Ameritas Whole Life Insurance Review (2026)
2026 verdict: Ameritas (founded 1887) is a solid A-rated mutual-style carrier for affordable permanent coverage. It is not the first illustration we run for cash-value whole life. A.M. Best A and S&P A+ are fine claims-paying marks. They are not MassMutual or New York Life.
Who it is for
Buyers who want permanent coverage at a lower premium (Value Plus) or a participating Growth design and already have an Ameritas relationship. Confirm current product names — Growth Whole Life, Value Plus, and older Keystone labels have been the historical menu.
Who should skip: anyone whose only job is maximum cash value or the highest DIR. Start with MassMutual and Penn Mutual.
Strengths
- Long operating history and a mid-size mutual franchise
- A / A+ ratings — adequate, not fragile
- Value Plus when the need is cheap permanent death benefit
- Participating policies may receive a dividend (not guaranteed; recent printed DIRs in industry charts have sat near 5.1–5.25%, well below the large mutuals)
Weaknesses
- 2018 “$24.9 billion GAAP assets” copy is not a 2026 fact. Use Ameritas’ current annual report.
- Growth / cash-value designs price in the expensive tier versus the large mutuals
- Not a default on top whole life companies for cash value
Ratings
| Agency | Rating |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best | A (Excellent) |
| S&P | A+ |
Guaranteed cash value is a normal whole life feature, not an Ameritas exclusive. Any “4% guaranteed interest for life” claim belongs on a specific contract illustration, not as a blanket 2018 brochure fact.
Bottom line
Use Ameritas when price-for-permanent-coverage is the job. Use MassMutual, Penn Mutual, or New York Life when cash value is the job. Get a whole life quote and compare the same face amount and pay period.
