A life insurance policy is exactly what its name suggests’an insurance policy covering the loss of your life. You buy your life insurance policy from an authorized agent, paying the insurance company a set monthly, quarterly, or annual premium. In return, the insurance company agrees to pay out a contracted amount of money after you decease. The proceeds from your life insurance policies go to the beneficiaries you designate, typically in a single lump sum payment. If your do not designate beneficiaries for your policy, then the insurance company makes the lump sum payment to your estate.

There are two basic kinds of life insurance: Term insurance, also called protection policies. These policies are temporary, providing coverage for a specific number of years for a set premium.

Term life insurance does not accumulate cash value. When you buy term life, you are just buying your family or loved ones or business partners protection in the event of your death.

Whole life, also sometimes called permanent life insurance. The objective of whole life insurance is to accumulate money through the payment of regular or lump-sum premiums on which interest is paid, while also providing coverage in the event of death. Whole life coverage is sometimes also called permanent life insurance. The premiums you pay for whole life do not change, and there is a fixed, guaranteed cash value for the policy. The funds accumulated from the payment of premiums each year can be paid to you whether or nor you die, for emergencies, vacations, retirement, or other expenses. If you take these funds for other purposes, of course, they are not paid when you die.

The type of coverage you buy generally depends on the goals you want life insurance to accomplish. Many people find that term coverage suits their needs, if they just want to make sure that their bills are paid and that their heirs receive some cash after their deaths. Other people want a reliable source of cash accumulating year after year as they pay their premiums. You can speak with qualified life insurance agent to determine which kind of policy is best for you.

The type of life insurance policy you need will depend on why you are purchasing the insurance and the goals you want the insurance to accomplish. Most people find that a simple term life insurance policy suits their needs, while others want to make sure their bills are paid and their heirs receive a settlement after their deaths. You can discuss your needs with a qualified life insurance provider in order to determine what policy is best for you.

Life insurance usually covers death, dismemberment, accidental death and serious illness, depending on the type of policy purchased. Proof is required in all cases before payment will be made on any life insurance policy, regardless of the policy type. To purchase life insurance, you will need to get a quote from a qualified insurance provider, give an accurate picture of your medical history and receive a physical examination from your doctor. Once you pass your physical exam and your medical history is approved, a premium is required. After the premium is paid, then your life insurance policy is activated. A qualified insurance provider can also answer any specific questions you may have, as well as help design and tailor a life insurance program to help meet the needs of you and your family.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator at Lifeinsurance-Southafrica.co.za South Arica?s leading Life Insurance and Life Cover portal.

Most of us buy life insurance to make sure that our loved ones are protected in case of our death. Others of us use whole life policies to finance life’s passages, such as college, marriage, or retirement. Whole life policies can also be used to help you handle those unexpected and expensive moments we all encounter. Defining your financial goals to determine exactly why you need life insurance will help you make the most of your life insurance policy. You need, and most of us do need, some coverage to provide a death benefit. That’s especially true if you have people dependent on your for their living expenses. You will want to make sure they are covered in case of your death, or a devastating illness, or an accident. And if you need more income for retirement, consider that, too, when you choose the type of coverage to meet your life insurance needs.

Once you have covered the reasons why you need life insurance, then you can choose the policy that best meets those needs. Knowing what you want your policy to do for you helps you get the most out of it, both for death benefits and for financial planning for a long life.

There are generally two types of life insurance. Term life insurance is temporary and covers a certain period, usually a set number of years. Term policies have no cash value and are usually purchased to provide a death benefit. Whole life insurance is a permanent policy that does offer cash value. This cash can also be accessed to cover expenses. Many people have both types of policies. A qualified insurance provider can help you determine what best suits your needs.

After you determine what you want your life insurance to do for you, you have to make sure you can make the payments. Every kind of life insurance requires you to pay a premium. Term policies are usually less of a budget breaker than whole life, but they do not help you accumulate wealth. Make sure the policy meets your needs, but also make sure it fits your budget. Have in mind what you can afford to pay before you commit yourself to policy specifics.

Be realistic about your life insurance needs. Be sure your death benefits can replace your actual earning power and your family’s inflation-adjusted spending needs. If you are buying whole life, take a keen look at your financial goals for retirement. And don’t forget that funerals are expensive and are getting more expensive every year. Make sure your loved ones are covered for all those costs.

Think about where you are in life and what you want to accomplish. Once you have these ideas mapped out, then you can decide on what life insurance product is right for you. Then contact a qualified insurance provider. They can help you determine what product is best for you and make sure you and your loved ones are protected, helping you get the most out of your life insurance policy in the process.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator at Lifeinsurance-Southafrica.co.za South Arica?s leading Life Insurance and Life Cover portal.

Life insurance is hard to understand, but understanding how the premiums are computed is even harder. Calculating premiums is not as straightforward as calculating premiums for other kinds of risk. Your life insurance rates are based on your health at the time you buy the policy, and that risk assessment is made by a physician. If you are not in top shape, or if you indulge in risky behaviors, the insurance company expects to pay out more benefits than if you were healthy and did not put your health at risk. That is why a physical exam is usually required before a company issues a life insurance policy.

Once the physical is done, the company will review not only the results of the exam, but also your family medical history, your driving history, and possibly other medical reports and a credit report as well.

In addition to the driving and medical reports, your insurer will ask you to fill out a questionnaire about your lifestyle and health issues. Although it may be tempting to sway the results, be honest as you answer the questions and fill out your medical history. If you are found to have been dishonest anywhere in your application, then the company can refuse to pay benefits in the future. Any insurance company will be able to cancel your life insurance policy if they determine you lied during the application process.

After the insurance provider obtains all the reports, you are assigned a score based on your risk. The lower the risk, the lower your life insurance premium. Therefore, the premium may not be the same as the quote the insurance provider gives you when you apply for the policy. If the provider determines you are at a higher risk level than originally assessed, then your premium will be higher than your quote.

There are ways to lower your risk. Take care of your health. Maintain a healthy weight, eat a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly. If you smoke, then quit. Be a safe and defensive driver. Don?t get speeding tickets or into accidents that can raise your insurance premiums. Make smart decisions and don?t engage in dangerous, risky behavior.

The life insurance company will also consider factors you cannot control, like your gender and age, in setting your premiums. That is why it is so important to do everything you can to improve your health and lower your risks. It’s a good idea to do your fact finding, ask questions, and get several quotes before deciding on a life insurance policy.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator at Lifeinsurance-Southafrica.co.za South Arica?s leading Life Insurance and Life Cover portal.

Insurance provides us with protection against risk, and owning insurance policies is a normal part of modern life. While insurance has been around for hundreds of years in one form or another, most of the familiar kinds of insurance we have today are actually a newcomer on the historical scene.

Insurance itself can be traced back to the ancient Chinese, around 5000 BC, as a way to protect traders. There are also stories of a more humanistic form of insurance, with neighbors helping neighbors and settlers taking care of each other during difficult periods in history. While that has no monetary value attached to it like our current insurance policies do, we consider that insurance because of the gesture of caring and providing for someone else. What we think of as life insurance didn’t come along until later.

Life insurance dates back to ancient Rome, but it wasn’t called life insurance then. The Romans had “burial clubs,” in which members paid for the funeral expenses of the deceased and helped the deceased’s survivors financially. This was part of what was considered a proper burial. The Romans believed that if a person was not buried properly, they would not rest in the afterlife. The burial clubs were necessary to cover the funeral expenses, because part of a proper burial was a large and often lavish funeral celebration.

Modern life insurance dates back to the late 17th century in England. Life insurance was originally designed to protect traders and merchants. The first insurance providers would meet their customers at coffeehouses and pubs to draw up insurance contracts. These were the common meeting places of that era. This form of life insurance was designed to protect those who brought goods into the community and those who sold them. It was a way to protect and insure commerce.

The first United States insurance company was founded in 1732 in Charleston, South Carolina, but the company only offered fire insurance. Life insurance policies were not offered in the United States until the 1760s, but it became a fast growing business. However, there were issues in the’00s with slave owners purchasing life insurance policies for their slaves. One New York insurance company is alleged to have sold 485 slave life insurance policies during a two-year period in the’40s alone. However, the sale of such policies stopped several years before the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in the United States. Some states have passed legislation requiring insurance companies to search their records to see if they sold policies on slaves. So far, there are no reports of any insurance companies finding records of such policies.

Whichever type of life insurance policy you hold today, one thing for certain is that the history of life insurance has been rich and complex. There is at least one constant, however, that has never changed. Life insurance protects our heirs from whatever life sends their way. Ask any questions to a qualified life insurance agent who can help you find the right life insurance protection for your loved ones. A qualified insurance agent will consider the specifics of your situation and help you find exactly the policy you need.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator at Lifeinsurance-Southafrica.co.za South Arica’s leading Life Insurance and Life Cover portal.