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How Term Life Insurance Works & What You Need to Know About It

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The term life insurance is an excellent choice for people who need to cover their financial obligations when raising a family. With payout, term life insurance that can provide funds for paying your mortgage, sending your kids to college, and other vital concerns if you are no longer around to earn a paycheck. In addition, term life insurance is cheaper compared to whole life insurance. It’ll cover you for a set period and payout in case of death during the term. Here are some more things you should know about term life insurance.

What is Term Insurance?

Term life insurance, also known as pure life insurance, is a kind of life insurance policy that guarantees payment of a stated death benefit if the covered person passes away during the specified term. Once the term expires, the policyholder can either renew it for a consecutive term, convert it to permanent coverage, or even allow the term life insurance policy to terminate. 

Benefits of Term Insurance Plan

Term life insurance is an excellent option for people looking to ensure their family’s financial security. Term coverage can provide funds to pay expenses like college tuition and living costs if the insured becomes ill or injured while still working – but it offers other benefits too! For example, with term policies, you’ll be able to cover mortgage lenders’ debts owed by the policyholder (such as credit card debt), and it can also help pay for your child’s education.

Picking a Term Life Insurance Length

Term life insurance is typically available in 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years. Some policies also last for longer terms of 35 and 40 years. The most common length for term life purchased is usually 20 years. You may be wondering what length of term life insurance is the best. It depends on your situation and financial needs, but there are some guidelines you can follow to get started: For example, if you’re buying term life to cover your children’s college tuition, and if it’s in nine years, you might pick a 10-year term life insurance. On the other hand, if you just bought a house and took on a 30-year mortgage, you’re likely looking at 30-year term life insurance.

How Many Terms of Life Insurance Do You Need?

A good term life insurance amount will usually match the debts or obligations you need to cover. The insurance will help pay a family’s expenses that the policyholder’s salary would have otherwise paid. If your goal is income replacement, you’ll want to know an approximation of the amount needed by your family to maintain their standard of living for the period you want to be covered.

Factors Affecting Term Life Insurance Rates

Besides the life insurance amount and term length of your choosing, expect these factors to affect your rates:

• Age

• Gender

• Height and weight

• Current and past health

• Family health history

• Nicotine use

• History of substance abuse

• Driving records

• Certain hobbies and activities

• Criminal history

• Credit

Types of Term Life Insurance

Level term

Level term life insurance is one of the most common types of life insurance policy. It offers premiums that don’t change during your years with an insurance company.

Annual renewable term

With this type of policy, your premiums go up every year. But you can choose a period of insurability that guarantees not to have to reapply for the duration, and it may be good if you want a short gap in the life insurance or need coverage temporarily while looking into other options.

Decreasing term

With this insurance policy, your premiums stay the same over their length, but the death benefit decreases steadily over time. Mortgage life insurance is a reduced term life. The payout is linked with the declining balance of the mortgage, and the beneficiary would be the mortgage lender, not your family. 

Return of premium

This policy type promises to refund the premiums you paid if your life insurance expires. Of course, this makes it more expensive than other types, but it can be an excellent way for those who know they’ll outlive their plan’s term.

Life insurance is a valuable tool to ensure that you can leave a legacy for your family should the need arise. If you find yourself still needing life coverage at the end of term, it’s vital that before paying higher renewal rates, consider getting quotes from new companies as well. Some people decide they no longer need life insurance before they reach the end of the term and may even stop making payments. Before you go down this route, make sure you truly no longer need life insurance.

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