Life insurance is a financial tool that can help protect your loved ones in case you pass away while the policy is active. In the event of your passing, your beneficiaries can receive a substantial death benefit. Getting a policy can help seniors support their surviving partner, pass down wealth to their children or grandchildren, and even support charitable organizations.
Whole life insurance can be a popular choice for seniors who want long-term coverage and have more complex financial needs. This article will discuss whole life insurance in more detail and explore whether it could be the best policy type for you.
Whole life insurance is a form of permanent life insurance that offers lifelong coverage. Premiums cost more than term life insurance, but coverage never expires. When you pass away, your loved ones can use the death benefit payout to replace income, pay off debts, and cover expenses.
Whole life insurance also contains a cash value component, which grows with each premium payment. Whole life insurance cash value earns a fixed interest rate, growing tax-deferred, and you can use it for various purposes, as discussed below.1
Here are a few benefits whole life insurance can offer seniors:
Whole life insurance covers you for life. You won’t need to worry about renewing coverage or getting a new policy, as long as you keep up with premiums.
Whole life insurance premiums don’t change once you buy a policy, so the earlier you get it, the lower your premiums could be. This can help you receive the coverage you need at a better cost.
Part of each premium payment you make goes toward your cash value component. It grows at a fixed, tax-deferred interest rate. Once your cash value grows large enough, you can tap into it as a source of wealth in several ways:
Some seniors find medical exams inconvenient or invasive. Fortunately, there are several smaller whole life insurance policies that don’t require medical exams. For example, Aflac offers whole life insurance without medical questions or exams. This can help you shorten the application time and get coverage easily from the comfort of your home.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Help cover yourself and your family with coverage from Aflac.
Age is one of the main factors insurers use when calculating life insurance premiums, so whole life insurance may cost more for seniors. For example, 50-year-old male nonsmokers of average height and weight pay an average of $5,125 per year for a whole life insurance policy with a $250,000 death benefit.2 This amount could increase for people over 50. That said, other factors can impact premiums, such as:
However, life insurance companies like Aflac offer a wide range of coverage options to help you find the policy you need at reasonable rates.
Here are some reasons seniors should consider whole life insurance:
Whole life insurance can offer your partner substantial financial protection. If you pass away and name them as a beneficiary, they can use the death benefit to replace your income or assets and supplement their own to maintain their standard of living.
If you pass away with debts, some of your estate’s assets may be liquidated to help cover them. If those debts exceed your estate, you may be unable to pass on assets. Life insurance can help prevent this. Your estate can use the payout to eliminate your remaining debts and pass the remaining money onto your partner or heirs.
Funerals can cost almost $8,000 on average.3 That doesn’t include other end-of-life costs, such as hospital or hospice care bills. Plus, loved ones may have to travel for the funeral. Whole life insurance can offer your family financial relief by helping to cover these costs. That way, they won’t have to deal with financial stress during difficult emotional times.
Whole life insurance death benefits are generally not taxable. Therefore, they may allow you to pass on more of your assets. Instead of simply having those extra assets in your estate, you may be able to name your heirs as beneficiaries so they can receive the tax-free payout when you pass away. You can also use your policy to benefit your heirs while still alive, thanks to the cash value. For example, you could use it to help cover your grandchildren’s education costs.
The best whole life insurance policy for you depends on your financial situation, loved ones’ needs, and budget. Factors such as your income, debts, and potential end-of-life costs can help you figure out the coverage amount that may work best for you. And if you’d like to explore policy options with lower premiums, consider types of life insurance for seniors. Whichever policy you choose, it’s important to ensure that the death benefit can adequately support your loved ones in the event of your passing.
Whole life insurance can be a more expensive option for seniors than other policies. However, the peace of mind offered by lifelong coverage and the wealth-building potential of the cash value component can be worth the extra investment. Aflac offers whole life insurance at various levels of coverage, along with several other types of life insurance policies. Chat with an agent today to find the best plan to protect your loved ones.
1Investopedia – Whole Life Insurance Definition: How It Works, With Examples. Updated September 21, 2023. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/wholelife.asp. Accessed March 12, 2024.
2Forbes - Average Cost Of Life Insurance In March 2024. Updated February 21, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/life-insurance/how-much-is-life-insurance/. Accessed March 12, 2024.
3USA Today - How much does a funeral cost in 2024? Updated October 24, 2023. https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/life-insurance/how-much-does-a-funeral-cost/. Accessed March 12, 2024.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.
Aflac Coverage
Life (A68000 Series) - In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, & Virginia, Policies: ICC1368100, ICC1368200, ICC1368300, ICC1368400. In Delaware, Policies A68100-A68400. In New York, NY68100-NY68400. Term and Whole Life (B60000 Series) - In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, & Virginia, Policies: ICC18B60C10, ICC18B60100, ICC18B60200, ICC18B60300, & ICC18B60400. Group Whole Life (Q60000 Series) - In Arkansas, Delaware & Oregon, Policy Q60100M. In Idaho Policy Q60100MID. In Oklahoma, Policy Q60100MOK. In Texas, Policy Q60100MTX. Group Term Life (Q60000 Series) - In Delaware, Policies Q60200M. In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon & Texas, Policies ICC18Q60200M, ICC18Q60300C, ICC18Q60400C.
Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
Tier One Coverage
Life (Final Expense Life) - In Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, & Virginia, Policies ICC21-AFLLBL21 and ICC21-AFLRPL21; and Riders ICC21-AFLABR22, ICC21-AFLADB22, and ICC21-AFLCDR22.
Tier One coverage is underwritten by Tier One Insurance Company. In California, Tier One Insurance Company does business as Tier One Life Insurance Company (Tier One NAIC 92908).
Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to DE, ID, NJ, NM, NY or VA. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations and exclusions.
Aflac’s family of insurers include Aflac, Aflac New York, Continental American Insurance Company, and Tier One Insurance Company.
Aflac WWHQ | Tier One Insurance Company | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999.
Aflac New York | 22 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Suite 2 | Albany, NY 12211
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