Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance/ GUL Buyers Guide

Eric Van Haaften Jan 18, 2026 Permanent Life Insurance

Are you ready to find affordable permanent life insurance? Guaranteed Universal Life (GUL) insurance might be your answer.

While most assume permanent coverage comes with sky-high premiums, GUL insurance offers guaranteed protection at surprisingly reasonable rates.

Whether you’re shopping for your first policy or considering a switch from an existing one, we’ll help you make an educated decision.

What Is Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance?

Guaranteed universal life insurance (GUL) is an excellent option for reliable, lifelong coverage without unnecessary complexity.

Think of GUL as the “set it and forget it” of life insurance. You pay the same premium every time, and your loved ones are guaranteed a payout when you pass away.

One of the policy’s key strengths is its no-lapse rider. This valuable feature ensures that your premium rates remain unchanged throughout the policy’s life.

Unlike more complex permanent life insurance options, GUL focuses on providing pure protection rather than serving as an investment vehicle.

This means you won’t need to monitor investment performance or manage cash values—your focus is on maintaining your coverage.

GUL vs. Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance plans offer guaranteed level death benefits and level premiums for between 10 and 40 years.

Now, GUL is different. Rather than choosing a specific term insurance duration, you select a particular age – say, 90 or 95 – and your coverage lasts until then.

According to Western & Southern, it’s like finding the sweet spot between term and permanent coverage.

Many people worry about outliving their term life insurance, leaving their loved ones unprotected. GUL insurance offers a reliable solution for lasting security!

For instance, consider a 35-year-old client comparing two options: a 30-year term policy expiring at age 65 and a GUL policy lasting until age 100.

While the term policy has lower premiums during their working years, it ends just when many enter retirement. However, some term policies offer a conversion option that lets you switch to a universal life policy before your term ends.

In contrast, the GUL policy, though initially more expensive, ensures coverage continues into retirement, which is essential for leaving a legacy to your family.

GUL Insurance vs. Whole Life

Whole life insurance offers guaranteed cash values, premiums, and death benefits. It can also generate annual dividends, making it a solid choice for wealth building.

On the other hand, GUL insurance also offers lifelong coverage, but the cash value is usually minimal.

Because it lacks investment features, it provides permanent coverage at a significantly lower cost than whole life insurance.

This makes GUL policies ideal for those seeking to create a tax-free inheritance for their spouse or children.

Please refer to the chart below to compare the dramatic cost difference between universal and whole-life insurance for males.

Cost of $1,000,000 Universal vs Whole Life

	GUL	Whole
Age 20	$211	$640
Age 30	$310	$921
Age 40	$464	$1,373
Age 50	$711	$2,118

Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance for Seniors

We often recommend guaranteed universal life insurance for seniors seeking lifetime protection without investment complexities.

Coverage starts at $25,000, and many insurers offer better rates when you choose $50,000 or more in coverage. These policies work perfectly for covering final expenses or leaving a meaningful gift for your loved ones.

Numerous GUL policies are available for purchase up until age 80, giving healthy seniors ample time to purchase coverage.

A senior client recently switched from whole life to a GUL policy, achieving a 40% reduction in premiums while keeping the same death benefit.

We also offer flexible options to lower premiums, such as policies that cover you until age 90 or 95 instead of lifetime coverage.

Here is an example of a $100,000 GUL policy for men that costs significantly less when choosing coverage until age 90 or 95 rather than 100.

$100,000 GUL Insurance Rates for Seniors

	Age 90	Age 95	Age 100
Age 60	$103	$118	$128
Age 61	$106	$125	$136
Age 62	$110	$130	$143
Age 63	$117	$139	$153
Age 64	$126	$150	$161
Age 65	$135	$160	$171
Age 66	$134	$166	$182
Age 67	$137	$171	$193
Age 68	$146	$183	$207
Age 69	$158	$196	$222

How Much Does GUL Cost?

At Affordable Life USA, we’re committed to helping you find the best permanent coverage at unbeatable rates.

The cost of your premium will depend on several important factors, including your age, health status, and the size of the death benefit you choose.

Generally, women benefit from lower premiums than men, reflecting their longer average lifespans.

What’s more, once you secure your policy, your premiums will remain fixed, so you won’t have to worry about increases as you age or if your health changes.

Check out our rate charts for men and women to find the best options for your family!

GUL Life Insurance Rates for Men

	$100k	250k
Age 40	$58	$132
Age 50	$85	$199
Age 60	$137	$325
Age 70	$249	$589
Age 80	$560	$1,312

GUL Life Insurance Rates for Women

	$100k	250k
Age 40	$49	$116
Age 50	$73	$173
Age 60	$115	$286
Age 70	$209	$503
Age 80	$480	$1,112

Buying Guaranteed Universal Life

If you want lifelong coverage and predictable costs without the headaches of managing investments, guaranteed universal life insurance is a strong option.

Many GUL buyers aim to cover estate taxes and leave a legacy for their children, while others use it to support special needs dependents or make charitable donations.

One notable innovation is that policies can now be obtained through a telephone assessment, eliminating the need for a medical examination.

Pacific Life has revolutionized the process by offering coverage up to $2 million for those under 60 and up to $1 million for ages 61-69 without requiring a medical exam. Pacific’s universal life portfolio ranks first in CNBC’s 2025 ratings.

Penn Mutual has gone even further, providing no-exam policies with death benefits up to $7.5 million for healthy applicants until age 65.

According to Forbes, Penn Mutual’s universal life offers cost-conscious buyers competitive internal policy costs to help them maximize the death benefits.

However, taking a medical exam opens doors to higher coverage limits and more competitive rates by completing this simple health screening.

The exam itself? Quick and straightforward – basic measurements like blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight. But these 30 minutes can save you thousands over the life of your policy.

We recommend carriers like Corebridge and Nationwide, which offer coverage starting at $100,000, while Protective Life provides flexible policy options with a $50,000 minimum.

Ready to explore your options? Our universal life insurance calculator can help you evaluate the best rates from highly rated insurance companies in minutes!

Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance Quotes

Select Lifetime
Select Amount
Press Get Quote

Universal Life Insurance Review

Whether you’re looking for new coverage or finding that your current policy has become too expensive, we’re here to help.

Many people who bought adjustable or indexed policies are now discovering that their policies haven’t performed as projected.

This commonly happens when interest rates drop, and costs rise, causing some policies to lapse unless premiums skyrocket.

Fortunately, if your current policy is not performing, we can transfer any existing cash value from it to a new GUL policy completely tax-free.

If you have sufficient cash value, your new policy might offer lower premiums while maintaining the same death benefit.

We can review your policy’s performance to determine if switching to a more beneficial option makes sense for you.

FAQ: Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance

Does a guaranteed universal life policy have cash value? GUL offers a modest cash value component alongside a constant death benefit unaffected by market changes or interest rate fluctuations.

Are interest rates guaranteed in universal life policies? Policies typically guarantee an interest rate of 2% to 3%, ensuring a minimum return. They may also have a higher current interest rate that can increase the cash value.

Can you buy a single-premium GUL insurance policy? Certainly! You can purchase a single-premium policy that provides lifetime protection with a single payment. There will be no need for any additional payments in the future.

Can you borrow money from a GUL policy? Life insurance can be used while you are still alive by either withdrawing funds or borrowing against the cash values of your policy.

Are there any living benefits with GUL? Some GUL policies offer riders, like accelerated death benefit or chronic illness riders, which can pay out while you’re still alive if you meet certain conditions.

What is second-to-die guaranteed universal life insurance? Second-to-die or survivorship life covers married couples and provides a death benefit only once the final surviving person has died.

How does GUL fit into estate planning? GUL gives your heirs cash to pay estate taxes, so they don’t have to sell off assets quickly. Many people also use GUL to fund trusts, which keeps the payout out of your taxable estate and lets you decide how and when your money is passed on.