Life Insurance Quotes

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Life Insurance Quotes

Life insurance is something that everybody needs, but nobody wants to buy. It seems morbid to invest in something that will only reach its maximum potential in the event of the policy holder's death, but this is the only way to ensure your family will be protected.

With all of the different types of life insurance out there, making a decision can become very confusing. How do you compare term vs whole life insurance? Should you make annual payments or monthly payments? Should you borrow against the policy when times get hard economically? The constant questions that come up when discussing life insurance often convinces people to abort the challenge of finding a policy.

When you are looking for a life insurance policy that is going to be right for your family, Thriftquote is going to be your most valuable tool. Thriftquote is a unique life insurance search engine that sorts through life insurance quotes based on your own information that you provided. After inputting personal information relating to your policy (who it will cover, your zip code, medical history, term of the policy, etc), Thriftquote will sort through the information and produce only the results that are relevant to you! This guarantees that you don't spend countless hours looking through policies that don't even apply to you! With Thriftquote, you can guarantee that every single policy you look over will be relevant to the needs of you and your family.

A Quick Guide to Life Insurance

Financial planning is one of the most unpredictable processes a person can face. Even if someone is very good with money, he needs to protect his family and make sure they are ok if anything were to happen to him. In the unlikely event that something was to happen to you, what would your family do? Funeral costs are very expensive, and if you have any debt, it will become the responsibility of your loved ones. Obtaining life insurance is the responsible way to guarantee that your family will be protected no matter what happens.

Life insurance is pretty much direct to its point. This is the type of insurance which ensures that if a person unexpectedly passes away, the company will pay his beneficiaries according to the policy stipulated in the contract. There are normally four parties who are included in the said insurance policy: the person insured, the beneficiary, the owner, and the insurer.

The person insured is the one whose life is based under the policy, the beneficiary is the individual who will get the compensations once the insured passes away, the owner is the person who applied for the insurance and the one who pays for the premium (this is often the same as the person insured, but not always), and lastly, the insurer is the company that handles the policy and issues the payment to the beneficiary once the insured passes on.

So why do we need to purchase a life insurance?

Having a life insurance provides a peace of mind in terms of financial matters in case someone in the family departs. Keep in mind that once someone dies, there are still expenses that should be handled such as funeral, burial rites, and other arrangements. These can serve as an added burden to anyone who has just lost a loved one. However, with a life insurance, the company can cover these costs and depending on the contract and the policy, the company may be able to issue payments that can help a family’s future financial needs. Remember, when looking for life insurance quotes, it is always best to look at multiple options.

Acquiring life insurance may sound like a depressing chore, but it is a vital one. The thought of making sure that a beneficiary will have better risk management plus the financial aid is going to be all worth the investment in the long run. Purchasing life insurance is the only way to ensure that your family will be supported financially in the event of an untimely death.

Term vs Whole Life Insurance

It is undeniably important to maintain life insurance for the sake of our families and loved ones. After all, who wouldn’t want to have someone take care of our beneficiaries financially in case something bad happens to us? Most people will acknowledge the importance of a life insurance policy, but numerous concerns hinder most people from purchasing one. In addition to that, there are a lot of different choices which can confuse people and result in purchasing a sub-par policy or not purchasing one at all.

First and foremost, we have to understand that there are two types of life insurance: term and whole. Term life insurance, as the name suggests, refers to a life insurance coverage for a just a short period of time, or known as ‘term’. Coverage lasts depending on the agreement, and choices range from 5, 10, 15, or 20 years. Whole life insurance, on the other hand, covers the insured person’s whole life starting from when the policy was purchased.

So knowing these terms, what will be the best choice?

It all depends on how the policy holder would want to protect the family from any financial risks. Term life insurance is the best choice if you want to go for something that will cover your family’s money matters during a set amount of time. A good example of which is making sure that an insurance company, will help your child’s education in case you cease to exist due to ill-fated events, or probably something to take care of your housing loan when you pass away. The reason why term life insurance is best in this situation is that by the end of a 20 year contract, your child has most likely already graduated from school, and you have, by then, paid your dues and other personal debts. With that in mind, if you did get a whole life insurance just for those short-term purposes, it may seem inappropriate to do so. However, if your main goal is to ensure that your beneficiaries will have money to use for burial costs, or to leave money for your heirs, then the whole life insurance will be the best choice.

Comparing based on pros and cons:

For term life insurance, the initial premium costs less and you are also given the option of extending the contract should you make that decision. However, there is a downside of purchasing term life insurance. The price goes up after a ‘term’ expires, because this policy is dependent on the insured person’s age. So the older a person gets, the more expensive the premium becomes.

Whole life insurance consists of an annual premium that is a bit more expensive compared to the term life insurance. However, the price is fixed and the individual gets insured for his or her entire life. Additionally, the policy owner also has the opportunity to pay it all up front to avoid an annual premium. Another added benefit of purchasing a whole life insurance policy is that the policy owner can borrow from it just like any other investment.

In the end, the choice you make will depend on your own situation and the needs of your own loved ones. Now that you have a better understanding of the similarities and differences between whole and term life insurance, this decision should become much more manageable.

What is Term Life Insurance?

As a whole, life insurance is an agreement between a company and an insurance owner in which the insurer (company) would pay a certain amount of money to the beneficiaries depending on their policies and agreements in the event of the insured person’s death. The payments and overall value of the policy depends on the age and health of the policy holder, but even terminally ill patients can receive some form of life insurance. One of the most common forms of life insurance is term life insurance.

Term life insurance refers to the period of time or “term” that is covered by the policy. With a term life insurance policy, owners are typically asked to pay a fixed premium, which means that the amount of the contributions during the period of the contract will remain the same. These payments are typically broken into equally distributed intervals. However, should the owner decides discontinue the policy and not to pay the premium, the contract terminates. When this happens, the company does not hold any responsibility for any death benefits.

Additionally, term life insurance has a guaranteed permanent benefit pay, in which the insurer will pay the amount predetermined by the policy regardless how long the contract has been in effect. This means that if the person passed away during the first month of the coverage, then the company will still pay the agreed amount of the death benefit, just the same as if the person insured passes away during the last month of the term’s coverage. This policy tends to work best for those who are terminally ill and only have a few years left in their lifetime.

This type of life insurance offers beneficiaries temporary coverage. If the contract states that it would only cover 5 years of the policy holder’s life, the policy ceases right after the last day of that 5 years time. However there are still different ways on how to prolong this kind of life insurance.

It is never good to see an investment go to waste, but it is even worse to be dead! If you are fortunate enough to survive your initial policy term, here are some options to continue on with the benefit:

  • First, term life insurance doesn’t easily just terminate. You can still opt to continuously pay for the premiums, but the rates will definitely differ. This will still usually be lower than starting a new policy with a new company.
  • Another option is to convert your term life insurance to a more permanent one. However most companies are picky about when they allow people to change their policy. For example, if the insurance covers for only 10 years, the only allowable time that you can convert it to a permanent one is during the first 5 years.
  • Last alternative is to renew the contract, but keep in mind that the further the life expectancy is, the lower the life insurance rate becomes.

With this information, you can now make and educated decision on a life insurance policy based on your family’s needs. This decision may seem like a morbid one, but in the event something bad does happen, it is nice to know that your family will be protected.

What is Whole Life Insurance?

As opposed to term life insurance, which only covers an individual’s life for a short period of time, whole life insurance covers a person’s life for as long as he or she is alive. This type of protection guarantees that a policy holder’s family will be taken care of in the event of his demise assuming he or she keeps up with the premiums, which most of the time is annual or monthly, depending on the contract.

Whole life insurance guarantees policy owners that the beneficiaries will get something out of the contract. Whole life insurance contracts do not expire, unless the payments are not met. The income provided by the life insurance company is also technically is free from federal income tax, which is why this type of life insurance is more recommended unless the insured person is at their older age. You will rest easy knowing that if something were to unexpectedly happen to you, your family will be taken care of, not the government.

There are several different types of whole life insurance policies. These policies are created with the policy holder in mind and will often be tailor fit to meet his or her needs.

One popular type is the non-participating, or “non par”, whole life insurance. With these policies, any monetary value including premium pays and death benefits are settled upon issuance of the contract. This means that once the policy has been signed, none of the values can be changed.

Participating whole life insurance is a form of life insurance in which the insurer shares dividends with the policy owner. These refunds are not taxable; they are measured as excess profits from the premium. Recurring dividends will allow for a policy holder to look at his or her whole life insurance policy as an investment.

Limited pay is another type of whole life insurance in which the policy owner pays excess premiums for a set number of years in order to eventually completely do away with the annual premiums. These policies are typically dependent on the owner’s age, but keep in mind that these types will usually cost more in the beginning since companies will need enough funds to support the policy for the rest of the insured person’s life.

Single premium life insurance policies involve the premium payment being made in one single large amount instead of paying it separately over a course of time. This assures that the beneficiaries will get the payments when it’s due them. The money is an investment which builds up thus the beneficiary will get a much bigger amount.

When deciding between so many different life insurance policies, it is important to plan out your policy based around the needs of your family and loved ones. Different whole life insurance policies will benefit your family in different ways, and fully understanding the policy is the first step in protecting your family.

Types of Whole Life Insurance: Non-Participating vs Participating

A whole life insurance is an insurance contract with fixed premiums that contains both investment and insurance components. On the insurance side, the company pays a death benefit in the event the insured passes away. On the other hand, the investment component involves cash value that is accumulated which the policy holder can borrow or withdraw against.

Whole life insurance requires the purchaser to pay premium costs covering the life of the policy, and the policy will cover the holder until the end of his life. Depending on the insurer, various arrangements are possible in terms of paying off the premium. Policy holder’s have the opportunity to pay off the policy with annual payments or pay large amounts up front to ensure reduced (if any) costs later on down the road.

Nevertheless, there are a number of whole life policies consisting of a rider allowing for occasional payments or even one-time payments of large premiums for as long as the policy holder pays regularly a minimal additional payment. When compared to universal life insurance, whole life is actually less flexible in terms of premium payments.

Whole life plans come in many different forms various types. There are policies which are well suited for people who are solely interested in its life-long benefits, while some want to take advantage of its investment component like dividends (by which they have the option to reinvest them to the policy in order to bring down the cost of their monthly premiums).

Non-participating

In non-participating whole life insurance, the policy holder makes a fixed premium payment every month to keep the coverage active throughout his lifetime. This policy does not earn the owner a dividend whenever the company does well financially. Nonetheless, if the company has to pay out a significant amount of claims, the insured will not be affected either. This policy is recommended for those who prefer some structure and like to plan their budget. Some people want to know exactly how much they should pay and what they are getting out of it.

Participating

The difference between participating and non-participating life insurance policies is that with participating life insurance plans, the policy holder receive an annual dividend from the insurance company. The calculation of the dividend is based on the profits gained by the company. The company then, pays its participating insurance holders when the year ends. These insurance holders have the option to receive their dividends in cash, put it against their premium payments or leave it as is. There are even cases where clients are able to add the dividend to their account's face value so it can get converted to extra cash.

How Bankruptcy Affects Your Life Insurance Policy

If you are in deep trouble with your debts, then filing bankruptcy may be the best way out. This is a big decision which can have manifold consequences for your life. Among the things affected is your life insurance policy, if you have one. Let us see what the repercussions are.

How Bankruptcy Affects Existing Life Insurance Policies

In the case of a permanent policy, you will be allowed to keep a significant percentage of the accumulated value; the exact slice of the value you get will depend on local laws. However, any policy taken on the name of your children or your spouse will have to be given up in court.

As you might expect, filing bankruptcy will adversely affect your life insurance policy premium rate. Bankruptcy worsens your credit score, and your tarnished credit report will lead your insurance company considering you a risky customer. As far as the company is concerned, you have been unable to discharge your debts properly, and therefore they justifiably cannot be too certain about your ability to pay the premiums. You may not even be qualified for the policy you want.

If your credit score does not look too good, you are best advised to refrain from applying for a life insurance policy. In such a situation, you will be charged higher premiums because the company will consider you to be a risk. Bankruptcy will only make things worse. Your credit report will bear the signs of bankruptcy for up to 10 years. So if you have declared yourself bankrupt in the recent past, avoid buying a life insurance policy. When the bankruptcy is gone from your credit report, you can ask your insurance provider to reevaluate your policy in order to get better premium rates.

Applying for Life Insurance Policies After Bankruptcy

In the aftermath of your bankruptcy, you can still get an insurance policy on good terms given that your credit report does not still carry the stigma. Insurance companies are wary of people who have suffered bankruptcy recently, but some companies might be impressed if you have been successful in completely discharging your debts. You are best advised to search through these companies to determine which ones offer what you are looking for. Thriftquote is a great resource for comparing life insurance quotes.

Different opinions are available as to which type of policy is best after bankruptcy and when to apply for a policy. One thing you should keep in mind is that the longer you wait, the greater the risk to your family. It is important that you focus on improving your credit score as fast as possible, because it will help you get better terms in a life insurance policy. Even though a discharged bankruptcy will remain in your credit report for almost a decade, you can still get a good score during that period by adeptly dealing with your finances.

Bankruptcy is a tough nut to crack, and it can wreak havoc on your chances for a secure future by affecting your life insurance policy. However, with proper guidance and hard work, you can get through it safely, just like any other crisis.

Reasons to Invest in Life Insurance

Did you consider that things can get hard foryour family in the unfortunate event that you die? Will they overcome the anxiety that you're going to leave behind should there be any circumstances that will result to your untimely death? Did you think of the problems both emotionally and financially when you cease to exist?

If you feel they willfind it difficult handling the loss, specifically regarding monetary matters, then it's time for you buy a life insurance policy.

Take care of this matter early; purchase a life insurance policy immediately.

It might be a sad topic to discuss, but tackling life insurance openly can help you prepare for things that can help your loved ones worry less about money matters, should you die prematurely. Buying life insurance includes covering of the partial expense for burial and funeral. Those things can be very expensive and people you leave behind will be the ones to carry the financial burden if you do not have any kind of life insurance policy.

If you buy term life insurance, you'll know for sure that you'll get a decent burial as you go on with your second life. However, that is not the only legitimate reason that you need to buy a life insurance policy.

There are two main kinds of life insurance, whole life insurance and term life insurance. For term life insurance, your beneficiaries will be covered, provided there is an active contract. However, if you die after the term expires, there will be no benefits given to your beneficiaries.

This type of insurance is normally bought by people who like to provide their family some protection from unexpected incidents within a certain period of time, where financial security is absolutely vital, like raising a child or putting a child through college.

Furthermore, when you have pending debts, it's wise for you to start buying life insurance (ideally term life insurance). This means that in the event that you did pass away unexpectedly, there will be no burden for your family ofwhat you have left them to pay for.

The emotional anxiety that your family is dealing withis already significant enough to weaken them; if they realized that you left them a considerable amount of payables that they will have to be responsible for, it will make it more difficult. If you have a life insurance policy at hand, the company will be able to cover that debt for you, and your loved ones will not have to face this burden.

The other kind of life insurance that gives your beneficiary financial support whenever you happen to die unexpectedly is whole life insurance.This is best for those who don't have any evident medical problems, yet they want to provide financial support for their family members in case of death and also transfer money easily to their beneficiaries.

With these things in mind, life insurance is certainly important for everyone since it protects the household in the event the unimaginable moment occurs.Undoubtedly, nothing can replace the pain of loss;nonetheless, any additional financial assistance can help ease the grief. When in doubt, do what's right for your family.

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