examination if needed.
- 4Approval
You'll get your policy as soon as Guardian approves your application.
WHAT TO DO IF GUARDIAN DENIES YOU COVERAGE
Consider adjusting your habits and lifestyle to improve your health. Find alternative insurance or concentrate on ones that don't need a medical exam.
Guardian Life Insurance Claims Process
You'll need the original policy (or policy number), a certified death certificate and a completed claim form that Guardian provides. Beneficiaries call Guardian's claims department at 1-888-482-7342 or submit documents through Guardian's online portal.
Guardian may request more documentation for policies less than two years old. Guardian also investigates if death resulted from suicide within the first two years, as most policies exclude coverage for suicide during this time.
Guardian Life Insurance vs. Other Insurers
If you're shopping around to find the most affordable life insurance rates, you should know that other insurers like Transamerica and Banner Life may offer lower premiums than Guardian. Both companies average $46 per month for a 40-year-old male nonsmoker compared to Guardian's $59 per month.
Guardian makes up for it with comprehensive rider options and the distinctive SafeGuard360 hybrid policy that combines whole life, long-term care and disability coverage in a single solution.
Where Guardian falls short for flexibility-focused buyers is in its permanent policy options. It doesn't offer a traditional universal life insurance policy or an indexed universal life policy, which limits options for policyholders who want adjustable premiums or market-linked cash value growth without a variable investment component.
Is Guardian Life Insurance Right for You?
Our Guardian life insurance review found that the company is an excellent provider for families and parents searching for a policy they can adjust or upgrade to suit their needs over time.
Guardian Life is among the best family life insurance companies based on MoneyGeek's 2026 analysis of major insurers. It also ranks first among our best life insurers for parents.
This company offers straightforward term insurance options, as well as flexible universal and entire policy options.
Guardian Life Insurance: FAQ
Is Guardian a reputable company?
Guardian has been in the life insurance industry since 1860. It currently has A++ ratings from A.M. Best and BBB.
Can you borrow from your Guardian life insurance policy?
Cash value components in whole life and universal life insurance plans increase in value over time. This sum may be borrowed against and applied however you see proper as a form of a loan. When your beneficiaries submit a claim, Guardian will reduce any unpaid sums from your death benefit, and the debt is deducted from your insurance's cash value in the same way if you surrender it.
Can you get life insurance from Guardian if you have cancer?
Yes, cancer insurance is available through Guardian. It offers a one-time payment for the detection and treatment of cancer. This money can be used in any way the employee wants and combined with other benefits to help pay for medical expenses.
Do life insurance policies from Guardian cover death by suicide?
Yes, suicides are covered by Guardian. Life insurance suicide clauses often allow the insurer to refuse to pay if the death happens within the initial one to two years, depending on where you live.
To rate Guardian Life Insurance, MoneyGeek evaluated rates from our quote database using a baseline profile of a 40-year-old male nonsmoker in average health seeking $500,000 in coverage on a 20-year term. Scores are weighted 50% Affordability, 30% Customer Experience and 20% Coverage Options. Customer Experience draws on J.D. Power satisfaction rankings, online customer ratings and NAIC complaint index data.
Related Pages: Other Company Reviews
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
sources
- The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. "Life insurance riders explained." Accessed March 27, 2026.
- The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. "Term life insurance: Buying guide and quote tool." Accessed March 27, 2026.
- The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. "Whole Life Insurance." Accessed March 27, 2026.
- The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. "Universal life insurance." Accessed March 27, 2026.
- The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. "SafeGuard360." Accessed March 27, 2026.
- The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. "Flexible Solutions VUL (2018)." Accessed March 27, 2026.