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Dianne Williams Wildt, MBA

Certified Retirement Counselor®

Since 1983 in the financial services and investment industry

 

Retirement Pathways, Inc.

4500 Bowling Blvd., Suite 100

Louisville, KY 40207

 

Phone:  502-797-1258

 

Email: dianne@retirementpathways.com

Website: www.retirementpathways.com

September/October 2020

The Cost of Life Insurance

The Cost of Life Insurance

Many factors affect the cost of life insurance. While you can minimize some of these costs, others are out of your control. Either way, understanding how life insurance is priced can help you make a more informed and less expensive buying decision. And as this year’s turmoil has shown, adults of every age should consider their need for life insurance.


The Basics
Two factors have an outsized effect on life insurance premiums. The first is your age. Simply put, life insurance becomes more expensive as you age, dramatically so later on. The second is how much insurance you buy.


Life insurance can either be underwritten or not. The cost of group life insurance you get through your employer is typically not underwritten but based on the insurer’s experience with a particular group of insured people. Other life insurance policies, especially some that you buy individually, are underwritten. Underwriting is as simple as a questionnaire about your health or as complicated as a blood test or medical exam. The latter is usually reserved for the highest life insurance amounts.


Finally, some types of life insurance offer options, called riders. They can pay premiums if you become disabled, increase your life insurance benefit over time and more. Some cost extra, others are free.

Other Factors
One factor dramatically affecting life insurance premiums is the health of the insured person. Some health conditions can increase premium costs a little or until they are almost unaffordable. Other factors, like occupation, can also affect costs. For example, insurers may consider a librarian a safe job, but not cover a professional skydiver for an on-the-job accident.


There are things you can do to reduce costs and some of these steps revolve around health. If you smoke, find a smoking cessation program and try to stop. In time, this will lower your premiums and could improve your health. If you have health conditions you can correct with a good diet or exercise, take action to improve your health. And if your driving record factors poorly into your life insurance premiums, become a safer driver.


These and other steps can help you save on life insurance premiums. Talk to a life insurance professional to learn more.


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Investment advisory services offered through American Capital Management, Inc., a State Registered Investment Advisor. Retirement Pathways, Inc. is independent of American Capital Management, Inc.
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