Term Life Insurance vs Whole of Life Insurance
Posted by Michael Pettigrew | Posted in General Advice | Posted on 07-05-2010
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The search for life insurance can be frustrating and confusing, so it’s important to get the best policy for your own unique needs and circumstances. So many web sites offer discount life insurance, and as a result people often end up with a policy not suited to their needs.
Many people need clarification regarding the various types of life insurance, and which is best for them.
Term Life Insurance Benefits:
With term life insurance you pay for a predefined term, and are covered for that term (normally the same term as your mortgage).
Term life insurance only offers protection for the duration of the mortgage, and can be of little value when once your mortgage is paid up.
However, term insurance is cheap, and the cost can even reduce over time. There are five main forms of term life insurance, and these are as follows:
* The first is known as level term cover, and it’s the most common type. With this form of policy the premium costs are locked in for as long as you hold the policy. In other words, you will pay the same amount throughout the entire term of the policy.Unfortunately, it means that as time goes by you could end up paying more for your life cover. However, the nice thing is that you get the benefit of paying at today’s rates. However, bear in mind that over time these rates could fall instead of rise.
* The second type is known as escalating term cover. This type of policy can be become expensive in later years, as you generally pay an increasing amount as the policy ages. However, there is an advantage, in that the payout at death also increases. This type of life policy is normally more suited to younger people.
* Next, we have decreasing term insurance, and in this type of policy monthly payments stay the same, although the amount of cover reduces each year.
* The forth type of term life insurance is what’s known as increasing term insurance. Here the lump sum payable at death increases each year. This increase in value of the policy is made up by increasing the premiums periodically over the years.
* Finally, convertible term insurance is a type of term life cover that can be converted into an investment/insurance policy in the future. Normally, the value of such investments will be based on your health, at the time you bought the term insurance policy.
Whole of Life Insurance:
Whole of life insurance covers you right up until the time of your death, providing that you keep paying your premiums. It can give a considerable lump sum to your family when you die, and it normally accumulates in value over the years.
Whole of life policies can be more expensive and more complicated than term life insurance. Also, the investment you make can earn some interest each year. Therefore, since your investment generally grows each year, your premiums can actually reduce over time. You may also reach a time where the interest gained covers all the future premiums, which means you may have no more premiums to pay.
However, it’s important to understand that the final cash-in-value of a whole of life policy may or may not equal the amount of money that has been paid into the policy over it’s full term.
Summary:
When it comes to the decision of whether to choose a term life policy, or whole of life insurance cover, the ultimate decision must be guided by your individual needs.
The simplest form is a level term policy with a renewable option. This will allow you to get life insurance for as long as you may need it.
On the other hand, a whole of life policy might suit you better if you need a policy that grows in value over the years.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both forms of insurance, so it’s always important to get advice from a competent insurance adviser.
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