One necessary “what if” in life is life insurance, but during this recession, life insurance seems to be the “last” thing that people buy.
Buying life insurance during a recession is one of the last things that people tend to do, rationalizing that any spare money they have needs to go toward keeping food on the table and a roof over everyone’s heads. It goes without saying the many business sectors have been drastically affected by the stunning drop in the economy, and the life insurance business is no exception.
You should be aware that despite the tough times, life insurance “does” make a great deal of sense. It is one of the smartest investments you can make. What makes life insurance slightly different from other financial sectors is that most bill payments are binding and can’t be allowed to lapse without some serious consequences.
Life insurance may lapse if the premiums aren’t paid, but that is all that happens. The insurance lapses and you don’t pay any more premiums, but then, you don’t have life insurance coverage either. Yes, many people think that buying life insurance for those “what if” things that “might” happen in the future is not as necessary as buying food, etc.
Recognizing this, life insurance brokers have been taking a hard look at the products they offer. These days many life insurance companies are asking themselves what they need to do to retain their customers. On the other side of the fence, many customers are thinking that they can do without life insurance until their economic situation improves, and resume the same level of coverage when they are ready to start paying on premiums once again.
This is a misguided assumption as age is a critical factor in buying life insurance and in determining the premiums. This is a risk factor that all life insurance companies use to insure consumers. The older you happen to be, the higher the risk of the life insurance company paying out. That means higher premiums or a smaller sum on payout on death. Put another way, letting your life insurance lapse may mean your life insurance will be “more” expensive when you resume coverage than if you have kept the policy in force.
Perhaps the most critical point to remember is that life insurance is intended to take care of those left behind in the event of a death; to provide them with a safety net if you will. With insurance companies re-evaluating their customer service approach, there may be incentives available for you to retain your life insurance policy even during rough financial times. Ask your broker what options may apply to you.
Evan Tunis is with FloridaHealthcareInsurance.com, the leading provider of Florida health insurance quotes. To learn more about Florida health insurance, Florida health insurance quotes, Florida life insurance,Florida life insurance quotes, Florida group health insurance visit Floridahealthcareinsurance.com.
