2007/08/05

Understanding Life Insurance

By: Barry Waxller

Life insurance is one of those things you need, but probably not something you look forward to buying. Make half an effort and you can save money by getting the best product for your situation.

A classic sketch of a conversation with a life insurance agent would show the person trying to buy a policy with their eyes glazed over. Why? The terminology being used is confusing. Well, let’s change that by discussing some or the common terms used.

An Adjustable Life Insurance Policy is a popular product. As the name suggests, one can adjust the premiums, term, death benefit and time when premiums are paid. Such flexibility lets you coordinate the policy to your current needs as they change.

An Assignment refers to the transfer of the ownership of an insurance policy from one person to another person. The actual document required to do this is also called the same thing.

When you buy an insurance policy, you will be asked to designate a Beneficiary. This is the person that you want to receive the funds that will be paid out from the policy on the death of the life insured.

What happens if the beneficiary listed in an insurance policy pre-deceases the owner of the policy? It can be a nightmare, so insurance companies require you to designate a Secondary Beneficiary. If the primary beneficiary is deceased, this person receives the funds.

An Adult Provision, often referred to as a Control Provision, appears in life insurance policies for a minor. The clause designates an adult to handle all elements of the policy until the minor reaches a specified age.

The Right of Conversion refers to an individual’s right to convert a policy held as part of a group into an individual policy if the person ceases to be part of the group.

There are life insurance polices designed for business obligations. A Credit Life Insurance is taken out on a business owner and used as collateral for some debt. The beneficiary is the creditor providing the loan to the business owner. If the owner dies, the benefits are used to pay off the debt.

A Waiver of Premium clause is something you should try to include in your policy. The waiver essentially says that if you become disabled, no further premium payments must be made. Coverage, however, continues.

A Universal Life Insurance Policy is another pillar of the insurance industry. It is an adjustable policy with a flexible premium. You can choose what you can afford to pay at a given time and a corresponding death benefit is generated. This can be adjusted from time to time.

The Variable Universal Life Insurance Policy is a more recent and popular product. Premiums and benefits are adjustable. Money is accumulated in the policy and can be invested. The flexibility makes the policy attractive.

The important thing to understand about life insurance is that polices differ greatly. This means you must understand exactly how a policy being pitched to you works. If terms are used that you don’t understand, ask for clarification!

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

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