Life Insurance for Families

Types of life insurance for families

Here are some life insurance policy types for families to consider:

Term life insurance

Term life insurance is a type of policy available at Aflac that lets you choose a policy term of 10, 20, or 30 years, depending on your needs. If you pass away during the policy term, your beneficiaries can receive the death benefit. Once the policy expires, you must renew coverage or get a new policy to stay covered. However, policy premiums are reasonable for the amount of coverage available. Therefore, this policy may be ideal if you don’t need coverage forever. For example, you may only need coverage until your kids become adults.

Whole life insurance 

Whole life insurance is a permanent policy Aflac offers that provides lifelong coverage as long as you keep up with premiums. Some of your premiums go into a cash value growth component that grows tax-deferred at fixed interest. When the cash value grows large enough, you can borrow from it at low rates with no fixed repayment date or withdraw from it. If you surrender the policy, you can receive the cash value minus surrender charges.

Whole life insurance may work best if you want coverage to help financially protect your partner and children for their entire lives. However, keep in mind that this policy can come with higher premiums than other types of life insurance.

Final expense insurance

Final expense insurance is a small whole life policy for end-of-life expenses such as medical bills and funeral costs. It comes with a small death benefit, low premiums, and a cash value component that grows over time.

Credit life insurance 

Credit life insurance can help your cosigner or loved ones pay off an outstanding debt if you pass away during the policy term. Some lenders for mortgages and auto loans may offer this coverage. These can be helpful when a loved one has cosigned a debt with you and may need help repaying it if you pass away.²

Universal life insurance

Like whole life insurance, universal life insurance offers lifelong coverage and cash value. However, you can adjust the death benefit during the policy term if you contact your insurer. You can reduce your premiums in exchange for a lower death benefit, or raise your death benefit by increasing premiums.

Why should families get life insurance?

Here are a few reasons to consider family life insurance:

Provide financial security for your surviving partner

If you work full-time, your family may lose a substantial income stream in the event of your passing. Even if your partner works, it can be much harder for them to support themselves and your children since they must maintain similar living expenses. A life insurance death benefit can effectively help replace your income, allowing them to continue covering necessary expenses and saving those funds for the future.

Help cover childcare costs and household expenses

Stay-at-home parents provide invaluable contributions to the household, including childcare, household management, and various other responsibilities. If you’re a stay-at-home parent and passed away unexpectedly, the financial burden on the surviving partner could be overwhelming. Life insurance can provide essential financial protection to help cover necessary expenses in your absence.

Pay off a mortgage

Mortgages are often the most significant expenses people have. If you pass away, it may be challenging for your partner to cover the payments. A life insurance policy can provide them with enough funds to help pay off the entire mortgage at once to maximize equity, or set aside money to continue making monthly mortgage payments. Regardless, this can significantly help reduce their financial burden.

Can help cover children’s college expenses 

In-state tuition at public four-year universities costs an average of almost $11,000 annually.³ Out-of-state tuition, along with private colleges and universities, can cost much more, even with financial aid. Life insurance can help cover these costs if you pass away so your children can receive an education. Additionally, if you get a policy with cash value, you can access these funds while you’re alive to pay for education expenses. You can withdraw or borrow from it for tuition, fees, and more.

Tips for getting a family life insurance policy 

Here are some tips for getting a family life insurance policy:

• Think about coverage needs and length: Consider your income and living expenses when determining how much coverage you need. Additionally, decide whether you need coverage only while your kids are minors or if you’d like to cover them for your entire life.
• Compare quotes: Shop for quotes with multiple insurers to compare rates and find the most coverage for your budget.
• Consider your financial picture: If you have more complex financial needs, you may opt for a policy with cash value. Otherwise, you could consider a term life insurance policy.
• Look at future goals: Consider your and your partner’s goals, such as retirement and paying for your children’s college education.
• Estimate living cost changes: Will your family’s living costs increase as your children grow? Will they decrease when your children move out? What will inflation look like? These factors can impact the level of coverage you may need.

Get family life insurance from Aflac  

Life insurance can offer families significant peace of mind, as you’ll know that if the worst happens, your loved ones can continue supporting themselves by helping replace your income and saving extra funds.

However, there are many types of policies to consider. Term life insurance offers lower costs for maximum coverage, whereas whole and universal life insurance can be more costly for lifelong coverage and wealth-building potential. Meanwhile, final expense and credit life insurance are smaller policies designed for specific purposes.

Aflac offers term and whole life insurance at various coverage levels to get your family the coverage you need. Chat with an agent today to explore your options and get a quote.