A life insurance policy may provide several benefits. Cash value accrues, which can be used to pay premiums or increase the death benefit. Many policies also provide living benefits, such as accelerated death benefits, inflation protection, and terminal illness coverage. You may also choose to add riders to your policy. These benefits can significantly increase your premiums and benefit payout. Read more about life insurance riders to understand how these benefits can affect you. Here’s what they mean:
Insurable interest
Insurable interest is the basic prerequisite for any insurance policy. Insurable interests can be any person, item, event, or action. When a person initiates coverage for someone else, they must meet the insurable interest criteria. Examples of insurable interests include a spouse, child, parent, or sibling. In general, insurable interest benefits life insurance policies. In addition, life insurance policies can protect the interests of family members, including employees, employers, and employers.
Insurable interest is not negotiable, which means that a life insurance plan is invalid if you do not have an insurable interest in the life of the insured. It is important to have proof of insurable interest during the application process as well as at the end of the policy when the life insured passes away. If you are buying property insurance, insurable interest should be provided at the time of loss.
Cash value component
If you’re looking for a permanent life insurance policy with a tax-favored cash value component, you’ve come to the right place. Variable life insurance policies contain a cash value component invested in separate sub-accounts similar to mutual funds. A typical variable life policy may have several sub-accounts, while some can have as many as fifty. This component of your policy offers favorable tax treatment because cash value growth is not considered ordinary income, and can be accessed through loans using the account as collateral.
In general, cash value life insurance policies have varying cash value components, but they all contain a guaranteed amount. The cash value amount your beneficiaries receive will depend on the coverage amount you selected when you bought the policy. Your beneficiaries’ payout may be reduced if you have a debt against the policy at the time of your death. Cash-value life insurance policies are also useful for children, who often outgrow them when they reach the age of 21.
Accelerated death benefits rider
An accelerated death benefit is a rider on a life insurance policy that enables the policyholder to receive the death benefit before the normal age for that particular policy. This benefit is available only to those who are terminally or chronically ill. This benefit is not available to everyone, as it can affect the policyholder’s eligibility for government benefits such as Medicaid or Supplemental Social Security. This rider can be beneficial for a variety of reasons, including the following:
An accelerated death benefit rider can be paid for upfront or on a monthly or quarterly basis. Most insurance companies will include this feature as part of the policy’s benefits. However, it is best to speak with your Wealth Strategist to find out what payment structure is best for you. You can pay for the rider up front and then claim it when you need it. In either case, you will receive a disclosure that details the accelerated death benefit, the premium, and the coverage.
Policy loan
The policy loan benefit of life insurance allows you to borrow the cash value of your policy if you need money now. The insurance company will charge you an interest rate, which is generally lower than open market rates. The loan reduces your cash surrender value or death benefit if the policy lapses. Repayment of the loan is taxable income for the year in which it was made. If you use the loan to pay off your insurance, you can also reduce your death benefit to pay off your loan.
Another benefit of policy loans is that they don’t need to be paid back. As long as you keep up with your interest payments, your cash value in your life insurance policy will continue to grow. Taking out a policy loan is an excellent option for those who need extra money, or for those who are in need of emergency funds. However, you should always consider whether a policy loan is a right option for you. Make sure you understand your financial situation before taking out a loan.