Kemper Life Insurance Company has a long history in the insurance industry. Founded in 1939, Kemper Life Insurance started out as a provider of automobile insurance before expanding into life insurance and other financial services.
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Kemper Life Insurance operates as a subsidiary of Kemper Corporation. The company serves policyholders across the United States, offering a range of permanent and term life insurance products as well as annuities.
Over its 80+ year operating history, Kemper Life Insurance has built a reputation for financial strength and stability. It maintains high ratings from independent agencies like A.M. Best. The company manages over $30 billion in assets and has served nearly 1 million life insurance customers.
While not as large or well-known as leading life insurers like Prudential or MetLife, Kemper Life Insurance offers a solid lineup of life insurance and annuity solutions. Its products appeal to middle-income consumers looking for affordable coverage.
Kemper Life Insurance Products
Kemper offers a range of life insurance options to meet different needs.
Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance provides affordable coverage for a set period or “term”, such as 10, 20, or 30 years. This can be a good option if you need life insurance for a specific purpose like replacing income if you pass away prematurely. Kemper’s term life policies offer guaranteed level premiums, so what you pay won’t increase during the initial term. You can renew the policy for additional terms without medical underwriting in most cases. Kemper offers both renewable and convertible term life insurance.
Whole Life Insurance
Whole life insurance provides permanent protection for your entire life, as long as you pay the premiums. It also builds cash value that you can borrow against or withdraw tax-free. This type of permanent life insurance can be a good option if you want lifelong coverage and to build cash savings you can tap into during your lifetime. Kemper’s whole life insurance offerings include limited pay options that allow you to pay over 10, 20, or 30 years, and then coverage is paid up and remains in force for life.
Universal Life Insurance
Universal life insurance combines permanent life insurance coverage with an investment component. Part of each premium goes toward the death benefit and part goes into a cash value account that earns interest. You have flexibility over the premium amounts and death benefits and can take loans or withdrawals from the cash value. Kemper’s universal life policies offer long-term coverage with cash accumulation potential.
Final Expense Insurance
Final expense or burial insurance provides a small death benefit, typically between $5,000-$25,000, to cover end-of-life costs. Kemper offers guaranteed issue final expense life insurance that does not require a medical exam. This simplified underwriting makes it easy to get coverage for funeral and other final expenses.
The key is focusing on the types of policies with details on Kemper’s offerings. Let me know if you would like me to expand or modify the section in any way.
Getting a Life Insurance Quote
Getting a life insurance quote from Kemper is quick and easy. You can get a free, personalized quote in minutes online or over the phone.
Getting a Quote Online
You’ll be asked to provide some basic information about yourself like your age, gender, nicotine use, health status, and desired coverage amount. This information is used to generate an instant, personalized quote for the policy options available to you.
The online quoting process only takes about 5-10 minutes to complete. At the end, you’ll see quotes for various Kemper policy types like term life, whole life, and universal life insurance. The quotes will show estimated annual, monthly, and premium costs based on your given details.
Getting a quote online is the quickest way to see approximate Kemper premium costs. You can go through the process in minutes and see quotes tailored to your situation.
Getting a Quote Over the Phone
To get a detailed life insurance quote from a licensed Kemper agent over the phone, call their toll-free number at 1-800-235-9633.
When you call, a knowledgeable representative will walk you through the quoting process in more depth. They’ll gather details about your age, health, lifestyle, income, desired coverage amount, and beneficiaries.
The agent will explain all the Kemper policy options available to you. They can provide quotes not just for different policy types, but also for various term lengths, coverage amounts, and riders. This personalized service allows you to ask questions and understand what works best for your budget and needs.
At the end of the call, the agent will provide full rate quotes for the Kemper life insurance plans that fit you best. Phone quotes take a bit more time than online, but give you the chance to fully discuss your needs with an expert.
Whether you want a fast online quote or prefer personalized service, Kemper makes it simple to get a free, no-obligation life insurance quote tailored just for you. Simply go online or call their toll-free number anytime.
Policy Options and Riders
Kemper Life Insurance offers several different types of life insurance policies to meet various needs. Some of the main policy options include:
- Term life insurance – This provides temporary coverage for a set period of time, such as 10, 20, or 30 years. Term life is typically the most affordable type of life insurance.
- Whole life insurance – This provides permanent, lifelong coverage as long as you pay the premiums. Whole life builds cash value that you can borrow against if needed.
- Universal life insurance – This offers permanent coverage with flexible premium payments and death benefits. Part of the premium goes toward the death benefit, while part goes toward building cash value.
- Variable life insurance – With this type, you can invest the cash value portion of your policy into accounts with varying levels of risk, such as stocks, bonds, and money market funds.
In addition to the base policy, Kemper Life offers several optional riders you can add on for additional benefits:
- Accidental death rider – This provides an additional death payout if you die due to a covered accident. It’s typically an affordable extra benefit.
- Waiver of premium rider – If you become disabled and unable to work, this rider will waive your premium payments so coverage can continue without payment.
- Living benefits rider – Also called an accelerated death benefit, this pays out part of the death benefit early if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness.
- Child term rider – Adds a term life policy for your dependent children, which converts to permanent coverage as they get older.
The available riders depend on the type of life insurance policy you select. A Kemper agent can explain all the options to help you customize coverage for your needs and budget. Key riders to ask about include waiver of premium and accidental death.
Customer Reviews
Kemper Life Insurance receives positive reviews from many of its policyholders. Here are some testimonials from real customers:
- “I’ve had a term life insurance policy with Kemper Life for 10 years now. The premiums have remained low and their customer service team is always friendly and helpful when I have questions. I definitely recommend them for an affordable life insurance option.” – James S., Ohio
- “We purchased a whole life insurance policy for our son when he was born. Kemper Life has kept its promises in terms of guaranteed cash value and dividends over the past 18 years. I’m glad we went with them.” – Sarah J., Florida
- “I recently filed a claim with Kemper Life after losing my husband unexpectedly. The claims process was smooth and I received my payout quickly. I’m grateful for their support during this difficult time.” – Amanda G., Texas
- “Kemper Life made getting life insurance easy. The application process was simple and their rates were very reasonable. I’d recommend them to anyone looking for reliable coverage.” – Michael P., California
These testimonials highlight Kemper Life customers’ positive experiences with affordable rates, helpful customer service, claims payments, and a streamlined application process. Actual policyholders recommend Kemper Life for various types of life insurance based on their own real-world experiences.
Financial Strength
As with any insurance company, it’s important to consider Kemper’s financial strength and ability to pay out claims. Kemper Life Insurance receives strong financial ratings from independent agencies that analyze the financial health of insurers.
One of the most respected rating agencies is A.M. Best. They thoroughly analyze a company’s balance sheet strength, operating performance, business profile, and other factors. A.M. Best has given Kemper Life an “A-” (Excellent) rating, reflecting their opinion that the company has an excellent ability to meet ongoing obligations to policyholders. This rating has been consistently maintained over time.
Other firms like Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s have also given Kemper strong ratings for financial strength. High ratings indicate that Kemper maintains sufficient capital reserves, manages risks appropriately, and can be counted on to satisfy claims. Policyholders can feel confident knowing Kemper has the financial capability to pay out benefits when needed.
A company’s financial strength is a key criterion when selecting a life insurer. Kemper’s high ratings show it excels in managing its finances responsibly over the long term. For those seeking peace of mind about their life insurance investment, Kemper’s financial track record helps provide that assurance.
Costs of Coverage
The cost of life insurance through Kemper Life depends on several key factors, including your age, health status, and the amount of coverage you select. Here’s an overview of how these variables impact your premiums:
Age
Age is one of the biggest factors in determining your life insurance rates. Kemper Life charges younger people less for coverage since they are statistically less likely to pass away soon. Rates start increasing once you hit your 30s and 40s, then rise sharply at age 50 and beyond as health risks increase.
A 40-year-old will pay around 50-90% more than a 30-year-old for the same policy. At age 60, premiums are 2-3 times higher. Over 70, rates are 5-15 times more expensive.
Health Status
Your current health, medical history, and lifestyle habits also significantly influence costs. Applicants who are overweight, smoke, have chronic conditions like diabetes, or have a family history of cancer/heart disease will pay higher premiums.
Kemper may offer Substandard ratings (Table 2 – Table 6) for applicants with moderate health issues, increasing rates 25-100%+. Coverage could be declined for major ongoing medical problems. Those in excellent health can qualify for Preferred rates 10-15% cheaper.
Coverage Amount
Naturally, the death benefit amount also impacts premiums. Opting for more coverage means larger payouts for your beneficiaries, so monthly costs are higher. A policy with a $500,000 death benefit can be 2-3x more expensive than $250,000 in coverage.
How to Make a Claim with Kemper Life Insurance
Making a life insurance claim with Kemper involves a few simple steps.
- Locate the policy. Find the original life insurance policy and have it available. You’ll need policy numbers and other information from it.
- Get a claim form. Contact Kemper to request a claim form. This can often be found on their website or obtained by calling customer service.
- Complete the claim form. Fill out the claim form entirely. This requires personal information, policy details, information about the insured and their death, and details on the beneficiary making the claim.
- Include key documentation. Along with the claim form, the beneficiary will need to provide a certified copy of the death certificate and their own identification. Other documentation proving eligibility may be required.
- Submit the paperwork. Send the completed claim form and documentation to Kemper’s claims department. This can be done by mail or email. Be sure to keep copies of everything submitted.
- Process and review. Kemper will process the claim, which typically takes 1-2 weeks. They may request additional information or proof if needed.
- Receive payout. Once approved, the death benefit will be paid out to the named beneficiary based on the payment method selected. This is typically in the form of a lump sum check.
Following these steps carefully ensures your Kemper life insurance claim is processed promptly and smoothly. Be sure to reach out with any questions during the process.
Alternatives to Consider
When shopping for life insurance, it’s important to consider alternatives beyond just Kemper Life. Here are some other top life insurance companies that are worth looking into:
- **Prudential** – Prudential is one of the largest and oldest life insurance companies in the U.S. They offer a wide range of term and permanent life insurance policies. Prudential is known for its financial strength and high ratings from independent agencies. The company has been around since 1875.
- **New York Life** – New York Life offers whole, term, and universal life insurance products. As a mutual company, New York Life is owned by policyholders rather than shareholders. They are one of the largest mutual life insurance companies in the United States with over $500 billion in assets. New York Life has received strong financial ratings.
- **Northwestern Mutual** – Northwestern Mutual provides flexible permanent and term life insurance policies. As a mutual company, Northwestern Mutual operates to benefit policy owners. They have maintained extremely high financial strength ratings for over 60 years. Northwestern Mutual has been in business since 1857.
- **Pacific Life** – Pacific Life offers universal, whole, and term life insurance. They provide added benefits like long-term care and chronic illness riders. Pacific Life has strong financial ratings and has been operating since 1868. Policyholders own the mutual company.
- **Guardian Life** – Guardian offers term, whole, and universal life insurance. They are a mutual company that pays dividends back to eligible policyholders. Guardian has received strong financial ratings based on their claims-paying ability. The company was founded in 1860.
Looking at the financial strength, history, types of policies, and ownership structure of the top life insurance providers can help you determine the best fit. Comparing quotes among highly-rated companies like these is wise.
Is Kemper Right for You?
When deciding on a life insurance policy, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of the provider to determine if they are the right fit. Here is a summary of the key pros and cons of Kemper Life Insurance:
Pros
- Strong financial ratings from AM Best (A-) and Standard & Poor’s (A)
- Variety of term and permanent life insurance policies
- Optional riders for added benefits like waiver of premium
- Online quotes and application process for convenience
- Access to policy information and payments online
- Customer support options like online chat
Cons
- Mixed reviews on claims process and customer service
- Relatively small company compared to industry giants
- A limited selection of just life insurance products
- Not available in NY and LA county currently
Kemper can be a good option for life insurance if you value a streamlined online process and middle-of-the-road pricing on term or permanent coverage. However, those wanting robust additional services, innovative policy options, or specific rider combinations may find better fits with other large mutual life insurance companies. Weigh your priorities and compare quotes to decide if Kemper meets your needs.