
Life insurance is a financial safety net for your loved ones and beneficiaries if you die prematurely. While it may not be top of mind for young adults, there are several benefits to getting life insurance at a young age. Life insurance costs are based on the applicant's health and age, among other factors, and the younger and healthier you are, the less expensive it will be. Getting insured before any health conditions develop lets you lock in lower premiums for decades. You may also be able to increase coverage later without a new medical exam. Additionally, if you have student loans, credit card debt, or financing for a new car, life insurance can protect your parents or loan co-signers from the burden of paying off your debts.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Cost | Life insurance is cheaper when purchased at a younger age. |
Health | Younger people are generally healthier and therefore more likely to secure lower premiums. |
Dependents | Buying life insurance at a young age ensures protection for future dependents. |
Debt | Life insurance can protect loved ones from having to pay off debt after the policyholder's death. |
Safety Net | Life insurance provides a safety net for loved ones and beneficiaries if the policyholder dies prematurely. |
Future Insurability | Buying life insurance at a young age can protect future insurability. |
What You'll Learn
Lock in lower premiums
Life insurance is cheaper when you buy it at a younger age. This is because insurance companies focus on the risk that you, the applicant, are likely to make a claim in the near future. As the statistical odds of dying are lower at younger ages, insurance companies can charge lower premiums for younger people than older people.
As well as age, health is another determining factor in how much you pay for life insurance. If you get insured before any health conditions develop, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure, you can lock in affordable premiums for decades. Young people are more likely to be in good health, so they are more likely to secure lower premiums.
If you buy a life insurance policy when you are young, you can typically continue paying the same premium for decades. This means that even if your health deteriorates later in life, you can keep paying the same low rate. In contrast, an older individual who purchases life insurance may pay much higher premiums for the same amount of coverage.
The younger you buy a policy, the more time it has to grow in value. Whole life insurance usually has a cash value component that grows as the policy ages. This living benefit means that you can borrow against the cash value to cover expenses, such as home repairs or medical bills. However, it can take years for the cash value to grow to a useful amount.
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Protect your loved ones from debt
Life insurance is a safety net for your loved ones and beneficiaries if you pass away prematurely. It can also be used to accumulate cash value while you are alive, which can be passed on to the next generation or used to supplement retirement income.
When you are young, you may have significant debt in the form of student loans, mortgages, or other large debts. If you were to pass away, life insurance can protect your parents or loan co-signers from the burden of paying off your debts. It can also ensure that your loved ones are not left with the financial hardship of funeral costs.
The younger and healthier you are when you purchase insurance, the less expensive it will generally be. This is because insurance companies focus on the risk that you, the applicant, are likely to make a claim in the near future. A younger person poses less of a risk than an older person, and so life insurance premiums are considerably lower.
By buying life insurance at a younger age, you can lock in lower premiums for decades to come. This means that you can buy a lot more insurance coverage for the future. For example, you may need a larger policy when you have dependents, but this may not be affordable later on.
There are two main categories of life insurance: term life and permanent life (or whole life). Term life insurance is coverage for a specific period, typically one, ten, fifteen, or twenty years. It offers a death benefit and lower premiums than permanent life insurance. Permanent life insurance has a cash value component that grows as the policy ages, which you can borrow against to cover expenses. However, premiums for permanent coverage are substantially higher than those for term life at any age, and the policy may lapse if the cash value gets too low.
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Build credit
Life insurance may not be the first thing on your mind when you are young, but it is worth considering as part of your financial planning. One of the main benefits of buying life insurance at a young age is that you can lock in lower premiums. The younger and healthier you are, the less you will pay for life insurance. This is because insurance companies focus on the risk that you, the applicant, will make a claim in the near future. Therefore, a younger person poses less of a risk than someone who is older, and so insurance companies can charge lower premiums for younger customers.
Whole life insurance usually has a cash value component that grows as the policy ages. This cash value can be borrowed against to cover expenses, such as home repairs or medical bills. However, it can take years for the cash value to grow to a useful amount. By buying a policy when you are younger, you give the policy more time to grow in value.
It is also worth noting that permanent life insurance policies are substantially more expensive than term life insurance policies. For young adults just starting their careers or families, it may be difficult to keep up with the higher payments. Therefore, it is important to consider your financial situation and goals when deciding whether to buy life insurance, and if so, which type of policy is best for you.
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Protect future insurability
Life insurance is a financial safety net for your loved ones and beneficiaries if you die prematurely. It is also a way to protect your future insurability. The younger and healthier you are when you purchase insurance, the less expensive it will generally be. This is because insurance companies focus on the risk that you, the applicant, are likely to make a claim in the near future. Therefore, a younger person poses less of a risk than someone who is much older, and why life insurance premiums are considerably lower for younger applicants.
When you buy life insurance at a younger age, you may qualify for lower premiums. You can lock in these lower rates now to give yourself the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your loved ones have a financial safety net. This is especially important if you have dependents who rely on your income or if you have a lot of debt that you would not want to pass on to your loved ones.
Life insurance can cover funeral costs, so your loved ones won’t have to. It can also be a way to start building a cash value to pass on to the next generation or to be accessed later in life to help purchase a home or supplement retirement income. For example, permanent life insurance policies usually have a cash value component that grows as the policy ages. This living benefit allows you to borrow against the cash value to cover expenses such as home repairs or medical bills.
While you may be healthy now, health issues can develop later in life. By purchasing life insurance at a young age, you can lock in affordable premiums for decades to come. This is because, along with age, health is a determining factor in how much you pay for life insurance. If you develop a serious illness later in life, having a pre-existing policy will ensure you still have coverage.
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Save money on other insurance costs
Life insurance is cheaper when you buy it at a younger age. This is because insurance companies consider the risk that you, the applicant, are likely to make a claim in the near future. Therefore, a younger person poses less of a risk than someone who is much older, and why life insurance premiums are considerably lower the younger you are.
Good health also translates to lower insurance costs and ensures you will still have coverage if you develop a serious illness later in life. When you are young, you are more likely to be in good health, and so you can lock in lower premiums for decades to come.
If you already have other insurance policies, such as auto or home insurance, adding life insurance can increase the discount you get on those policies, thus saving you money on your other insurance costs.
However, it is important to note that there are some potential drawbacks to purchasing life insurance at a young age. For example, you may have to pay premiums for a longer amount of time, and there is an opportunity cost involved in paying costly insurance premiums. That money could have been used elsewhere, such as investing in the stock market and earning a better return.
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Frequently asked questions
Life insurance costs are based on the applicant's health and age, among other factors. Getting insured at a younger age lets you lock in lower premiums for decades to come.
Young adults who are healthier and have a lower risk of medical conditions are more likely to secure lower premiums. If you have a health condition, you may have to pay higher premiums or get denied coverage altogether.
The statistical odds of dying are lower at younger ages, so insurance companies can charge lower premiums for younger people than older people because their risk of financial loss is less.
Getting life insurance at a young age can help you lock in lower premiums, protect your loved ones from having to pay off your debts, and provide financial protection for future dependents. It can also help you build credit and increase the discount on other insurance policies.
Term life insurance is a popular choice for young adults as it provides coverage for a specific period of time, such as the length of your mortgage, and is typically less expensive than permanent life insurance. However, permanent life insurance may be a good choice if you have a family history of developing a serious medical condition later in life, as it allows you to increase your coverage over time without a new medical exam.