Houston Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney Blog
In "3 ways to choose the right life insurance plan," the New York Daily News invites readers to consider how their lives have changed over the decades, and how their insurance should change too.
Young adults have some pretty straightforward insurance needs like obtaining insurance for their first car, insuring that special engagement ring or shopping for rental insurance for that first apartment. As we get older, our needs in life and in insurance change. Saving for a down payment on the first house, college tuition for the kids, and then down the road, retirement become new priorities. And many of us will be faced with unexpected events, like illness or death of a loved one, divorce or a spouse who is forced to retire prematurely.
Make adjustments. Life insurance is an important financial tool that should never be a "set it and forget it" plan. For example, a couple has life insurance policies on which they're continuing to pay premium payments and then the husband passes away. Depending on the death benefit and her level of concern for their children's financial state, it is possible that the wife does not need to keep her life insurance policy. She could put the dollars she was paying for insurance premiums in her pocket for her desired benefit. Also, many companies have employer-sponsored life insurance plans for their employees that cover about three years of salary. Depending on the level of coverage, you might consider purchasing additional insurance outside of your employer.
Know when to cancel. Don't be afraid to cancel your policy if it makes sense for your financial outlook. By the time many people retire, hanging on to insurance policies and continuing to make premium payments may not make sense. If you have a total estate value that may exceed the federal estate tax exemption amount at your death ($5.45 million), high net worth individuals may use life insurance to help offset estate taxes more than the exemption amount.
Select the correct plan for your stage of life. Consider premium costs when you are making decisions about what kind of coverage you need. Typically, the amount of coverage available to an individual is capped at ten times the annual salary. There are strict guidelines used by insurance companies to determine coverage, based in part on health and financial guidelines. Your medical records will be reviewed and you will likely be asked to undergo a medical exam before your rates are set.
Reference: New York Daily News (March 22, 2016) "3 ways to choose the right life insurance plan"