Life Insurance Basics
Consumers should consider the following factors when purchasing life insurance:
- Medical expenses previous to death, burial costs and estate taxes;
- Support while remaining family members try to secure employment; and
- Continued monthly bills and expenses, day-care costs, college tuition and retirement.
Term Insurance
Term insurance generally has lower premiums in the early years, but does not build up cash values that you can use in the future. You may combine cash value life insurance with term insurance for the period of your greatest need for life insurance to replace income.
Term insurance covers you for a term of one or more years. It pays a death benefit only if you die in that term. Term insurance generally offers the largest insurance protection for your premium dollar. It generally does not build up cash value.
You can renew most term insurance policies for one or more terms, even if your health has changed. Each time you renew the policy for a new term, premiums may be higher. Ask what the premiums will be if you continue to renew the policy. Also ask if you will lose the right to renew the policy at a certain age. For a higher premium, some companies will give you the right to keep the policy in force for a guaranteed period at the same price each year. At the end of that time you may need to pass a physical examination to continue coverage, and premiums may increase. You may be able to trade many term insurance policies for a cash value policy during a conversion period even if you are not in good health. Premiums for the new policy will be higher than you have been paying for the term insurance.
Permanent Insurance
Permanent insurance (such as universal life, variable universal life and whole life) provides long- term financial protection. These policies include both a death benefit and, in some cases, cash savings. Because of the savings element, premiums tend to be higher.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- How much of the family income do I provide?
- If I were to die, how would my survivors, especially my children, get by?
- Does anyone else depend on me financially, such as a parent, grandparent, brother or sister?
- Do I have children for whom I would like to set aside money to finish their education in the event of my death?
- How will my family pay final expenses and repay debts after my death?
- Do I have family members or organizations to whom I would like to leave money?
- Will there be estate taxes to pay after my death?
- How will inflation affect future needs?
Some insurance experts suggest that you purchase five to eight times your current income. However, it is better to go through the above questions to figure a more accurate amount.
- Make sure you feel confident in the insurance agent and company.
- Decide how much you need, for how long, and what you can afford to pay.
- Learn what kinds of policies will provide what you need and pick the one that is best for you.
- Do not sign an application until you review it carefully to be sure the answers are complete and accurate.
- Do not buy life insurance unless you intend to stick with your plan. It may be very costly if you quit during the early years of the policy.
- When you buy a policy, make the check payable to the company, not the agent.
Some life insurance ads claim “you cannot be turned down.” What’s the catch?
Such ads are for “guaranteed issue” policies that ask no health history questions. The company knows it is taking a risk because people with bad health could buy their policies. The company balances the risk by charging higher premiums or by limiting the amount of insurance you can buy. The premiums can be almost as much as the insurance. After a few years you could pay more to the insurance company than it will have to pay to your beneficiary. Such policies may offer only the return of your premiums if you die within the first couple of years after you buy the policy.
Why is term life often called “temporary” insurance?
Insurance agents sometimes refer to term insurance as “temporary” because the term policy lasts only for a specific period. It is probably no more “temporary” than your auto or homeowner insurance. Just like term, those types of policies provide coverage for a specific period of time, and must be renewed when that period ends.
What do I get when I buy term insurance?
You have bought and received the company’s guarantee that if you die during the term of the policy, it will pay a death benefit to your beneficiary.
Does that mean I’ve wasted my money if I don’t die?
No more than you have wasted money by buying car insurance but never having an accident. You’ve purchased peace of mind. With term life insurance, if you die during the term, you know the company will pay your beneficiaries.
An insurance agent has suggested that I buy term instead of whole life. Does it make sense to buy term and invest the difference?
“Buy term and invest the difference” has been a popular sales slogan for term life. The pitch compares term, the least expensive form of life insurance, with other kinds of life insurance.
Example:
- $100,000 death benefit at age 35
- Annual whole life premium: $1,800
- Annual renewable term premium: $250
- Difference: $1,550
What are your choices?
- Buy whole life. The “difference” is used to keep your premiums lower than the actual cost of insurance as you get older.
- Buy term. You keep the difference.
In addition, make sure you consider the following:
- As you get older your term premiums will increase to keep up with the cost of insurance;
- If you invested the difference, you could use your investment to pay the higher cost of insurance;
- If you spent the difference you will have to dip into other savings to pay higher premiums; and
- If your health deteriorates you may not be able to buy a new policy