How Does Life Insurance Work?

If you should suddenly or unexpectedly die, the beneficiaries named in your policy (often your family members) will receive the benefits, which can help your family survive financially after you're gone.

What's Life Insurance?

In formal terms: It's a financial arrangement between a Life Insurance company and an individual (policy holder) who pays the company (insurer) a certain amount of money (premium) with the guarantee that upon the death the insurer will pay the value of the policy (benefits) to the beneficiary or beneficiaries named in the policy. The payment of these benefits usually takes the form of either a lump sum or installments over a set period of time (known as an annuity).

In plain language: If you purchase Life Insurance and pay the premiums on time, when you die the insurance company will pay your family the amount of money specified in the policy.

Types Of Life Insurance

There are two main types of Life Insurance: Term Insurance and Whole Life Insurance (a.k.a. Universal or Permanent) Insurance. Term insurance covers you for a set amount of time, while Whole Life Insurance doesn't expire.

Click here to learn more about Term Insurance.

Click here to learn more about Whole Life Insurance.

Where To Buy Insurance

If you happen to have ever glanced at a TV, you’re well aware that insurance companies aren’t exactly laying low. They advertise non-stop. Feel free to hit one up and find out what they charge.

You can also check with your employer to see if the company offers Life Insurance as a benefit for employees. Note: Those benefits and/or payouts are often much less than a private policy and if you leave your job you lose the benefits.

For advice on how to select an agent please read: How to Choose a Life Insurance Agent.