How Life Insurance Premiums Are Calculated
Life insurance is difficult enough to understand, but understanding how company computes your premiums is even harder. Calculating your life insurance rates is not as simple and straightforward as calculating your premiums for other kinds of risk, like fire insurance. The rates you pay for life insurance coverage are based on your state of health at the time you apply for the policy, and that risk assessment is made by a qualified medical professional. If you are not in good fit, or if you indulge in risky behaviors such as smoking or street drugs, the insurance company expects to have to pay out more benefits on your policy than if you were totally healthy and did nothing to put your health at risk. That is the reason insurance companies usually require a physical exam before issuing your life insurance policy.
Once the physical exam is conducted, the life insurance provider will review the exam results, your family?s medical history, your driving record and possibly other medical reports. A credit report may be obtained as well.
Life insurance companies usually ask you to fill out a questionnaire about your lifestyle and health issues that do not come up during a physical. However tempting it may be to try to sway the results, be honest as you answer the questionnaire and as you fill out your medical history. Any dishonesty anywhere in your application will give the company grounds to cancel your policy in the future?perhaps after you are gone and cannot do anything to contest it.
After reviewing all these reports, the company assigns you a score that reflects your risk. That is why the premium you wind up paying may not be even close to the quote the agent gave you when you applied for coverage. If the insurer determines that you are a higher risk level than was originally assumed, your premiums will be higher than your quote.
Life insurance companies tell us that there are ways to lower risk. In general, take good care of your health. Stick to a healthy weight. Eat well-balanced meals. Get out and exercise on a regular basis. If you are a smoker, quit. Drive safely, and don't get tickets. Auto insurance claims may also raise your life insurance premiums, not just your car insurance premiums. In general, enjoy your life, but avoid unnecessary risks
The insurance company also considers factors outside your control, like gender and age, in computing your premiums. That is why it is so important for you to do everything possible to improve your health and lower your risk. It's a good idea to do your research, ask several rounds of questions, and get several quotes before choosing your life insurance policy.
Once the physical exam is conducted, the life insurance provider will review the exam results, your family?s medical history, your driving record and possibly other medical reports. A credit report may be obtained as well.
Life insurance companies usually ask you to fill out a questionnaire about your lifestyle and health issues that do not come up during a physical. However tempting it may be to try to sway the results, be honest as you answer the questionnaire and as you fill out your medical history. Any dishonesty anywhere in your application will give the company grounds to cancel your policy in the future?perhaps after you are gone and cannot do anything to contest it.
After reviewing all these reports, the company assigns you a score that reflects your risk. That is why the premium you wind up paying may not be even close to the quote the agent gave you when you applied for coverage. If the insurer determines that you are a higher risk level than was originally assumed, your premiums will be higher than your quote.
Life insurance companies tell us that there are ways to lower risk. In general, take good care of your health. Stick to a healthy weight. Eat well-balanced meals. Get out and exercise on a regular basis. If you are a smoker, quit. Drive safely, and don't get tickets. Auto insurance claims may also raise your life insurance premiums, not just your car insurance premiums. In general, enjoy your life, but avoid unnecessary risks
The insurance company also considers factors outside your control, like gender and age, in computing your premiums. That is why it is so important for you to do everything possible to improve your health and lower your risk. It's a good idea to do your research, ask several rounds of questions, and get several quotes before choosing your life insurance policy.
About the Author:
Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator at Lifeinsurance-Southafrica.co.za South Arica?s leading Life Insurance and Life Cover portal.
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