Term Life Insurance
Just as the name, term life insurance says, this type of life insurance is purchased to last a set amount of time, or a term. Terms may be from one year to 30 years. The amount of time that the life insurance is purchased for should represent the time that an insured person feels they need that coverage. Sometimes people use the length of their home mortgage and sometimes they think about how many years their children will depend upon them for support.
Since the life insurance company only takes on liability for a set amount of time, they will offer larger face amounts for less money. After all, the life insurance company will require an application, and possibly back that up with other research on a potential customer's general health. They will take an application, and only offer life insurance to people that they believe will survive the term of the policy. Of course, longer terms will usually cost more than shorter terms. But the fact that a term exists, means that this sort of life insurance will cost less than any permanent insurance for the same face value of death benefits.
Whole Life Insurance
Whole life insurance is the traditional form of life insurance. It does not expire at a set term, but as long as it is paid up, will last for an insured person's whole life. It can also build up a cash value that can be taken out or borrowed against. In this way, whole life is not just insurance, but can also become an asset.
Whole life insurance is, of course, more expensive for large amounts than term life for the same individual and death benefit. However, in small amounts, it can be an affordable way to purchase life insurance that will settle final expenses for an older person, or a person with health issues. Many people purchase final expense or burial policies for senior citizens, and these are simply smaller face value whole life insurance policies.
Of course, children are fairly cheap to insurance. The purchase of a whole life policy on a child would give them the gift of lifetime protection. Sometimes these policies can be paid off over a set amount of time, and the child will have a valuable asset and protection when they get older!
Universal Life Insurance
Universal life insurance is a new product, and is more complicated. It is permanent life insurance, but can also have a term insurance rider. For instance, a man with three kids may want extra protection while his children are young. Then, when he anticipates that his children will not depend upon him, he may drop the extra term life, and just have the permanent life insurance.
The central thing about universal life insurance is that it is also used as an investment. Policies may be tied to market rates, so any money put into the policy, that is not needed to pay for the current life insurance bill could grow as an investment. This can increase the value of the policy's cash amount, and even increase the face value or death benefit of the life insurance.
Term Life vs Whole Life Vs Universal Life
So which is better? Well, that depends upon your own needs, expectations, the type of insurance you can qualify for, and your budget. You need to decide if you only need life insurance for a set amount of time, or if you would like protection for your whole life. Do you want to use life insurance as an investment? Do you want some combination?
Compare Term vs Whole Life vs Universal Life Insurance with our free online life insurance quote form!
