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Supplemental group term life insurance is an added benefit if you are already covered under a group policy through your employer. Usually group coverage is not as comprehensive as you may desire as policies are written according to what would benefit the group as a whole. As an individual with a family of your own, you may have different needs that are not covered through a group plan. If you find yourself in this position, buying a supplemental term life policy would be a wise decision.
An employee is eligible for supplemental term life insurance if he or she performs all of their regular duties on a full-time basis (check with your employer as some companies consider “full-time” as 17.5 hours or more while other companies require you work the full 40 hour weeks). Again, you must already be covered under your company's basic group term life insurance policy. Spouses and dependent children are also eligible for coverage if you buy a policy of your own.
What are the Benefits to Adding a Supplement?
There are a couple of benefits to purchasing supplemental term life insurance. The first is a waiver of premium. If you become completely disabled prior to your 65th birthday, the insurance company will continue to keep your policy intact and active until you become 65 years old. The stipulation is that your disability must last for nine consecutive months before the benefit can begin. If your disability continues indefinitely, the insurance company will not collect any further payments of premium from you. An individual is considered “totally disabled” when that individual is unable to work at any occupation collecting wages because of injury or illness. You must also provide proof of continuing disability annually.
A second benefit to taking out a supplemental term life insurance policy is the Accelerated Living benefit. If an individual is diagnosed with a terminal illness and given only 12 months or less to live, that individual may apply for a percentage of their combined basic group and supplemental term life insurance policies. The percentage is usually paid in a lump sum. Check with your carrier, as the benefit is usually 50% of the active face value amounts or $50,000.00, whichever is less. While an employee and their spouse are eligible for the accelerated living benefits, children of the employee are not. In most cases, coverage is portable -- which means you can take your coverage with you if you retire, reduce your hours or change jobs.
The only exclusion is the standard waiver of benefit payment should the employee or their spouse/dependents commit suicide within the first two years that the policy came into effect. Check with your carrier as in some states this exclusion applies to both sane and insane individuals while some states only the sane.
How Age Affects Your Policy
While premiums for supplemental term life insurance are literally just a couple to a few dollars per month, the rates are affected by age. The premium is based on attained age and then increases at various steps. You would have to check with your carrier for their specific criteria. Age 70 is a defining milestone for supplemental term life insurance policies.
Beginning at age 70, your coverage is reduced to 65% of original certificate face value. Beginning at age 75, you coverage is reduced to 45% of original certificate face value. Beginning at age 80, your coverage is reduced to 30% of original certificate face value.
One thing to keep in mind is that spousal coverage terminates at age 70. If the premiums are current, your spouse may choose to convert their individual coverage to a term life insurance policy of their own. Your dependents may also choose to convert their policies after their dependent status expires. They can obtain term life insurance policies in the amount of $25,000.00 or $50,000.00.
Supplemental term life insurance is a wonderful benefit as you can give your family an additional benefit of up to $270,000.00.
These days getting married brings about the joining of couples of many different circumstances. Of course there is the ever-traditional young couple fresh out of college who might have no other financial obligations other than student loans, rent and their vehicles. There are usually no children involved and life is just full of possibilities and opportunities that will be built together. Assets as well as bills will be accumulated as a couple.
On the other hand, there are now many couples who are remarrying for the second or third time and this is where things get more complicated. As newlyweds who are marrying for the second or third time are usually older, there is not only a blending of many collected assets and bills but more than likely a blending of children from both the husband and wife. There may even be dependents such as elderly parents who are being taken care of by either spouse.
In either scenario, starting a new life with someone not only brings on many emotional and personal changes but also a whole new spectrum of financial responsibilities. These new obligations, especially when children are involved, beckon for financial security if the unspeakable should happen – the loss of either spouse.
While no one likes to think about familial loss, especially when your new life together has just begun, it is important to plan ahead.Term life insurance is the most cost efficient way to plan for unpredictable loss. For young couples just starting out, term life is an inexpensive way to gain financial protection. Even if insurance seems unnecessary for a young couple where both partners are both working and there are no real financial obligations, it is actually the best time to buy since term life insurance is cheapest for the youth.
For those couples blending finances and children, purchasing a term life insurance plan is a “quick fix” until the whole new family situation can be assessed more thoroughly. As your true needs reveal themselves, you can change your plan accordingly. It is therefore important to make sure the policy you buy is convertible. If you already have existing life insurance, make sure you change the names of beneficiaries accordingly.
Some Tips for Newlyweds
For couples planning on having children it would be ideal to buy a term life policy that will keep your family covered until the children graduate from college. For the longest protection it would be advisable to purchase a 20 or 30-year level term policy. Level term policies stay unchanged from the original purchase price. The longer the coverage, the more costly the premiums, however, level term is still the most inexpensive coverage you can purchase. This is the best way for young couples or new families to get started.
The rule of thumb for purchasing coverage is usually 10 times your annual net income. However, the face value will obviously vary depending on your age and number of dependents you have now inherited or plan to have down the line. Only you can decide what your family would need.
While it seems tempting to rush off and buy the least expensive policy, especially as a short term alternative until your settled family's true needs are revealed, it is important to make sure you go with a carrier that is “A” rated. Your best bet is to find a reputable broker who can advise you properly, especially if buying a level term policy. You want to make sure you buy a policy that is convertible, renewable and comes with a guaranteed period.
Certainly buying term life insurance may not seem a very romantic thing to think about as a newlywed, but in reality, coverage that protects you and your spouse against life's unforeseen events is an important part of planning your life together. Assessing and addressing your insurance needs early on will help get your marriage off on the right financial footing.