Most people understand the value of life insurance, at least when it comes to taking care of a loved one’s final expenses. But did you know that term life insurance can do more than just pay for your burial expenses? That’s right. Term life insurance can be used to protect your family long after you have passed. Here’s how.
• Term life insurance is less expensive. There are many different types of life insurance from whole life to universal and group life insurance. By far, term life insurance is cheaper in terms of premium cost, while you are still alive. It is fairly easy to find cheap term life insurance. This helps you in a number of ways. First, the money you save on your annual premium costs can be invested in a 401(k), IRA or in a savings account as an emergency fund. You can also use the extra money you save every month to pay down debt or save for a down payment on a large purchase. Secondly, you can afford a much larger policy, which equates to a larger payout to your beneficiary when the time comes to claim benefits, helping to replace lost income.
• Term life insurance policies are more flexible than other options. Another valuable aspect to term life policies is their flexibility. In most cases, qualifying for a term life insurance policy is easy. Most don’t require a health examination, though this aspect is different from insurer to insurer, you can choose to have a policy that has a static premium over the term or a static level of benefits over time (whichever is most beneficial to you) and most have several options when it comes to paying your monthly premium. Additionally, even if you have a whole life policy, you can purchase a term life policy to supplement those benefits.
While there are many benefits to having a term life insurance policy in place, there are a few drawbacks. Most term life insurance policies do not accumulate a cash value, so you can’t draw out money you’ve paid into them in the event of an emergency. Term life policies are only enforceable for a specified term, meaning that if you do not pass away while the policy is in force, you lose your ability to collect benefits after the term expires. Each of these drawbacks can be avoided by employing prudent planning.
As you can see, there are a number of ways in which having a term life policy in place can protect your family both now and in the future. Schedule some time to talk to your company’s Human Resources department or your insurance provider and find out how you can protect your family today.
