6 Things That Might Surprise You About Life Insurance

Life insurance is incredibly important: having a policy will provide your family with a financial safety net when you are no longer around. And you know what? Life insurance is one of the easiest types of insurance to buy: not only is it inexpensive, but there are so many different types of plans to choose from. Didn’t know that it was cheap and that you had so many options? Well, there are quite a few things that might surprise you about life insurance. 

1. Over Half of Americans Have Life Insurance, Most Through Their Employers group of people in blue and one standingout in red

More than half of adults in the country have some type of life insurance policy, and the majority of this number is based on people who have it through their employer. But did you know that you can purchase a private life insurance policy in addition to your employer’s life insurance policy? You’ll probably find that employer-based life insurance is simply not enough for your family and their needs; not only that, but you will no longer have the policy once you leave your job. 

2. Women Are Less Likely To Have Life Insurance

Sad, but true. According to the Insurance Information Institute, around 43% of women have no life insurance, and those who are insured have only a quarter of the coverage they need. It is just as important, if not more so, for women to have their own life insurance policy, whether they are single parents, working mothers, or stay-at-home moms. They contribute just as much, if not more, to the household and need to make sure their family is protected. 

3. The Price of a Funeral Is One of the Most Common Reasons People Buy Life Insurance

casket in a car
Funeral costs are not cheap, which is why many people get life insurance.

For many people, when they think of life insurance, they think of the high price of funerals. A recent LIMRA study revealed an overwhelming 91% of people turn to life insurance as a way to cover final expenses. This makes sense since a funeral can cost on average  $10,000-$15,000 – fortunately, though, many life insurance policies will cover these costs and then some. If you are looking for a life insurance policy mainly for funeral costs, consider a final expense life insurance policy, but if you need more coverage, there are other policies out there that provide more coverage. 

4. Your Current Policy Might Not be Enough

If you have a life insurance policy, when was the last time you took a look at it? Updated it? What if your living expenses have gone up, and your family will need more money to live on? This is something that needs to be taken into consideration, which is why you should review your life insurance policy annually. While doing so, make sure you calculate your expenses and needs and decide if your current plan will meet those needs, or if you might need a policy with more coverage.

5. You Can Opt Out of Undergoing a Medical Exam

If you’re worried about high premiums or being denied coverage because of health conditions,  have no fear! Many types of life insurance policies don’t require you to take a medical exam or answer medical questions. These policies will typically offer less coverage than traditional life insurance policies, but you will be approved no matter what. 

6. You Can Find The Perfect Policy for You

white puzzle with missing piece next to it
There are so many great life insurance plans that can fit into your budget and needs.

There are many great affordable life insurance options to choose from that will provide enough money for your family, for a low monthly price. The best way to find the right life insurance policy for you and your specific needs is by working with an agent who specializes in life insurance. We have provided the top life insurance companies in the nation below; each offers hassle-free assistance and the most competitive rates. Always check multiple sites to make sure you have bargaining power and know the advantages of each company. Make sure a hard time isn’t made harder by a financial burden, check life insurance rates today.

Getting Life Insurance with Colon Cancer

The lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is higher than many people might think. In fact,  approximately 1 in 23 men and 1 in 25 women will be diagnosed with this type of cancer in their lifetime. The good news, though, is that while a colorectal cancer diagnosis would have been considered a death sentence in the past, after decades of research, studies, and technological advances, the prospects are now much brighter for people who are diagnosed with this disease. Many of them will go on to live long and normal lives, and that means that this type of cancer is also no longer a barrier to getting life insurance. Underwriting guidelines now take into consideration the innovative cancer treatments available, so things have changed a lot for the better.

Colon Cancerred circles on the colon area of aa body

Colon cancer develops when there is uncontrolled cell growth among the cells of the large intestine, or colon, where water and salt are extracted from solid waste before the waste continues through the rectum and is expelled. The growths that occur when the cells of the colon grow out of control are known as polyps; some types of polyps can turn into cancer over time. 

Risk Factors & Causes

Research points to several risk factors that appear to increase the likelihood of a colon cancer diagnosis, including:

  • Family history
  • Age (around 90% of all cases of colon cancer are diagnosed in people between the ages of 50 and 75)
  • Obesity
  • Inactivity
  • Poor diet
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Other underlying health conditions, including diabetes and inflammatory bowel diseases, like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Qualifying for Life Insurance

As we mentioned earlier, a diagnosis of colon cancer does not disqualify you for a life insurance policy. If you are applying for traditional life insurance, the best thing you can do is compare all of your different options so you can find companies that offer coverage for high-risk applicants. 

sign with different arrows pointing at the word possibility
Even if you do not qualify for traditional life insurance, you have the option of a no medical exam life insurance policy that is guaranteed.

And even if you fail to qualify for a traditional life insurance policy because of your cancer diagnosis, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a great policy. There are other types of life insurance policies that don’t require a medical exam, and even some that don’t ask any questions at all regarding your health or your family’s health history. If you are worried that you will not pass a medical exam or that you will end up paying a lot for life insurance, guaranteed issue, simplified issue, or instant-approval term life insurance policies are great options for you. With these plans, you will not have to undergo a medical exam, and will not be required to provide blood work or any other tests. You cannot be turned down for these policies for any health-related reasons.

Your family has financial obligations that will not go away when you are gone; they will need your help more than ever with their expenses, and the last thing you want them to worry about is money while they are grieving. There are many great affordable life insurance options to choose from that will provide enough money for your family, for a low monthly price. The best way to find the right life insurance policy for you and your specific needs is by working with an agent who specializes in life insurance. We have provided the top life insurance companies in the nation below; each offers hassle-free assistance and the most competitive rates. Always check multiple sites to make sure you have bargaining power and know the advantages of each company. Make sure a hard time isn’t made harder by a financial burden, check life insurance rates today.

4 Surprising Things That Cost the Same as Life Insurance

A lot of people think life insurance is a big expense, which is probably one of the main reasons that they choose not to buy a policy, or even to look into getting one. If that’s what you’re thinking, you might be surprised to know that life insurance is not nearly as expensive as you think. In fact, in some cases, the price of monthly premium payment is the same as the cost of a meal at a restaurant! So, while it might be tempting to forgo life insurance to try and save some money in the short-term, you could end up costing your family their financial security in the long-term. 

In order to help convince you, we’ve given you a list of some things that cost the same as life insurance, or even more, so you can see how easily a policy can fit into your budget.

Before we get into the list, we wanted to make it clear that we’re looking at the price of a life insurance policy for a healthy 30-year-old, so the rate for your policy can vary. But for our hypothetical customer, they could get a $250,000 policy for around $13 a month. Yes, $13! So what else costs around the same as the average policy?bottle of wine

  1. A bottle of wine– Do you enjoy a glass of wine with dinner now and again? Understandable, but this can cost the same as a whole month’s premium for a life insurance policy! 
  2. Online fitness classes– Staying fit is important, and can even help lower your monthly life insurance premiums- but either way, a monthly subscription plan might cost just as much or more than your premium payments. 
  3. Fast food meals– We all enjoy our little guilty pleasure of a fast-food burger or meal once in a while, so why not treat your family to a life insurance policy?spotify icon
  4. Music streaming plans– Jamming out when having a get-together, in the car, or while working out can help bring a little more joy into your life, but the cost of a subscription to a music streaming service can be the same as the price to protect your family in the future.

These four everyday things can all cost around $13, and bring you a little bit of pleasure, guilty or otherwise. And we get it, you’ve wanted these things, especially during the pandemic. But do you ever stop and think about these little expenses? Probably not, so now think about what you could give your family in the long run by paying the same amount for a life insurance policy!

Budget For Both

illustration of a calculator and money
There is a way to incorporate life insurance into your budget because it is inexpensive.

The little pleasures in life are important, and there’s no shame in that at all. But we know that your family’s welfare is always on your mind, and now you know that protecting them for a low price is possible! You can budget for both: your little pleasures, and life insurance for your family. There are so many different life insurance policies to choose from that there is definitely one to fit your budget. For example, do you want life insurance to only cover a major expense like your mortgage? Then go with a term life insurance policy. Looking for something that will last for your whole lifetime? Then a permanent or whole life insurance policy will be best. 

Your family has financial obligations that will not go away when you are gone; they will need your help more than ever with their expenses, and the last thing you want them to worry about is money while they are grieving. There are many great affordable life insurance options to choose from that will provide enough money for your family, for a low monthly price. The best way to find the right life insurance policy for you and your specific needs is by working with an agent who specializes in life insurance. We have provided the top life insurance companies in the nation below; each offers hassle-free assistance and the most competitive rates. Always check multiple sites to make sure you have bargaining power and know the advantages of each company. Make sure a hard time isn’t made harder by a financial burden, check life insurance rates today.

How Family History Affects Your Life Insurance Rates

Your genes can determine a lot in your life, things like the color of your eyes, your height, and even whether you will develop any mental or physical health conditions. Your genes and your family history also help determine how much you will pay for life insurance, since insurers use information about your family’s medical history as one way to figure out how much of a risk you will be to insure. But have no fear, even if you have a lot of health issues in your background, you can still find a great affordable life insurance policy that will provide the coverage your family needs.

How Your Family History Is Taken Into Consideration

circle with two people in it and a small child in between them
Your family’s history plays a role in life insurance companies determining how much of a risk you are.

When you apply for a life insurance policy, you will have to go through an underwriting process, during which insurance companies will require you to undergo a physical exam, as well as give them your medical history and your family’s medical history to help determine how much of a risk you are to cover. This means that, even if you are healthy, but your family history has some serious and possibly hereditary illnesses lurking in it, you could still be charged a higher rate.

When looking at your family’s medical history, most life insurance companies will only be concerned with any major hereditary illnesses that could affect you. There is a list of illnesses or procedures that life insurance companies will look for in your family history, including:

  • Breast cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Melanoma
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Heart attack
  • Angioplasty
  • Bypass surgery
  • Valve surgery
  • Arrhythmia

Finding A Great Plan

family of 3 under an umbrella
Life insurance is a great secure way to make sure your family is protected when you can no longer provide.

Even if your family has a history of any of the above-mentioned conditions, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find affordable life insurance. There are many different kinds of life insurance policies to choose from, which is why comparing plans is extremely important. Each life insurance company has its own guidelines of what they will look for in your medical history and in your family’s medical history, and how seriously they view each condition can differ. For example, some insurance companies might consider cardiovascular health problems more concerning than cancer, while others will not.

Your family has financial obligations that will not go away when you are gone; they will need your help more than ever with their expenses, and the last thing you want them to worry about is money while they are grieving. There are many great affordable life insurance options to choose from that will provide enough money for your family, for a low monthly price. The best way to find the right life insurance policy for you and your specific needs is by working with an agent who specializes in life insurance. We have provided the top life insurance companies in the nation below; each offers hassle-free assistance and the most competitive rates. Always check multiple sites to make sure you have bargaining power and know the advantages of each company. Make sure a hard time isn’t made harder by a financial burden, check life insurance rates today.

Is Final Expense Life Insurance a Good Deal?

A big part of life always seems to be planning for the next phase of your life, whether that’s going to college, starting a family, or even the end of your life. And while no one likes to think about their final days, planning for this time is important, especially if you have loved ones who depend on you. In order to ensure that your loved ones aren’t left with a financial burden when you are gone, you’ll need some sort of life insurance – but which type of policy is right for you? You might not want or need a traditional life insurance policy, so you might be looking into final expense life insurance to cover just your final expenses. But is this type of policy a good deal?

Is Final Expense Life Insurance Right for You?

Term and whole life insurance policies will help replace your income and pay for other big expenses when you’re gone, making them great choices if you’re younger and/or have a family to take care of. But if you’re older, you might not need such a large policy. If you’re just looking to cover your funeral expenses, a final expense insurance policy, also known as burial or funeral insurance, is a great option.

If you’re wondering if a final expense policy might work for you, consider the following. These policies are:

woman laughing holding a dog

  • Designed for adults 50 to 85 years old.
  • A type of permanent life insurance, so they will remain in effect for your entire life.
  • Affordable because they offer lower coverage amounts, typically up to $35,000.
  • Good for people with health conditions, because no medical exam is required to qualify.

Are These Policies Worth It?

If you’re older and looking for a smaller life insurance policy that will cover just your funeral costs and maybe some of your debts, a final expense life insurance policy is most likely worth it, especially since they are more affordable than traditional policies. But to really decide whether this type of policy is right for you, you should calculate the expenses that your family will be left with after your passing, which will help you to determine how big of a policy you’ll need. Consider that the average funeral costs around  $10,000, and you can purchase a final expense policy that will provide up to $35,000 in benefits, meaning one of these policies should work for you if you’re not looking to replace income or pay off a house, for example. 

pink piggy bank with 3 coins going into it
It is possible to find an affordable plan that meets your needs without breaking the bank.

Looking For An Affordable Plan?

It’s not easy to think about no longer being with your family, but it’s important to be prepared for that day when it comes. Your family will be going through a difficult time, and the last thing they should worry about while grieving is how they will pay for your funeral and end-of-life expenses. You can give them at least financial peace of mind with a final expense insurance policy. There are multiple affordable policies to choose from that you can fit into your monthly budget, and you won’t have to worry about passing a medical exam.

If you’re interested in providing your family the financial stability to pay for your funeral arrangements and more, a final expense life insurance policy is a great choice – but choosing an insurance policy is an important decision. You want to make sure your family is taken care of when you’re gone without getting tied to a policy that is going to be a financial burden. Fortunately, you have multiple coverage options, some with added benefits. To make the process easier, consider using online tools, or speaking with an agent. We have provided the top life insurance companies in the nation below; each offers hassle-free assistance and competitive rates. Always check multiple sites to make sure you have bargaining power and know the different advantages of each company. Make sure a hard time isn’t made harder by a financial burden, check final expense insurance rates today.

Life Insurance Rates and New Blood Pressure Guidelines

Having high blood pressure, or hypertension, is so common these days that you probably know at least one person who has it. It’s such a common medical condition that it affects around half of all adults in the United States. One of the reasons that hypertension seems so common now is that the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, two organizations that set blood pressure guidelines for the medical community, recently changed the standard of what is considered hypertensive. The previous standard was 140/90 mmHg, but the new guidelines have set the bar for hypertension at 130/80 mmHg. Now, with so many more people being diagnosed with high blood pressure, will life insurance companies change the way they set their rates for people who are considered hypertensive? 

Life Insurance Guidelines for Blood Pressurehand with a blood pressure cuff on

Each life insurance company has its own set of guidelines when it comes to assessing the health conditions of its applicants, including high blood pressure. Many insurers will allow for higher blood pressure readings for individuals who are 60 and over, while others are not as forgiving. 

And while insurers don’t often change their guidelines for how they assess medical conditions, many insurers are now implementing new guidelines for hypertensive applicants, since the guidelines for diagnosis have changed. In some cases, that means that people with hypertension could still qualify for Preferred Plus and Preferred plans. So if you have been diagnosed with hypertension, and are worried about how your diagnosis will affect your life insurance rates, have no fear. Most life insurance providers will allow their top-rating class members to remain in that class while taking medication for high blood pressure.

Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressure 

cigarettes with a red prohibited sign over them
One way to help lower your blood pressure is to quit smoking if you are a smoker.

If you are still worried, there are some lifestyle changes that you can make to lower your blood pressure naturally, including:

  • Eating a well-balanced, low sodium (salt) diet
  • Limiting alcohol consumption
  • Enjoying regular physical activity
  • Managing and reducing stress
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Quitting smoking

Looking For A Plan?

It is possible to find a great traditional term life insurance or permanent life insurance policy even if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. And if you are worried that you will not be able to find one of these policies, you can attempt to lower your blood pressure before applying, or you can opt for a guaranteed issue, simplified issue, or instant-approval term life insurance policy. With these plans, you will not have to undergo a medical exam, and will not be required to provide blood work or any other tests. You cannot be turned down for these policies for any health-related reasons.

Your family has financial obligations that will not go away when you are gone; they will need your help more than ever with their expenses, and the last thing you want them to worry about is money while they are grieving. There are many great affordable life insurance options to choose from that will provide enough money for your family, for a low monthly price. The best way to find the right life insurance policy for you and your specific needs is by working with an agent who specializes in life insurance. We have provided the top life insurance companies in the nation below; each offers hassle-free assistance and the most competitive rates. Always check multiple sites to make sure you have bargaining power and know the advantages of each company. Make sure a hard time isn’t made harder by a financial burden, check life insurance rates today.

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