Should You Consider Life Insurance

If you need a list of reasons to get life insurance, here are a few to get you started. Life insurance is one of those things that few people could fail to benefit from. It offers peace of mind to the policy holder and financial support to its beneficiaries.

It essentially works like this: in return for your monthly premiums, the insurance company agrees to pay a lump sum to your beneficiaries (the person or people you designate to receive the death benefit).Most obviously, life insurance can provide for your family in the event of your death.

That means that even if you die, your family can pay off debt, keep their home, go to college – in essence, your family will be able to maintain its lifestyle without your assistance. Of course, all this depends on which type and how much life cover you choose to buy.Your beneficiaries are not restricted in how they use this money.

In some instances, the benefit may be used to pay off money you owe. Some people may choose to link their largest debts to a decreasing term insurance policy due to the magnitude of their debts. For instance, a decreasing term policy covering a home debt will charge lower premiums as the the home loan is paid off. The insurance company will pay the remaining amount to the bank should death occurs before the loan has been fully paid.

If you wish to your death benefit to cover more than outstanding debt, consider whole life insurance. With this type of cover, you make premium payments over the course of your life. You may choose to pay level payments or arrange to pay higher premiums at the beginning of the policy which will allow you to stop making the payments at 60, 65 or 85 and retain your coverage. In return for your payments, the insurance company will pay a death benefit in the amount you choose to your beneficiaries upon your death, regardless of how long you held the policy.

If you are HIV-positive, South Africa is one of only two countries that offer life insurance cover for people with HIV/AIDS. Your premiums may be somewhat higher, and your insurance provider will require you to maintain antiretroviral treatment.

Be sure to deal with well known, reliable companies with a history of making the payouts they have agreed to. Most experts suggest approaching at least five companies to educate yourself about the different life insurance plans and options available.

Bear in mind that a life insurance policy may be the only protection your family has from financial hardship in the event if an unexpected death. The peace of mind coming from the knowledge that your family will be provided for more than offsets any inconvenience you may experience now.

Tom Martens is the syndication coordinator at lifeinsurance-southafrica.co.za. South Arica’s leading Life Insurance portal

What is Critical Illness Insurance?

Critical Illness Insurance is insurance coverage that pays out when the policyholder meets the specific definition of a critical illness. These illnesses may include heart attack, cancer, and stroke as well as a number of other diseases.

If you are diagnosed with one of these illnesses during the term of the policy then your insurance provider will be required to pay out a lump sum figure.

There are a number of illnesses that are included in these polices besides heart attack, stroke, and cancer. The list of critical illnesses that are covered will vary greatly depending on the insurance company that you are using. This is another reason why it’s good to speak to an experienced life insurance specialist who will know more about the industry.

The ABI has put together a list of extensive definitions used to model critical illnesses so that everyone is clear in this matter. These 23 definitions are what have been included in the Statement of Best Practice for Critical Illness Cover.

Illnesses that are included in this document include loss of speech, paralysis of limbs, a major organ transplant, traumatic head injury, and things like coronary artery by-pass. Some of the illnesses will have specific requirements like “burns to the body”, which “must cover at least 20% of your body’s surface.” One of the other examples is HIV infection. To be considered you need to have caught HIV from a blood transfusion or a physical attack while living in the United Kingdom.

By using the life insurance provider’s Key Features document you can review specific sections of your policy. This will help you compare the polices of a number of different life insurance companies and allow you to find the best deal on the illnesses that you want covered.

Many people in the United Kingdom decide to purchase Critical Cover for their children because it will pay out a portion of the sum assured if the child becomes ill. The only difference with these policies is that it may only payout to a certain amount and then it is capped.

Some critical illness cover policies will include a waiver of premium that covers the payments if the policy owner falls ill and is not able to work. Usually this is an additional premium to your regular policy.

Being prepared and informed when buying any life insurance policy is important and especially critical cover. Its good to know about all of the possible exclusions that might be involved for things like dangerous pastimes and sports, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, criminal acts, self injury, and even things like living abroad. The idea is that living abroad may be dangerous to your health.

Many insurance companies will use similar specifications and will have their own exclusions so make sure you know what you’re getting into. One of the exclusions that are very commonplace is non-disclosure of medical information, as it might affect your critical cover policy. If you lie to the insurance broker and they find out later you or your family may get nothing and the insurance company usually takes these matters very seriously. It is always better to just tell the truth.

In many cases you can package your critical illness policies with other products that will give you a full protection plan that suits your requirements. These products include your basic life insurance policy as well as Permanent Health Insurance (usually called Income Protection).

Looking to find out about the conditions of critical illness cover, then visit www.criticalillnesscover.org.uk to find the best advice on the illness covered.

The Benefits of Life Insurance

Although many young adults do not think about dying, some do. The one’s that do, usually accumulate some sort of life insurance. This type of insurance is available to anyone that wants it, and is used to establish financial relief when a person dies.

Often this type of insurance is involved with two people that have been companions for a length of time. One considers the other a beneficiary, and vice versus. Then all monetary compensation that results from a death, no matter how, these are not waiting to be taken care of financially.

With the charges for funerals being so high, most couples are not fortunate enough to have the cash on hand for these expenditures. When death comes, the living member of the couple may not be able to make ends meet alone. This is when life insurance plays a crucial role in helping pay for the final expenses of a loved one.

If you are a senior citizen, still working as a steel fabricator on high rise buildings, that smokes cigarettes, and drink alcohol constantly. You will probably not be able to afford life insurance. This is when the described person comes to a crossroad. Either change the lifestyle or choose another alternative to take care of those that will be left behind.

While inquiring the prices of insurance, the representative will request a recent physical be scheduled. If you have just had a physical these records will need to be provided in order to calculate a ball park quote. Also, if you have neglected to get a physical, you will benefit to know how healthy you are. The cost quotes can be adjusted either way, depending on the findings related to your health conditions.

If you lead a life of excitement, most likely an insurance provider will consider you high risk. If you drive race cars on the weekends as a hobby, this is considered a dangerous lifestyle, increasing the price of your policy.

Good habits need to be practiced to help lower a risk of death. An individual that only smokes cigarettes when socially drinking will be judged a lower risk, than a regular barfly that smokes a pack a day.

Maintaining healthy habits, makes it more affordable when selecting a life insurance policy.

How you live, where you work, how old you have become, and the extent of your extracurricular activities will be mathematically calculated. Depending on the degree of risks you take regarding your life, will determine how much you will pay monthly for life insurance.

Graham McKenzie is the content Syndication Manager at insurance123.co.zaSouth Africa’s leading Life Insurance information portal

Determining the Cost of Life Insurance

The main reason an individual decides to purchase a life insurance policy is to provide the beneficiary with the funeral expenses and to pay off any debts that were not paid in full while the person was alive. There are some things that limit a person from gaining a lower life insurance rate. The first reason and the one with the most influence depends on the person’s age. Then the person’s habits, employment, and health are analyzed to determine the lifespan, and typically raise or lower the person’s life insurance initial cost.

If a person applying for life insurance holds a non-hazardous job, maintains a healthy lifestyle according to what it statistically classified as being unhealthy, and carries on healthy habits.

Although the importance of life insurance holds a great responsibility, the price of the premium will have the most influence deciding if the life insurance policy is the most economical possibility of the policy holder. Other options are available to ensure the beneficiaries are provided with the funds for the individual’s final expenses.

The importance of having a life insurance policy is compromised only if the policy inquirer and the person or people excepting the benefits, are are not in need of money. Or if the deceased person had a separate account, just to cover final expenses.

When applying for life insurance, and there is no one elected to receive the policy upon maturity, there is no reason to purchase a policy.

There are numerous expenses that need taken care of in case of the expected or unexpected death. Mostly, if the insured person is partnered in some way, these funds are used to compensate any financial set-backs that were accumulated involving the deceased.

When it is decided that life insurance is the route to take. Think of it as a financial shield to those loved ones that are going to be making funeral arrangements.

Sometimes business partners carry life insurance on other partners. Especially if the partnership is more than a business partnership. This type of life insurance allows time for closure of the loss.

Graham McKenzie is the content Syndication Manager at insurance123.co.zaSouth Africa’s leading Life Insurance information portal

Your Life Insurance: How Does It Work?

Life insurance is simply that’an insurance policy on your life. You purchase a life insurance policy from a qualified provider, paying them a premium. The premium is either paid monthly or in a lump sum (usually annually or every six months). The insurance company then agrees to pay an agreed upon amount of money after the insured person dies. The amount of money paid from a life insurance policy goes to the policy’s designated beneficiaries in a lump sum payment. If no beneficiaries are designated, then the payment is made to the estate of the deceased.

There are two basic kinds of life insurance: Term insurance, also called protection policies. These policies are temporary, providing coverage for a specific number of years for a set premium.

Term policies have no cash value. Basically, you buy protection in the event of death and nothing else.

Investment policies: these are commonly called permanent life insurance. The objective with permanent life insurance policies is to grow capital with the payment of either regular or single premiums. Permanent life insurance is also known as whole life insurance. This type of life insurance provides life time coverage as long as the policy premiums are paid. The premiums are fixed, and unlike term insurance, there is guaranteed cash value. The insured can access this cash for emergencies, retirement or other expenses.

In addition to whole life insurance, other permanent policies include universal life insurance, which offers flexibility in that the insured can change the payment schedule or coverage amount; variable universal life insurance, which allows the potential for earning market returns; and single payment whole life insurance, where the insured buys the policy with one lump sum payment.

Life insurance policies typically pay on death, although they may also cover dismemberment or certain serious illness, such as heart attack or cancer, and provide additional benefits in the event of accidental death. It all depends on the particular policy you buy. Proof of death, injury, or illness is always required before the insurance company makes payment, regardless of the type of policy. Remember, before you are covered, you first have to get a physical exam from a company-approved doctor, so the company has an accurate picture of your medical history. Even after you pass your physical and your application is approved, your coverage does not start until your premiums are paid. Once your application is approved and your premiums are paid, only then is your policy is activated.

Life insurance usually covers death, dismemberment, accidental death and serious illness, depending on the type of policy purchased. Proof is required in all cases before payment will be made on any life insurance policy, regardless of the policy type. To purchase life insurance, you will need to get a quote from a qualified insurance provider, give an accurate picture of your medical history and receive a physical examination from your doctor. Once you pass your physical exam and your medical history is approved, a premium is required. After the premium is paid, then your life insurance policy is activated. A qualified insurance provider can also answer any specific questions you may have, as well as help design and tailor a life insurance program to help meet the needs of you and your family.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator at Lifeinsurance-Southafrica.co.za South Arica?s leading Life Insurance and Life Cover portal.

The Limits of Life Insurance Policies

Basically, life insurance is used as a financial precaution in the time of the loss of life. Married couples get life insurance to take care of the survivor of the relationship.

Regardless of the type of business, most wise businesses accumulate policies on it’s alliances. The act of getting insurance excludes any financial losses as a result of an alliances death. Although, many wonder who’s lives are able to be insured.

Anyone is able to get insurance on their life. Typically, the cost is the issue when contemplating if this is a policy that is needed by the purchaser.

The things that limit an applicant from getting a reasonable life insurance rate is the amount of risk a soul puts on his/her life on a daily basis. The more danger a soul is involved in, the higher the cost of insurance.

Be extremely careful when gaining an insurance policy. Although, no one is turned down for trying to get insurance on a life, there are things that will increase costs. Anything with carcinogens, are considered life threatening and will raise the degree of risk bracket that is used to determine the costs of policies.

After considering what limits need met to obtain an insurance policy at a rate that falls within your budget. Contemplate who the beneficiary will be, and if this is the best way to prepare for a death. There are other options, where a person can set their own rates. If a separate account is the route you decide on, make sure you calculate for everything that is involved in final expenses.

If you find you are considered a low risk applicant when getting a life insurance quote, and you have people that will need money when you die, life insurance is wise. If you have to make minor adjustments to the way you live to lower your premium and you are willing to abide, life insurance is the best way to go.

Chances are if you are an adult with limited social habits, work behind a desk, and do not have any ongoing illnesses, your premium will be pretty cheap. On the other hand, a middle aged person, that works as a police officer, with testicular cancer that has been in remission, will pay more to insure his life.

When calculated, the sum of benefits isn’t in compliance with the monthly commitment, maybe life insurance is not the most frugal way of preparation. When this problem arises, look into opening an account.

Graham McKenzie is the content Syndication Manager at insurance123.co.zaSouth Africa’s leading Life Insurance information portal

How Life Insurance Premiums Are Calculated

Life insurance is difficult enough to understand, but understanding how company computes your premiums is even harder. Calculating your life insurance rates is not as simple and straightforward as calculating your premiums for other kinds of risk, like fire insurance. The rates you pay for life insurance coverage are based on your state of health at the time you apply for the policy, and that risk assessment is made by a qualified medical professional. If you are not in good fit, or if you indulge in risky behaviors such as smoking or street drugs, the insurance company expects to have to pay out more benefits on your policy than if you were totally healthy and did nothing to put your health at risk. That is the reason insurance companies usually require a physical exam before issuing your life insurance policy.

Once the physical exam is conducted, the life insurance provider will review the exam results, your family?s medical history, your driving record and possibly other medical reports. A credit report may be obtained as well.

In addition to the driving and medical reports, your insurer will ask you to fill out a questionnaire about your lifestyle and health issues. Although it may be tempting to sway the results, be honest as you answer the questions and fill out your medical history. If you are found to have been dishonest anywhere in your application, then the company can refuse to pay benefits in the future. Any insurance company will be able to cancel your life insurance policy if they determine you lied during the application process.

After the insurance provider obtains all the reports, you are assigned a score based on your risk. The lower the risk, the lower your life insurance premium. Therefore, the premium may not be the same as the quote the insurance provider gives you when you apply for the policy. If the provider determines you are at a higher risk level than originally assessed, then your premium will be higher than your quote.

There are ways to lower your risk. Take good care of yourself. Maintain a healthy weight. Eat well-balanced meals and exercise on a regular basis. If you smoke, stop. Drive safely, and don’t get tickets. Auto crashes will also raise your life insurance premiums, not just your auto insurance premiums. In general, be smart. Don’t take unnecessary risks

The life insurance company will also consider factors you cannot control, like your gender and age, in setting your premiums. That is why it is so important to do everything you can to improve your health and lower your risks. It’s a good idea to do your fact finding, ask questions, and get several quotes before deciding on a life insurance policy.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator at Lifeinsurance-Southafrica.co.za South Arica?s leading Life Insurance and Life Cover portal.

Making The Most Of Your Life Insurance

Most of us buy life insurance to make sure that our loved ones are protected in case of our death. Others of us use whole life policies to finance life’s passages, such as college, marriage, or retirement. Whole life policies can also be used to help you handle those unexpected and expensive moments we all encounter. Defining your financial goals to determine exactly why you need life insurance will help you make the most of your life insurance policy. You need, and most of us do need, some coverage to provide a death benefit. That’s especially true if you have people dependent on your for their living expenses. You will want to make sure they are covered in case of your death, or a devastating illness, or an accident. And if you need more income for retirement, consider that, too, when you choose the type of coverage to meet your life insurance needs.

Once you decide why you need life insurance, then choose the type of policy that best meets your goals. Knowing what you want your life insurance policy to do for you enables you to get the maximum out of it, for both you and your family.

There are two major types of life insurance policies, term and whole life. Term policies are written for a fixed term of years. Term coverage is less expensive, but it does not accumulate any cash value. Term life insurance only offers you a death benefit (and, in some cases, coverage for accidents, illness, and dismemberment). This cash, of course, is very important for funeral expenses. Many people, however, use term policies to take care of death benefits and whole life as part of their larger life financial plan.

Once you know what you want your life insurance policy to do for you, it’s a must to ascertain that you can make the payments. Every policy requires payment of premiums. Term policies typically are less of a drain on the budget than whole life, but, remember, they do not build cash value. Make sure your policy meets your needs, but also be sure it fits your budget. A policy that lapses because you could not pay the premiums does you no good at all.

Be realistic about your life insurance needs. Be sure your death benefits can replace your actual earning power and your family’s inflation-adjusted spending needs. If you are buying whole life, take a keen look at your financial goals for retirement. And don’t forget that funerals are expensive and are getting more expensive every year. Make sure your loved ones are covered for all those costs.

Think about where you are and where you want to go with the rest of your life. Then you will be able to choose the policy that is right for you. Your licensed life insurance broker can answer all your questions and help you choose exactly the best policy for your family’s future financial security.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator at Lifeinsurance-Southafrica.co.za South Arica?s leading Life Insurance and Life Cover portal.

The Reasons Why Everyone Should Have Life Insurance

When a person is young happy, healthy and fit the one thing that they do not think about that they should is their life insurance. They should do though as many people find that they are left with lots of debts to cover and even without a home. This is why you should make sure you have something to leave them other than the bad things so that they are not left with grief as well as financial hardship.

There are different kinds of life insurance available and I want to explain to you the way in which they work so that you are able to make a choice as to which is the best choice for you, your family and your needs no matter what they may be.

The cheapest way to insure your life is to get term coverage, the reason for this is that it works out cheaper than other kinds yet still means that you have coverage in the short term. When the term you are paying for comes to an end you are able to renew the cover, however you will have to pay higher premiums as certain aspects of your life such as your age will have changed.

If you have a mortgage, or any other debts that you are still paying off this is a great option for you as it will mean that the family left behind are able to cover any debts, funeral costs and anything that is needed in the future with the insurance payout so they are not left poverty stricken because you are no longer there.

The other kind of insurance is one that is called full life insurance. This kind does not need to be renewed as the term life insurance. This will mean that the amount you have to pay will not go up when the term ends because it does not.

Although many require you to continue paying for however long you live, there are kinds where you pay in a certain amount over a set amount of time as you would with the term life insurance. It all depends on the amount you are able to pay out each month as to which one you choose.

You have another benefit of having this kind, and this is to put so much of the premiums to one side, the insurance company will do this for you so that if the money is needed for what ever reason you are able to have access to it and as you never know what is round the corner with life it is always good to know that you have access to money when you may need it most.

It does not matter which kind of insurance you decide to choose you can definitely be sure that you will be able to look after your family financially even if you are no longer around to provide for them. The money that is left could be put towards the mortgage, or it could ensure that your children do not want for anything until they are able to take care of themselves. It also means that they are able to cover any funeral expenses.

One of the most imperative thing that you can acquire in your time on earth is Life Insurance. But you will need to make sure that you get a few Life Insurance quotes before you settle for one policy.

Life Insurance – Research Before You Buy

There are two types of life insurance to choose from, and before you commit to buying either one you should have a good understanding of what each can offer. They both have pros and cons. When it comes to life insurance, you do need to read the small print.

The major purpose of buying any type of life insurance has always been to provide for family that you leave behind. An unplanned death and associated burial costs can cause major financial issues if the family struggles to find money for a funeral.

If the breadwinner of the family dies, there needs to be a way to provide for the family after his death. A stay at home mom is the most common victim of a family with no life insurance. Her sole method of income has disappeared. If her husband did have a policy, at least she has something coming in for bills as she plans her future.

One type of life insurance is called “term”. It simply means that if you have a term policy your survivors will be paid only if you die during the term of the contract or policy. A policy usually runs for anywhere from 5 to 40 years with five year increments in between. The healthier you are, the lower your premiums. Term is the cheapest kind of life insurance.

Cash value insurance is another option. Also referred to as whole or universal life, this type of insurance is much more expensive for even less coverage. Unlike term, a policy will cove you you for your whole life, but of course you are paying premiums for your whole life as well.

Cash value also comes with an investment option. You can select various funds and stocks to invest in and you are guaranteed a return on your investment. However, read the small print in your policy, usually within the first few pages, that discusses your investment return. Even though the company might promise you a return of about 15%, you personally only get about 3-4% – the company keeps the rest.

Also when you are reading the fine print, you should look for the section that talks about exactly what funds will be paid out upon your death. Your family doesn’t get the cash value and the death benefit! They get the death benefit – the face value of the policy. The company keeps your cash value.

Last but not least, if your insurance agent tells you that your policy will pay for itself after so many years, ask how this is done. Agents want their customers to believe that after about 20 years no more premiums are due. This isn’t true at all. Premiums are due, but they are taken out of your cash value portion, reducing it significantly. If you ever need a loan, you’ll be in trouble.

When your trying to find Life Insurance quotes picking the best place first can seem daunting. But to get the best rates on Life Insurance, you need to look around and compare. Go online to find the best rates today!