If you die, your family could get a large sum of money from your life insurance policy. If you have a life insurance policy, your loved ones will be taken care of in the event of an unexpected death. Your family could continue to pay the bills and plan for the future with this money. You can use the money to invest in other options that will bring you more financial security down the road.
A simple term policy will do for most people. It is important to understand the terms of your policy before purchasing it. For the least amount of money, term life can provide the most coverage. When choosing a term life insurance policy, it is important to consider the cost of premiums, as well as the overall coverage.
When your term life policy expires, there are more complex types of life insurance that can be used to address more complex needs. Financial security for loved ones in the event of an unexpected death is provided by life insurance policies.
What Are The Different Types of Life Insurance?
Here are the different types of life insurance:
- Term Life
- Whole Life
- Universal Life
- Variable Life
- Variable Universal Life
- Indexed Universal Life
- Simplified Issue Life Insurance
- Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance
- Burial Life Insurance
- Mortgage Life Insurance
- Key Person Insurance
The 2 Main Types of Life Insurance
All life insurance policies fall into one of two categories:
- Term Life only lasts for a specific period of time.
- This coverage can last for the rest of your life. Whole Life insurance can provide financial security and peace of mind, knowing that your loved ones will be taken care of even after you are gone.
Term Life Insurance
There is a built-in expiration date when you buy term life coverage. Extra premiums are required to keep the policy active. In exchange for your coverage, you agree to pay regular premiums. Your beneficiary could file a claim if you died within the term of your policy. Proof of death and documentation related to the policy are required in order to file a claim.
Your beneficiary could use the tax-free money as he or she needed.
Here are some facts about term life to consider as you shop:
- Term Length : Some life insurance companies offer 5- or even 2-year policies.
- Coverage Amount : Whole life policies typically provide less than $3 million in coverage, but term policies can offer much more. Term policies are more affordable than whole life policies, making them an attractive choice for large amounts of coverage.
- Beneficiary : If you die with the coverage in force, you can choose who gets the death benefit. To make sure they still reflect your wishes, it’s important to periodically review and update your beneficiary designation. Your partner, children, or a close friend are usually your beneficiary.
- Medical Exam : Blood and urine tests, weight and height checks, and a blood pressure test are included in life insurance exams. You may be asked about your medical history and lifestyle habits.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Simple
Cons:
- Temporary
Whole Life Insurance
A permanent life policy is an insurance contract that can last the rest of your life. Whole life is more complicated and more expensive. Before making any decisions, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of both options.
The flexibility comes from the cash value of your life policy. The flexibility of a whole life policy allows you to borrow against the cash value for emergency expenses or additional investments, as long as you stay within the loan limits set by your policy.
Pros:
- Permanent coverage
- Eventual ownership of cash value
Cons:
- Expensive
Types of Permanent Life Insurance
As time passes, a permanent life insurance policy grows in value. This type of policy can be passed down to future generations and is often used as a form of long-term investment.
Your cash value can grow at a moderate interest rate with a standard whole life policy. You can use your cash value to pay premiums or borrow against your policy.
If the value gets large enough, you can borrow against it or cancel the policy and get the cash minus surrender fees. You don’t have to sell or borrow against other assets to access the cash value of your life insurance policy. Some people use whole life as part of their retirement planning. Tax-deferred growth and guaranteed death benefits of whole life insurance make it an attractive option for retirement planning.
There are other ways to use the cash value in your permanent life insurance policy, for example:
- Universal Life allows you to use your policy’s cash value to lower your premiums or increase your death benefit later in life. Universal Life has the flexibility to meet your changing needs over time.
- Variable Life: Invest your policy’s cash value in mutual fund accounts with a Variable Life policy.
- Variable Universal Life: Both invest your cash value and use the money to change the amount of your premiums or death benefit.
- With an IUL policy, you can connect your cash value to a stock index and use the money to change the amount of your premiums or death benefit. The most appealing aspect of an IUL policy is that it allows you to benefit from stock market growth without taking on any of the risks associated with investing in individual stocks.
Universal Life
Universal life allows you to change the relationship between your death benefit and cash value over time. As your life changes, you can adjust your premium payments and death benefit amount.
You could stop paying premiums if you have enough cash value built up. The cash value of your policy can be used to help pay for large expenses. You might need decades to get to this point. It can be difficult to reach success, but it is possible.
The ability to keep permanent life insurance but pay a lower cost later in life is one of the main benefits of universal life. The death benefit and premium payments can be adjusted according to changing needs.
Pros:
- Permanent coverage
- Cash value can lower premiums
Cons:
- Expensive
- Cash value grows slowly
Variable Life
Your cash value could grow more quickly in a variable life policy because you can invest the money.
This kind of investing is not for everyone. Before committing any money, it’s important to understand the risks associated with this type of investing. You don’t have total freedom to invest as you see fit because your insurance company will provide a list of mutual funds in which you can place your cash. It is important to remember that youdon’t have complete control over the investments you make, as they must meet the criteria of your insurance company.
Your money’s growth rate will be capped by the insurer. Your money will be safe and secure, but the returns may be limited. Variable life policies can prevent you from losing all of your cash value. Variable life policies can be used to secure your financial future.
Pros:
- Permanent coverage
- Invest the cash value
Cons:
- Insurance company controls investment accounts
- Possibility of losing value in a down market
Variable Universal Life
Variable universal life insurance combines elements of variable life and universal life policies. Variable universal life insurance provides the flexibility of both variable life and universal life policies, allowing policyholders to tailor their coverage to their individual needs.
Universal life allows you to change the relationship between your cash value and your death benefit. You can make changes to the policy at any time.
Variable life is similar to insurance company directed mutual funds. Money can be invested in stocks, bonds, and other types of investments.
Pros:
- Permanent coverage
- Invest the cash value
- Cash fund can subsidize premiums later
Cons:
- Insurance company controls investment accounts
- Possibility of losing value in a down market
Indexed Universal Life
You can connect your cash value to a stock index with index universal. The money can grow at the same rate as the stock index. This is a great way to make more money over time.
During a hot streak in the markets, the insurance company can cap your growth at a specific percentage. The insurance company can still provide competitive returns while maintaining an acceptable level of risk. When your cash value grows, you can use it to subsidize your premiums. The cash in your policy can be used for other financial needs.
Pros:
- Permanent coverage
- Invest the cash value
- Cash fund can subsidize premiums later
Cons:
- Insurance company controls investment accounts
- Possibility of losing value in a down market
There Are Multiple Ways to Apply for Life Insurance
There are different application processes for life insurance policies. In order to make an informed decision, it is important to understand the process for any life insurance policy you are considering.
Medically Underwritten Life Insurance
Most life insurance policies require you to take a medical exam. A blood test, urine sample and questions about your health history are included in the medical exam.
Your body-mass index, blood pressure, and urine samples will be taken during the exam. If any further action needs to be taken based on your health status, your results will be compared to established guidelines.
The medical exam can be difficult, but its data tells life insurance companies a lot about your health. The exam can save you money if you are healthy. If you pass the exam, you can receive discounts on your premiums.
Some startup online insurance agencies — If you are younger than 45 and your database checks don’t reveal evidence of health concerns, Haven Life and Bestow can issue medically underwritten term life coverage without an exam.
Pros:
- You’ll save money because of your good health
- Exam could reveal health problems you didn’t know about
Cons:
- Scheduling the medical exam
- Needles
Simplified Issue Life Insurance
You can skip the medical exam with simplified issue life insurance. It’s helpful for people who need life insurance coverage quickly, but don’t want to go through a medical exam.
A variety of questions will be asked about your health and your family’s health history instead of a medical exam.
It is possible for insurers to check databases to find out what kind of medicines you have taken. Any medical history that could impact your insurance premium can be found in these databases. They can check how safe you drive, as well as the results of any previous life insurance applications or health exams. Insurers use the data gathered by these devices to determine your risk profile and decide whether or not to offer you a policy.
Expect to pay more for this kind of coverage. You can make an informed decision about the coverage that best suits your needs if you read the policy carefully. A simplified issue life insurance policy can be as low as $350,000 to $500,000. It is still important to consider the benefits of medically underwritten policies for larger amounts of coverage, even though simplified issue life insurance is a great option for those who need smaller amounts of coverage.
Pros:
- No medical exam
- Can get a respectable coverage amount
Cons:
- More expensive
- Lower coverage amounts compared to medically underwritten
- You won’t get credit for good health
Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance
You can only answer a couple of questions with guaranteed issue life insurance. It is the best option for people with pre-existing conditions.
The name explains that anyone can qualify for a guaranteed issue. It’s one of the easiest policies to get because it doesn’t require a medical exam or health questions. Some people call this life insurance the last resort. This type of insurance can be used to provide financial security to your family after you’re gone.
Death benefits rarely exceed $50,000. Before signing up for coverage, it is advisable to carefully consider your individual needs and assess the costs of the policy. The death benefit will be available to your family after a year or two. The insurance company will pay the premiums during that time.
Pros:
- Available to almost everyone
- No medical exam
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Low coverage amounts
- Waiting periods
Different Types of Life Insurance
There are additional, unique types of life insurance coverage that may fall into one or more of the above categories. These types of life insurance policies give you the security and financial protection you need to make sure your family is taken care of in the event of a tragedy.
Burial Life Insurance
You could buy a simplified policy for burial life insurance, which is a form of guaranteed issue life insurance. It’s a good option for people who don’t qualify for traditional life insurance.
This type of insurance should be a whole life policy, so you don’t have to worry about outliving the coverage. Whole life policies tend to be more expensive than term life policies, but the added security of lifelong coverage is worth the extra cost.
The death benefit should be enough to cover your final expenses, which may include small debts or funeral expenses. Discuss your wishes with your beneficiaries so they understand how the death benefit should be used.
Mortgage Life Insurance
You can get mortgage life insurance when you buy a home. Evaluate thecoverage offered by mortgage life insurance to make sure it meets your needs. If you died with a mortgage balance, the simplified issue policies could pay off your house. These policies are easier to qualify for than traditional life insurance policies.
If you are young and healthy, term life is a great way to protect your home.
If you died, your family would not be paid by a mortgage life policy. In the event of your death, your family will not have to struggle with repayment of the loan.
Key Person Insurance
There is a need for key person insurance in almost every business. If a key employee is absent, key person insurance can help the business recover.
If a partner or key employee dies unexpectedly, this type of coverage can protect your business. Financial security can be provided by having a key person insurance policy in place. With the death benefit from a key man policy, your business can regroup and rebuild after the loss of critical company personnel.
What Are Life Insurance Riders?
You can use life insurance riders to personalize your insurance coverage. It’s important to consider the cost of riders when deciding on life insurance coverage, as they can add significantly to the overall premium.
Common riders include:
- Accelerated Death Benefit : If you are diagnosed with a terminal illness or meet other requirements, you can pay part of your death benefit early. Financial security and peace of mind can be provided by this payment.
- Long-Term Care : If you need help paying for long-term health care, you can pay part of your death benefit early. If you become seriously ill and need long-term medical assistance, this can be a great way to make sure you are taken care of.
- Accidental Death : If your death results from an accident, you will be paid a higher death benefit. It is possible for you and your family to have peace of mind in the event of a tragedy.
- Child Term : Part of your coverage can be extended to more than one child.
- Waiver of Premium : You could get your paid premiums back if you outlive your term policy. peace of mind is offered by the rider, knowing that your beneficiaries will be taken care of even if you outlive your policy.
Extra costs will always be added to your insurance premiums. It is important to be aware that even if you are an experienced rider, insurers will still factor in the increased risk when determining your policy premium.
What Type of Life Insurance Should I Buy?
Term life works best for most young people who need to protect their families from money trouble if they die unexpectedly.
When Do I Need Term Life Insurance?
A medically underwritten term life policy can allow you to carry $2 million, $3 million, or even more in coverage for the next 20 or 30 years as your family grows. You can get this coverage at an affordable rate with a medically underwritten term life policy.
This kind of coverage can be just what you need if you don’t have a lot in savings or other sources of income. In case of an emergency, it’s important to have adequate life insurance coverage.
With a comprehensive, medically underwritten term policy, your partner could use your death benefit to pay off the house, get out of debt, save money for the kids’ college — or pay for anything else you had planned to do in the coming years.
When Do I Need Whole Life Insurance?
If you already have money set aside to keep your financial house in order in case you die, you may not need life insurance.
Whole insurance can offer more flexibility, tax advantages, and a permanent asset, even though it has lower coverage amounts and more expensive premiums. It can also provide peace of mind that your loved ones will be taken care of if something happens to you.
Financial planners and life insurance agents can help you make these decisions. Unbiased advice can be provided by these professionals.
