You have life insurance, but do you know exactly what type of policy you have? Or are you so sure that you know exactly what type of policy you have that you don’t need to read this article? If the latter, we’re sure you’ll find your answer here! We’ve outlined 8 types of life insurance policies and which one could be right for you and your family.
Types of life insurance policies vary greatly and it can be hard to determine which one is right for you, especially if you’re just starting to shop around. The 8 types of life insurance policies below should help you understand the major differences between them so that you can purchase the right policy at the right price.
What Is Insurance?
Insurance is a contract, represented by a policy, in which an individual or entity receives financial protection or reimbursement against losses from an insurance company. The company pools clients’ risks to make payments more affordable for the insured. Insurance policies are used to hedge against the risk of financial losses, both big and small, that may result from damage to the insured or her property, or from liability for damage or injury caused to a third party.
An entity that provides insurance is known as an insurer, an insurance company, an insurance carrier or an underwriter. A person or entity who buys insurance is known as a policyholder, while a person or entity covered under the policy is called an insured. Policyholder and insured are often used as but are not necessarily synonyms, as coverage can sometimes extend to additional insureds who did not buy the insurance. The insurance transaction involves the policyholder assuming a guaranteed, known, and a relatively small loss in the form of a payment to the insurer (a premium) in exchange for the insurer’s promise to compensate the insured in the event of a covered loss. The loss may or may not be financial, but it must be reducible to financial terms. Furthermore, it usually involves something in which the insured has an insurable interest established by ownership, possession, or pre-existing relationship.
Life Insurance Policies
A life insurance policy is an agreement with an insurance company in which you pay a premium to receive a lump sum upon your death. Each policy has its own rules on how much coverage it provides, how long it lasts, and what factors determine whether or not it pays out. Typically, a life insurance policy is designed to provide money for your beneficiaries after your death; these benefits are separate from any life-insurance-pension benefits. There are several different types of policies, each offering certain advantages over others depending on your needs.
Life insurance is a financial safety net that provides coverage in case your death reduces your ability to support yourself. There are several different types of policies, each offering certain advantages over others depending on your needs. Some of these include whole life, term, universal and variable. Read on to learn more about each type.
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8 Types of Life Insurance Policies:
1. Term Life Insurance
This type of policy provides coverage for a certain period of time, after which it expires. For example, a 20-year term policy would cover someone from age 20 to 40. The term can be 10 years or any other period (you’ll need to talk with your agent about specifics). A key benefit here is that there are usually no medical tests required before purchasing a term policy; however, if anything major changes (like getting married or having children), you will likely have to get an updated plan. Term policies are best if your goal is to protect your income while you pay off debt or build savings; they’re also good choices if your long-term financial goals don’t involve family members who rely on you financially.
You can get term life insurance at a relatively low cost, making it a good option if your only goal is protecting your family financially. Plus, you may not need to prove that you’re in great health before purchasing a policy. The amount of coverage on a term policy will depend on how much money your beneficiaries will need to pay off debts or continue living at their current standard following your death. If they have few debts and other obligations, they’ll likely only need enough coverage to pay funeral costs or outstanding loans. On the other hand, if there are dependents who rely on your income, such as children or an ill parent who needs regular medical care, then more coverage might be needed.
2. Whole Life Insurance
A whole life policy is an insurance policy with a cash value account. This means it functions like both term and permanent life insurance because it combines a death benefit, a tax-deferred savings account, and inflation protection all in one. However, unlike term or universal policies that stop accruing after a set number of years (typically 10-20), Whole Life Insurance remains active for your entire life so that premiums never go down; they only increase as you age. In addition to annual premiums, Whole Life Insurance has several other required fees.
3. Guaranteed issue of life insurance
The only problem with guaranteed issue life insurance is that it doesn’t have a health requirement. If you already have an existing condition, it will be approved immediately. But what if your ailment isn’t covered? These pre-existing conditions can cause a delay in getting coverage or an increase in premiums. Depending on how your policy is written, it could be difficult to claim after-the-fact, even if your condition was discovered years down the road.
In those cases, when coverage is denied or expensive to purchase, then guaranteed issue life insurance isn’t going to do much good. For people who don’t have any serious pre-existing conditions and are just looking for basic term insurance coverage, guaranteed issue life insurance may be a good fit.
4. Universal Life Insurance
Universal Life Insurance is a type of permanent coverage that provides protection from both unforeseen and expected events. The policy will continue to build cash value, regardless if an insured dies or not. Life insurance is an integral part of every family’s overall financial plan, providing protection for dependents in case an unexpected death occurs. Universal Life Insurance is purchased at face value and can be cashed out at any time during its term or even before, though there may be penalties to pay if early withdrawals are made.
5. Indexed Universal Life Insurance
Insurance can be confusing. So, it’s no surprise that Universal Life Insurance is a rather misunderstood product (even by industry insiders). That’s why many people find themselves surprised to learn about Indexed Universal Life Insurance. This is an insurance policy with unique benefits that are often overlooked by agents and consumers alike. Read on to learn more about Indexed Universal Life Insurance. You might just find a new solution to a longtime problem or snag some free time through your workday!
6. Simplified issue of life insurance
Life insurance is typically sold based on its cost rather than benefits. Simplified issue life insurance is an exception because it offers immediate coverage, making it popular with consumers. As a result, simplified issue life insurance is available to nearly anyone who applies and tends to be quite inexpensive. However, like any life insurance policy, there are trade-offs associated with simplified issue life insurance that should be fully understood by potential customers prior to purchasing coverage. The most significant drawback is that simplified issue plans only offer fixed premiums or face amounts throughout their entire term—coverage cannot be increased or decreased at will.
7. Group Life Insurance
A common way to purchase life insurance is through a group policy. Many companies offer low-cost life insurance as an employee benefit, so look into it at your workplace if possible. You can also check with local credit unions or co-ops to see if they offer group coverage. Group policies typically come with a fixed premium – but there’s no guarantee that the premium won’t go up over time, so do make sure to shop around to find affordable coverage.
8. Variable life insurance
This type of insurance covers a range of premiums so that no matter what, your premium amount is locked in. You can choose to pay your insurance policy over a period as short as three years or as long as 30 years. However, it’s a good option if you don’t have time to invest funds elsewhere. There are tax implications when it comes time to sell. Variable life insurance is considered an investment vehicle by the IRS because it is linked to stocks or mutual funds. While taxes on gains will be lower than they would be if had simply invested in stocks (since part of your premium has already been taxed). There are still capital gains taxes to contend with at some point down the line.
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In Conclusion
There are 8 major types of life insurance policies. All have their own risk factors and benefits. If you’re trying to decide which policy is best for your family, be sure to weigh every aspect. Insurance agents will be able to help you with any questions or concerns. But keep in mind that it’s ultimately up to you – as a customer – how much effort. And research goes into making an informed decision about what type of policy is best suited for your family’s needs.
