Life insurance is a necessity for people whose spouses and/or other dependents rely on their incomes. Regardless of the type of insurance you decide to purchase, the payoff goes directly to your designated beneficiaries and is not taxed, so the beneficiaries receive the entire face value of the policy. The two most common types of life insurance are term life and whole life. Understanding the difference between the two can help make the decision about which is best for your situation easier.
Term life insurance is purchased to cover a specific time period, usually not more than 20 years. The premium is set when the policy is purchased and does not change for the length of the term. If the insured dies during the term covered by the policy, the beneficiary or beneficiaries receive payment for the amount of the policy. When the term expires, the policy is no longer in force, and the insured person will have to purchase a new policy.
Generally, applicants for term life have to undergo a medical exam to qualify for it.The advantage of term life policy is that the premium is usually lower than for other life insurance products. The disadvantage is that term insurance does not increase in value over time, so the premium are simply an expense-it does not accrue to the benefit of the insured. One cannot, for instance, borrow against the value of term life insurance.
On the other hand, whole life insurance policies are issued to cover the entire life span of the insured. The premium for a whole life policy will be substantially higher than one for a term life insurance policy of the same value, but the policy does accrue value over time. If s/he needs cash at some future point, the insured can borrow against the value of the policy.
If the borrowed funds are not paid back before the insured's death, the dollar amount of the loan will be deducted from the face value of the policy and the balance will be paid to the beneficiary or beneficiaries.Some of those who purchase whole life use it as one tool in their estate-planning arsenal, because the beneficiaries do not pay taxes on life insurance payoffs. If a person has considerable assets and wants to avoid having some of them tied up in probate or subject to estate taxes, whole life can be a useful option in attaining those goals.
Some companies offer term life policy that can be converted to whole life during the covered term. The premium will increase, but the insured is not obliged to take another round of medical tests to qualify for the insurance.
Aaron has been writing articles for several years. Come visit his latest website over at http://www.luxurysheetspro.com/, which helps people find information and resources on purchasing luxury sheets and bedding.
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