Understanding Your Life Insurance Policy

By Author: Jerry Pickett
Total Articles: 4762
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A life insurance policy is a contract between you and the policy company, which insures you so that you will have protection for yourself and your loved ones when you die. Due to the fact that many life insurance polices can be very complex and full of important details it's imperative that you fully understand all of the terms of your individual policy. In most cases, the individual that owns the life insurance will be the one paying the premiums. However, that's not always the case. If you are someone who has decided to give full control to another family member in regards to your policy, that person has the right to make or withhold any and all changes made to the policy. For many reasons, then, it's very important to know the details of the policy terms.

The beneficiary of the policy doesn't necessarily have control. The beneficiary is not considered the owner of the policy unless it is specifically set up that way. Legally speaking, the beneficiary is the person who will receive the funds from the policy once the insured individual has passed but the owner of the policy can legally impose any changes that he/she ...
... sees fit without the beneficiary's consent. In most cases, this makes it impossible for the beneficiary to have any say over what happens with the policy. Since life insurance policies can be for very large sums of money, this is a very important factor to consider.

Details, details!

There are many companies to investigate and facts to consider before making any decision on buying a policy. Not all life insurance companies require you to take a physical before you're approved, but some do. There are other factors that they consider before writing the policy, as well. For example, if you happen to be a smoker between certain ages, a company might turn you down because smoking is a risk factor that can lead to death and, of course, it's a risk that you are bringing on yourself.

To a life insurance company, acceptable causes of death are typically accidental, death caused by another individual, or natural causes. There are several exclusions to look for as well. One very important factor is the suicide exclusion. The suicide exclusion often states that if the insured were to commit suicide within two years form the date of issue, that the insurance company will only release a payment in the form of a refund for premiums paid, less any other forms of debt.

Types of life insurance

Premiums for the life insurance policy are based on the policy type. There are usually two types of policies to choose from. The first one is called term life. This coverage is only for a limited amount of time, the relevant term. After that period has expired, the policyholder has the option to either drop the policy or pay the premiums to continue the coverage. If the policyholder happens to pass away during the term, the funds will be relinquished to the beneficiary. Term life insurance is usually the most popular choice among individuals. The reason being, it is cheaper and can still provide people with a substantial amount of coverage. "Term life" was the first form of life insurance and is straightforward protection that builds no cash value.

Whole life insurance pays a guaranteed death benefit while also building cash value for the policy owner, so the policy is considerably costlier when it comes to the premiums. This is true whether or not the premiums are paid monthly or in an annual lump sum, although there may be some discount with the latter option. The policyholders of whole life policies have the option of borrowing against the policy's cash value or can receive the cash value if the policy is cancelled. However, the insurance company may charge additional fees or reduce the interest earnings if the funds are borrowed against. They may also charge extra for closing the account early.

Make sure that you know all of the details of any policy before making any decisions. A life insurance policy is not something to consider in any haste. There are many factors to take into consideration. All policies are different when you get down to the fine print so be sure to read the fine print too. You need to know all of the exclusions involved as well. Do your research beforehand and this will ensure that you will have an easy and hassle free experience with your life insurance company.
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