What is the Best Life Insurance for Seniors?
When looking for life insurance for seniors, it’s important to ask the following questions:
- How much coverage do I need?
- What kind of life insurance should I get?
- What kind of policy is best for my family?
- How much can I afford?
- Can I get approved for the policy I want?
You can start answering these questions by reviewing your financial situation. For example, do you have a spouse, kids, or anyone else who is dependent on you? Do you have large bills like a mortgage or car payment that would need to be paid when you’re gone? If anyone in your life depends on you financially, you should consider a policy to protect them from unforeseen costs. Even if you believe your dependents are adequately cared for, life insurance may still be worth considering because your family may need to pay estate taxes, end-of-life medical bills, and burial costs (which can cost $9,000 or more).
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Determining how much coverage you need depends on a variety of personal factors, including your marital status, the size of your family, your debts, assets, and your end-of-life goals. As a rule of thumb, the Wall Street Journal recommends purchasing coverage equal to 8 to 10 times your annual income. If you have life insurance through your employer, the coverage may not be enough and may terminate when you retire.
Don’t forget to factor in other costs as well: funeral expenses, debt repayment (such as your mortgage, car loans, and credit card debt), and any medical bills associated with your passing. You may also want to leave a financial gift for your spouse, children, or to charity. Your needs will change as time goes by, so periodically review your policy and check that it meets your financial needs.
Here are some considerations for every major type of policy.
Whole Life vs. Term Life Insurance for Seniors
When thinking about whether you should buy term or whole life insurance, you need to keep two things in mind: your age and your budget. Keep in mind that as you age, renewing a term life insurance policy will become more difficult which is why whole life insurance may be a smarter choice for seniors.
Term Life Insurance for Seniors
Term insurance pays benefits only if death occurs during the term of the policy, which normally is from one to 30 years. Most term policies do not offer any other additional benefits. Term policies usually come in two types: level-term (where benefits remain the same through the length of the policy), or decreasing-term (where benefits typically diminish over the life of the policy). Healthy men over 70 can expect to pay $122 to $435 for a ten-year term life insurance policy with a $200,000 death benefit. And healthy women will pay between $66 and $194 for the same policy.
Whole Life Insurance for Seniors
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Whole life insurance, sometimes called permanent life, pays benefits regardless of when the policyholder dies as long as the policy is still in force. Most whole life policies last for the life of the policyholder and some accumulate cash value that can distribute cash payouts in the form of a loan. Policy loans must be repaid while the policyholder is still alive or the loan amount will be deducted from the benefit at the time of death. For most traditional whole life policies, the death benefit and the insurance premium remain the same for the length of the policy.
When buying whole life insurance for seniors, healthy men should expect to pay between $1,122 and $2,089 a month for a $250,000 death benefit. And healthy women will pay $934 to $1,801 for their whole life insurance policies.
You can also choose to buy final expense life insurance for seniors, which is a type of whole life insurance. With it, you can usually avoid taking a medical exam and only have to answer a few health questions on the application. Premiums are significantly lower, too. If you decide to purchase this type of plan, men will pay roughly $43 to $286 for a $10,000 policy, while women will pay about $33 to $211.
Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance for Seniors
Universal life or adjustable life allows for more freedom than a standard whole life policy. With some universal policies, you can reduce or even skip payments although this may cause the value of the policy to increase at a slower rate since you are covering your payments with the current cash value.
If you have health conditions that make it hard to qualify for term insurance, guaranteed universal life insurance is something to consider since it’s a cross between term life insurance and whole life insurance. You will need to undergo an underwriting process just as you would when buying a term life insurance policy for seniors.
Final Expense Insurance for Seniors
Final expense insurance – also called “burial insurance” or “funeral insurance” – is a type of whole life insurance meant to help your loved ones with funeral costs and other end-of-life expenses like unpaid medical bills. Today, funerals can cost up to $9,000 or more according to the National Funeral Directors Association. Final expense policies are popular with seniors because you often don’t have to take a medical exam to qualify – coverage is issued based on answers to health questions on the application. Policy rates are typically more affordable than other types of life insurance because the policy amount is usually much smaller, typically $10,000 – $15,000.
Affordable Life Insurance for Seniors
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In general, final expense insurance is typically the most affordable because you can buy a policy for as little as $15 a month. Final expense plans are perfect for seniors on a fixed income or for those who may have trouble qualifying for larger policies.
When deciding how much senior life insurance you can afford, be sure to consider your entire budget and any future changes that may impact your finances. Some may look for the cheapest life insurance available, but many times these policies aren’t meant for seniors. Choose a policy with the benefits most likely to help surviving loved ones.
The cost of your policy will depend on your sex, age, overall health, and the coverage amount you’re taking out. If your goal is to ensure you don’t leave behind your funeral costs for your loved ones, you only need a final expense insurance policy. But if you want to leave something more to your beneficiary, a term or whole life plan may be better if you can afford it.
No Medical Exam Life Insurance for Seniors
Some people feel that because of their age or health they will not be approved for senior life insurance. But enhancements in insurance underwriting and the availability of specialty insurers who focus on covering those with higher risks means life insurance is available to almost everyone.
Once you’ve found a company and policy that meets your needs, you will be asked to fill out an application. To be approved for coverage, you’ll need to provide some personal information about yourself, such as your age, your height and weight, any health conditions you have, and any life insurance you already have. For some insurers, you may be asked to complete a medical exam to qualify.
For smaller policies, some companies offer life insurance without a medical exam. Final expense insurance for seniors is usually issued based on answers to health questions on the application. It’s important to answer all questions honestly when filling out your application so your coverage can be issued accurately. Misrepresenting the truth can result in your policy being canceled or death benefits being denied if incorrect information was provided.
Guaranteed issue life insurance (also known as guaranteed life insurance) plans also exist, but these are often very expensive and may not fit most budgets.