Posts Tagged ‘insurance quotes’

Universal Life Insurance Vs. term Life Insurance

Friday, November 11th, 2011

Many policy buyers face big questions like “Which life insurance policy should I get?” More importantly the question that you should be asking yourself at the time of taking out a life insurance policy is that “What is term life insurance and how does it differ from universal life insurance?”

Let’s first get rid of the cloud of confusion before we decide which is better. Most people do not have a clue on what the differences are between the two – and admittedly, it is confusing.

Term Life allows you to buy large face amounts with very little money. You will be fully covered for the term that you take out the policy for – but you do not receive any cash payments after the policy is over. That is why term life insurance is generally less expensive than universal life insurance for the same face value amount – because it does not build up any equity.

This kind of policy is popular among young people who need large amounts of coverage for their families with lower premium payments. It is also the way to go for those people who want coverage in case of an untimely death and prefer to invest in stocks and other investments rather than save with universal life insurance.

Universal life insurance policies cost much more than term life insurance for the same amount of face value but they usually cover you for a longer time as well as allowing you to build up tax deferred payments. But, however, the premiums with universal life insurance policies stay the same whereas the premiums with term life keep increasing during time.

To provide the holder with some long term investment that the holder can borrow against, one must hold the policy for at least 15 years till you see some return. For those people whose financial planning extends well into the future, this kind of policy should sit well with them.

Make the wrong choice with a policy can lead the surviving family of the issuer or holder without any financial benefits on top of the pain and sorrow of losing a loved one. Choosing the right life insurance policy can be one of the most confusing and challenging decision an individual might have to make. You can, however, avoid your family all this hardship by taking the time to do a little research to educate and inform yourself – or seek some legal help on the matter.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

Level Term Life Insurance

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

For those who want temporary life insurance, level term life is one of the most popular options. Length of policy terms may be 10, 15, 20, or 30 years. There are two reasons for choosing level term life insurance.

1. Non-Variable Rate

There are no surprises or cost of living increases as the years go by. Premiums are set to remain the same for the entire period on the life insurance coverage. The coverage does take into account the age of the person over the policy term. The longer the coverage term, the higher the premium cost. A policy lasting only 10 years will cost much less in monthly or yearly premiums than a 30-year term.

2. Guaranteed Renewal

As with any term life insurance, level term is designed to provide a web of protection for the insured’s family in case the insured dies during the time coverage is in effect. Generally, it is expected that investments made during the period of coverage will furnish a nest egg that will pay any necessary costs after the term is completed. That would mean that life insurance coverage after the term would no longer be needed.

Although it costs more to continue the coverage, it is at least possible to get life insurance at an advanced age, even if health problems develop during the original term of the coverage. Most level term life insurance offers a guaranteed rate of renewal, although evidence may be required to determine insurability for renewal. A renewal insurability clause is usually only enforced if the insured’s health has deteriorated during the policy term.

Top Choice in Term Insurance

Each year, level term life insurance is the number one choice in temporary insurance. In 2003, level term amounted to 97% of all term insurance policies sold. The cost is so much less than permanent insurance, which is why some people consider it the obvious choice for affordable life insurance.

Escalating costs for food, shelter, and other necessities have led to a decline in life insurance coverage for many families. USA Today estimates that as many as 11 million households in the United States do not have life insurance coverage on the primary wage earner. In fact, just slightly more than 40% of all households have life insurance covering the wage earner.

Term life insurance policies often have an option to convert the coverage to a whole life policy at the term’s end. This can be a good option for someone with a preferred term life rating class who is later diagnosed with a health condition that would make it difficult if not impossible for them to qualify for a new policy.

Be sure to ask your agent about the specific clauses and conditions of a level term life policy when obtaining coverage quotes. It is important to note, however, that the conversion option may not be available for the entire policy term; instead it may be an option for a specified number of years or until the insured reaches a specified age.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

Annual Renewable Term Life Coverage

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

Coverage that is in effect for a designated “term” or a specific amount of time is called Term life insurance. If the insured passes away while the policy term is still going on, the benefits are paid to the policy beneficiaries. If the insured happens to die even one hour after the policy term ends, no benefits are paid. The premium cost is based on the expected likelihood of that happening during the coverage term.

A key factor in obtaining life insurance is insurability of the applicant. Perhaps an insured individual is diagnosed with a terminal illness during the coverage term but does not die while covered. Because of the illness, it is unlikely that the provider will renew the policy or issue a new one, deeming the applicant uninsurable.

A policy holder can get guaranteed re-insurability. One type of term insurance that falls into this category is annual renewable term life (ART). The premium is paid for a year’s coverage and comes with a guarantee of renewal every year for a pre-determined number of years.

The policy renewal term is good until the policy holder reaches a certain age, generally age 95 but the terms can range from 10 to 30 years. The premium rate increases each time the policy is renewed, which results in the cost of an annual renewable life policy to eventually exceed that of a regular permanent policy.

Some people prefer other forms of renewable term life insurance where the renewals occur at multiple year intervals instead of each year as with the ART. This makes it easier on the wallet because the rates increase every few years instead of annually when the policy is renewed.

Reasons to Have Annual Renewable Term Insurance

You probably do not want this type of life insurance if you have a business loan you expect to pay off in a couple of years. Renewable term insurance is an option to cover the debt in case something happens to you. You can simply choose not to renew it once the loan is paid in full. Another reason is due to illness as mentioned earlier and it is the only insurance you can get when the term expires.

Decreasing Term Insurance

Another option to consider when your renewable policy expires is decreasing term life insurance. With this type of policy, the benefit value of the policy decreases but your premium cost stays the same. Keep in mind, however, that the policy over the long term will eventually become worthless.

Choosing the Right Policy Type

Your age, health, lifestyle, and the amount of coverage you need are some of the things that must be considered when choosing the best policy for you. Of course if you are dealing with a company that offers term life only, they are going to naturally do everything they can to sell you that type of policy.

Explore the different types of life insurance policies available, and then discuss your options with a reputable and versatile life insurance provider who will help you find the best coverage at the best price that fulfills your needs. Doing some research first will always help ensure that you are planning for all the possibilities the future may hold.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

Why is Term Life Insurance More Affordable than Whole Life Insurance?

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Insurance companies are run like any other business. They base their costs to customers on what their expenses are for the service they provide. Whole life insurance is seen as an expense. They have to veiw it as they will likely have to pay a beneficiary at some point, and there is always the risk that they may have to do it sooner rather than later.

Less Exposure

The insurance company has a much better chance of making a larger profit on term insurance as opposed to whole life. Term life insurance is viewed as presenting less risk to the insurance company because if the insured lives throughout the term, there is no benefit to be paid.

Term life insurance for the insured is seen as a good thing because the coverage amounts can be the same as with other more expensive forms of life insurance and benefits are paid the same.

Value Accumulation

With whole life policies, the insured can actually have some accrued value in the policy and may be able to take monies from that fund. On the other hand term life insurance does not accumulate value, and when the insured stops paying the premiums or completes the term, the insurance company is under no obligation to give funds back.

Most Economical Coverage

In term life insurance the simple contract insures the person for a designated number of years and ends when that time is complete. No premiums are returned to the insured, and the insurance company retains all the money paid.

A young person can get term coverage for a 10-year period can get very affordable insurance. For each block of time adding to a term policy, the rates will increase as the risk to the insurer increases.

Practical Term Policy

Return of Premium is more costly than the base term policy, but it is worth looking into because it rewards the insured with payback of premiums for surviving the policy term. If rates are attractive enough, putting money into this kind of coverage means that it is free as long as the insured lives to the end of the term.

Having the safety of a policy that will aid the family should the worst happen and getting the money back after the term if all goes well is an ideal way to save some money. Most authorities agree that term life insurance is the best value when compared with all other life policy plan types. Life insurance quotes continue to show their value in term policies.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

Online Life Insurance Coverage

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

What are the advantages or disadvantages to purchasing insurance online? These are some things you might want to think about when it comes time to shop for life insurance.

The Value of Your Time

Even taking an entire day and dedicating to shopping for quotes, you might end up with only three or four to compare because of the time involved. It is especially hard if you work during the day because it is difficult to visit insurance agencies to fill out paperwork, answer questions, and shop multiple providers for life insurance. Going online is generally something you can do during your time off from work. Most of the time you can get all the life insurance resources you need online. You’ll still have to answer questions for each query you make. There is a good chance there will be follow-ups from your applications when you must speak with someone over the phone, but you still control the amount of time required much better by shopping online.

Information

You will need to provide some personal information in order to receive an accurate quote online, but be selective in what info you give out. A company may want your email address claiming they must send the quote via email, but this is a way to add you to a mailing list. Also, a provider should not need your social security number to provide an insurance quote. Be prepared to provide facts regarding your health such as weight, age, height, gender, medical history, etc., but if you are hesitant about providing certain info, attempt to find out why they need it.

Providers Online

Insurance providers online are much more specialized than local agencies. Although insurance websites may have non-agents doing the quote processing, the companies they represent must be legally able to sell insurance in your state of residence. You’ll find many that target a certain market. This can be demographic as in young people, healthy people, older citizens, or even those with illnesses. The good thing about specialization is that when you find the right fit, you should receive an estimate that is based on the correct product specialized for your current needs.

Pre-Medical Exams

Beware of online quotes that do not inquire about your age, height, weight, blood pressure, etc. In most cases, life insurance requires a medical exam no matter if you purchase the policy online or not. Even if a medical exam is not required, false information given on a questionnaire can result in cancelled coverage, so be certain to answer all questions accurately. Without this information, a quote may be erroneously low.

Real Deals Online

Life insurance comes in different types and many variables that can make a difference on the bottom line. You still should be able to find some affordably priced coverage by shopping for life insurance online. To determine which quotes are the best offers while shopping on your own, be sure that you compare quotes and coverage, including exclusions and inclusions. Be certain also to check the financial rating of the provider as you want coverage only with solvent insurance companies.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

What is Life Insurance?

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

The loss of life often results in a hardship to the surviving family members in three different ways. The first is the anguish and personal loss whenever a loved one leaves this world. While there is very little money can do to relieve the pain of this loss, the other two hardships can be addressed with a life insurance policy.

The costs associated with a funeral and the loss of income of the deceased are the hard facts to be faced that often accompany a death, and life insurance is the financial buffer.

The Basic Concept of Life Insurance

Life insurance is a contract between an individual and an insurance company based on what one does for the other. The individual promises to pay an insurance premium for the insurance company’s promise to release funds to designated survivors (beneficiaries) upon the event of the insured’s demise.

There are many formats for life insurance policies, but the underlying theme of them all is that the holder of the policy contracts coverage for the express reason of protecting their survivors or beneficiaries from monetary losses or hardships related to the insured’s death.

In certain contracts, benefits may be paid in whole or partial installments to the beneficiary to help cover the cost of health care should the holder of the life insurance policy contract a terminal illness that incapacitates them.

Understanding Life Insurance

Many variables affect the premium amount and the conditions of payment because the insurance company is at risk from the moment that the contract is officially in force. Anyone entering an agreement for whole or term life insurance should understand the terms of the policy completely, and the insurance agent should make the details perfectly clear before an agreement is signed.

Unlike some insurance policies, life insurance is almost a predetermined expense to the insurer. There is no cancellation of the policy unless the insured commits an act to void it, or any of the exclusions come into play, as long as the premiums are paid the insurer will, at some point, pay the benefits.

Default of the Contract

Almost all life insurance contracts have very strict policies about how a death may occur. Exclusions that concern the dangers people put themselves in because of acts they commit, such as involvement in riots, wars, or any type of civil commotion. Suicides and fraud are two of the top reasons for voiding a life insurance policy.

Life is not easy to predict, and it is a comforting assurance to know your loved ones will not be left in a financial hardship in the event of your death because you had the forethought and sensibility to obtain a life insurance policy to protect them.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

Term Life Insurance Covers What?

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

While term life insurance covers the same causes of death as whole life policies, stipulations can change the coverage and value of the contract. So what any life insurance policy covers is subject to the terms of the individual policy.

Accidental Death Coverage

The people who depend on the insured’s income for the lifestyle they have will be just as much in need of benefits whether the death was caused by an accident or not. Some life insurance coverage is specified for accidental death, which is good should the insured die in an automobile or work related accident. The weakness lies in the fact that death by natural causes is omitted.

Strange Situations and Term Life Coverage

An insurance policy should be studied carefully because the terms of the policy of when and if the benefits are paid are non-standard from one policy to another.

Most policies stipulate that murder by the beneficiary is not grounds for payment, which is understandable. No policy is going to pay benefits if the insured commits suicide, but very few pay off when death is the result of acts of war or civil unrest.

Most insurance policies, for all types of life coverage, will not pay out any benefits until cause of death is determined. When a person dies under suspicious circumstances, it throws up a flag that fraud might be involved. An insurance company will seek to protect its own interests.

Special Exclusions

A person’s health at the time of signing a term life insurance policy may lead to certain exclusions that won’t be considered as causes for paid benefits. The coverage might be limited for someone with an incurable disease, to any cause except the disease; it is often worthwhile to have a policy anyway. The illness might be treatable and not the only concern for the insured.

Other reasons for exclusions are occupational hazards. For example, a racecar driver might be able to obtain coverage for any situation as long as it does not include death by an accident on the racetrack or have anything to do with racing in general.

Benefits can also be withheld if statements by the insured are dishonest. The questionnaire that an applicant signs must have correct answers or the insurance company can declare coverage null and void should a beneficiary seek compensation and the false information is discovered.

Coverage for term life insurance is clearly spelled out along with any exclusions, and policyholders should understand the terms and conditions for the policy up front.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

Are There Advantages of Term Life Insurance?

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

One advantage of term life insurance is the cost when a policy is taken out at a young age. As necessary as life insurance is, some people would not be able to afford coverage if not for term life policies. For a very low price, a young adult can provide financial security for their family during a time that is taxing on a budget.

Options in Term Life Insurance

There are varying life insurance policies that have a flexible coverage based on the needs of the individual. Select Term is a basic choice of 10, 20, or 30 year coverage terms at a set premium amount for the duration.

The policy can be renewed at the term end up until age 95. It can be converted to a permanent policy in most cases regardless of the health of the insured. After the selected term of coverage, premiums generally will increase each year.

Under the terms of a Return of Premium policy, the insured chooses 20 or 30 years of life coverage. All premium payments are returned to the insured, so it costs nothing when the person outlives the policy period. The policy acts like a loan to the insurance company, who uses the money for the time period but offers protection during that time.

Mortgage life coverage is specifically designed to pay off the home mortgage in the event of an untimely death and is often for 15 to 30 years. The benefits decrease the same as the payoff of the mortgage after 5 years.

What is the Purpose of Term Life Insurance?

Term life insurance is seen as a way to protect a spouse from losing a home in the event the major wage earner is out of the picture. The amount of coverage can be fixed to large enough figures to cover the cost of the home or can be earmarked to pay a specific amount on the remaining principal.

Term life insurance coverage is another reason to protect children’s college education. Without a major wage earners income contribution, higher education might not be possible without term life insurance. Also short-term debts might not be met either for automobiles to transport kids to and from college.

Many young couples and even those approaching middle age; the advantage of term life insurance is it offers coverage options for many that might not otherwise be able to obtain life insurance. Term life insurance is there to provide a necessary life protection for those who could not afford to pay the higher premiums of other coverage types.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

Level Term Life Insurance

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

Level term life insurance as the name suggests means that the premium for the policy stays the same throughout the term of the policy. That is, they remain leveled.

Some people may want a short term policy designed to be put into play until the policy holder’s children graduate from college. This is just an example of one of the many factors that you may need to consider when you are taking out level term life insurance.

Level term life insurance and whole life insurance have subtle differences between them. With whole life insurance, the cost increases with time, mainly because of the investment aspect tied to it. With level term life insurance, the premium of policy remains the same throughout so you know exactly what you’re getting when you buy such a policy.

Determining how much your family will require, in case of your death, to remain financially stable is not always an easy task. This is in turn linked to how much you make yearly. Then of course you can figure how much coverage you will need before you take out a policy.

Even if you have the advantage of a premium that will stay leveled through the tenure of the policy, you still have to pay it and pay it every month. So another question that you will need to ask yourself is how much premium you can afford.

It is important to decide for how many years you will require coverage. When deciding how long you want coverage for, consider factors like how long your offspring are dependent on you. These are all things to consider before you finalize on any certain policy.

Some insurance companies give you the option of renewing your policy once it expires. You can take out level term life insurance for 10, 20, 30 and 40 years but remember that the longer your time period for the policy, the higher your premium will be.

Level term life insurance will prove to be a cheaper option when compared to whole life insurance if you are looking to take out a life insurance policy. You get a clear picture of how much you will pay every month without the fear of your premium increasing with time as with whole life. Also, no portion of your money is allocated to the investment option; you know how much you will get back – which is not the case with whole life insurance.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

Yearly Life Insurance Renewal

Monday, November 7th, 2011

Annual renewable life insurance is a kind of policy that lasts for one year. This policy can be a good way to earn premiums for a cheaper price according to your own budget. Many types of insurance policies exist but they broadly fall into these two categories: term and permanent.

Annual renewable life insurance policies usually cost less and is typically suggested for people who are on tight budgets who need coverage. Just what the name suggests; annual renewable life insurance are usually for a set period of time (from 1-30 years).

Annual renewable policies are the cheapest you will find making the most obvious advantage of this kind of policy is its affordability. These policies are those that automatically renew yearly – also increasing premiums gradually with each year.

When you only pay for death benefit and only pay coverage for a short time, premium payments will be very low compared to other fixed policies. The premiums for this policy will be the lowest because the company is undertaking the least risk by selling these. Hence these are very affordable. People in between jobs can buy these to receive coverage for the short time they are in between jobs.

Most people will not buy this policy because they don’t expect to die within one year of purchasing it. Suppose someone buys the policy and then finds out that they have a life threatening disease, then they end up surviving it, and then is looks into buying the policy again – they will probably not be able to do so because they will be considered uninsurable.

Generally with time and your age, the premiums will gradually increase but they will never increase above the figure that is locked by the company beforehand. Therefore, these policies also help you determine how your future expenses will fall and allow you to budget them accordingly. Make sure when buying an annual renewable life insurance policy you see how the premium will be handled.

If you think an annual renewal life insurance policy is the right way for you to go, it is advised that you calculate the higher premium before you take out this policy. When thinking of buying this policy, you should be aware that it is possible to renew the policy with a higher premium, to insure the death benefits in place, as long as the premiums keep getting paid.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.