The importance of life insurance cannot be overstated. Any breadwinner, or person that provides a significant amount of work in the home, needs to have life insurance. Purchasing a policy can be overwhelming, not only because of all the different options, but also because it is a sensitive subject. Read the following tips for advice on how to handle this important decision.
If you are considering purchasing life insurance you may want to look into possible coverage that is already offered by your employer. It's common for employers to offer basic life insurance plans at good rates for their employees. You should make sure that the coverage is adaquate for your needs and purchase supplemental policies if additional coverage is desired.
Life insurance will help out your loved ones that are left behind if you pass away. Funerals these days are expensive, and if you have life insurance, it won't leave the ones that are still living an astronomical bill to pay. It can also help pay for your children's college, if you are not around to do so.
Your life insurance premiums can go up if you decided to skydive, bungee jump, or scuba dive in your spare time. There are some occupations, like a type of race car driver or a helicopter pilot that are seen as "high-risk" by insurance companies, so they'll increase premiums accordingly.
Read all of the fine print of the policy before you sign on the line. Know what discounts, exclusions, inclusions, and any other fine print is included on the agreement. You may find that there is a no payment clause for pre-existing diseases. Careful reading will help you be sure that your spouse will get the money they will need.
Pay your premiums promptly. If the holder fails to pay the monthly premium on their insurance term, or if they decide to stop making payments before the whole life plan gains any value, they will lose the policy. They will also be forced to get a new policy and the new policy could be more expensive. This can especially be true if they have aged or fallen into poor health since their policy payments stopped.
You need to know what your debts are before getting life insurance. In order to find out home much life insurance coverage you need you first have to know the amount of your debts and how much your funeral will cost. Your life insurance policy needs to be higher than that amount.
Once you have determined you need life insurance, next you need to figure out how much you need. There are several online calculators you can use, and some other formulas an insurance agent can help you with. If you want a ballpark figure quickly, take your salary and multiply it by 8. This will give you an estimate of how much life insurance you need.
Before purchasing life insurance it is critically important that you research the different types of insurance policies available and select the policy that is best suited for you and your family. There are a wide variety of insurance policies available for purchase. The four major types of insurance are term life, whole life, universal life and variable universal life.
Prior to getting life insurance, compare rates from multiple companies. While two different policies may both be renewable, one may last longer than the other. Two policies might offer similar benefits, but one might be less expensive. You must be willing to learn as much as possible about all of your options, so that you can choose an ideal policy.
When shopping around for a life insurance policy, be aware that certain occupations and hobbies are considered risky and can increase your premium. Some of these occupations include commercial fishing, logging, helicopter or airplane piloting, and roofing. Even a business executive position can be considered risky if it requires you to travel to certain perilous countries. Hobbies that are considered hazardous to your health include hang-gliding, parachuting, skiing, and motorcycling. Make sure to disclose this information to prevent your claim from being denied if the insurance company decides to investigate it.
To save money on your life insurance policy you should aim to pay yearly instead of monthly. Choosing to pay the premium in this manner will decrease your premiums. For those holding a small policy, the savings will not be so great. However, those holding a large policy will notice a significant amount of savings.
People under the age of 50 may want to opt for term life insurance as opposed to whole life insurance. Once you're 50, the rates are fairly steep and hard to keep up with. Under 50; however, and the term payments are reduced significantly and the policies are much easier to carry.
To save money on your life insurance policy, research quotes online to find the best deal. There are several different websites, such as lifeinsure.com or accuquote.com, that can quickly give you pricing information. Of course, these results will be estimates, but they will give you a good idea of approximate costs.
You have a lot of options when it comes to the type of life insurance you will purchase. Depending on your age, your level of coverage needed and your budget, you will need to have your insurance agent or representative explain these to you in detail. Make sure to ask lots of questions, don't just take their word AIG Final Expense for it.
Determine the amount of life insurance coverage your own people will need in the unlikely event of your death. Use one of the many available online life insurance calculators, or multiply your yearly wage by a factor of eight. This is the average debt left when someone passes away. The better your coverage, the better off your estate.
The best time to buy whole-life insurance is when you are young and healthy. The policy will accumulate in value over the years, and rates will generally be lower than for people older with health problems. For all ages, never lie about your medical conditions because insurance agencies will check your records before it pays on any claim. To avoid higher premiums and new medical questions, be sure to renew your policy each year.
Be certain that all of your dependents have coverage under the term policy until they are able to support themselves. Also, don't forget to provide for your spouse's needs in the event of your death.
If you are going to be buying life insurance then there is some terminology it would behoove you get familiar with. If you go without learning cash value, dividends, Mutual Life Insurance company, and premiums, you may find yourself like the proverbial blind leading the blind. Have a little knowledge so you know what it is you are paying for.
Being prepared for the worst case scenario can seem depressing, but it is best to just get the life insurance taken care of, and then not have to think about it again. If you apply the tips given in the article above, you will be able to swiftly secure a life insurance policy that is right for you. You will be very glad you took the time to cover yourself or your family, if the time ever comes.