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How Does Life Insurance Work?

By September 13, 2022 Advisor, Blog, Consumer, News

If you’re young and have no dependents, you probably haven’t given much thought to life insurance. Maybe you’re a new homeowner too overwhelmed by the change in your finances to consider life insurance. Whatever your circumstances, understanding the basics of life insurance will help you figure out if it’s right for you right now. Read on to learn about the basics of life insurance and how it can help you weather the uncertainties of life.

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What is Life Insurance, and What is it for?

Life insurance is a contract between you and an insurance company. You generally pay a monthly premium, and the company agrees to pay your beneficiary a certain amount under the terms of the insurance contract when you pass away. Your beneficiary can usually be anyone you choose: a family member, a friend, or even a charity or other organization, and they can use the payout for anything they like.

The main benefit of life insurance for the policyholder is often the peace of mind they get from knowing that their beneficiary won’t have to worry about finances suddenly.

Term Life Insurance vs. Permanent Life Insurance

There are two general types of life insurance: term life and permanent (or whole) life.

Term life insurance is for a set length of time: often 10, 20, or 25 years. At the end of that time, the policyholder will have to buy a new policy if they want to remain insured. These policies are generally best for people with greater financial responsibilities during the period the policy is in effect. For example, they may want more coverage while their children still live at home than when they’ve moved out and are supporting themselves. Some term policies can be converted into whole life policies, a feature to ask about when shopping for insurance.

Permanent (or whole) life insurance are usually designed to last for the policyholder’s life, as long as the premiums are paid. These policies may also include a savings or investment component separate from the policy’s face value. Permanent life policies tend to be more expensive than term life policies.

Traditional Life Insurance vs No-Medical Life Insurance

These products are similar, but the process of getting insured differs.

Traditional life insurance (also known as fully underwritten life insurance or medically underwritten insurance) requires a medical exam. During the exam, you usually provide a fluid sample, fill out a detailed questionnaire, and have blood drawn for testing. You may also have additional tests like an electrocardiogram. The results of the exam are used to help determine what your premiums will be. Because it takes time to arrange for the exam and get the results, the insurance typically doesn’t come into effect for one to three months. This type of insurance is often best for people with no serious health conditions or lifestyle factors, who don’t need insurance immediately, and who don’t mind undergoing a physical.

No-medical life insurance usually only requires a short questionnaire. There’s typically no medical exam involved, no needles, fluid samples, or tests, and no doctor’s visit. Since the process is faster, your coverage starts much more quickly, usually in one to four weeks. Canada Protection Plan is a leader in no-medical life insurance; if you think this type of insurance is right for you, see the wide range of plans we have available.

How to Purchase Life Insurance

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the choices and decisions in front of you when you’re shopping for life insurance. Breaking it down into steps makes it more manageable.

  1. Decide what type and how much life insurance you need. This should usually be based on your family’s expenses and how much it would cost to keep them safe and secure if you pass away. Some factors to consider include: Do you have children who will need tuition for higher education? Do you have a large mortgage? Will you only need enough to cover your final expenses? You also need to evaluate the role of your life insurance in your overall financial planning. For example, do you have mortgage protection insurance? If so, you may not need to include the value of your mortgage in your calculations. Sitting down with your family or an insurance advisor can help you figure this out. Remember that you can usually get additional insurance if your needs change.
  2. Compare plans. Getting quotes will help you compare policies on both price and features. Again, an insurance advisor can guide you through this process.
  3. Purchase a plan and designate a beneficiary. Clarifying the purpose of getting insurance will help you choose your beneficiary.
  4. Ensure that your beneficiary knows how to make a claim against your policy when the time comes. Advise them where you keep your important papers and whom to contact when you pass away.

Researching and buying life insurance doesn’t have to be painful. Canada Protection Plan has the tools you need to move forward with this important part of your financial planning. Our free, no-obligation online tools will help your figure out how much coverage you need and give you a quote on your premiums. If no-medical life insurance is right for you, we have a plan to help you secure your family’s future. Contact us today to talk about your needs and how we can help.

Canada Protection Plan is one of Canada’s leading providers of No Medical and Simplified Issue Life Insurance. Our mission is to provide reliable protection and compassionate service from coast to coast with easy-to-purchase life insurance, critical illness insurance and related products. Our expanding product choices will help you get the coverage and peace of mind you need for a better financial future. Canada Protection Plan products are available through over 25,000 independent insurance advisors across Canada.

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To learn more about Canada Protection Plan and our line of comprehensive No Medical and Simplified Issue life insurance solutions, call Broker Services at 1-877-796-9090 and we will be happy to assist you or put you in contact with Sales support in your region.

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