Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The Features of Joint Life Insurance

Dividends
Most joint life insurance policies earn dividends from the premiums being paid by policyholders. These dividends can be used to reduce premium payment or it can be left to
accumulate with interest. It can also be received in cash, should the policyholder opts for that.
Loans
Most policies allow holders to borrow from the cash value of their policy. The interest for these loans are based on the market's rate. If the loans and the interest that comes with it is not paid, it will be deducted from the proceeds of the policy during death or if it is surrendered prior.
Premiums
Premiums are what policyholders pay on a regular basis. Most joint life insurance companies require these to be paid either until the 100th year of the younger insured or until the second death. But more often than not, these premiums are at level, meaning they don't change as time progresses.
Non-forfeiture options
These are options that protect the policyholder against incidents wherein they were unable to pay their premiums. Examples of these options are automatic premium loan, paid-up insurance, and cash surrender

Optional Benefits
Optional benefits are benefits offered at an additional cost. A waiver of premium benefit relinquishes all the premium payments if and when the holder becomes disabled. There's also a death waiver of premium that provides for the waiving of payment when one of the holder dies for a specified period of time.

After understanding these points, it is easier to see that joint life insurance policies are advantageous in such a way it carries lower premiums than if you choose two separate policies. The requirements for underwriting this type of insurance are way easier too. Plus it works the same way as regular life insurance polices, such as it build cash values and offer loans as well.

But in spite of those advantages and before availing joint term life insurance quotes, you have to know that these joint insurance polices are not really flexible. Once they are written, there is almost no room for changes. And if you happen to be the younger of the two person under the survivor life insurance, you will be paying more than your partner, because the premiums are computed based on the average ages. And to top it all, for those who availed the first to die clause, the survivor would need to purchase whole life to cover the final expenses of the policy. And because there is no way to determine who the two of you will die first, it is really hard to make arrangements early on when the cost is cheaper.
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