People are often wary of life insurance, with a lack of awareness around the topic. It can be easy to think of insurance as an expensive financial tool that always comes with a steep month premium. However, it is possible to get affordable coverage with term life insurance! Here’s how to do it.
It is a fact that life insurance has a reputation for being expensive. Premiums, management fees, and our current financial obligations push us to put aside the desire to protect our loved ones. The good news is, the cost of life insurance may be cheaper than you think.
Getting informed and exploring all the options is the best thing you can do before buying life insurance. After all, it can be one of the most important purchases you will make in your life. Fortunately, here are some tips that will allow you to find an affordable life insurance policy that meets your coverage needs.
The younger you are when you buy life insurance, the better
The idea of buying life insurance usually arises when we have a family. We start thinking about the future and what will happen to them if we pass away – will they be able to meet outstanding expenses, mortgage payments, medical bills, or my final expenses? However, it is no secret that it is best to purchase life insurance when you are younger, as age is one of the main determinants in the price of life insurance.
We all have people around us who love and need us, so being young is not a good enough excuse for not taking out a term life insurance policy. On the contrary, it is an advantage.
It is a fact that when you are young, you are less likely to develop health problems (such as diabetes or high cholesterol). Factors that make life insurance premiums more expensive. On the other hand, if you suffer from a critical illness, there is a chance that your application for coverage will be declined. However, this does not mean that you cannot buy life insurance in Canada, as there are policies on the market to cover critical illnesses.
Determine how much life insurance coverage you need
How much life insurance coverage you need to ensure your beneficiaries can maintain their lifestyle depends on several factors.
These may include regular bills, a mortgage payment, or the total cost of your children’s education. Also, consider the current age of your dependents or whether your spouse works to establish the coverage amount needed for your life insurance.
In the life insurance industry, it is suggested that the life insurance policy should cover at least ten times your annual income. However, we must clarify that each case is different.
It is best to use our life insurance calculator to get an estimate of how much coverage you need. Talking to a licensed life insurance advisor can help you find the right coverage to meet your needs.
To contact one of our advisors and know more about our insurance options, please fill out our application form to get a free no-obligation quote.
Consider buying term life insurance
During the duration of a term, term life insurance plans are typically more cost-effective than permanent life insurance (such as whole life or universal life) for a death benefit. Term life insurance offers coverage for 10, 20, or 30 years. However, to determine which term to choose, you will need to estimate how long your dependents need your income.
Another advantage of term life insurance is the rates. By offering term coverage, premium costs are lower than permanent life insurance. However, term life insurance premiums increase when the policy is renewed (unless you have renewal guarantees), and you will not be required to take a medical exam.
We also suggest asking if you can convert your term life insurance to permanent life insurance if your needs change. Finally, you can find more information about our term life insurance products here.
Is it advisable to buy permanent life insurance?
Permanent insurance policies provide coverage for your entire life. It offers a tax-free death benefit (the amount of money your beneficiary will receive upon your death) and a cash value, which functions as savings that you can access while you are alive. Sometimes Permanent life insurance policies will even have an investment aspect to them. However, because of these features, the cost of premiums is higher than Term life insurance.
There are different types of permanent coverage. Among the most popular is Whole Life insurance. This permanent life policy keeps the premiums and death benefits fixed for the duration of the policy.
Another popular option is Universal Life insurance. This permanent plan offers greater flexibility because you can increase the death benefit or reduce the monthly premiums once the desired cash value is accumulated.
Regardless of the permanent policy that suits your financial protection needs, be sure to thoroughly research and ask all of your questions to your licensed insurance advisor before making your purchase.
A healthy lifestyle helps avoid increased premium costs in your term life insurance
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle increases life expectancy, makes you feel more energetic, keeps you in good shape, and reduces the possibility of health problems such as hypertension or diabetes.
But these are not the only advantages if you maintain a healthy lifestyle. For example, when you apply for term life insurance, companies often conduct a medical questionnaire about your lifestyle, which will help them determine if you are too risky to insure.
If you can prove that you have a healthy lifestyle, you will have no problem getting your term life insurance coverage. Plus, you will have lower premium costs.
Another point that many people often forget is mental health. If you have a history of anxiety disorders or depression, life insurance companies will often take that into consideration as part of your risk profile. As a result, your term life insurance premium costs may increase.
Finally, remember that mental health is as important as physical health, so it is essential to pay as much attention to it to ensure that our mental health is in optimal condition.
Does your smoking status increase the cost of your term life insurance?
Smoking is one of the riskiest addictions because it can cause strokes, lung cancer, or heart disease, among other ailments. Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in Canada. And it is estimated that 48,000 Canadians die each year due to this addiction.
Quitting smoking is a complicated task. However, if you want to buy term life insurance and get a better price on the cost of premiums, you have to let it go.
Smokers are still able to be insured, although typically a smoker pays 40% to 100% more for life insurance than a non-smoker. To qualify for lower premiums, you must stop smoking for at least 12 months. After that, you can apply for your term life insurance coverage as a non-smoker.
Finding the right life insurance takes time, and premiums can vary for the same person depending on the company. Therefore, comparing prices and not making rash decisions will allow us to find the best rate.
Another recommendation is to provide as much medical information as possible to insurers when conducting your search. There are life insurance companies that can offer better rates for people with medical conditions. In addition, you can be assured that your beneficiaries will have no problem collecting the death benefit.
After all, if you are going to invest thousands of dollars over the life of the policy, the least you can do is ensure that the product you buy is right for you and your loved ones.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that the price of life insurance after quitting smoking can vary depending on the insurance company.
Eliminate what you don’t need to reduce the cost of your life insurance plan
Life insurance policies usually come with many add-ons beyond the death benefit. These may include the critical illness rider, a disability income replacement, or an accidental death rider. However, if you want to save on your life insurance policy, the easiest thing to do is to decline riders you don’t need to reduce the cost of your premiums.
On the other hand, if you purchased your life insurance policy years ago, there are still ways to save money. Nowadays, many life insurance companies allow you to decrease your coverage at least once during the policy’s life.
However, we suggest that you think carefully about this decision because if you want to increase the amount of coverage again, you will have to go through the application process all over again. As a result, your life insurance policy will be more expensive than the one you currently have due to your age.
Annual premiums are more convenient to save on your term life insurance rates
Premium payments allow us to keep our term life insurance policy in force. The most frequent forms of payment are monthly and annual (it’s also possible to make payments semi-annually and quarterly, though those options are less popular and widely available).
With annual premium payments, you can save money because you will most likely get a discount from your insurer. Plus, you only have to worry about paying your premium one time annually.
Although monthly payments allow us to have more control over our expenses, regardless of the payment frequency you choose, you can typically change the payment frequency on the policy anniversary if you wish to change it.
Shop around to get a sense of the premium you’re likely to pay
Finding the right coverage takes time. The best strategy is to shop around before selecting the policy best for you. DO shop around; DON’T make rash decisions because premiums can vary for the same person depending on the company.
Another recommendation is to provide as much medical information as possible to insurers when conducting your search. This ensures that your beneficiaries will have no problem collecting the death benefit. In addition, there are insurers that can offer better rates for people with medical conditions.
Also, compare the main types of life insurance (term life insurance, whole life, and universal) to see which one best suit your coverage needs and budget.
After all, life insurance is an investment, and the least you can do is make sure the product you buy is the right one for the coverage you need.
Request a rate re-evaluation on your term life insurance policy if your health improves
You may be able to obtain lower rates on your term life insurance if your health has improved through a process called reconsideration or by asking your insurer for a rate re-evaluation.
This process allows the insurer to request your medical history and most recent medical exams to evaluate whether it is possible to reduce the cost of your term life insurance premiums.
If your insurer offers you this option, try to obtain it. In the end, it is for your benefit and the welfare of your loved ones. But, to apply for the rate reassessment, it may be crucial that you lose weight, lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, quit smoking, exercise, and eat a healthier diet. In addition to presenting medical evidence of this progress.
We can help you find the term life insurance plan you need!
Now that you have a better understanding of how you can save money on your term life insurance, at TermLife Insurance, we offer you the ability to purchase the ideal plan for your needs through a simplified application process.
Our application process requires no paperwork, no face-to-face meetings and no medical exams. With our plan, your loved ones can get up to $1,000,000 in coverage, and with the death benefit, they can pay for your final expenses, funeral expenses, mortgage payments, outstanding debts, and you can even leave a legacy to your loved ones.
If you want to provide the best coverage for your family, please fill out our short quote form and let our helpful advisors contact you. We’ll be happy to walk you through your options and help you make the right decision.
