Insurance Information

How To Take The Guesswork Out Of Buying Term Life Insurance


Protecting your family is the single most important thing any individual can plan for during his or her life. Buying life insurance can be confusing, and a frustrating process. As an insurance agent, I am well aware of the details a customer must know to make the decision easier. In this article, I will offer practical advice on how to simply purchase life insurance.

Look for a company that has at least an AA-rating or above. Independent agencies such as Moody's and Standard & Poors rate insurance companies on financial strength., there's little or no difference in two companies with the same exact financial rating. You should feel comfortable with any company that has an AA or higher rating.

When it comes to pricing, don't be fooled into thinking that insurance agents determine prices and that you can negotiate. Insurance companies set prices and they depend on age, gender, health, smoking status, family history, activities such as scuba diving, auto racing, foreign travel, etc. Insurance agents are not allowed to offer customers any pricing discounts or incentives. Insurance companies offer different versions of the same product. Often you will see what appears to be the same product, but at a lower price. Normally, the reason for this is that the lower priced policy offers a weaker guarantee where the policy is not guaranteed for the full period. For example, a 10 year policy that is only guaranteed for the first 5 years.

When choosing a policy there are important details to consider such as selecting the guarantee period, determining whether or not the policy is convertible and if re-entry is available. The guarantee period determines how long the premium remains at a level rate. Once the guarantee period is over, the premium will increase. It is important to determine how long you will need the coverage and choose accordingly. Guarantee periods range from 1 to 30 years.

Most, not all, insurance companies will offer the ability to convert your term policy into a permanent policy during a given period of time. During this period, if you choose to convert your policy, you are not required to prove medical insurability. You will only be required to pay the new premium at your older age. The period of time you have to convert may be the guarantee period or less. It is important to check the policy description or ask your agent to make sure.

Re-entry refers to the point at which you want to extend or purchase a new policy with the same company. It is important to know if you will be required to take a new medical exam or simply pay the new premium. All companies have different rules and you should understand them before you make your choice. Another important consideration is choosing your beneficiary. It is normally an easy decision when it comes to your spouse or partner, but not if there are minor children in your family. Minor children named as a primary or secondary beneficiary must have a guardian/custodian appointed to handle and distributions of funds according to state laws.

Choosing a life insurance policy does not have to be a difficult process. It also does not have to be done alone. Today, you have the choice of working with a local agent or shopping online. Internet websites such as CompleteLifeQuote.com allow you to search hundreds of products and offer you the final decision as to which one to apply for. The companies work with you to process your application and send your policy once approved. Customers can expect to save money this way simply because they are able to choose for themselves instead of having an agent push his/her company's products. I hope this article has shown you that making this important decision does not have to be a difficult process. Best of luck!

Mark F. Simmons
CFO, Complete Life Quote, Inc.

http://www.completelifequote.com


MORE RESOURCES:

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Insurance institute gives small trucks low marks for side-impact ...
Bizjournals.com, NC - 4 hours ago
Four of five small pickup trucks crash-tested for side-impact protection have received low ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. ...
Video: Small Pickups Panned for Safety AssociatedPress
Small Pickups Falter In Side-Impact Crashes Wall Street Journal
Safety Experts Find Small Pickups Offer Less Side-Impact ... U.S. News Rankings & Reviews
WIS - Fox 28
all 316 news articles


Earthtimes (press release)

MBIA falls amid continued bond insurance concern
Forbes, NY - 4 hours ago
AP 07.25.08, 2:43 PM ET Shares of bond insurer MBIA Inc. slid Friday afternoon amid continued worries over the viability of the greater bond insurance ...
UPDATE 2-Los Angeles sues bond insurers, Wall St banks Reuters
Los Angeles Files Suit Against Insurers Bond Buyer (subscription)
LA sues insurers over futile policy Sydney Morning Herald
CBS 2 - Reuters
all 46 news articles


Aon Urges New York State Insurance Department to Enact ...
FOXBusiness - 3 hours ago
Aon Corporation (NYSE: AOC) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management ...
Willis Group Reaffirms Call for Ending Contingent Agreements with ... MarketWatch
Under the microscope: Spitzer-era ban on insurer fees Reuters
all 20 news articles


Fitch Revises Imagine Insurance's Rating Outlook to Negative
MarketWatch - 7 hours ago
CHICAGO, Jul 25, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Fitch Ratings has revised the Rating Outlook on Imagine Insurance Company Limited and Imagine International ...
Fitch Comments on Max Capital's Planned Acquisition of Imagine's ... FOXBusiness
Insurer Max Capital reaches Lloyd's deal Reuters
Max Capital to buy Imagine Lloyd's Business Insurance
RTT News - MarketWatch
all 45 news articles


NC Department of Insurance OKs hike in mobile home rates
Bizjournals.com, NC - 5 hours ago
The state's insurers will be able to increase rates for mobile home insurance, though not as much as they'd hoped, the North Carolina Department of ...
Agreement reached on mobile homeowners insurance WRAL.com
Mobile home insurance to rise 3.2 percent News & Observer
all 15 news articles


Executive Title Insurance Services, Inc. Changes Name to Stewart Title
FOXBusiness - 3 hours ago
Stewart provides title insurance and related information services required for settlement by the real estate and mortgage industries throughout the United ...


AM Best Removes Ratings of GMAC Insurance Group and Its Members ...
MarketWatch - 4 hours ago
The plan contemplated a dividend by GMAC of 100% of the voting interest of GMACI Holdings LLC (GMACIH), the holding company for the insurance operations, ...


Joseph F. Morris to Become President of James River Insurance Company
FOXBusiness - 3 hours ago
Mr. Morris has over twenty-eight years of insurance industry experience and most recently served as President and CEO of The Philadelphia Contributionship, ...
Morris to Take Reins of James River Insurance Co. Insurance Journal
James River Names New Chief Executive-President Trading Markets (press release)
all 5 news articles


GMAC Financial Services' SmartEdge Adds Insurance, Banking to ...
MarketWatch - 5 hours ago
Mortgage education was added in the fall of 2007 and insurance and banking is now rounding out the program. In addition, the program's Web site, www. ...


FOXBusiness

How to Collect Unemployment Insurance Without Being 'Unemployed'
FOXBusiness - 3 hours ago
In the sometimes wacky world of government economic statistics, that will be the case for individuals who receive unemployment insurance under the program ...
Washington events for July 28 - Aug. 1 MarketWatch
all 3 news articles

Insurance - Google News

home | site map
© 2006