What is Term Life Insurance and How Does it Work?
Importance of understanding term life insurance
Life insurance can provide a pillar of security for anyone’s financial plan. However, you may be one of the 65% of uninsured people who don’t invest in protection because they don’t know what type of life insurance policy to buy or how to purchase term life insurance to protect their family’s future.
Exploring the key reasons for investing in a life insurance policy can empower you to choose the kind of life insurance and options you will be happy with. You’ll be able to communicate clearly and make the best decisions when you speak with a life insurance agent.
Take a quick, deep dive into the differences between the two major types of life insurance and learn why term life insurance is the easiest, most relatively inexpensive way to get started.
What is term life insurance, and how does it work? It’s critical to have a good understanding of term life insurance because your knowledge will save you money while bringing peace of mind. You’ll have the insurance policy that’s right for you at an affordable price.
Life insurance can help your beneficiaries have the needed funds, so you won’t have to worry about where the money will come from to pay the bills if your family is left without your income.
When you’re armed with accurate information, you can easily sort through the many options, make an informed decision, and choose the type of life insurance plan best suited for you. Any misconceptions you may have will disappear.
Misconceptions and lack of knowledge
Life insurance is too expensive.
I already have insurance through my employer.
- You may lose coverage if you switch jobs.
- Employer-sponsored plans usually top out at three or four times your salary, so you’re probably not getting enough coverage.
- As your age advances, health conditions may develop, increasing premium costs if you need to take out more insurance later.
I’m too busy to get life insurance.
Savings are better than life insurance.
Savings are important. However, there are two problems with relying on savings to protect your family. First, it’s nearly impossible to save enough to cover all family expenses for years. Second, what is your family going to do if you depart during the years it takes to build up savings?
With term life insurance, coverage begins immediately. In exchange for a relatively small amount each month, your family can have access to the necessary funds if an unexpected event occurs. For example, a healthy 30-year-old woman can have $250,000 of coverage with a 10-year term policy for only $15.01 a month.
Curious? Calculate your premium expense now.
Understanding what term life insurance is — and why life insurance is so important — is vital for financial planning to protect your loved ones’ future.
Understanding term life insurance: definition and purpose
How does term life insurance work? Life insurance supports your family after you die by paying out death benefits to your partner, children, or aging parents. While there are two popular types of life insurance — whole life insurance and term life insurance — the definition and purpose of both are the same.
Definition of life insurance
When you purchase life insurance, the life insurance company agrees to pay the person(s) of your choice the agreed-upon amount if you die while you are covered. This amount is called a death benefit.
You choose the amount of the death benefit for both whole life and term life insurance policies. The death benefit can typically be up to 2 million dollars. The larger the death benefit is, the higher your monthly premiums will be.
The purpose of life insurance is financial protection for dependents
Both types of life insurance provide peace of mind to the policyholder by guaranteeing financial protection for loved ones as long as you pay the premiums. In the event of your untimely death, your dependents will have the funds they need to cover:
- Debts like home mortgages, credit cards, or student loans
- Day-to-day living expenses
- Any medical or final expenses