Is GILICO a Good Insurance Company?
Is GILICO a Good Insurance Company?
Jason Stolz CLTC, CRPC, DIA, CAA
Guaranty Income Life Insurance Company — known throughout the annuity industry as GILICO — celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2026, a milestone that only a small number of insurance carriers ever reach. Founded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1926, GILICO has operated continuously through the Great Depression, World War II, the 2008 financial crisis, and Hurricane Katrina, paying its obligations through all of it. Today it holds an AM Best A- (Excellent) rating affirmed in December 2025 with a stable outlook, generates more than $3.3 billion in annual premiums, and operates as part of Kuvare US Holdings — a life and annuity business with over $50 billion in consolidated assets backed by capital firms managing more than $27 billion. The product that puts GILICO on more retirement planning conversations than its regional roots might otherwise generate is the AnnuiCare series. AnnuiCare is a hybrid annuity with embedded qualified long-term care benefits — you deposit a lump sum that grows tax-deferred like any fixed annuity, and if you ever need long-term care, the policy can pay LTC benefits worth up to triple your original deposit. If you never need care, your full accumulation value passes to your heirs. If you cancel, a refund provision returns your money. There is no use-it-or-lose-it problem. For buyers who are not shopping for a hybrid LTC product, GILICO also offers competitive MYGAs across 3-to-10-year terms, fixed indexed annuities with optional lifetime income, and a flexible premium deferred annuity. The NAIC complaint ratio runs at 0.6 — meaning GILICO generates 40 percent fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size, a reliable signal of how the carrier actually handles policyholders. At Diversified Insurance Brokers, Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC, DIA, CAA, evaluates GILICO for clients who need an A-rated carrier with deep annuity expertise and a genuine solution for the long-term care funding gap that most retirement plans leave unaddressed.
See Real-Term Rates Side by Side
Life Insurance Quoter
Ensure you are receiving the absolute top rates
Current Fixed Annuity Rates
Compare today’s best fixed annuity rates from top carriers.
Current Bonus Annuity Rates
See which annuities offer the highest upfront bonus today.
Request an Annuity Quote
Submit our annuity request form to get personalized rate options.
Lifetime Income Calculator
Use our calculator to see how much guaranteed income your annuity can provide.
What GILICO Offers Retirement Savers
| What You Get | How It Works | Why It Matters for Your Retirement |
|---|---|---|
| A- Financial Strength | AM Best A- (Excellent), stable outlook affirmed December 2025; NAIC complaint ratio 0.6 — 40% fewer complaints than expected; 100 years of continuous operation through every major economic cycle | A- is the minimum rating most advisors recommend for annuity placements; a century of paying obligations through depressions, recessions, and natural disasters is a track record few carriers can match |
| AnnuiCare Hybrid — Annuity + LTC | Single premium annuity that grows tax-deferred and can pay qualified LTC benefits worth up to 3× your deposit; if you never need care, your heirs receive the full accumulation value; if you cancel, a refund provision returns your money | Eliminates the use-it-or-lose-it problem of traditional standalone LTC insurance — your money works in every scenario and the 3× leverage multiplies your self-funded care capacity dramatically |
| Guaranty Rate Lock MYGA | Guaranteed fixed rate for terms from 3 to 10 years — one of the widest term ranges in the market; tiered rates reward larger deposits; 10-year option is genuinely rare among A-rated carriers | The wide term range lets buyers match their MYGA precisely to their timeline; the 10-year option lets buyers lock in a favorable rate environment for a full decade without having to renew mid-accumulation |
| Guaranty Growth Plus FIA | Fixed indexed annuity with multiple crediting strategies — earn interest linked to market indices with principal fully protected; optional guaranteed lifetime income rider available | For buyers who want more than a fixed rate but cannot accept stock market losses — the FIA gives index-linked upside with a zero floor on principal |
| WealthChoice Flexible Deferred | Flexible premium deferred annuity accepting ongoing contributions with a guaranteed minimum interest floor — accumulate over time rather than in a single lump sum | For buyers building annuity assets gradually — adding funds over time rather than committing everything at once — with a guaranteed floor beneath every dollar contributed |
| 10% Annual Free Withdrawals | Starting in year two, up to 10% of contract value is accessible annually without surrender charge; full contract value passes to beneficiaries at death | Meaningful liquidity during the surrender period; full value protected for heirs whether or not income is ever taken from the contract |
AnnuiCare: Why GILICO Belongs on LTC Planning Conversations
Long-term care is one of the most systematically underfunded risks in American retirement planning. The probability of needing some form of care is high, the cost is significant, and traditional standalone LTC insurance carries two serious disadvantages: premiums can be raised after issue, and if you never need care you collect nothing. AnnuiCare solves both problems with a single deposit. You place a lump sum — say $100,000 — and it earns interest tax-deferred at a guaranteed rate, exactly as any fixed annuity does. But if you ever qualify for long-term care, the policy can accelerate benefit payments worth up to three times your original annuity value. On a $100,000 deposit, that means up to $300,000 of potential LTC coverage. The LTC premiums are funded by automatic monthly withdrawals from the annuity itself — no separate out-of-pocket bill. If you live a full, healthy life and never need care, your entire accumulation value passes to your named beneficiary as a death benefit. If circumstances change and you want out, a refund provision returns your money. The AnnuiCare does require some underwriting since it includes qualified LTC benefits — not every applicant will qualify. For buyers weighing AnnuiCare against purchasing standalone LTC insurance alongside a separate annuity, the comparison comes down to whether the 3× leverage and single-product simplicity of the hybrid outweighs the greater flexibility of keeping the two products separate. Our resource on annuity with long-term care benefits covers that decision framework in full.
The MYGA, FIA, and When Each Product Fits
The Guaranty Rate Lock MYGA’s 3-to-10-year term range is a genuine competitive differentiator. Most carriers top out at 7 years; GILICO’s 10-year option is uncommon at the A- tier and particularly useful for buyers who want to lock in today’s rate environment across a long accumulation window without a renewal decision partway through. The tiered rate structure — where larger deposits earn better rates — rewards buyers consolidating a meaningful portion of retirement savings rather than placing a small amount. The fixed indexed annuity lineup is designed for buyers with a longer time horizon who want to participate in index gains while keeping their principal protected on the downside. The optional guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit rider on the FIA converts the accumulation vehicle into a guaranteed income stream that cannot be outlived — a feature that matters to buyers who want their FIA to eventually produce retirement income rather than simply pass to heirs. For buyers focused specifically on income from a fixed indexed annuity, our resource on the best fixed indexed annuities for income places GILICO’s FIA income design in competitive context. For buyers whose retirement timeline makes Social Security coordination central to the income plan, our resource on maximizing Social Security benefits covers the claiming decisions that interact directly with when and how annuity income is structured. And for buyers still evaluating whether their existing retirement accounts will last without an annuity, our resource on how long a 401(k) lasts in retirement provides the depletion context that often drives the decision to move safe money into a guaranteed vehicle.
What to Know Before Comparing GILICO Against Alternatives
GILICO earns its place on any serious A-rated annuity comparison, but the right carrier is always the one that best fits your specific goal on the specific day you are comparing. For buyers focused on AnnuiCare specifically, the comparison is narrow — very few A-rated carriers offer a hybrid annuity with 3× LTC leverage at GILICO’s price point, and the ones that do differ on benefit trigger definitions, elimination periods, and how the LTC premiums are structured. Our resource on hybrid long-term care insurance covers the full hybrid landscape so GILICO’s product can be evaluated against the alternatives that actually compete with it. For buyers focused purely on MYGA rates without the LTC component, GILICO should be compared against the full competitive market — our resource on best MYGA annuity rates covers that in real time. GILICO’s state availability is not universal — confirm that GILICO is licensed where you live before investing time in a comparison. For buyers who want an independent review of any GILICO illustration before committing, our resource on getting a second opinion on your annuity quote covers the validation process that makes sense before any annuity purchase.
Talk With an Advisor Today
Choose how you’d like to connect—call or message us, then book a time that works for you.
Schedule here:
calendly.com/jason-dibcompanies/diversified-quotes
Licensed in all 50 states • Fiduciary, family-owned since 1980
Frequently Asked Questions: Is GILICO a Good Insurance Company?
What does GILICO actually do for my retirement savings?
GILICO is a 100-year-old A-rated annuity company that gives your retirement savings a place to grow safely — principal protected, tax-deferred compounding, no market risk, and guarantees backed by a carrier that has been paying obligations since 1926. The product lineup covers four distinct needs. The Guaranty Rate Lock MYGA gives you a fixed rate locked in for 3 to 10 years so you know exactly what your balance will be at maturity. The Guaranty Growth Plus FIA gives you index-linked growth potential with your principal protected if markets fall. The WealthChoice flexible premium deferred lets you contribute over time rather than all at once. And the AnnuiCare series is GILICO’s most distinctive offering — a single premium annuity that simultaneously provides qualified long-term care benefits worth up to triple your deposit, with no use-it-or-lose-it risk because the full value passes to heirs if you never use the LTC benefit. Across all products: 10% annual penalty-free withdrawals starting year two, tax-deferred compounding, and full contract value to your named beneficiary at death.
What is GILICO’s AM Best rating and is it financially stable?
GILICO holds AM Best A- (Excellent) with a stable outlook, affirmed in December 2025. The A- was an upgrade from B++ — GILICO earned that upgrade in 2022 after demonstrating sustained premium growth, improved capitalization, and stable operating performance across its core annuity products. The carrier operates as part of Kuvare US Holdings, which now has over $50 billion in consolidated assets backed by capital firms managing more than $27 billion. The NAIC complaint ratio of 0.6 means GILICO generates 40% fewer regulatory complaints than expected for a company of its size — an objective signal that policyholders’ actual experiences with the company are consistently positive. The company has operated continuously since 1926 through the Great Depression, multiple recessions, the 2008 financial crisis, and Hurricane Katrina. For buyers who want to understand where A- sits in the full rating hierarchy, our resource on what an AM Best rating means covers the full framework.
How exactly does the AnnuiCare hybrid annuity work?
AnnuiCare is a single premium deferred annuity with qualified long-term care insurance benefits embedded in the same contract. You deposit a lump sum — it earns interest at a guaranteed rate, tax-deferred, exactly as any fixed annuity does. The embedded LTC benefit means that if you ever qualify for long-term care under the policy’s definitions — typically the inability to perform two or more activities of daily living, or a cognitive impairment requiring supervision — the contract can pay out benefits worth up to three times your original annuity value. On a $100,000 deposit, that translates to up to $300,000 of potential LTC benefit payments. The LTC coverage is funded by automatic monthly withdrawals from the annuity itself, so you do not receive a separate LTC premium invoice. If you live a long healthy life and never qualify for benefits, your full accumulation value passes to your named beneficiary as a death benefit — no money is forfeited. If you want to surrender the contract, a refund provision returns your premium. AnnuiCare requires underwriting because it includes LTC benefits, so health history affects eligibility and benefit structure. Our broader resource on annuity with long-term care benefits covers the full hybrid annuity category that AnnuiCare belongs to.
What MYGA terms does GILICO offer and who are they best for?
The Guaranty Rate Lock MYGA offers terms from 3 to 10 years — a range broader than most competitors. Most A-rated MYGA carriers top out at 7 years; GILICO’s 10-year option is uncommon and useful for buyers who want to lock a rate across a long accumulation window rather than renewing a shorter-term MYGA and facing a different rate environment mid-retirement. The tiered rate structure rewards larger deposits — buyers consolidating a substantial 401(k), pension, or IRA rollover typically qualify for better rates than minimum-premium buyers. Standard provisions apply: principal cannot go down, the guaranteed rate cannot be cut mid-term, interest compounds tax-deferred, and 10% of contract value is accessible annually without surrender charge starting in year two. The 3-year term is the entry point for buyers who want a short commitment — useful as a savings vehicle with a clear exit date, or as one leg of a laddering strategy. For buyers building a laddered income strategy where GILICO’s wide term range is particularly useful, our resource on laddering fixed annuities for retirement income covers how that approach works in practice.
How does GILICO compare to other A-rated annuity carriers?
GILICO’s strongest competitive case is the AnnuiCare product — most A-rated MYGA and FIA carriers do not offer a hybrid annuity with 3× LTC leverage at GILICO’s price point. For buyers who need both retirement accumulation and long-term care protection in a single contract, GILICO’s product design is genuinely difficult to replicate at the same rating tier. For buyers focused purely on MYGA rates or FIA income design without the LTC component, GILICO’s 100-year operating history and A- rating make it a credible option, but rates shift constantly and the right carrier on a given day depends on the specific term and deposit amount being compared. The honest evaluation process always involves running side-by-side numbers across multiple A-rated carriers before committing — our resource on getting a second opinion on your annuity quote covers why that validation step matters before any annuity purchase. The state guaranty association provides a safety net behind GILICO’s own financial strength — coverage limits vary by state, and our resource on state guaranty association protections covers what applies where GILICO operates.
About the Author:
Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC, DIA, CAA and Chief Underwriter at Diversified Insurance Brokers (NPN 20471358), is a senior insurance and retirement professional with more than 25 years of real-world experience helping individuals, families, and business owners protect their income, assets, and long-term financial stability. As a long-time partner of the nationally licensed independent agency Diversified Insurance Brokers, Jason provides trusted guidance across multiple specialties—including fixed and indexed annuities, long-term care planning, personal and business disability insurance, life insurance solutions, Group Health, Travel Medical and Evacuation Insurance, and short-term health coverage. Diversified Insurance Brokers maintains active contracts with over 100 highly rated insurance carriers, ensuring clients have access to a broad and competitive marketplace.
His practical, education-first approach has earned recognition in publications such as VoyageATL, and contributions from his agency featured in Kiplinger and GoBankingRates— highlighting his commitment to financial clarity and client-focused planning. Drawing on deep product knowledge and years of hands-on field experience, Jason helps clients evaluate carriers, compare strategies, and build retirement and protection plans that are both secure and cost-efficient. Visitors who want to explore current annuity rates and compare options across multiple insurers can also use this annuity quote and comparison tool.
Review More Carrier Reviews: Browse our complete Burial Insurance Company Reviews — covering Mutual of Omaha, Americo, Globe Life, Colonial Penn, and more burial insurance carriers.
Last Reviewed: June 13, 2026 |
Reviewed by: Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC, DIA, CAA
Chief Underwriter, Diversified Insurance Brokers, Inc. | NPN: 20471358 | Diversified Insurance Brokers, Inc. — Licensed in all 50 states
Fact Checked by: Tonia Pettitt, CMIP©
Medicare Specialist, Diversified Insurance Brokers, Inc. | NPN: 14374308 | Diversified Insurance Brokers, Inc. — Licensed in all 50 states
Editorial Standards: Diversified Insurance Brokers maintains rigorous editorial standards to ensure accuracy, clarity, and independence in all content. Learn more about our editorial standards and commitment to transparency.
