Life Insurance Their are many types of life insurance to fit individual needs and circumstance. The following are some of the basic types of life insurance available.
Term insurance -- The simplest form of insurance. You purchase coverage for a specific price for a specified period. If you die during that time, your beneficiary receives the value of the policy. There is no investment component.
Whole life -- Similar to term, but you purchase the policy to cover your "whole life" not just a set period. Premiums remain level throughout the life of the policy, and the company invests at least a portion of your premiums. Some firms share investment proceeds with policyholders in the form of a dividend. Many companies will offer "a relatively low guaranteed rate of return," but in reality pay at a rate in excess of the guarantee.
Universal life -- You decide how much you want to put in over and above a minimum premium. The company chooses the investment vehicle, which is generally restricted to bonds and mortgages. The investment and the returns go into a cash-value account, which you can use against premiums or allow to build. With some policies, sometimes called Type I or Type A, the cash account goes toward the face value of the policy on the death of the policyholder. With a second variety, sometimes called Type II or Type B, the beneficiary receives the face value of the policy plus all or most of the cash account. While Type II is meant to provide a partial hedge against inflation, it demands higher premiums as you get older than Type I.
A variation of a universal policy, often called universal variable life, allows policyholders to choose investment vehicles.
Variable life -- With a variable policy, there is usually a wider selection of investment products, including stock funds. As with a universal policy, returns on investments can offset the cost of premiums or build in the account. And depending on the type of policy, the beneficiaries will either receive the face value of the policy or the face value plus all or part of the cash account
. Long Term Care Insurance What is LTC?
Long term care is something you may need if you can no longer perform everyday tasks by yourself. For example, there may come a time when you need help getting dressed, eating or bathing. It also includes the kind of care you would need if you had a severe cognitive impairment like Alzheimer's disease. You can receive this care in a variety of settings, including your home, an assisted living facility or a nursing home.
Why Would I Ever Need LTC?
The need for long term care usually arises from age or chronic illness, injury or disability. In fact, approximately 60% of us who reach age 65 will need long term care at some time in our lives.1 But it's not just a retiree's issue. Many people don't realize that the need for long term care can strike at any time. Statistics show that 40% of people receiving long term care services are working age adults, between the ages of 18 and 64. Would you be prepared for long term care, if you suddenly required it?
