Life insurance seems unnecessary to young people, but that can be a foolish way to think if you have a family to care for. Your perfect health won’t matter if you are in a fatal accident. In addition to losing you, your loved ones could lose their home and their security. This article can help you take the steps to avoid this tragedy from happening to your family.
When deciding what term to take for your insurance, take a look at what will need to be done with that money. If your children are newborns, a 25 year term policy will make sure that they are cared for if anything happens to you before they are able to financially take care of themselves. If you have a 30 year mortgage on your home, considering making that your term to protect your home while it’s being paid off.
Try to lead a healthy lifestyle. The healthier you are the cheaper your life insurance will be as insurance providers assume that you will live longer. Remember, you will be expected to pay a high premium on a life insurance policy for anything that shortens your life expectancy, for example being overweight, smoking, taking certain medication, etc.
Familiarizing yourself with some common life insurance terms can help you determine which type is best for you, as well as how much coverage you want to purchase. Cash value refers to the portion of your policy that is available for you to withdraw as loans for various purposes, such as education costs or credit card debt. A premium is simply the periodic payment that you make to keep the policy active. Another term you might see is dividends, which refers to the money you may receive back on your premiums if the insurance company overestimated their expenses and ended up with a surplus. A dividend is not guaranteed.
Although it may seem tempting, lying about your health, occupation or lifestyle in order to reduce your life insurance premium is extremely risky. Insurance companies investigate many claims, and, if they suspect that you gave them false information, your claim may be denied or your heirs may spend years in needless litigation. Whether you a smoker, a lumberjack or an extreme sports enthusiast, make sure your insurance company is aware of it.
Make sure to do all of your research before purchasing a policy or hiring a professional. This can not only save you a lot of money, but this can better help you understand what it is you are looking for and who is best to handle your needs. It’s also best for deciding who offers the payment plan that works for you regarding their services.
Think about getting term life insurance. It will give you the highest coverage for the least amount of money. While there is no saving with this type of plan, you could just invest the savings on your own, and earn more than you would have with the insurance company save it.
If you do not have any major health problems, do not go with guaranteed issue policies. Getting a medical exam will save you money, and the guaranteed issue policies do not need that, and has higher premiums. You don’t need to spend more on life insurance than is really needed.
Before you purchase life insurance, determine what kind of coverage you will need. The internet contains a large number of online calculators that can help you figure out the amount of money your spouse or children would need in the event of your death. Using this type of tool will help ensure that you are purchasing only what you have to have.
If you smoke cigarettes or cigars or chew tobacco, you could save some money on your life insurance policy by quitting. Insurance companies don’t care whether you smoke socially or smoke several packs per day. So, even a “light” habit could cost you. Even young smokers pay more for life insurance than they would if they did not smoke, due to the higher risk of health problems.
Be wary of the insurance broker that recommends an insurance policy after meeting with you for the first time. If a broker does this, it means they are not really analyzing your situation thoroughly. If a recommendation for a product is given in the first meeting, think twice about purchasing this product and of doing business with this agent.
Decide which of the four main life insurance types is right for you. You have a whole life policy, a term life policy, variable universal life, or universal life policies to chose from. Each has their own potential strengths and weaknesses. Know which one best suits your needs before going to make a purchase.
When considering your life insurance needs, determine if multiple policies better suit your life and financial situation. In some cases, having a term policy for unexpected crises can protect a family in the short-term, while adding a whole life policy may provide additional long-term protection, and an option for increasing cash value in the policy.
Never lie on your life insurance applications. Trying to hide smoking or other negative conditions or circumstances could cause your claim to be denied if something happens to you, because insurers do investigate if claims are suspicious. Your dependents could lose out on the money they need to cover expenses if you are not up-front with the insurance company.
To save money on your life insurance policy, improve your risk class by getting in shape. Something as simple as losing weight, reducing your blood pressure and cholesterol, or quitting smoking can save you a significant amount of money. Be sure to take a medical exam as well before you apply for life insurance to insure you are not surprised by extra fees.
As summed up above, it can be a foolish assumption to say that you don’t need life insurance because you are healthy. Healthy people die everyday. A sudden death can leave a devastated family destitute as they deal with funeral costs and living expenses with the family breadwinner suddenly gone. By considering the valuable insights in this article, you can secure a peace of mind for your family.