Who is a good candidate for term life insurance?

Asked by: Lyric Armstrong III  |  Last update: March 28, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (19 votes)

Ideal Candidates for Term Insurance Parents of young children are a good example. If you have children and pass away, your family will miss out on many years of your earnings. They might need a six- or even seven-figure policy to help replace your income, cover bills and pay future college education costs.

Who should consider term life insurance?

Term life insurance is attractive to young people with children. Parents can obtain substantial coverage for a low cost, and if the insured dies while the policy is in effect, the family can rely on the death benefit to replace lost income. These policies are also well-suited for people with growing families.

Who are good candidates for life insurance?

Top 8 Types of Life Insurance Prospects
  • Growing families. Couples who have just married or are having kids are likely to purchase life insurance. ...
  • Existing property and casualty customers. ...
  • New business owners. ...
  • New homeowners. ...
  • People with health issues. ...
  • Young professionals. ...
  • People who've recently lost a loved one.

What is the main disadvantage of term life insurance?

Cons: Drawbacks of Term Life Insurance Policies

Here are some of the key disadvantages: Temporary Coverage: Term life insurance covers a specific period (e.g., 10, 20, or 30 years). Once the term ends, the policy expires, and coverage stops.

What will disqualify you from term life insurance?

Due to the added risk health problems create for insurers, some pre-existing conditions can raise your premium or even disqualify you entirely from certain types of life insurance. A few common examples of pre-existing conditions include high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and asthma.

Why Is Term Insurance Better Than Whole Life Insurance?

19 related questions found

At what age should you not get term life insurance?

At What Age Is Life Insurance No Longer Needed? Life insurance is no longer needed for many people once they reach their 60s or 70s. At this point they have retired, their kids have grown up, and they've paid off their mortgage and other debts.

Why would you be denied term life insurance?

They can include engaging in risky hobbies and behaviors like skydiving; having a history of DUIs or speeding tickets; having a dangerous job like roofing; having a criminal record or a less than ideal financial history; being a smoker; and failing a drug test.

What is better than term life insurance?

It depends on your needs and wants. If you only need life insurance for a relatively short period of time (such as while you have minor children to raise), term life may be better because the premiums are more affordable. If you need permanent coverage that lasts your entire life, whole life is likely preferred.

Do you get money back if you outlive term life insurance?

Can you get your money back after your term life policy expires? Once your policy ends, you can't get back the premiums you paid unless you have a return of premium rider. This optional add-on lets you receive a refund of premiums if you outlive your policy term.

What does Dave Ramsey recommend for life insurance?

Core Ramsey Teaching: You only need life insurance while you have people depending on your income. Buy a 10–20-year term policy worth 10–12 times your annual income. Since life insurance is only for the short-term, you should only buy term life insurance. (Hence the name.)

Who is uninsurable for life insurance?

“Factors such as pre-existing medical conditions, age, occupation and lifestyle choices can contribute to a person being considered 'uninsurable' according to standard underwriting guidelines,” says Tarek El Ali, Founder of Smart Insurance Agents.

Who is the best beneficiary for life insurance?

A lot of people name a close relative—like a spouse, brother or sister, or child—as a beneficiary. You can also choose a more distant relative or a friend. If you want to designate a friend as your beneficiary, be sure to check with your insurance company or directly with your state.

Who is considered high risk for life insurance?

Factors that make people high-risk applicants for life insurance
  • Heart disease.
  • Cancer.
  • Diabetes.
  • Chronic respiratory diseases.
  • Autoimmune diseases.

What does Suze Orman say about term life insurance?

One of my key life insurance rules is this: Stick with term life insurance. Unless you have someone in your family with special needs, there is typically no need to buy whole life, or universal life, which are referred to as “permanent” policies and cost a lot more.

At what point is life insurance not worth it?

The point of life insurance is to replace your income when you die. If you don't have anyone who'll need that income when you die, then you don't need life insurance. Or if you're doing so well financially that you're self-insured, you're still good to go without it.

Can you cash out term life insurance?

While you can't cash out term life insurance, you can sell your policy. Additionally, you may have other options if you want to change your coverage, such as lowering your premium payments or converting to a permanent policy.

At what age should you stop paying term life insurance?

If retirement savings, investments and Social Security are enough to provide for final expenses and your survivors who still rely on your income—you may not need life insurance in your 60s. In some situations, however, having life insurance after 60 makes sense.

Which is better, term or whole life insurance?

Term life is more affordable but lasts only for a set period of time. On the other hand, whole life insurance tends to have higher premiums but never expires. Knowing the differences between term and whole life insurance will help you choose a policy that works best for you and your lifestyle.

What happens to a 20 year term life insurance when it expires?

If your term life policy expires while you're still alive, your insurance company will notify you that your coverage has ended, and you no longer need to pay your premium. If you still need coverage, it may be possible to renew your policy for a set period of time.

What is the major negative to term life insurance?

Term Life insurance Cons: If you outlive the term length, your coverage will end and you won't receive any benefits. You will not be covered your entire lifetime and your policy will not accumulate cash value like an investment account does.

Who is term life insurance best for?

Term insurance is most suitable for individuals or families with a limited budget. Many families have a hard time finding more money to save. Additionally, young families often need higher life insurance coverage for the following reasons: Higher amounts of debt (student loans, consumer debt, mortgages)

What are the disadvantages of term insurance?

Is there any disadvantage of buying term insurance? There are a few disadvantages of buying term insurance including lack of investment component, higher premiums with rising age, and absence of surrender value.

What is not a reason to buy a term life policy?

Final answer: Term life insurance policies are designed to offer temporary protection, low-cost coverage, and aid in covering debts like a mortgage balance if insured dies. However, they are not used to accumulate savings as term life insurance has no cash value or savings component.

What voids term life insurance?

Life insurance is a contract between you and the insurance company. Misrepresenting yourself or providing inaccurate information on your insurance application can cause a breach and void the contract, ending with the claim denied.

Do you need an exam for term life insurance?

Yes, some insurers offer life insurance policies without a medical exam, usually called guaranteed issue or simplified issue policies.