How Does It Work?

Life coverage pays benefits to a named beneficiary selected by you when you pass away. Not all causes of death are usually covered. It is important to understand the instances when your beneficiary would not receive benefits. In addition to naming the beneficiary, you also will set the benefits or coverage amount. The higher this amount is, the more expensive your premium will be. Other factors also affect the cost of coverage, and some of these are your age, your health at the time of application, lifestyle risk factors, and the term length of the coverage. Be aware that term lengths are available up to 30 years, and these are called term life policies. Other types of coverage provide you with lifelong coverage, and these are called whole or universal life policies. The latter option usually has a cash accrual feature that allows your policy to accumulate a sizable amount of money in an interest-bearing account.

With life insurance, your loved ones file a claim as soon as you pass away. Depending on the provider, your beneficiaries may receive a lump sum of funds within a week or less of your passing. This money is commonly used to pay for funeral or burial expenses. Additional funds from your coverage could be used in a variety of ways to help your loved ones get by financially. One strategy is to use the money to pay off debts. By paying off large debts, such as the home mortgage, the family may live more comfortably on less money going forward. Another strategy is to invest the money so that it produces passive income. This passive income could supplement the funds that you used to contribute to the family. Before purchasing coverage, it is wise to analyze your family’s financial needs and to determine the most strategic way for them to use the proceeds.