The Best Forms of Life Insurance Policy
January 4th, 2010 Posted in Mortgage InfoWhen looking for life insurance, it’s important to find the best policy for your own unique needs. There are so many web sites offering online discount life insurance, so it’s a common mistake made by many, to end up with a policy that’s not suitable.
Many people need clarification regarding the various types of life insurance, and which is best for them.
Term Life Insurance & it’s Benefits:
Term life insurance is a bit like leasing a car. You pay cover for a predefined term, and are covered for that term. However, at the end of the term, whether for example its 15 years or 30 years the deal is done and you simply walk away.
This means that term life insurance only offers protection for the duration of the mortgage, and is usually of little value once your mortgage is fully paid off.
Term insurance is generally cheap and is expected to fall over time providing you don’t suffer from a major disease. However, there are a number of different types of term life insurance policy:
* The first type is known as level term insurance, and it is a very popular policy. Here, the premium costs are locked in for the entire term of the policy. This means you pay the same amount every month/year for the term of the policy.
* The next form of term life insurance is escalating term cover. This policy can be more expensive, as you pay an increasing amount each year. However, the lump sum payable at death also increases. These are normally low cost policies, and are best suited to younger people.
* The third type is known as decreasing term insurance. In this case your monthly payments will stay the same, although the amount of cover you receive will reduce each year.
* The forth type of term life insurance is what’s known as increasing term insurance. Here the lump sum payable at death increases each year. This increase in value of the policy is made up by increasing the premiums periodically over the years.
* Finally, convertible term insurance is a type of term life cover that can be converted into an investment/insurance policy in the future. Normally, the value of such investments will be based on your health, at the time you bought the term insurance policy.
Whole of Life Insurance Policies:
Whole of life insurance covers you right up until the time of your death, providing that you keep paying your premiums. It can give a considerable lump sum to your family when you die, and it normally accumulates in value over the years.
This type of policy is more expensive and complicated than term life policies. The investment you make earns some interest each year. So, providing your investment grows, your annual premiums can actually reduce over time. Also, there may come a time when the interest produced can cover all your future premiums, and as a result you may have no more premiums to pay on your policy.
However, it’s important to understand that the final cash-in-value of a whole of life policy may or may not equal the amount of money that has been paid into the policy over it’s full term.
Summary:
The decision of whether to buy a term life policy, or whole of life cover comes down to your own unique needs, and circumstances, and what you wish to achieve.
The simplest form is a level term policy with a renewable option. This will allow you to get life insurance for as long as you may need it.
However, you may prefer a policy that offers a growing nest egg, that pays out while you are still around to enjoy it!
Both types have their advantages and disadvantages, and careful consideration and advice from a competent insurance adviser is vitally important.


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