Life insurance can be a great investment to make sure that your family will be okay after you pass away. If you're thinking about purchasing life insurance, you may be overwhelmed by the number of options you have. Read on for some tips on choosing a life insurance policy that does what you need it to.
Drop bad habits and get into good shape prior to opening a life insurance policy. If you are in good physical health, you are likely to get a better rate from your provider. Smoking, high cholesterol, blood pressure, as well as depression, can drive up your rates more than you would think.
Improving your health helps you get life insurance for a cheaper price. Being healthy means you will live longer; your monthly premiums do not have to be so high because you will be able to pay them for longer.
When purchasing term life insurance, consider how long it will be until your children are financially independent and your debts are paid off. The point of life insurance is to protect family members such as children who are totally dependent on your income. Take a policy that will outlast the period of your children's dependence and any long-term loans such as a mortgage.
Even if your employer offers life insurance, you shouldn't depend on this policy to meet all your needs. These policies are often fairly limited, and have the disadvantage of not being portable. If you leave your job, you will also leave your life insurance behind, which means you will have to find a new policy to replace it.
When buying term life insurance, make sure the duration of your policy matches the amount of time you need it. For example, buy term insurance that stays in force long enough until the kids become independent and also, that the remaining spouse has coverage until he or she, becomes eligible for retirement income.
To save some money on life insurance, pay your premiums one time a year. Many life insurance companies will charge you a little less because there usually is some type of small fee to receive the monthly bills. Just make sure you only do this if you can afford it.
If a relative of yours recently died and named you as the beneficiary on his life insurance policy, but the policy itself is missing, there are steps you can take to locate the policy, even if you don't know which insurance company issued it. Examine the deceased's canceled checks for any that were written to insurance companies. Look through any mail you can find for insurance bills or policy status notices. Check with former employers or organizations that the deceased belonged to which may have offered the policy. Look at tax returns for expenses or interest earned in regard to life insurance. Finally, check with the Medical Information Bureau, which has a database that can inform you if the medical records of the deceased were requested by any insurance companies since 1996.
When going in for your medical exam, it's important that you appear to be as healthy as possible. Now, no one is suggesting that you game the system, but you need to understand what you're in store for. Don't eat any junk or drink or smoke before going into this exam. It could ruin your chances.
Know how your life insurance policy will cover your home in the event of your passing. Your benefits will first go to cover your outstanding debts and a mortgage could easily engulf the potential benefit for your family. Check with your insurance company to make sure your policy is sufficient.
If you are considering a whole life policy, you might want to think again. Term life insurance is usually the way to go. Whole life policies often come with fees and commissions, which are considerably higher than term policies. In addition, there are many better options for saving for retirement or investing.
You should know that if you have a risky jobs or a dangerous hobby, your life insurance premiums will go up. If you have a hazardous occupation, you can choose to wait until you retire to apply for life insurance and pay less. Consider abandoning a dangerous hobby if your life insurance is your priority.
If you are applying for life insurance that will be effective for a certain number of years, look for a return of premium rider feature. This means that you will get everything you paid in premiums back if you do not die during the period of time covered by your insurance.
If you are getting a free life insurance from your employer, make sure the coverage is enough. For instance, it might not cover your spouse. You should consider applying for an additional life insurance if you think you are going to need more coverage or want your spouse to be covered to.
Get the best rates in life insurance by being healthy. If you exercise, eat right, don't smoke, drink or do drugs,don't participate in dangerous activities and get a clean bill of health from your doctor, you are likely to live a very long time. That makes you a good risk and earns you lower life insurance rates.
Consider the risk involved in your potential life insurance policy. If you feel comfortable with a high-risk investment as your life insurance, variable or universal policies may be the ones for you. If you are more conservative and want a positive guarantee take an old-fashioned cheap promise rings term life insurance policy.
Keep an eye on your life insurance agent. Life insurance agents are like any other salesman. They will tend to overstate potential returns, and are happy to sell you whatever will get them a personal payday. Do not make the mistake of thinking this person is your friend. This is simply not the case.
Life insurance can be confusing sometimes, but it's not so hard to choose a good policy when you know what to look for. Now that you know more about different types of life insurance and how they relate to you, you can choose a life insurance package that covers your needs.
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