Exploring the New Generation of Term Life Insurance

Advisors who think they know all there is to know about term life insurance might be surprised to learn that these policies are finally being brought up to speed. Increasing demand for already popular term life policies has insurance companies jumping to differentiate their products in a crowded market. The result is a new generation of term life products that can be customized to meet the needs of an extremely diverse section of the market. Whether your clients are concerned about ensuring education costs are covered or providing enhanced benefits in the case of specific accidents, modern term life insurance might be the solution.

Popularity of Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance, which provides life insurance coverage only for a fixed period of time, has been identified in recent surveys as one of the most popular insurance products on the market today. Although term life insurance expires at the end of the policy’s term, providing no benefits if the client is still living at that time, many clients prefer term life insurance because it is a relatively low cost option that can often be obtained through their employers.

Despite this, financially savvy clients may reject term life insurance because benefits provided under these policies are often much more limited than those associated with permanent life insurance or annuity products, which typically allow clients to add on investment features or long-term care coverage.

New Product Developments

Recognizing the potential market for customizable term life insurance policies, carriers have begun offering a wider range of options in connection with these policies. Because the major drawback of a term life insurance policy is that premiums are lost if the insured outlives the policy term, many carriers now offer a return of premium rider that provides for the return of premium payments in the event that the insured is still alive when the term expires.

Add-on education riders can be used to provide for payment of a portion of the death benefit each year over a period of time (usually four years) to the insured’s dependents to ensure that funds are available to cover education-related expenses. Similarly, some policies offer professional retraining riders to cover these expenses, which can be useful for clients concerned about disability.

Child and spousal riders are becoming more widely available to provide for payment of proceeds upon the death of the insured’s child or spouse. These riders usually provide for a set dollar value to cover final expenses of the deceased.