Why is life insurance important? (2024)

Life insurance is there to help protect your family from financial hardship. Here are some other reasons to consider.

Life insurance can often be confusing. Many people know what it is, but they aren't really sure why they may need a policy. This can lead to people putting off getting a policy or, worse, not getting one at all.

If you want to help ensure your family is going to have income and better be able to pay off debts after you’re gone, then life insurance may be very important. Here's why it matters.

Who needs life insurance?

Life insurance isn’t just for those who are married with children. Life insurance can help provide financial assistance to family members and loved ones in case of your untimely death. For younger individuals, life insurance could help your family avoid taking on the burden of your college or other debt you may have acquired over time. If you are in your golden years, life insurance could help your loved ones provide the kind of funeral you envision without putting a financial strain on them. For those that have established a thriving business, life insurance could help ensure the future of your business even if you were not there. Even children with life insurance can lock in lower premiums, securing coverage for the future.

No matter your age or stage of life, life insurance could be a valuable tool to help protect those you love.

Provide for lost income

One of the primary reasons people get life insurance is to help ensure their loved ones won't face financial hardships if they pass away unexpectedly. If you're married and have kids, this can matter a lot, especially if you're the primary breadwinner. Without your income, your family might not be able to afford your mortgage or cover tuition costs. Your life insurance death benefit can help pay for these.

Also, keep in mind, if you are a stay-at-home parent, the value you provide through your work with your kids and at home is important. If you were to pass away, your spouse would have to pay for the services you provide taking care of your family.

Life insurance is important even if you don't have a spouse or children. If you have a partner you share finances with, for example, they might not have the funds to cover the bills that you normally split.

Help cover bills and debts

The same is true for paying for bills and other types of debt.

If you pass away with credit card debt or a car loan, for example, then that debt doesn't disappear — someone will have to pay for it. In many cases, that could be your spouse or partner, and, if you are single, your parents or siblings. Having life insurance can help cover these payments so the costs aren't left to your loved ones.

Your life insurance policy can also help pay for your funeral service and burial. This can help alleviate the burden your loved ones might face trying to pay for it.

Reduce stress

When a loved one passes away, it's always an emotional and stressful time. This already difficult period can be more challenging if there are concerns about replacing income and covering bills.

While your life insurance policy can't solve every problem, it can provide a bit of a buffer for your family to get back on their feet. Knowing they have your death benefit to cover the mortgage, for example, can give your spouse the time they need to move forward at their own pace.

Some common myths and excuses around life insurance

There are a lot of reasons why people think they don't need life insurance. Here are some of the most common myths and excuses — and why they may not add up.

  • I have life insurance through my employer— A lot of jobs offer a group life insurance policy that's usually one or two times your salary. While that's a good start, in many cases, it won't be enough for your loved ones to replace your income over the long term. Plus, if you leave your job, that policy often won't travel with you.
  • It's too expensive— There are a lot of different types of life insurancepolicies, making it possible for virtually anyone to find something in their budget. If you're young and healthy, policies tend to have a very affordable monthly premium.
  • I don't know anything about life insurance— Life insurance can sometimes feel like a confusing topic. Sitting with a financial professional or life insurance agent can be really helpful. They can walk you through the policies that best fit your needs and help you figure out how much coverage you should have.
  • I can put that money into my savings— Life insurance shouldn't be something that you look at as part of your retirement plan. Rather, it's there to help your loved ones after you pass.
  • I don't have the time— You can complete most of the paperwork for many life insurance policies online from the comfort of your living room. If you need to get an exam, these typically only take about 30 minutes.
  • I'm single so I don't need insurance -A common misconception is that a single person without childrendoesn't really need to buy life insurance. There are many ways as a single person that you could use life insurance to take care of financial obligations that might potentially burden those you love should you die unexpectedly, such as outstanding debts or funeral expenses.
  • I'm young so I don't need life insurance -Especially if you’re young, your untimely death could prove overwhelming to family and friends. Easing the financial burden of debt repayment and/or funeral costs could help make things just a little easier for your family at this unimaginable time. If you are young, you may also be able to lock in a lower rate for insurance coverage into the future, assuming you continue to pay premiums without interruption.

Why do I need life insurance?

Getting a life insurance policy is vital for ensuring your family's security in the future and your peace of mind today. You want to make sure your loved ones will be protected and have financial security if the unexpected should happen to you. Everything from medical bills and funeral costs to mortgage payments and educational expenses can be a drain on all you've worked and saved for. That's why we believe it's essential to have financial protection in place for your family in the event of your death.

You can quickly and easily get a quoteand start the simple application process right now. Protective makes it convenient and easy to apply for the dependable coverage you want through a streamlined online process that's as close as your fingertips. If you need help with your free life insurance quote from Protective, or any step of the application process, we're here for you.

WEB.1893.02.16

Why is life insurance important? (2024)

FAQs

Why is life insurance important? ›

You need life insurance if you need to provide security for a spouse, children, or other family members in the event of your death. Life insurance death benefits can help beneficiaries pay off a mortgage, cover college tuition, or help fund retirement.

Why is life insurance so important? ›

Why is life insurance important? Buying life insurance protects your spouse and children from the potentially devastating financial losses that could result if something happened to you. It provides financial security, helps to pay off debts, helps to pay living expenses, and helps to pay any medical or final expenses.

What is the purpose of life insurance do you think everyone needs life insurance? ›

Key Takeaways

People with young children are strongly recommended to have life insurance to protect their family. Homeowners should take out life insurance so that the death benefit can pay off the mortgage. Business owners and those who want to pass down a financial legacy are also advised to purchase life insurance.

Why is it important to get life insurance early? ›

Younger means getting more coverage for the future

Not only will being young and healthy help keep your insurance premiums lower, but it allows you to buy a lot more insurance coverage for the future.

How important is health and life insurance? ›

Health and life insurance policies provide valuable benefits to protect you and your family from the potentially crippling financial effects of an unexpected illness, injury, or death.

What is life insurance and how does it impact your life? ›

Life insurance is a contract between you and an insurance company. In exchange for your premium payments, the life insurance company will pay a lump sum known as a death benefit to your beneficiaries after your death, as long as your policy is in force.

What is life insurance in simple words? ›

Life Insurance can be defined as a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurance company, where the insurer promises to pay a sum of money in exchange for a premium, upon the death of an insured person or after a set period.

What is the primary purpose of the life insurance? ›

The primary purpose of life insurance is to provide a financial benefit to dependants upon premature death of an insured person. The policy pays a specified amount called a “death benefit” to the named beneficiary, when the insured dies.

Who needs life insurance the most? ›

There are seven situations in which life insurance can play a critical role upon the passing of a loved one:
  • Single earner household. Your non-working spouse or partner could end up with no income if you die. ...
  • Children. ...
  • Home and college. ...
  • Debts. ...
  • Business owner. ...
  • People with special needs. ...
  • Funeral expenses.
Jul 1, 2024

Who can benefit from life insurance? ›

Life insurance benefits can help replace your income if you pass away. This means your beneficiaries could use the money to help cover essential expenses, such as paying a mortgage or college tuition for your children. It can also be used to pay off debt, such as credit card bills or an outstanding car loan.

What does life insurance cover? ›

Life insurance covers the insured person's life. So if you pass away while your policy is active, your beneficiaries can use the payout to cover whatever they choose — medical bills, funeral costs, education, loans, day-to-day costs, and even savings.

When should you have life insurance? ›

The best time to buy life insurance is usually as soon as possible. That's because the younger and healthier you are when you purchase a policy, the lower your premium will generally be. If you're single with no children, life insurance may not be a priority.

Which is the best life insurance? ›

Top life insurance companies
CompanyBest forAM Best Financial Strength Rating
Mutual of OmahaDigital accessibilityA+ (Superior)
NationwideCustomer satisfactionA (Excellent)
Northwestern MutualUniversal life insuranceA++ (Superior)
PrudentialPolicy personalizationA+ (Superior)
3 more rows

Why do we need life insurance? ›

Long-term family needs

Life insurance proceeds can help cover those new expenses. If you have children, life insurance can help provide stability and normalcy in their lives — for example, remaining in their school district, participating in sports, having the ability to go to college or pursue other dreams.

What is the importance and role of life insurance? ›

The primary importance of a life insurance policy is that it provides your family with long-term financial security. Life insurance policies provide a lump sum money to financially support your family in the case of your early demise.

Why having insurance is important and its role in daily life? ›

Insurance is an important financial tool. It can help you live life with fewer worries knowing you'll receive financial assistance after a disaster or accident, helping you recover faster.

Is life insurance really worth it? ›

On the other hand, if you have loved ones who depend on you financially—or you have debts that would be burdensome for your family if you died—life insurance is likely worth it. It's valuable financial protection, and is often part of a solid overall financial plan.

What is the primary purpose of life insurance? ›

The primary purpose of life insurance is to provide a financial benefit to dependants upon premature death of an insured person. The policy pays a specified amount called a “death benefit” to the named beneficiary, when the insured dies.

What does life insurance pay for? ›

A life insurance policy can help fill in the gaps to pay financial obligations such as rent or mortgage costs, funeral and burial expenses, school tuition, and personal debt such as student loans or credit cards. It can even supplement the lost income, helping pay for day-to-day expenses.

Can you use life insurance money for anything? ›

Key Takeaways. Permanent life insurance policies often contain a cash value component accessible during the policyholder's life. You can tap into your cash value by borrowing against it, making withdrawals, surrendering your policy, using the funds to pay premiums, or selling the whole policy.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aron Pacocha

Last Updated:

Views: 5809

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aron Pacocha

Birthday: 1999-08-12

Address: 3808 Moen Corner, Gorczanyport, FL 67364-2074

Phone: +393457723392

Job: Retail Consultant

Hobby: Jewelry making, Cooking, Gaming, Reading, Juggling, Cabaret, Origami

Introduction: My name is Aron Pacocha, I am a happy, tasty, innocent, proud, talented, courageous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.