Life insurance is a big purchase and a big decision. You should weigh the different possibilities carefully before you commit to a particular insurance package. Ahead of time preparation is particularly important for life insurance because you will not get a second chance at selecting your policy; it is your family members that will deal with the consequences of your choices.
Being in good shape can save you money on a life insurance policy. Before you begin looking for a life insurance policy, take care of any health issues you have control over, such as smoking, weight problems, high blood pressure, and other health concerns that you can affect with diet, exercise, and attention. A glance at insurance charts will tell you that you will save a considerable amount on life insurance by taking good care of your health.
There will come a time in your life when, if you’ve been lucky enough to get to that point, you will want to consider long-term care insurance. You should definitely consider it once you hit your fifties. If you become too ill or infirm to continue your current lifestyle, you will want to have a Plan B, so that you can rest assured your care needs will be covered no matter what life throws your way.
Choose a policy that specifically meets your needs. Life insurance can be tailored in many ways. Ask about riders that provide benefits such as an advance on the death benefit. If the insured contracts a terminal illness, this allows them to have money to pay for medical costs, although it does reduce the face value of the policy.
Most life insurance companies require you to take a medical exam before they give you coverage. They look at blood pressure, cholesterol levels, an EKG of your heart rate activity, and many other indicators that reveal the presence of any type of disease or risk factors. You can perform better on the test, even put yourself into a higher rate class, by eating low-fat foods for the two days before your test. Drink extra water to maintain hydration, and avoid alcohol for three to four days ahead of the test. Also, make sure you get plenty of sleep for the week leading up to the exam.
Take advantage of the accelerated death benefit option if it’s offered by your insurance company. This life insurance benefit allows the policyholder to receive a substantial amount of the death benefit of the policy, in the case of a terminal illness. This can allow the insured to use this benefit to cover things such as medical costs, experimental treatments, a trip, home improvements or nursing staff.
You need to find out exactly what is covered in a life insurance policy before you decide on a policy. Different policies provide different coverage options and have different terms. You need to find one that fits your specific needs. You can find out about your coverage options by talking to a life insurance agent.
Before buying a life insurance policy, make sure to ask the right questions. Find out if your term life insurance policy is convertible and for what length of time. Likewise, find out if it is renewable, and, if so, do you have to re-qualify? Can you cancel your life insurance policy? Does it include a rider for accidental death? Are there exclusions? Are your premiums variable? The more you know about a policy, the better prepared you’ll be to choose one that adequately provides for your dependents.
To save money on a life insurance policy you should stay away from “guaranteed issue” policies. The reason is because these policies are given to most people who apply, and a medical exam is not needed. Therefore, companies that issue these types of policies have no way of knowing whether you are in good or bad health. Because of these high risks, the premiums you will have to pay will be high.
Understand that most life insurance companies offer a range of different payment options to your beneficiaries. If you think those you leave behind would be better off receiving periodic payments, then this is something you have to decide now. You can choose to give the lump sum or to break it up.
Make sure you select the right type of life insurance for your current and long-term needs. Of the four primary types, some policies only cover you for a specific period of time while others cover you for the remainder of your lifetime as long as you keep premium payments current. Younger purchasers may want to start with term life insurance which can often be converted to whole life policies later.
Because you are providing for your dependents in case of tragedy, you owe it to your family to do your research when you buy life insurance. Life insurance only pays out in tragic situations. You can help ameliorate the pain by learning all you can about life insurance and ensuring that your beneficiaries feel satisfied by the policies you select.
