Posts Tagged ‘insurance quotes’

Understanding Term Life Insurance Quotes

Friday, November 11th, 2011

Some terminologies used in a term life insurance policy are very confusing and most of the time you have to get it translated into plain English. Aside from screwy terminology, there may also be many questions regarding what exactly is included or excluded from the policy.

Some pointer to getting to understand life insurance quotes:

Term Life Insurance Quotes Online

You must provide accurate information about yourself to get a response when you seek a quote online. The process takes very general pricing structures and applies them for a quick assessment of your current age and health. A quote may end up varying somewhat once more extensive information is made available that effects the true cost of a policy, such as information from a medical exam.

A price that is higher than a quote you first received may be a shock to you, but you may also get a quote that is lower than originally estimated. Insurance providers are not attempting to give an erroneous number just to get your commitment; it’s just that after a more in depth assessment of your health and living habits they can get a better gage on what premium amounts will be.

Why Rates Increase for Term Life Insurance

Rate increases are caused by the person insured. Insurance companies prefers to take on healthy people who will usually live long lives, not factoring in if they are involved in an accident or diagnosed with a health problem, because they are a lower risk. Some of the causes for higher premiums include:

* High cholesterol – There is no industry standard on cholesterol, but high levels will increase premiums. * Height to weight ratio – The more variation from the recommended height to weight ratio, the higher the term life insurance rates because of the health problems associated with being over or under weight. * High blood pressure – Blood pressure is linked to a number of health problems, and each point to a shortened life cycle. * History of family health – Genetics is a underlying factor involved with someone’s health. This is why your questionnaire asks about the history of disease and health problems in your family. * Lifestyle activities – Participating in dangerous sports or activities will increase your premiums, if you can get insured at all. * Driving history – Someone with tickets for reckless driving or speeding are generally red flagged as dangerous and no one wants to insure them.

Life Insurance Provider Choices

The two top reasons people give when asked what they want from a life insurance company are price and performance. It is possible to get many different prices for term life insurance based on the companies that quote coverage. Factors like the rating of the company and who underwrites the policies all influence pricing. High financial stability for an insurance company is identified from a rating of A or A+.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

What is Level Term Life Insurance

Friday, November 11th, 2011

For those who want temporary life insurance, level term life is one of the most popular options. Length of policy terms may be 10, 15, 20, or 30 years. There are two reasons for choosing level term life insurance.

1. Non-Variable Rate

There are no surprises or cost of living increases as the years go by. Premiums are set to remain the same for the entire period on the life insurance coverage. The coverage does take into account the age of the person over the policy term. The longer the coverage term, the higher the premium cost. A policy lasting only 10 years will cost much less in monthly or yearly premiums than a 30-year term.

2. Guaranteed Renewal

Generally, it is expected that investments made during the period of coverage will furnish a nest egg that will pay any necessary costs after the term is completed. That would mean that life insurance coverage after the term would no longer be needed. As with any term life insurance, level term is designed to provide protection for the insured’s family in case the insured dies during the time coverage is in effect.

Although it costs more to continue the coverage, it is at least possible to get life insurance at an advanced age, even if health problems develop during the original term of the coverage. Most level term life insurance offers a guaranteed rate of renewal, although evidence may be required to determine insurability for renewal. A renewal insurability clause is usually only enforced if the insured’s health has deteriorated during the policy term.

Term Insurance Top Choice

Each year, level term life insurance is the number one choice in temporary insurance. In 2003, level term amounted to 97% of all term insurance policies sold. The cost is so much less than permanent insurance, which is why some people consider it the obvious choice for affordable life insurance.

USA Today estimates that as many as 11 million households in the United States do not have life insurance coverage on the primary wage earner. Escalating costs for food, shelter, and other necessities have led to a decline in life insurance coverage for many families. In fact, just slightly more than 40% of all households have life insurance covering the wage earner.

Term life insurance policies often have an option to convert the coverage to a whole life policy at the term’s end. This can be a good option for someone with a preferred term life rating class who is later diagnosed with a health condition that would make it difficult if not impossible for them to qualify for a new policy.

The conversion option may not be available for the entire policy term; instead it may be an option for a specified number of years or until the insured reaches a specified age. Make sure to ask your agent about the specific clauses and conditions of a level term life policy when obtaining coverage quotes.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

What is Life Insurance All About?

Friday, November 11th, 2011

The loss of life often results in a hardship to the surviving family members in three different ways. The first is the anguish and personal loss whenever a loved one leaves this world. While there is very little money can do to relieve the pain of this loss, the other two hardships can be addressed with a life insurance policy.

Funeral costs and the loss of income of the deceased are the hard facts to be dealt with that often accompany a death, and life insurance can be part of the much needed help.

The Basic Concept of Life Insurance

Life insurance is a contract between an individual and an insurance company based on what one does for the other. The individual promises to pay an insurance premium for the insurance company’s promise to release funds to designated survivors (beneficiaries) upon the event of the insured’s demise.

Protecting their survivors or beneficiaries from monetary losses or hardships is the underlying theme the holder of the policy contracts a life insurance policy, even with all the different life insurance formats there are.

Should the holder of the life insurance policy contract a terminal illness that incapacitates them, benefits may be paid in whole or partial installments to the beneficiary to help cover the cost of health care in certain contracts.

Understanding Life Insurance

Before an agreement for whole or term life insurance you should understand the terms of the policy completely, and the agent should make the details perfectly clear before an anything is signed. There are many things affect the premium amount and the conditions of payment because the insurance company is at risk from the moment that the contract is officially in force.

As long as the premiums are paid and there is no cancellation of the policy because the insured commits an act to void it, or any of the exclusions come into play, the insurer will, at some point, pay the benefits. Unlike some insurance policies, life insurance is almost a predetermined expense to the insurer.

Default of the Contract

Most life insurance contracts have very strict policies about how a death may occur. Suicides and fraud are two of the top reasons for voiding a life insurance policy. Other exclusions concern the dangers people put themselves in because of acts they commit, such as involvement in riots, wars, or any type of civil commotion.

Because you had the forethought and sensibility to obtain a life insurance policy it can be a comforting assurance to know your loved ones will not be left in a hardship financially in the event of your death.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

Why is Term Life Insurance More Affordable than Whole Life Insurance?

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

Insurance companies are run like any other business. They base their costs to customers on what their expenses are for the service they provide. Whole life insurance is seen as an expense. They have to veiw it as they will likely have to pay a beneficiary at some point, and there is always the risk that they may have to do it sooner rather than later.

Less Exposure

Term life insurance is viewed as presenting less exposure to the insurance company because if the insured lives throughout the term, there is no benefit to be paid. Simply said, the insurance company has a much better chance of making a larger profit on term insurance as opposed to whole life.

Term life insurance for the insured is seen as a good thing because the coverage amounts can be the same as with other more expensive forms of life insurance and benefits are paid the same.

Value Accumulation

In whole life policies, the insured can actually have some accumulated value in the policy and may be able to withdraw monies from that fund. Term life insurance does not accumulate value, and when the insured stops paying the premiums or completes the term, the insurance company is under no obligation to give funds back under the standard term policy.

Most Economical Coverage

The base plan in term life insurance is the simple contract that insures the person for the designated number of years and ends when that time is complete. There are no premiums returned to the insured, so the insurance company retains all the money paid.

A person who is young and healthy can get very affordable insurance for a 10 year period of time. However, for each 10-year addition to a term policy, the rates will increase as the risk to the insurer increases.

Practical Term Policy

Return of Premium is more costly, but it is worth looking into because the insured will be rewarded, if rates are attractive enough, with the payback of the premiums for surviving the policy term. So putting money into this kind of coverage means that it is free as long as the insured lives to the end of the term.

An ideal way to save some money is by having the safety of a policy that will aid the family should the worst happen and getting the money back after the term if all goes well. Life insurance quotes continue to show their value in term policies. Plus most authorities agree that term life insurance is the best value when compared with all other life policy plan types.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

Yearly Life Insurance Renewal

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

A good way to earn premiums for a cheaper price according to your own budget is with an annual renewable life insurance policy. This is a kind of policy that lasts for one year. Term and permanent are the two broad types of insurance policies but many variations exist within them.

Annual renewable life insurance policies usually cost less and is typically suggested for people who are on tight budgets who need coverage. Just what the name suggests; annual renewable life insurance are usually for a set period of time (from 1-30 years).

The most obvious advantage of this kind of policy is their affordability. Annual renewable policies are those that automatically renew yearly – also increasing premiums gradually with each year. These kinds of policies are the cheapest you will find.

When you only pay for death benefit and only pay coverage for a short time, premium payments will be very low compared to other fixed policies. The premiums for this policy will be the lowest because the company is undertaking the least risk by selling these. Hence these are very affordable. People in between jobs can buy these to receive coverage for the short time they are in between jobs.

Most people will not buy this policy because they don’t expect to die within one year of purchasing it. Suppose someone buys the policy and then finds out that they have a life threatening disease, then they end up surviving it, and then is looks into buying the policy again – they will probably not be able to do so because they will be considered uninsurable.

Before buying an annual renewable life insurance policy you will want to see how the premium will be handled. Generally premiums will never increase above the figure that is locked by the company beforehand but they will gradually increase. Therefore, these policies will also help you determine how your future expenses will fall and allow you to budget them accordingly.

If you or someone you know has bought this policy, to keep the death benefit in place, you should be aware that it is possible to renew the policy with a higher premium as long as the premiums keep getting paid. It is advised that you calculate the higher premium before you take out this policy if you think that an annual renewal life insurance policy is right for you.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

What is Term Life Insurance?

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

A person contracts with an insurance company to insure his or her life for a limited time and for premiums that will remain the same for the duration of the contract. Term life insurance is very straightforward and generally considered the most economical way to obtain life coverage, term life insurance is very straightforward.

Some policies are renewable with some adjustment in policy premiums so that no lapse in coverage occurs. When the life insurance reaches the end of the term, the insured can enter into another agreement with the insurance company or allow the policy to lapse. Understandably the older a person gets, the more the term life insurance premiums will cost.

Beginning Coverage Young is a Positive

Generally, most term life insurance is no longer available after age 95, unless that age is reached during a covered term that began many years prior. Getting a life insurance quote for term life at a young age will result in much lower premiums than in advanced years.

Economically a Good Choice

One advantage of term life insurance is the lower cost allows for investment in other ways to build up a portfolio for retirement and to offer some means of protection for beneficiaries. The money saved on term life insurance as compared to whole life, permanent life, universal life, or variable universal life can be deposited into an IRA, which is tax deferred and increases based on future investments.

Term life insurance is a good choice for young adults who don’t have a lot of money to spend on insurance, but who still need to offer their families protection in the event of an untimely death. The amount of benefits offered for the young individual are generally much higher than for an older individual.

Term Life for Future Planning

A young insured can expect very good premium rates for a short term because the insurance provider is much less exposed. Premiums are based on the length of the term and the age of the insured at the time of the policy’s inception. Typical terms are 10, 20, and 30 years. It is entirely possible that an individual who regularly puts money into an IRA may not need life insurance coverage at the end of a 30-year term.

Term life insurance premiums may be paid in lump sum per year or on a monthly basis depending on how the policy is set up. Anyone seeking term life insurance info should seek guidance from a reputable insurer to discuss which life insurance coverage types best suit their specific situation.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

What Makes Life Insurance Premiums Cost Different?

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Every factor, however insignificant it may seem, has a bearing as far as risk to the insurance provider, which is why they have very precise formulas to determine coverage cost. So when shopping for insurance of any kind, it is easy to make assumptions about how coverage is priced.

More often than not you will notice that the more risk that is involved, the more expensive the coverage is. Some things that lead to the final premium costs are:

How old you are at the time of the Quote

The simple math involved is based on the estimated life span of an individual. One consideration, although not the only one, is the age of the applicant at the time of the life insurance quote. If you are in your early 20′s, you will most always get better rates than someone even a mere decade older.

Health

A 50 year old person might be in perfect health, with no major prior illnesses, which will allow a better offer on a short-term life insurance policy. A longer term would take into consideration the age at the end of the term and cause an increase in premiums. A young person with health problems, especially serious ones, might not be able to get coverage at all.

Job and Activity Level

There is so much data available today on longevity based on the workplace that it has an effect on life insurance premiums. For instance, the careers that have the most occupational accidents are those concerned with road construction. A construction worker would probably receive a high premium estimate based on their profession. More dangerous activities might keep a person from being able to even obtain coverage.

The Insurer

The insurer generally has someone who decides what is considered insurable and what is not. They have a sliding scale of premium costs is based on all the information given by an applicant as well as any information gathered from 3rd parties based on activities that have a bearing on insurance coverage, such as results from a medical exam.

Savings may be available for someone who holds more than one policy with a single provider due to the fact that many of the line items that premium costs are based on are relatively the same from one life insurance provider to another.

Life insurance companies do compete with one another, so there is some price-restructuring going on most of the time to attract additional business. Even so, the end cost of coverage will always be based on the risk exposure to the provider.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

Buying Life Insurance Online

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Are there advantages or disadvantages to purchasing insurance online? Here are some things you might want to consider when it comes time to shop for life insurance.

Getting the Most for your Time

Working during the day makes it a pain to visit insurance agencies, fill out paperwork, answer questions, and shop multiple providers for life insurance. With the time involved in shopping for, you might end up with only three or four to compare. Shopping online is generally something you can do during your time off from work or even during a typical lunch hour. All the life insurance resources you need are available online. You’ll still have to answer questions for each query you make. You might have to speak to someone over the phone for the follow-ups there may be from your applications. Even with everything you have to do, you still control the amount of time required by shopping online.

Your Information

Some personal information needs to be given out in order to receive an accurate quote online, but be selective in what info you give out. A company may want your email address claiming they must send the quote via email, but this is a way to add you to a mailing list. Also, a provider should not need your social security number to provide an insurance quote. Weight, age, height, gender, medical history, etc., are some things you should be prepared to give out, but if you are hesitant about providing certain info, attempt to find out why they need it.

Providers Online

Many insurance websites may have non-agents doing the quote processing, however the companies they represent must be legally able to sell insurance in your state of residence. Insurance providers online can be much more specialized than local agencies. The good thing about specialization is that when you find the right fit, you should receive an estimate that is based on the correct product for your situation. You’ll find many that target a certain market. This can be demographic as in young people, healthy people, older citizens, or even those with illnesses.

Medical Exams

Beware of online quotes that do not inquire about your age, height, weight, blood pressure, etc. In most cases, life insurance requires a medical exam no matter if you purchase the policy online or not. Even if a medical exam is not required, false information given on a questionnaire can result in cancelled coverage, so be certain to answer all questions accurately. Without this information, a quote may be erroneously low.

Online Deals

There are many different types of life insurance and many variables that can make a difference on the bottom line. You still should be able to find some affordably priced coverage by shopping for life insurance online. If you are shopping on your own, be sure that you compare quotes and coverage, including exclusions and inclusions, to determine which quotes are the best offers. Be certain also to check the financial rating of the provider as you want coverage only with solvent insurance companies.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

Universal Life Insurance Vs. term Life Insurance

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

The more important question that you should be asking yourself at the time of taking out a life insurance policy is that “What is term life insurance and how does it differ from universal life insurance?” The biggest problem that many policy buyers face today is that of “Which life insurance policy should I get?”

Many people do not know the difference between the two – and admittedly, it is confusing. Let’s first get rid of the cloud of confusion before we decide which is better.

Term Life allows you to buy large face amounts with very little money. You will be fully covered for the term that you take out the policy for – but you do not receive any cash payments after the policy is over. That is why term life insurance is generally less expensive than universal life insurance for the same face value amount – because it does not build up any equity.

This kind of policy is popular among young people who need large amounts of coverage for their families with lower premium payments. It is also the way to go for those people who want coverage in case of an untimely death and prefer to invest in stocks and other investments rather than save with universal life insurance.

Universal life insurance policies cost much more than term life insurance for the same amount of face value but they usually cover you for a longer time as well as allowing you to build up tax deferred payments. But, however, the premiums with universal life insurance policies stay the same whereas the premiums with term life keep increasing during time.

Although one must hold the policy for at least 15 years till you see some return, it does provide the holder with some long term investment that the holder can borrow against. This kind of policy should sit well with those people whose financial planning extends well into the future.

Choosing the right life insurance policy can be one of the most confusing and challenging decision an individual might have to make. Make the wrong choice with a policy can lead the surviving family of the issuer or holder without any financial benefits on top of the pain and sorrow of losing a loved one. You can, however, avoid your family all this hardship by carrying out a little research to educate and inform yourself – or seek some legal help on the matter.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.

Life Insurance: Level Term

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

When the premium for the policy stays the same throughout the term of the policy is considered a level term life insurance policy. That is, they remain leveled.

Some people may want a short term policy designed to be put into play until the policy holder’s children graduate from college. This is just an example of one of the many factors that you may need to consider when you are taking out level term life insurance.

This policy is not like whole life insurance. With level term life insurance, the premium and the cost of policy remains the same throughout so you know exactly what you’re getting when you buy such a policy. With whole life insurance, the cost increases with time – thanks to its investment aspect.

You need to determine how much your family will require, in case of your death, to remain financially stable. From here you can determine how much coverage you will need before you take out a policy. This is in turn linked to how much you make yearly.

A question you will need to take into consideration is how much premium you can afford. Even if you have the advantage of a premium that will stay the same through the tenure of the policy, you still have to make sure that you pay it every month.

The next decision you need to make is that of how many years you want to take out the policy for. It is important to decide for how many years you will require coverage. When deciding how long you want coverage for, consider factors like how long your offspring are dependent on you.

Term life insurance policies are available for 10, 20, 30 and 40 years but remember that the longer your time period for the policy, the higher your premium will be. If you shop around, you may find some insurance companies that give you the option of renewing your policy once it expires.

Level term life insurance will prove to be a cheaper option when compared to whole life insurance if you are looking to take out a life insurance policy. You get a clear picture of how much you will pay every month without the fear of your premium increasing with time as with whole life. Also, no portion of your money is allocated to the investment option; you know how much you will get back – which is not the case with whole life insurance.

My Insurance Expert will help you find term life insurance that fits all of your individual needs. The world of life insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right advisor you can give your family the protection they need and have peace of mind.