Life Insurance Policy - Term Vs. Whole
There are various types of life insurance policy available today; a fact that often makes choosing one more difficult than it should be. Generally speaking though, life insurance policies can be split into the following main categories:
- Temporary life insurance – otherwise known as term insurance
- Permanent life insurance – otherwise known as whole life insurance
Temporary Life Insurance
A temporary, or term life insurance policy, is designed to run for a stated number of years, after which the policy ends and so does the insurance cover. This type of policy normally lasts for 10, 20 or even 30 years and often coincides with the length of a mortgage or a similar financial agreement.
Should the insured person die during the insured period then the death payout – the amount of cover the policy is for – becomes payable to the beneficiaries of the policy. If the insured person doesn’t die though, the policy simply ends without a payout. Recently a new type of term life insurance policy has become available whereby a percentage of the premiums are returned to the insured providing they live until the end of the policy term.
So who is this type of insurance life policy for?
Term life insurance is ideal for younger people or those with families who want to ensure large debts, such as a mortgage or auto finance, can be paid off in full in the event of their death.
Permanent Life Insurance
A whole life insurance policy is exactly that – a policy that continues to run until the insured passes away. Following death, an agreed payout is released to the named beneficiaries, providing the premiums were paid on a regular basis. The death payout is generally tax free and in most cases it can also be made free from estate tax.
This type of life insurance policy is aimed primarily at older individuals who want to leave something behind for their surviving family members. Today there are numerous 50+ insurance programs that are specifically designed for individuals aged 50-80 years. Providing you qualify you pay a level premium once a month until the time of your death, at which point the insured amount is paid out.
It is worth mentioning that the policy becomes void if you miss or stop paying your premium payments, and should this happen you won’t get any of the money back you already paid in.
These two types of insurance life policy are very different and have equally different outcomes. The best one for you will depend on your individual circumstances and the underlying reason for buying life insurance. Once you decide what you want your life insurance for it is then a simple matter of finding the best policy for you.