Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance is the type of life insurance most people are familiar with. It pays a cash benefit to your loved ones (also known as your beneficiaries) if you were to pass away during the term. The term is how long the policy lasts. Typical terms are 10, 20 or even 30 years.
The benefits of term life insurance are:
Affordability
Term life insurance only offers a death benefit, which is the cash paid to your beneficiaries if you pass away during the term. It does not include a savings benefit like permanent life insurance. This makes it the most economical type of life insurance policy, at least initially. Many people are pleasantly surprised to learn just how affordable term life insurance can be. As an example, a healthy 30-year-old can get a $250,000 20-year level term policy for about $13 a month.
Flexibility
You get to choose how long you want coverage to last based on your needs. Many people pick a milestone like when their kids graduate from college or when they retire for when to stop coverage. Your term can last as little as a year to as long as 30 years or more.
Simplicity
Getting term life insurance typically involves just two decisions: how much coverage you want and how long you want it to last. A licensed insurance agent can help you choose a coverage amount and term. To get a general idea of how much term life insurance you need, check out our Life Insurance Needs Calculator.
May not require a medical exam
Many, but not all, types of term life insurance policies require a medical exam. Today, there are options that don’t require you to undergo a medical exam. They typically give you immediate coverage after you fill out an online application and you qualify. However, the coverage amount may be limited as well as more expensive on a dollar-for-dollar basis than traditional life insurance that requires a medical exam.