We’ve all heard the saying “you only get one chance to make a first impression.” Well, when it comes to choosing a life insurance plan, you want to make sure you’re making a good first impression.
You don’t want to leave anything up in the air or have any questions about what’s going on with your policy. That’s why we recommend getting started early and getting your life insurance needs taken care of as soon as possible.
Here are some things you should know before applying for coverage.
What is a life insurance plan?
A life insurance plan is an agreement between you and your insurer designed to protect your family financially if something happens to you. You can use it to help your loved ones maintain their lifestyle or pay off debts such as mortgages. It gives you peace of mind knowing that your family is protected.
You decide how much coverage you need, what type of policy is best for you, and how much you want the policy to pay. You then pay a monthly premium to your insurer to remain covered. Once you die, the policy pays a lump sum cash to your loved ones.
Who needs a life insurance plan?
If you have dependents who depend on you for financial support, you need to make sure they are well provided for after your death. A life insurance plan will provide them with the money they need to live comfortably.
It is important to understand that there are different types of policies available. Some only pay if you die within a certain time period, while others pay regardless of when you die. There are also policies that pay out at a certain age, rather than upon death.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a life insurance plan. This includes:
- How much coverage do you need?
- What level of protection do you want?
- The amount of money you want to be paid
- Your current financial situation
- Any existing debt you have
Types of life insurance plans
Whichever option you choose, it’s important to weigh what you’re protecting against and whether you really need it. If you decide to take out a policy, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Here are some of the main types of life insurance…
Whole life insurance
A whole life plan (also known as life insurance) covers your entire life, providing protection against death. This type of policy pays a fixed amount on your death. The amount they receive depends on when you took out the policy and how long you are insured.
Premiums for whole life coverage tend to be more expensive than other types because you’re paying for long-term coverage. However, your premiums remain fixed throughout the policy, even as you age or develop health problems.
Term life insurance
Term life insurance is a standard type of life insurance coverage. Unlike whole life insurance, it only provides protection for a fixed period of time, i.e. 20 years. One drawback is that the policy only pays out if you die within the agreed policy. When you reach the end of the term, the policy expires.
There are 3 types of term life cover:
- Tier: Your premiums and payout value are fixed for the life of the policy
- Growing: The value of the payment increases over time to protect against inflation
- Decreasing: Also known as mortgage life insurance. The payment decreases over time as you make repayments.
One of the advantages of term life insurance is that premiums are usually cheaper than whole life insurance. However, it only covers the short term rather than the long term.
Life insurance for over 50s
Over 50 life insurance is a type of whole life policy designed to provide protection to those over 50. At this point, getting life insurance can be difficult, especially if you have health issues. This can mean paying a lot more for premiums each month.
These policies offer guaranteed acceptance, which means you don’t have to disclose any health conditions or participate in any medical exams. However, premiums for over 50s can be expensive, with a lower death benefit than standard types of cover.
Joint life insurance
If you and your partner share income, you may want to take out a joint policy. This type of cover protects two people under one policy and can be cheaper than taking out separate policies. In this way, both spouses are financially protected if something happens to the other. The money can be used to support your children, cover a mortgage or help pay for funeral costs.
The policy pays out after the first death of the partner or once both you and your spouse have died. It’s up to you which level of coverage you choose.
How much do life insurance plans cost?
Life insurance costs vary widely, depending on a number of factors. This includes:
- Your age: The older you are, the more expensive your monthly premiums will be.
- Health: If you have a medical problem, you could find yourself paying a lot more for coverage.
- Policy Term: Policies with shorter terms tend to cost less.
- Level of coverage: This refers to how much money is insured. If you want to pay less, choose a lower coverage level.
- Lifestyle: Premiums are more expensive for smokers because of the long-term effects of smoking.
The type of policy you choose can also affect the cost. For example, a whole life policy may be more expensive than a standard term life policy because it offers permanent coverage.
You can compare prices online from a wide variety of suppliers. Simply enter a few basic details and choose and receive a quote – this will be an estimate of how much you’ll pay each month for cover. Once you’re covered, you can relax, knowing your family is protected if the worst happens.