Understanding Term Insurance And Universal Life Insurance Through Frequently Asked Questions

I am a 35 years old male. Most of my acquaintances has invested substantial amount in life insurance policies. I would like to know what exactly a life insurance policy is and what I can gain out of it.

A life insurance policy is nothing but a contract between the insurer and the policy holder whereby the insurer promises to pay a specific sum to the beneficiary of the policy on the occurrence of the insured event provided the policyholder keeps it running by regular payment of premium.

There can be quite a few types of life insurance policy. Among them a pure life insurance policy such as a term insurance provides the coverage at a very affordable rate. Indeed, the primary usage of such a policy is to replace the income lost due the premature death of the insured and therefore, if you have dependents to take care of you should get one immediately. You need it more if you are the sole breadwinner of your family.

I am still a bachelor and do not have a family of my own. My parents are still working and my siblings have their own families. Do I still need to have a policy?

No, if you do not have a family or anybody else depended on your income, you do not need the coverage right now; but the question is; are you planning to remain single all your life? If yes, you can indeed do without such policies; but if you plan to have a family later in life, you should get one now. That is because, policy prices increases with age and so it is always better to buy them early in life, while you are still young and healthy.

Even if you do not have a family of your own, you can choose anybody as your designated beneficiaries. You can choose your elderly parents as your beneficiaries or any of your nieces and nephews. Some people even designate their employees or business partners as their beneficiaries. Other people are eccentric enough to name their pets as their beneficiaries. Charitable institutions can also be named as beneficiaries of life insurance policies.

Are all policies same? Or is there in any variation in them?

There are many variations of life insurance policies available in the market today. However, these plans may fall under these two main categories: the temporary and the permanent. The temporary policies include the term insurance which will only insure you for the duration of the term or time period of your choosing. You can choose from a term of 1 year to a 30 year term. The problem with this type of policy is that the term may expire and when it does, you will no longer be insured.

Among the permanent policies, the universal life insurance is the most popular type. The advantage of such policies is that it insures one for life and so whenever the insured dies, the beneficiaries are sure to get the benefit. What is more, these policies use part of the premium you pay to accrue cash value and so in a way it also help you to build your asset.

How do I apply for a policy?

When you want to have a life insurance policy, you must first undergo an application process. Also known as the underwriting process, the application will include answering questions about your family background and medical history. Traditionally, you must also undergo an extensive medical examination which is administered by a physician which may or may not be employed by the insurance company.

Nowadays, you can forego the medical examination by choosing a term life insurance no medical exam policy which you can obtain by using the internet. You can now easily purchase an instant term life insurance policy by visiting an insurance companys website and choosing a life insurance quote on line that will be given by the website. The amount of premiums that you will have to pay will depend on the type of policy, the length of term, and your age.

It is normal for a person to have questions about life insurance policies. It is better to have these questions answered so that people will have a better understanding of what life insurance policies are all about and why they need them.

Article by David Livingston of EQuote, who is a specialist in everything life insurance. For more information on term life and no medical term life insurance, visit his site today.