Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Life Insurance

It is a depressing topic; it is something none of us want to think about because it means we will no longer be around, but life insurance is something we all need to think about not so much for our own sake but for that of our loved ones. What if something were to happen to you tomorrow? Would your family be taken care of, or would they be left with a financial burden on top of their already heavy emotional one? Read on to understand how you can protect your survivors once you are gone.

First of all, it is important to know what the different kinds of policies are, what coverage they will afford you, and what type you should be looking at in order to help your survivors meet your financial obligations after your death. The two major types of insurance policies are Term Life and Whole Life. As its name suggests, Term policies provide protection for a specific period of time, and although they do not accumulate cash value, they are generally the least expensive form of insurance. Whole Life, on the other hand, is a more permanent kind of insurance. As long as you pay your premiums, Whole Life policies will protect you throughout your entire life, and can also build up in cash value.

Once you have determined the type of coverage that is best for you, it is important to assess the various companies you can buy from. What if you put all your money into one insurance company and ten years down the road it is not around to pay your claims? To prevent against this, look at your company’s credit rating by an independent agency such as Moody’s or Standard and Poors, both of which assess the insurer’s ability to pay its claims on time as well as meet its other financial obligations.

It is crucial that you understand the details of any life insurance policy that you buy. According to a recent study by the American Council of Life Insurers, 62 percent of life insurance owners do not even understand their own policies. If your agent or company cannot explain its terms in as much clarity as you would like, do not hesitate to look elsewhere. Make sure you have examined your premiums, your guarantees, and any penalties you may be forced to incur in case you decide to cancel the policy early. Remember, the fine print is fine for a reason.

Once you have determined which policy is best for you, be honest with the company in filling out your medical and family history. It might reveal some ugly truths, but you do not want to risk lying, only to have your claims delayed or completely denied to your family once you are gone.

Buying life insurance should be approached with caution and care, but do not wait too long. It exists to protect you and your family from the unexpected, and you never know when the unexpected will happen.

1 comment:

  1. Its correct that no one wants to think about death and money can't cover the loss of a person. But its a hard fact that we all wanted to secure the life of our family members. For this purpose life insurance policy is a great solution.
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