Posts Tagged ‘life insurance quotes’

Universal Life Insurance Vs. term Life Insurance

Friday, November 11th, 2011

The more important 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?” The biggest problem that many policy buyers face today is that of “Which life insurance policy should I get?”

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 insurance, because it does not build up any equity, generally less expensive than universal life insurance for the same face value amount. It 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.

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.

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

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

Choosing the right life insurance policy can be one of the most confusing and challenging decision an individual might have to make. 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. You can, however, avoid your family all this hardship by carrying out 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.

Understanding Term Life Insurance Quotes

Friday, November 11th, 2011

Some terminologies used in a term life insurance policy are very confusing and most of the time you have to get it translated into plain English. Aside from screwy terminology, there may also be many questions regarding what exactly is included or excluded from the policy.

Here are some tricks on understanding life insurance quotes:

Online Quotes for Term Life Insurance

When you seek a quote online, you must provide accurate information about yourself to get a response. The process takes very general pricing structures and applies them for a quick assessment of your current age and health. A quote may end up varying somewhat once more extensive information is made available that effects the true cost of a policy, such as information from a medical exam.

You may be shocked to get a price that is higher than a quote you first received, and you may possibly get a quote that is lower that originally estimated. This is not because an insurance provider is attempting to give an erroneous number just to get your commitment; it’s just that a more in depth assessment of your health and living habits has an influence on premium amounts.

Why Rates Increase for Term Life Insurance

The person insured is the main cause for why rates will increase. Healthy people who will usually live long lives, factoring out if they are involved in an accident or diagnosed with a health problem, are what insurance companies prefer, because they are a lower risk. Some of the causes for higher premiums include:

* High cholesterol – There is no industry standard on cholesterol, but above average levels will increase premiums. * Height to weight ratio – The more variation from the recommended height to weight ratio, the higher the term life insurance rates because of the health problems associated with being overweight. * High blood pressure – There are a number of health problems attributed to blood pressure, and each points to a shortened life cycle. * History of family health – This is why your questionnaire asks about the history of disease and health problems in your family. * Lifestyle activities – If you regularly participate in a dangerous sport or activity, it will increase your premiums, if you can get insured at all. * Driving history – No one wants to insure someone with tickets for reckless driving or speeding.

Provider Choices For Life Insurance

The two top reasons people give when asked what they want from a life insurance company are price and performance. It is possible to get many different prices for term life insurance based on the companies that quote coverage. Factors like the rating of the company and who underwrites the policies all influence pricing. High financial stability for an insurance company is identified from a rating of A or A+.

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.

About Life Insurance.

Friday, November 11th, 2011

The surviving family members have to deal with the devastation of the loss of a loved one’s life in three different ways. The first is the anguish and personal loss when a beloved passes away. There is very little money can do to ease the pain of this loss, the other two hardships can be addressed with a life insurance policy.

Life insurance can be the financial buffer to 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.

The Basic Concept of Life Insurance

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. Simply put, life insurance is a contract between an individual and an insurance company based on what one does for the other.

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

Understanding Life Insurance

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. 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.

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

Default of the Contract

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

Because you had the forethought and sensibility to obtain a life insurance policy it can be a comforting assurance to know your loved ones will not be left in a hardship financially in the event of your death.

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.

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.

There are policies that offer the policy holder 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

In most situations, 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

Decreasing term life insurance is another option to consider when your renewable policy expires. 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

Many things must be considered when choosing the best policy for your specific situation including your age, your health, your lifestyle, and the amount of coverage you need. If you are dealing with a company that offers term life only, naturally they are going to do everything they can to sell you that type of policy.

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. Always make sure you do some research up front and explore the different types of life insurance policies available.

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

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

Generally considered the most economical way to obtain life coverage, term life insurance is very straightforward. A person contracts with an insurance company to insure his or her life for a limited time and for premiums that will remain the same for the duration of the contract.

Some policies are renewable with some adjustment in policy premiums so that no lapse in coverage occurs. When the life insurance reaches the end of the term, the insured can enter into another agreement with the insurance company or allow the policy to lapse. Understandably the older a person gets, the more the term life insurance premiums will cost.

Beginning Coverage Young is a Positive

Much lower premiums will be the result of getting a life insurance quote for term life at a young age rather than trying to get one in advanced years. Generally, most term life insurance is no longer available after age 95, unless that age is reached during a covered term that began many years prior.

Economically a Good Choice

One advantage of term life insurance is the lower cost allows for investment in other ways to build up a portfolio for retirement and to offer some means of protection for beneficiaries. The money saved on term life insurance as compared to whole life, permanent life, universal life, or variable universal life can be deposited into an IRA, which is tax deferred and increases based on future investments.

Young adults who don’t have a lot of money to spend on insurance, but who still need to offer their families protection in the event of an untimely death should look into getting term life insurance. Younger individuals generally have much higher benefits than for an older individual.

Term Life for Future Planning

A young insured can expect very good premium rates for a short term because the insurance provider is much less exposed. Premiums are based on the length of the term and the age of the insured at the time of the policy’s inception. Typical terms are 10, 20, and 30 years. It is entirely possible that an individual who regularly puts money into an IRA may not need life insurance coverage at the end of a 30-year term.

Premiums may be paid in lump sum per year or on a monthly basis depending on how the policy is set up for term life insurance. It is a good idea to seek guidance from a reputable insurer to discuss which life insurance coverage types best suit their specific situation when looking for term 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

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

A good way to earn premiums for a cheaper price according to your own budget is with an annual renewable life insurance policy. This is a kind of policy that lasts for one year. Term and permanent are the two broad types of insurance policies but many variations exist within them.

Annual renewable life insurance policies are usually for a set period of time (from 1-30 years) and are just what the name suggests. This type of policy is commonly less expensive of the two and is suggested for people who are on tight budgets who need coverage such as young parents raising children or for those couples just starting off on their own.

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

People in between jobs can receive coverage for the short time they are in between jobs with this type of policy. The premiums for this policy will very low because the company is taking on the least amount of risk by selling these. Hence these are very affordable. 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 problem with this is that 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 contracts a life threatening disease soon after, survives it, and then is looking to buy the policy again – they will probably not be able to do so because they will be considered uninsurable.

It is important when buying an annual renewable life insurance policy to see how the premium will be handled. 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.

If you or someone you know has bought this policy, then you will be aware that it is possible to renew the policy with a higher premium as long as the premiums keep getting paid – to keep the death benefit in place. For those who think an annual renewal life insurance policy is applicable to them, it is advised that you calculate the higher premium before you take out this policy.

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 Are The Advantages Of Term Life Insurance?

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

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

Options in Term Life Insurance

Based on the needs of the individual there are varying policies that offer flexibility in life insurance coverage. Coverage terms at set premium amount for the duration of 10, 20, or 30 year is a basic choice called Select Term.

Up until age 95, the policy can be renewed at the term end. Regardless of the health of the insured, it can be converted to a permanent policy in most cases. Premiums generally will increase each year after the selected term of coverage.

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.

In the event of an untimely death mortgage life coverage is often for 15 to 30 years, and it is specifically designed to pay off the home mortgage. After 5 years the benefits decrease the same as the payoff of the mortgage.

What is the Purpose of Term Life Insurance?

The amount of term life 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 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.

Another reason to consider getting term life insurance coverage is to protect an opportunity for your children to go to college. Without that extra income contribution, higher education might not be possible, and short-term debts might not be met either for automobiles to transport kids to and from college.

The initial reason for term life insurance was to provide a necessary life protection for those who could not afford to pay the higher premiums of other coverage types. This remains true today for 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.

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.

Life Insurance with No Medical Exam Requirement

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

A medical exam required by the insurance provider makes many individuals not bother to attempt to obtain quotes for life insurance because they fear they will fail the exam. They may not realize there are policies for life insurance with no medical exam requirement.

What Policy Types Do Not Require a Medical Exam?

1. Simplified Issue Life Insurance -no exam is required, but the applicant provides information regarding their medical history on the policy application.

2. Graded Benefit Life Insurance – Graded Life policies are more complicated to get than other policies and are intended for those in late middle age and older. No questions are asked about health history and no exam is required.

3. Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance -Guaranteed Acceptance means no health history or medical exam required; and no applicant can be turned down.

Why Get Exam-Free Life Insurance?

The application process can take anywhere from 3-6 weeks before a policy is issued for typical life insurance policies. When no medical exam is required the underwriting process is shortened, making it possible to have a policy issued in hours or days rather than weeks.

Applicants with health problems and/or in their advanced years to obtain coverage when they will most likely be denied for exam-required policies, but with no-exam life insurance, it makes it possible for these people to get covered.

The Cost of Exam-Free Life Insurance

Naturally lower rates apply to applicants in good health and in their younger years. A medical exam gives the insurer a more accurate picture of life expectancy.

Without an exam, the insurance provider is placed at a higher risk which in turn dictates a higher premium rate. While a medical exam can be a hassle and an inconvenience, if you are in good health it is the wiser choice because of the potential rate savings. The exam allows the insurance provider to place you in the right rate class and charge you based on your actual health profile.

No-exam life insurance might be a quick and convenient way to obtain coverage, but don’t expect it to be the cheapest. Think of it this way though, any coverage is better than none, and if you are not seeking life insurance coverage because of health problems or your age, no-exam life insurance may be the perfect solution for your situation.

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.

Buying Life Insurance Online

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

Are there advantages or disadvantages to purchasing insurance online? Here are some things you might want to consider 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.

Your Information

Be selective in what info you give out because you will need to provide some personal information in order to receive an accurate quote online. 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. 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 not sure about providing certain info, attempt to find out the reasons why they need it.

Insurance 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.

Health 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.

Do You Need Life Insurance?

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

No one wants to leave their family troubled with expenses and hardships due to their failure to leave enough behind to financially cover them. This is why one of the primary reasons someone needs life insurance is to support their loved ones.

As soon as a person establishes a life independent of their parents, it is time to consider life insurance. This is something to consider from the moment young adults begin to support themselves.

Before marriage, the beneficiary of a policy might be the parents or a close friend or relative, but it is important to have someone specified who will take care of debts and other financial obligations in the event of the insured’s death.

Many financial obligations start to come early in life, such as a home mortgage, automobiles, and possibly a student loan to pay off. Finances are usually tight for those just starting out, and if a major wage earner is suddenly taken out of the picture, the remaining spouse will be devastated not only by the loss of their loved one, but the financial obligations to be faced on their own.

A human life can never be replaced but having life insurance can make things easier for the one who must carry on without the same financial income to which they have grown accustomed. A spouse does not want their loved one(s) left in dire straits because of their lack of planning and untimely demise.

No longer is the concern solely for the spouse, but it extends to the expenses of raising children including college expenses. When children are born, the need for protection doesn’t change; it actually increases.

These years even with both parents working full time families have a tough time making ends meet. Without two incomes it is often almost impossible to make it through. The biggest thing that can hold some families together when a family member dies is life insurance.

Life insurance will support a spouse on into the later years. In harsh economic times when unemployment rises and investments are depleted to cover basic expenses, there are countless people who are no longer prepared to retire with any amount of comfort. This is why life insurance is needed by almost everyone.

Bought in the younger years, term life insurance is very inexpensive and can provide many years of assurance if you were to unexpectedly pass away, and your loved ones will still be financially secure.

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.