No one likes to think about death and loss, and many are likely to avoid the subject of life insurance coverage because they don’t want to imagine negative events. But being prepared for the worst should ease anxiety. The following are some tips to swiftly secure a life insurance policy that is right for you.
When choosing life insurance, be sure to have a good idea of how much money your loved ones will require. This is important because of the amount of debt that they might be left with the burden of paying off after you die. Consider car payments, mortgage, credit card debts, funeral and burial costs, and the cost of raising children.
Be careful to not buy too much or too little insurance coverage. The general rule of thumb is to have at least 5 to 7 times your current salary as your benefit amount. Keep in mind what will have to be covered based on your families needs. Many people also make the mistake of buying too much and end up with inflated insurance premiums for coverage they don’t really need.
Purchase life insurance when you are young rather than when you are old. Putting off purchasing life insurance until later life to avoid paying premiums can end up costing you more. The earlier in life you purchase a life insurance policy, the lower your premiums will be and the less likely you are to be refused a policy.
Whether you’re young or old, single or have a family, taking out life insurance is something you should consider as long as anyone depends on you. Life insurance can provide money to your spouse for bills or the mortgage, or even give your children money for college if you pass away.
Term life insurance is a more affordable option for life insurance. It only covers you for a set period of years; it is usually sold for 10, 20, or 30 year periods. A term life insurance policy is usually much less expensive than a whole life insurance policy per month.
Familiarizing yourself with some common life insurance terms can help you determine which type is best for you, as well as how much coverage you want to purchase. Cash value refers to the portion of your policy that is available for you to withdraw as loans for various purposes, such as education costs or credit card debt. A premium is simply the periodic payment that you make to keep the policy active. Another term you might see is dividends, which refers to the money you may receive back on your premiums if the insurance company overestimated their expenses and ended up with a surplus. A dividend is not guaranteed.
Being prepared for the worst case scenario can seem depressing, but it is best to just get the life insurance taken care of, and then not have to think about it again. If you apply the tips given in the article above, you will be able to swiftly secure a life insurance policy that is right for you. You will be very glad you took the time to cover yourself or your family, if the time ever comes.