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Life may be like a box of chocolates. But buying life insurance is more like ordering coffee at Starbucks, says Faisa Stafford, CEO and president of Life Happens, an industry-funded nonprofit that educates consumers about insurance. There are so many options that it’s hard to know what to get. “It can be extremely confusing,” she says.
In fact, confusion over how much and what type of life insurance to buy is one of the top reasons people give for not having life insurance, according to a survey by Life Happens and LIMRA for the annual Insurance Barometer Study. But the COVID-19 pandemic has been a wake-up call for many Americans and has prompted some to buy life insurance for the first time, according to a separate Life Happens survey.
If you’re considering buying life insurance but are confused, these 10 tips will help.
Tip No. 1: Assess Your Current Financial Situation
You need a true picture of your financial health before you can figure out what type of life insurance you need and how much, Stafford says.
Consider what you have in place to support loved ones who depend on you financially. This would include an emergency fund, retirement savings and any life insurance coverage through work. You might find that you’re not as prepared for the unexpected as you thought.
Stafford recommends working with a financial advisor to discuss what needs you should cover with life insurance—whether it’s a mortgage that will need to be paid, children who will need to be supported, a small business to maintain or a legacy you want to leave. Your workplace might offer access to a financial planner as part of your benefits. Or you can find a fee-only planner through the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors.
Tip No. 2: Know How Much Coverage You Need
Typically, people underestimate how much life insurance they need, says Adam Winslow, CEO of Life Insurance at AIG Life & Retirement. They tend to think only about how much would be needed to pay off their major debt, such as a mortgage. However, they should consider how much more would be needed to help a spouse or partner pay bills, support children, pay for college tuition or cover any other long-term needs, he says.
One rule of thumb is to have a policy with a death benefit equal to 10 times your annual salary. But your own situation and financial goals might require that you have more—or less—than that amount. A financial planner can help you come up with a more-precise figure.
Tip No. 3: Know the Difference Between Term Life and Permanent Life Insurance
Life insurance buyers often think about term life vs. whole life insurance. A term life policy will provide coverage for a certain period of time—typically 10, 15, 20 or 30 years. It can be an affordable way to get coverage until you reach a certain financial milestone, such as paying off your mortgage or putting your kids through college.
There are other types of permanent life insurance in addition to whole life. A permanent life insurance provides lifelong coverage, which is why it’s more expensive than term life insurance. It’s also more expensive because it builds cash value. That cash can be used for whatever you want—to cover emergencies, supplement retirement income, help pay for long-term care or even cover the policy’s premiums. Whether you choose a term or permanent policy depends on your needs and financial goals.
Tip No. 4: Understand What Affects Your Life Insurance Rate
The two key factors life insurance companies consider when determining the rate you pay for coverage are health and age. The younger you are when you buy life insurance, the cheaper it tends to be, Winslow says. That’s because you tend to be healthier when you’re younger, and therefore less risky to insure.
The rate you pay also depends on the type of policy you get and how large the death benefit is. If you get a term life insurance policy, the length of the term you choose also will affect your premium.
If you can only afford a term life policy now but want permanent life insurance, most term life policies offer the option to convert to permanent life insurance. You can lock in a low rate with term life now and switch to a permanent policy if your income increases.
Tip No. 5: Shop Around for the Best Rate
Many insurers make it easy to get quotes online. Because rates can vary, you should get quotes from several companies to help you decide which company to apply to for coverage. You also could work with an independent insurance agent who works with several insurance companies and can help you find the best coverage at the best price.
Tip No. 6: Don’t Just Focus on Premium
The rate you pay for life insurance is important because you want to ensure the premium fits in your budget. After all, a policy won’t do you any good if you can’t afford to pay the premiums. However, price shouldn’t be the only factor you consider.
If you’re buying a cash value life insurance policy, the policy’s internal costs can be just as important as the premium you pay. If you’re looking at indexed universal life insurance, pay special attention to guaranteed vs. non-guaranteed parts of the policy illustration. Consumer advocates have concerns about dishonest sales practices for indexed universal life insurance.
Finding the best life insurance companies is important. Look for a company that has strong financial ratings in the A range from independent rating agencies such as A.M. Best, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. Insurance companies provide ratings on their websites. You can also ask your life insurance agent to provide companies’ ratings.
Tip No. 7: Prepare to Answer Lots of Questions When Applying
The quote you get from an insurer typically is just an estimate of what your premium will be. To get a policy, you’ll have to fill out a lengthy application. You’ll be asked questions about your age, weight, personal medical history and mental health, family medical history and tobacco use.
The insurer also will ask questions about your driving record and whether you have a dangerous job or hobbies that make you more of a risk to insure. This information is used to determine what your actual insurance rate will be.
Tip No. 8: Be Truthful on the Application
Be careful not to omit or obscure any information on your life insurance application. Winslow says it’s very important to be truthful because insurance companies can use third party sources to validate the information you provide—that is, if you grant them permission to access your data.
For example, the insurance company can get information about you by accessing your medical records, prescription drug history, motor vehicle report and public records. You also might be required to take a medical exam, which includes blood and urine tests.
Tip No. 9: The Process Doesn’t Have to Be Painful
You don’t necessarily have to be poked and prodded during the application process. More and more insurers have been shifting to options for no-exam life insurance, Stafford says. Instead, they rely on third-party resources to verify the information applicants provide and data modeling to determine their risk class.
Be aware, though, that there are different types of no-exam policies.
• An “accelerated underwriting” policy that involves a lengthy application and information from third-party sources typically will have premiums that are competitive with a fully medically underwritten policy with an exam.
• A “simplified issue” policy that only requires applicants to answer a handful of questions and relies on few, if any, third-party sources will have higher premiums.
• A guaranteed issue life insurance policy asks no health questions and is usually the most expensive way to buy a no-exam policy.
Tip No. 10: Lock in Temporary Coverage
If the underwriting process will take a few weeks or more for the policy you’re buying, you can usually lock in temporary coverage by attaching a check with your first premium payment to your application. This gives you coverage, and peace of mind, while you wait for the application to be processed. Ask your life insurance agent about this option.
