Senior Life Insurance Plans - A Guide To Affordable Life Insurance For Seniors

The renowned philosopher and statesman, Benjamin Franklin, famously proclaimed, "Nothing is certain in this world, but death and taxes," which compels thinking people to strongly consider preparing for the inevitable: death.

Since death is unavoidable and we must die eventually, why not be prepared for it, say wise men (and insurance agents).

READ ALSO:   INSURANCE AND ASSURANCE

So, while it is true that savings, pension plans and contingency funds are all good, old-fashioned tools for ensuring financial security, in the rapidly changing world of technology, wars, natural disasters and changing global economies, it is prudent to combine financial security with cash returns. This is where senior life insurance plans play an important role in providing the necessary financial freedom for people aged 50 plus.

While it is true that buying life cover at a younger age means paying lower premiums, since most factors that affect policy costs, like health and high risk lifestyle factors, are at optimum levels, there are many top rated insurance companies that specialize in senior life insurance plans.

These are also called 'guaranteed acceptance life insurance' policies by some providers, since they have minimal requirements for senior applicants, which can be met easily by individuals over 50.

However, if you are keen on buying affordable life insurance policies for seniors, remember that not all companies offer the same features, benefits, add-on covers and costs. So, check out the individual plans offered by top rated life assurance providers and clarify with the insurance agent about any riders you are not sure would benefit your financial goals.

Buying Senior Life Insurance Plans? Remember the following tips to buy an affordable plan!

• Ensure you meet the minimum qualifications for the senior life cover plan before you apply for this type of policy, which typically covers people aged 50-75 years of age that are residing in the area covered by the company.

• Clarify your policy commencement date with your insurance agent to avoid misunderstanding, as buying your policy online usually means your coverage starts from the time you've completed formalities of the registration process and made the required initial payment. However, if you are to buy a policy via the conventional medium, like over the telephone or in person, the insurance broker will confirm the date your policy starts and this may take a little more time than an online policy.

• Pay attention to the duration of coverage you choose, since most senior life insurance plans cover you till the time your premium payments are up-to-date. However, if your premiums lapse, you are not entitled to any benefits from the company. So, it is advisable to include a premium cap option, which means you don't need to pay any more monthly premiums than the coverage you expect to receive; this way, you stay covered for the rest of your life.

• To buy affordable life insurance for seniors, choose a plan that allows you to pay premiums based on extent of coverage. This will enable you to pay for a life cover plan that you can afford to buy comfortably at the time you apply for the policy. Alternately, you can opt for the premium cap feature that only requires you pay premiums till you meet your coverage amount. So, either way, you get to control the cost of plan.