Life Insurance

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Lowering the cost of life insurance cover

No one likes to think too much about it, but when it comes to life, it’s precious. One day you could be feeling fine, and the next, you’re faced with a life-threatening illness. As blunt as that may be, none of us has a crystal ball that can preempt what’s around the corner.

Life insurance is a policy that everyone should have, no matter who they are. When you’ve got assets that you own or people that you’re responsible for, it’s important to have a plan in place. With a life insurance cover, it can often be the light at the end of a dark tunnel that provides for your loved ones.

An unexpected illness or injury can turn your world upside down, and providing peace of mind with life insurance is one less thing to think about. In this guide, you’ll get an insightful look into life insurance and why you need it for yourself.

When you’ve finished reading, you should have a good idea of what life insurance is and how it can benefit you in the future. Hopefully, many of us will never have to use it, but for the few who do, it can bring a lot of financial support and comfort during dark times.


What Is Life Insurance?

Why Do I Need Life Insurance?

How Does Life Insurance Work?

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What Is Covered By Life Insurance?

What is typically covered in your own life insurance policy? This can vary depending on the provider, but there are some common coverage similarities. The life policy you pick will have all of the relevant information given to you before taking said policy out. It’s always good to check and double-check that it has everything you need.

Buying life insurance is an expense that needs to be taken seriously, as it may help greatly when it comes to the payout. Here are some things most life insurance covers and doesn’t cover.

Covered

  • Most common causes of death.
  • Disease.
  • Unexpected illnesses.
  • Cancer.
  • Accidental death.
  • Heart attack.

Not covered

  • Drug and alcohol abuse.
  • Critical illness or injury.
  • Pre-agreed conditions.
  • Dangerous activities.
  • Disabilities or chronic illnesses.
  • Undisclosed health issues.

Possibly covered

  • Terminal illnesses.
  • Suicide.

Despite some of these being more obvious as to why they’re not covered, it’s good to know the specifics. Make sure that when you’re looking at life insurance providers, you’re considering what they cover and what they don’t.

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Do I Qualify for Life Insurance?

When Should I Consider Taking Out a Life Insurance Policy?

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

How much is too much, and what is considered not enough? Again, it comes down to your personal needs and that of your loved ones who would benefit from the life insurance claim.

It’s worth looking into any pre-existing medical conditions that you may have as well as how much your loved ones would need after you’ve gone.

How much life insurance you need can come down to your current lifestyle and earnings. It may be that you need to take out a bigger policy in order to cover certain costs, from mortgage payments to debts that could accrue from certain medical conditions.

Every policy that an individual takes out is catered to their requirements and needs, so consider what yours are before applying to any without doing the research.

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How Long Do I Need Life Insurance For?

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What Types of Life Insurance Are There?

There are many different options out there, depending on what you require. However, let’s start with the two main term life policies that most will often opt for as they’re the standard when it comes to life insurance.

The two main term life policies are called decreasing term and level term insurance. What makes them different? Let’s look at them individually so you can get a good understanding of what each one offers.

Level term life insurance

Level term life insurance is where the insurer will pay out a fixed lump sum should the policyholder die within the term that’s been agreed. This can offer the financial support that your beneficiaries will need by having a specific sum of money.

This can help to plan for a time when you’re no longer around, as sad as it can sound! It’s the most common in policy covers, and once it expires, there’s nothing else that the policyholder needs to do. If it’s ended, then you may wish to look elsewhere for additional coverage for your remaining years.

Pros:

There are a few advantages to using this policy, including the following:

  • Cheaper premiums
    Cheaper premiums that are often fixed too can be a lot more affordable for most people than opting for a different type of policy. These premiums won’t change, regardless of how your health changes.
  • Provides practical coverage
    It’s a reasonable coverage that makes sense to implement for your family further down the line. It provides peace of mind that you’re choosing a policy where you can decide on the length. As your life changes, so does your life cover!
  • Coverage for specific requirements
    The amount of coverage you have and the length of time you have it can help those who have specific needs.

Level term life insurance is certainly a good option to opt for if you need a general, run of the mill policy.

Cons:

What are the disadvantages of this type of policy? Of course, not all policies are going to be perfect. The disadvantages to life insurance covers such as this one are:

  • Premiums will rise beyond the term expiry.
    Once the term ends, you can opt to continue the coverage, but the premiums will increase and could do quite substantially.
  • Not a good option for older individuals or those with poor health.
    If you have poor health or you’re older, then this policy might not be as helpful. This is based on your health rating, and age can impact that. The same goes for your current state of health. If it’s not good, then this policy isn’t as beneficial.
  • Only temporary coverage provided
    This could negatively impact your financial plan if you’re not in the position planned for when the term of the policy comes to an end.

Decreasing term life insurance

Decreasing term life insurance is where the insurer’s payout will decrease over time. This is often because debts, loan repayments and mortgage balances will decrease over time too.

This policy has been designed to align with life’s remaining balance on mortgage payments, etc. The policy itself tends to have an interest rate cap, so it’s good to know exactly what you’d be getting, whether your beneficiaries would need to make a claim in ten years’ time or thirty.

Pros:

What are some of the pros of this type of policy? Here are some of the reasons why it’s a good choice:

  • The cost of premiums.
    The cost of your premiums for this one will likely be more affordable as the risk for the insurers decreases month by month, year by year. It’s a good one if you’re on a tight budget but still want to protect your loved ones.
  • Provides protection over your mortgage.
    If you don’t have anyone relying on you, it’s a good way to protect your mortgage.

Cons:

All policies have their downsides; here are a couple for decreasing term cover:

  • The value decreases
    The most obvious downside is that the lump sum will decrease over time, which means towards the end of the term, the premiums you pay will remain the same. So you’re paying just as much for getting less value towards the end.
  • No maturity value
    As the value of the policy falls towards zero, if you survive beyond the term, there’s no payout available.

Other Types of Life Insurance Available

There are plenty of other types of life insurance policies that are worth understanding because you may find that one of these is better than having something more generic.

Critical illness cover

Critical illness cover insurance will typically payout when you get one of the specific injuries or medical conditions that are listed within your policy. This pays out once, and then the policy itself ends . . .

Whole-of-life

Whole-of-life insurance is a type of policy that is a guarantee from the insurance provider that they’ll pay out a lump sum to your family whenever you die. It covers you for the whole of your life . . .

Death in service

Death in service insurance is a type of cover that’s offered as a benefit from the company you’re working for. This is a tax-free lump sum that’s provided if you die whilst still part of the company . . .

Over-50s life insurance

This is a type of policy that is specifically made for over-50s. It helps to leave your loved ones a cash sum as a gift or to settle unpaid bills or funeral costs when you die . . .

Joint life insurance for couples

You may find a benefit to having a joint life policy with your spouse rather than having an individual one each. This joint policy is often less expensive to make payments for, but it’s important to note . . .

Life insurance for new parents

The national charity the Child Poverty Action Group (CAPG) found raising a child up to the age of 18 costs £185,000 for single-parent families and £151,000 for couples . . .

With pre-existing medical conditions

For those who already have some form of pre-existing medical condition or diagnosed issue, getting a life insurance policy can be a little trickier. However, there are providers out there that cater . . .

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What Is the Cost of Life Insurance?

The cost of life insurance is greatly influenced by a number of factors. Not only do you need to consider the type of insurance you need, but the affordability of the policy cover. Some policies may be too expensive for you to take out, whilst others may offer cheaper life insurance but not provide the best coverage.

It’s a fine balance and one that you want to consider seriously when it comes to meeting the needs of your personal circumstances.

Factors that affect the cost of life insurance

Your age

Age is one that, not surprisingly, will influence the premiums you pay on your insurance policy. The older you are, the more likely it is that your payments will be more expensive. When you’re young, insurance providers will not need to worry for a long, long time, for the most part, about writing your loved ones a cheque.

However, despite being young, you may still have financial dependents that rely on you for income.

Type of policy you choose

The type of policy you choose, of course, will also impact the amount you pay. For example, if you’re getting life insurance that has allowed you to add critical illness cover, for example, it’s going to make it more expensive.

Some may charge more if you require a lump sum vs regular monthly payments too, so this is also worth knowing when you’re shopping for policies.

Your health condition

How healthy are you right now? If you have a terminal illness, for example, there may be some policies that aren’t available for you in your condition. It’s always good to take out life insurance when you’re not at the point of a serious illness, otherwise, your options can be limited.

The amount of cover you need

For some, taking out a standard life insurance policy is enough, but for others, they may need multiple life insurance policies. It’s good to assess how much cover you need within your policy as this can affect the costs you pay per month.

Your lifestyle

Your lifestyle will be evaluated when it comes to taking out life insurance cover. For example, if you don’t go out of the country much or anything that is likely to cause injury, you’re probably going to get a better deal.

However, if you’re favourite hobby is driving fast cars or jumping out of planes, expect your life cover to be significantly more expensive!

How Can I Lower my Life Insurance Premium?

Whilst there are many contributing factors that can raise your life insurance premiums, there are also plenty of ways to lower those premiums. Let’s look at how you can reduce the costs of your life insurance cover.

Be honest about your health

Honesty is always the best policy. If you lie about your health before taking out the insurance, you’re going to get caught out. That can get you into a lot of trouble. On the flip side, by not being completely honest about your health, you could end up self-sabotaging the payouts given to your loved ones.

Be honest about the state of your health currently. Share any knowledge of underlying health conditions and critical illness where applicable. It’s better to have a life cover that offers the best coverage for you, rather than not being enough.

Get cover at a younger age

Despite you being young, critical illness cover is still a good policy to have. Getting cover at a younger age is going to help keep your premiums low, especially as you build up your pot over a long period of time. Although it can happen, for the most part, you’re less likely to have a serious illness when you’re young and spritely.

Place your life insurance policy into trust

Placing your life insurance into a trust can be a great way of helping to reduce the payments and to help your beneficiaries in the future. It gives more control over your assets but, for the most part, can help avoid the hefty inheritance tax that many are subjected to when leaving money or assets behind.

Setting up a trust also provides faster access to money, as when you die, the beneficiaries would be required to obtain probate, which can cause delays.

Think about what add-ons you need

When you get this insurance, think about what add-ons you need and may need in the near future. Do you really need critical illness cover now? Could that be something you get further down the line? Is it beneficial to opt for a different type of insurance over the standard life insurance option?

Consider what insurance type works for you because how much cover you need may not warrant some of the add-ons you’re being sold.

Compare life insurance policies

Be sure to compare policies, especially as we’ve mentioned above about the level term and decreasing term life insurance available. Make sure to take a look at what each policy covers and compare that to the others that you’re considering.

Some policies are going to be more expensive than others, whilst some may have better benefits than other life insurance providers.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle

Be sure to maintain a healthier lifestyle where you can and for as long as you can. It’s easy to let your health decline if you’re not exercising or eating well. The things you do to your body and what you put in them will also prevent you from needing critical illness cover or having to pay expensive premiums for dangerous activities you’re putting your body through.

Avoid late payments

Always pay your premiums on time. By doing this, you’re going to reduce the risk of there being any problems when it comes to making the life insurance claims, however many there are.

Missing payments could affect your beneficiary’s chances of getting the full lump sum, and there could be some hoops they need to jump through before getting the money.

Select the best term length

Whether you need decreasing or level term life insurance, choose the length wisely. The other types available can give you an idea of which one is best, but you also want to consider the best term length for your needs.

Some only want fixed terms for so long, perhaps due to money or simply offering cover to their loved ones during the prime years of their life.

What Will I Need to Get a Life Insurance Quote?

Why Compare Life Insurance Quotes with Utility Saving Expert?

Utility Saving Expert helps to compile and bring together all the options you’d need when it comes to getting insurance. We can help acquire a life insurance quote from each provider so that you can easily compare one to the other.

Utility Saving Expert makes it easy, whether you need critical illness cover or wonder how much life insurance you can afford. The life insurance comparison tool is perfect for finding all you need to get the insurance policy that’s right for you.

There’s plenty of help on offer on the site, and if you have any concerns or queries, you can reach out to the team directly via our contact page.

Need life insurance? Compare quotes with Utility Saving Expert today.

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When should I consider updating my life insurance policy?

There are a few situations where you may find it worthwhile to change or update your life insurance policy. This can be whenever you find yourself in a new job, or you experience a salary change. You may wish to change the recipients of your life insurance depending on who it was originally for.

This may be in the case of when you have children or when you’ve separated or become estranged from family and friends. Any substantial asset changes can also warrant a change or update to your life insurance. For example, if you’ve got new investments that have accrued a significant amount of money, you may want to incorporate this too.

These changes in financial position can often improve the payout that your loved ones may receive if you were to pass.

What happens if I don’t make my life insurance payments?

If you cease making payments on your life insurance, then the policy itself will typically lapse and then end after the grace period. This grace period provided can range from one life insurance provider to another.

When you stop payments on a cash value life insurance, the cash value of the policy will be used to cover the premiums that still need paying. The policy will end when the pot runs out. It’s therefore essential that you make each payment without fail to continue the validity of your policy.

Whilst it can be an expense that you pay out every month, it’s good to see these monthly payments as just another bill for your household. It’s just as important to pay out for your life insurance cover as it is to pay for gas and electricity to power your home.

Can I cancel my life insurance policy?

Of course! Any insurance policy is something that you can cancel, but like all policies, you lose the protection and financial benefit should you be in a scenario where you need it.

When cancelling a policy, you should try to find a new insurer where possible. Many people will find better deals by looking elsewhere, and many situations can change where the policy in place isn’t good enough, or it’s too much to afford. You’ll never be short of choice when it comes to policies and companies that offer them.

Cancelling your life insurance doesn’t mean you’ll get your money back unless you’ve cancelled during the initial cooling off period. Any money you receive from your cash value when you cancel the whole policy will be taxed as income.

Can I take out more than one life insurance policy at a time?

Yes, you’re able to have more than one policy, and this can be required depending on your circumstances. There’s no law against you having more than one!

The reasons why you may hold more than one life insurance policy could be down to providing your beneficiaries with more inheritance. It could be that you need specialist cover in some cases that aren’t provided all under one provider.

Regardless, it’s always good to try and find one policy that covers all your needs. However, the position you’re in may require you to have more.

Is life insurance taxable?

When a beneficiary of a life insurance policy receives the money, it’s not counted as a taxable income. With that said, though, the value of your life insurance policy may be subjected to inheritance tax if it’s forming part of your estate.

Most life insurance policies that are on the market are excluded from the current UK Income Tax regime. For everyone in the 2021-2022 tax year, there’s a tax-free inheritance allowance of £325,000. The standard tax inheritance rate is 40% of anything over £325,000.