Life Insurance Basics You Should Know

It is important to understand some life insurance basics before committing to a particular policy. We work hard to take care of our families and our goal is to protect those who depend on us. But, unfortunately, many of us are unaware of how significant life insurance could be in the future well being of those we love.

1.Wants vs needs. When deciding how much or what type of life insurance to buy, a common strategy is to buy based on “needs”. While it is important to condsider the needs of the dependents left behind, basing your purchase on needs is limiting. If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, how much life insurance would you want? I’m confident you would answer, “As much as I can get.” This stems from the desire to insure for the total value of your life instead of just meeting the basic needs of your loved ones. When we insure our homes and cars, we don’t insure for half the value because that would meet our needs. We insure for the maximum value because that is what we want. We want to replace the total value of the life lost. Keep this in mind when making life insurance decisions and make your choice based on wants rather than needs alone.

2.Know the terms. When shopping for life insurance, you will encounter a unique language with jargon that can often be confusing. Taking a little time to understand the terms will help you make a more informed and educated decision.

Perhaps the most important distinction you will need to know is the difference between term life and whole life insurance.

Term Life Insurance: Basically, as implied by the title ‘term life insurance’, you are covered for a limited period of time, specified by the policy. If you die with the policy in place, the insurance company will pay the agreed upon amount to your beneficiaries. However, if you live beyond the deadline, the term will expire and the coverage will cease. Term insurance is a popular choice because premiums are cheaper than with other options, at least in the beginning. However, it is important to remember that since premiums are based on age and health, insurance cos
1000
ts will increase when it comes time to renew or purchase new coverage. If you are young and healthy, your premium may be quite low, making term insurance attractive. At an average 1% pay claim, companies are able to keep rates reasonable because they know that the term will likely expire before a payout is required. Term life insurance provides no living benefits to the policyholder and is only paid upon death. We often call it “death” insurance.

Whole Life Insurance: Also known as cash value insurance or permanent insurance, this type combines the death benefit with an investment component so that you are able to build up cash value for your entire life. Basically, the policy outlines a fixed amount that is to be paid upon your death, but part of the premium is also invested by the company providing a cash value. The policy owner can borrow against the cash value without being taxed. Although whole life insurance premiums are higher, there is no renewal period and the premiums will never increase regardless of age or health issues. The coverage is in effect for your entire life rather than just a specified period of time. In contrast to term insurance, which has an approximate 1% pay claim, whole life insurance is guaranteed to be paid out since it does not expire. And, since it has living benefits, the policy holder can enjoy all of their investment while they are still alive.

3.Seek expert advice. Since life insurance can be complicated and confusing, it is important that you consult with an expert or insurance agent that is willing to spend some time explaining the various options. Make sure that your representative understands your goals and clearly outlines the provisions of each policy. Remember that most insurance agents are paid according to their sales, so you need to be careful that you are not pressured into a decision that you do not feel comfortable making. Find someone who will outline all the details and thoroughly explain all the conditions and provisions of the policy.

4.Shop around. There are many different policies available, and choosing the one that is best for your situation will depend on your needs and goals. Also, the cost differences between companies will vary, even for the exact same coverage. Taking the time to gather several quotes could save you a lot of money. Most insurance agents will try to find you the best deal possible, but this is not always guaranteed, so it is important to make sure that they work on your behalf to secure the best coverage and premiums possible.

Knowing life insurance basics and following a few simple tips will help you find the coverage you want so you can relax, knowing that you have taken every step possible to provide for and protect your family.It is important to understand some life insurance basics before committing to a particular policy. We work hard to take care of our families and our goal is to protect those who depend on us. But, unfortunately, many of us are unaware of how significant life insurance could be in the future well being of those we love.

By: Bern Buen

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About Author
Bern Buen created www.choose-financial-freedom.com to inspire others in their pursuit of financial freedom, and shares a variety of money management tips and life insurance basics there.

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Auckland, Apr. 3 (ANI): People seeking life insurance in New Zealand are outraged after being asked by insurance companies if they have sex with prostitutes.

The country's Privacy Commission has raised concerns over the issue, saying felt they had been asked intrusive or irrelevant questions could complain to the commissioner.

“Questions asked by life insurance companies should not be unreasonably intrusive and must be directly relevant to assessing risk,” the New Zealand Herald quoted Assistant Privacy Commissioner Katrine Evans, as saying.

Companies which ask about their clients' sexual behaviour with prostitutes, include BNZ bank and AMP insurance. Those which don't include Westpac, Kiwibank and AA Life.

AMP chief underwriter Geoff Dyer said: “We ask this question as people who are in what is considered “at risk” sexual practices are at greater risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS than those that aren't.”

Other commonly asked life insurance questions include whether a person has ever had a sexually transmitted disease, raised cholesterol or a bowel polyp or has ever attempted suicide.

Investment Savings and Insurance Association CEO Vance Arkinstall said: “Some companies will have different views, but there are concerns over sexual preferences of people from time to time and it's born out of the risk of Aids and those sorts of issues.”

“Some people do find the questions difficult to answer and in that situation, if you're uncomfortable, well, there are a lot of insurers – go and try another one,” he said.

However, Evans said that companies should carefully justify the relevance of including intruding questions in their questionnaire.

“Some illnesses can have a significant impact on whether a person is insurable, or at what premium. It's not immediately obvious, though, that the nature of sexual partners or activities is relevant. Insurers would have to be able to justify this very carefully,” she added. (ANI)

ANI