Life insurance is a vital way to financially protect your loved ones after you die. Obtaining it offers peace of mind. It also guarantees your debts will be covered and your loved ones will be provided for.
Life insurance is also a valuable estate planning and tax saving tool. Life insurance debts are exempt from federal taxation. A financial professional may advise one to use life insurance benefits to help pay for estate
taxes accumulated upon the death of a loved one. Whether you have no life insurance, or you haven’t reviewed your policy in a while, it is always a good idea to be aware of your options and be prepared.
What Is Term Life Insurance?
Term insurance is arguably the least expensive and easiest type of life insurance you can purchase. It provides basic protection against your death. Your beneficiary receives a lump sum in an amount of your choosing in such an event. This type of insurance is also temporary. It provides coverage for just a designated period of time. The typical time span is during your working years.
If you’re unsure of how much to designate for life insurance, consider using your mortgage balance as a base amount. If a couple relies more on one spouse’s income, think about making the higher-income spouse’s policy even larger than the basic mortgage amount so the lower-income spouse has something left over after the mortgage is paid.
Starting a family? Consider adding additional term life insurance. Some financial experts suggest adding 10 times your annual income if you have kids under 10 years old, and five times your annual income if you have kids over 10. If you can’t afford that much coverage, just do what you can. Less coverage always beats zero coverage.
How Does It Work?
As previously stated, term life insurance is in place for a period of time designated by you. The most common terms are 10, 20 and 30-year periods. The insurance policy continues to be valid for as long as you pay the premium. One of the benefits of term life insurance is the fact that the premium amount will never increase, regardless of your health's condition.
A typical term life insurance coverage policy also guarantees a designated dying benefit. You set this specific amount and it will never change, regardless of the length of the policy. This means the insurance provider will pay that exact amount to your beneficiaries whether you die on the first day of coverage or the last.
Who Should Obtain Term Life Insurance?
Term life insurance is a good choice for those looking to provide income replacement for their families should something happen to them. More specifically, this type of insurance provides solid, affordable protection for those that have children, carry significant financial obligations or own a company.
Types of Term Insurance
Level Term: This is the most commonly purchased type of term insurance. The term “level” refers to the death benefit amount during the term of the policy. So it pays the same benefit amount if death occurs at any point during the term. Common types of level term are:
Yearly renewable term
Five-year renewable term
10-year term
15-year term
20-year term
25-year term
30-year term
Term to a specified age (usually 65)
Decreasing Term: Unlike level term, the death benefit in this type of insurance decreases at a predetermined rate over the life of the policy. Premiums are usually constant throughout the contract, and reductions in policy payout usually occur monthly or annually. Term lengths can vary from between one and 30 years.
The main benefit of decreasing term policies is their affordability. The theory behind them is that a person’s insurance coverage needs decrease with age and when certain liabilities and debts no longer exist. Decreasing term insurance is generally not advisable for someone with no other life insurance, however.
Term Life Insurance Quotes
Life insurance rates are mainly based on your health. If you’re in good health, then it’s easier to obtain a cheaper policy. But if you have a high-risk health condition, then the price of your coverage could be much higher. Different companies make different assessments based on a person’s medical background and how risky they believe you are to insure.
The process of obtaining a quote from a company includes going through a medical exam, after which a company will compare their results to your medical records. You will then receive a quote from the company that reflects your risk class, the amount of coverage you’re seeking and the level of term insurance you desire.
Remember a quote is not the same as an actual offer. For instance, your health many not be at exactly the same level you thought it was. An increase in price could stem from high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or other findings in your medical records you didn’t disclose in your initial phone interview with the insurance company. (For related reading, see: 6 Life Events That Call for Professional Financial Advice.)
If your premiums are much too high due to medical reasons or you are denied coverage, check if a group plan is available through your company. These group plans do not require a medical exam or physical.
How Quotes Are Determined
To break it down further, let’s closely examine some of the specific factors an insurance carrier’s underwriters will look at when determining a policy’s premium quote.
Age – Your age can make a major difference in the premium quote that you receive. Because of the health risks that come with age, prices for insurance increase significantly over time. Applying for term life insurance while you’re still young is ideal, as it’s an affordable way to obtain a large amount of coverage.
Gender – This is also a significant factor in the premium price of life insurance. Since research show that women tend to live several years longer than men, females will usually pay a lower premium.
Height and Weight – These measurements are important to insurance companies. Since obesity is considered to be a high-risk factor in life insurance coverage, premiums may be significantly higher for those considered to be overweight.
Smoking Status – Smoking is considered one of the highest risks to life expectancy and is one of the biggest factors in premium rates for all types of life insurance coverage. Those who are smokers or use other forms of tobacco can pay a staggering five times more than non smokers.
Health Status – Most life insurance companies require that applicants complete a medical exam to determine his or her overall health status. This usually includes blood pressure and heart rate readings, as well as blood and urine samples.
Lifestyle – Life insurance applicants are also typically interviewed about lifestyle choices. A company then determines if they are considered risky or dangerous habits. Activities that could result in higher premium rates for the applicant could include skydiving, hang gliding, scuba diving or race car driving.
Level of Coverage – Understandably, the higher the amount of coverage you wish to purchase, the more expensive your life insurance premium will be.
Why Quotes Vary
The premium quote a person is offered for the exact same life insurance policy can widely vary depending on the company. While some criteria for evaluating applicants can be similar, certain factors can differ from company to company. For example, some companies now take an applicant’s driving record into account when evaluating their level of risk, while others don’t. (For more, see: When to Update Your Life Insurance Beneficiaries.)
For this reason, it’s important to compare quotes from various companies before making a final decision on where you’ll obtain coverage. One way to accomplish this in an easy manner is to work with either a company or agency that has access to multiple insurance carriers. Then you can quickly compare policies, carriers, benefits and premium rates and choose the policy that makes the most sense for your situation. The goal is to find an insurer that will provide you with the best protection for the most affordable price. You can research the financial soundness of your insurer at A.M. Best.
Importance of Life Insurance Company Ratings
When shopping for the most affordable life insurance, it’s important to factor an insurance company’s rating into your final decision. Find out whether a particular company is financially stable and has a good reputation for paying out its policyholder claims. Obtaining cheap life insurance isn’t worth it if the company isn’t reputable.
Some of the companies that provide insurance ratings include Standard & Poor’s, M. Best, Fitch, Moody’s, Dun & Bradstreet and Egan-Jones Rating Company. These companies typically give insurance companies ratings in the form of a letter grade, with A++ being the highest. (For related reading, see: How Annuities Can Boost Your Retirement Confidence.)
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is another good source that reveals how well an insurer pays its claims and the quality of its customer service. This organization will provide a letter grade. It also gives details regarding any complaints that have been filed with the company.
Difference Between Term and Permanent Life Insurance
The difference between term and permanent life insurance is quite simple. Term life insurance pays a predetermined sum if the insured dies during a specific period of time. For that reason, it can usually be obtained at an affordable rate.
On the other hand, permanent life insurance provides lifetime protection that does not expire. Most permanent policies offer a savings or investment component combined with the insurance coverage. For that reason, the premiums for permanent insurance are more costly than term policies.
Final Tips
Term life insurance is an affordable way to obtain protection for your loved ones after your death. Hopefully, you now realize it’s important not to rush into purchasing a policy. Take time to consider whether a particular policy meets your needs for the price, and seek advice from professionals.
When you purchase life insurance, you’re hoping for longevity. But you’re also securing peace of mind in case that’s not in the cards. Don’t leave your family financially strapped in the sudden event of your death. After all, they are your most valuable assets.