Term Life Insurance – Term is a temporary type of life insurance that covers you for a set period (term) of one or more years – typically 10, 20 or 30. It pays a death benefit only if you die during that term. Term insurance generally provides the largest amount of death protection per premium dollar.
Below are some of the most common forms of permanent insurance:
Whole Life Insurance – Whole Life a permanent type of life insurance that protects you for as long as you live as long as you pay the premiums. With the most common type, called straight life or ordinary life insurance, you pay the same premium for as long as you live. Whole life is used to extend the coverage past a certain term, and can also build a cash value tax free over time.
Universal Life Insurance – Universal Life is a newer, permanent and flexible type of life insurance policy where the premiums you pay, less expense charges, are deposited into a policy account that earns interest tax free. Charges for the insurance are deducted from the account.
Variable Universal Life Insurance – Similar to universal life this type of permanent insurance is flexible where the premiums you pay, less expense charges, are deposited into a policy account that invests in mutual funds or other investments. This means that the funds have the opportunity to grow more than some of the other types of permanent insurance, and it also means there is risk for losses in value if the stock market declines. Charges for the insurance are deducted from the account.
Survivorship Life Insurance – Survivorship Life covers two people (like husband and wife), and pays a death benefit at either the first death (first to die) or after both have passed away (last to die). Survivorship costs less than two individual permanent policies, so it can offer a larger death benefit for your beneficiaries.
Final Expense Life Insurance – Final Expense also know as ‘burial insurance’ is purchased by seniors to pay for high cost of a funeral and other related expenses such as a headstone, burial, flowers, and memorial service, so their remaining family does not have to be burdened by the bills.
How much does life insurance cost? The premiums vary depending on the company and their underwriting rules, and it depends on the type of policy an amount of coverage selected. Following are some of the main ‘personal risk factors’ that go into the price of a policy:
It makes sense to consider your financial situation and the quality of life you want your dependents to have, after your gone, when deciding whether to buy life insurance or not. You should also ask questions before you buy life insurance. Call one of our expert advisors to discuss your situation and start your quote today.