Life insurance cost is a major factor in the uptake of these policies. It guides our choices on whether to get a policy and which one to get should we decide to.
The benefits of life insurance cannot be overlooked. In these uncertain times of conflicts and strange diseases, your family can live confidently knowing they are covered against any eventualities.
There is a general belief that life insurance is sold, and not bought. Well, it couldn’t be further from the truth, but it doesn’t mean the consumer has no say in the cost of life insurance.
In this quick guide, we take a look at six ways you can reduce the cost of life insurance and lead a better, happier life.
Shop around
The UK is home to many established and reputable insurance providers. Each of these providers has a unique product targeted to a specific market. Your desired insurance policy might be in the hands of one of these providers.
When shopping for a life insurance cover, take your time and assess all the options available to you. If you are not sure about what you’re looking for, it wouldn’t hurt to talk to experts such as Caspian Insurance. Yes, you might incur a small fee in some cases but the advice and recommendations you get from them will save you a lot in the long run.
Quit smoking
If you’ve shopped around for a life insurance cover, then you probably know smoking ranks high amongst the red flags for insurers.
Smoking impacts your health negatively. Studies have shown that smoking cuts your lifespan by as much as ten years. Studies done in the UK show that 8 in 10 non-smokers live well past 70 years while less than half of long-term smokers make it past 70.
Insurance providers place high premiums on smokers to cushion them against early claims. Generally, non-smokers pay favourable monthly premiums compared to smokers. This doesn’t mean it is cast in stone if you took your premium as a smoker. It’s never late to make a change and get a better deal on your life insurance.
For instance, if you quit smoking for only one year, then shop around for a policy as a non-smoker, you’ll notice the premiums are significantly lower.
While it may not be possible to adjust your existing policy to reflect your new life as a non-smoker, you can always get a new cover at a lower cost. However, do not terminate your existing cover before your new cover is in force.
Select the right level of cover
Don’t go too high or too low when choosing your level of cover. If you take out too little it may not be enough to cater to your loved one’s needs should you pass away. In the end, it will defeat the intention of having life insurance in the first place.
Also, if you take out too much you may end up paying for more than your family needs and end up paying a bigger premium than necessary.
Create a rough estimate of how much your family will need to cover the mortgage, education, monthly bills, or replace your income.
Finally, consider how long you might need the insurance. It could be temporary until you clear demanding bills such as the mortgage or your children’s education.
Again, if you are unsure of what you need, get an expert to help you make the right choice.
Make healthier choices
I know we talked about smoking earlier, but that isn’t the only lifestyle choice driving up your premiums. Most of the conditions flagged down by insurance providers are a result of what we eat and do.
Diabetes, obesity, and many other lifestyle diseases are now the leading killers in the UK. Insurance providers are aware of this and they know the tell-tale signs of high-risk clients. If an insurance provider considers you as a high-risk client, they will slap you with high premiums.
As hard as it may be, cutting down on sugar, junk food, and exercising more will greatly lower your life insurance cost. You will get a favourable quotation and have more options at hand when shopping for a life insurance policy.
Take a decreasing term cover
The premiums on a cover such as Mortgage Life Insurance decreases over time. Such flexible terms are ideal when you want to address concerns limited to a specific duration.
For instance, you may want to cover your family against the costs of a mortgage or a huge debt. This cover allows you to pay lower premiums as your debt reduces. Additionally, you only have to pay for it for as long as the presumed threat to your family’s livelihood still exists.
Conclusion
The cost of life insurance cover should not be an impediment to getting cover for your loved ones. There are other ways, other than the ones we’ve discussed, in which you could drastically cut down the cost of your cover. Talk to an expert today to find out the options you have.
