Our take on Surebridge
In 2019, the Chesapeake Life Insurance Company was acquired by UnitedHealthOne, a company that is known for its health and supplemental insurance policies.
As a result of this acquisition, the company discontinued its term life insurance policies. Today, SureBridge exclusively provides final expense insurance products.
Final expense insurance policies are a narrow form of whole life insurance. Their small amounts are designed to pay for funerals and other end-of-life expenses. SureBridge offers these policies without requiring a medical exam, though they do not guarantee coverage for every applicant.
Their history of customer complaints doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, though, and details on their policies are sketchy at best. However, applicants looking for final expense insurance may benefit from their plans, which also include living benefits.
Surbridge Life Insurance Company Details
| A.M Best Rating | A |
| S&P Rating | Not Yet Rated |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Customer Service Phone | 800-815-8535 |
| Website | www.surebridgeinsurance.com |
| Address | SureBridge Insurance 9151 Boulevard 26 North Richland Hills, TX 76180-5600 |
What we like
Riders Available
While some final expense policies offer no additional riders, SureBridge includes living benefits with its level benefit final expense policy.
No Medical Exam
Applicants can receive approval without a medical exam, though a questionnaire will be used to determine which policy they receive.
Other Insurance Offerings
SureBridge offers supplemental insurance policies that may benefit the retirement community, as well as those who struggle with medical expenses.
What we don’t like
Limited Policy Options
SureBridge only offers final expense insurance. Those who are looking for term life insurance will have to shop elsewhere.
No Online Quotes
Applicants can only receive insurance quotes by speaking directly with an agent.
High Number of Customer Complaints
SureBridge has an unusually high number of customer complaints compared to other companies their size, partly due to reported difficulty in reaching customer service.
Principle Life Insurance Products
SureBridge currently focuses on whole life insurance policies. Their low coverage amounts make them ideal for final expense insurance plans. Customers seeking term life insurance or other forms of coverage will need to look elsewhere.
Level Benefit Final Expense Insurance
Applicants between the ages of 45 and 85 can apply for a level benefit plan. This plan provides coverage in the amount of $2,000 to $35,000.
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Cash Value Accumulation
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Like other whole life insurance plans, the level benefit plan accumulates cash value over time. However, due to the size of the policy, policyholders shouldn’t expect huge financial benefits.
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No Medical Exam
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A medical exam is not required for approval, but to qualify for this specific policy, you will need to answer some basic medical questions prior to approval.
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Living Benefits
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This plan includes an accelerated death rider at no extra cost. This rider will provide a portion of the death benefit if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Graded Benefit Final Expense Insurance
The graded benefit plan is essentially identical to the level benefit plan, but it is reserved for those whose health prevents them from qualifying from the level plan. This almost certainly means that the monthly premiums will be higher and may even increase with certain lifestyle factors such as smoking.
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Graded Benefits
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The graded period means that full death benefits won’t be available until the policy’s third year. Prior to this, beneficiaries can expect to receive 30% of the benefit if they die in the first year and 70% in the second.
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No Riders Available
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Unlike the level plan, no riders are included, though applicants may be able to purchase riders for an additional cost.
Policy benefits
Riders
It’s actually not terribly common for riders to be available for final expense plans, so we’re pleased that SureBridge offers at least one living benefit for no additional cost.
Accelerated Death Benefit
With this rider, you can receive a portion of your death benefit if you are diagnosed with a qualifying, terminal illness. This can be used for medical expenses, but may also be used for groceries and other necessary items. Level term policyholders receive this rider as part of their policy.
Accidental Death Benefit
This rider pays an additional benefit if you die as the result of an accident. These plans aren’t usually a great value, since accidental deaths are relatively rare. But if you work in a high-risk profession or enjoy dangerous hobbies, this could be of interest to you.
Supplemental Insurance
SureBridge offers supplemental insurance that can assist with health and dental expenses that are not otherwise covered by Medicare or your health insurance provider.
Cost
SureBridge offers online quotes only for their supplemental insurance plans. Details on their final expense plans are sketchy at best. While their website advertises life insurance policies, the link is currently broken. Applicants will have to call the company directly to contact an agent, which makes it hard to compare rates across products.
Their level benefit final expense plan will be the most affordable, and the included rider increases the policy’s value. Applicants with existing health issues may want to shop around prior to committing to a graded plan, however, since these plans can often take advantage of those who are struggling to find acceptance from affordable life insurance providers.
Performance
Financial ratings
SureBridge’s financial ratings are generally high, based on reviews from top consumer watch groups:
- A.M. Best Rating: A+
- BBB: A+
These ratings are good indicators of a company’s overall financial reliability, answering the question of whether they’ll meet their obligations.
