Life Insurance Questions

Who needs life insurance?

If there are people who depend on you financially, such as a spouse, children, a business partner or elderly relatives, then having life insurance can protect them if they can no longer depend on your earnings.

How much life insurance do I need?

One way to decide how much life insurance you need is to figure out how much cash and income your dependents will need if you die. Instead of having a monthly income to rely upon, your family will receive an insurance benefit upon your death. It is then up to the beneficiary of your policy to decide how to use that money. For example, if you have younger children, a mortgage or both, you may want to have a higher death benefit to make sure your family can meet its financial obligations should you die. The beneficiary of your policy can decide to use the money from the death benefit to pay off the mortgage and other outstanding debt, as well as set up a college fund or trust for your children.

If you can, consult with a financial advisor to assist you with figuring out how much coverage to purchase. Insurance agents can also help with that decision. You can click here to find an agent or agency near you. You may also want to use this calculator to get a general idea of how much life insurance coverage you and your family needs.

Do I need more insurance as I age?

As you age, you may consider reducing the amount of life insurance on yourself or your spouse for cheaper premiums. If your children are older and if the mortgage is nearly paid off,  you may need less life insurance, which would lower your premiums.

What are the types of life insurance?

There are two types of life insurance — term and permanent. Term life insurance provides coverage for a specific period of time, whether it’s for 5, 10, 20 or 30 years. Permanent life insurance, also known as “cash value” life insurance, covers a policyholder for his or her entire life and has a financial component of the policy that will accumulate cash, like a savings account. Both types of insurance pay out what is known as a death benefit, which is the amount of money paid to the beneficiaries named in the policy upon the death of the insured.

What is term life insurance?

Term insurance provides protection for a specified period of time. Terms of one, five, 10 or 20 years or up to the age of 65 are available. This type of policy only pays a benefit if you die during the policy term. Term insurance doesn't build cash value. If you stop paying your premium, the insurance expires. This insurance is generally less expensive than other types of life insurance.

What is permanent life insurance?

Permanent life insurance is designed to provide protection for the entire life of the policyholder, assuming the premiums are paid on time. Permanent life insurance includes a death benefit and a financial component that will accumulate cash over the life of the policy. With permanent life insurance, part of the premium you pay goes toward building cash value from investments made by the insurance company. Therefore, the premiums are generally higher than term life insurance.

What are the types of permanent life insurance?

Note: As with all investment decisions, consult with a trusted financial advisor before making a purchase.

What are life insurance riders?

Riders are amendments that tailor a life insurance policy to your needs. Attaching a rider to a life insurance policy will typically raise the cost of its premiums.

What are some types of riders?

Note: Speak to your insurance agent about other riders that may be suitable for your needs.

Is cash value growth in a life insurance policy tax-deferred?

Permanent life insurance allows money to accumulate tax free. The cash value of a permanent life insurance policy can be left to accumulate tax-free for as long as the policy is in force. However, if you surrender the policy for its cash value, the gain on that value over the policy’s life is then taxable if it exceeds the total premiums paid.

Can I take out a loan with life insurance?

Permanent life policies allow the policyholder to borrow against the cash value of the policy. Any unpaid loans will be deducted from the death benefit or from the cash value of the policy.

Can a life insurance policy be used to cover long-term care?

Some permanent life insurance policies allow you to use some or all the death benefit to help pay for long-term care. Some policies will only pay for long-term care for a specific amount of time. The money used is deducted from the death benefit. You can buy stand alone long-term care insurance from your insurance agent, or purchase a “combo” permanent life insurance policy that includes long-term care coverage. For more information about long-term care insurance, please check out our long-term care insurance page.

What if my insurance company goes bankrupt?

The Missouri Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association will pay your claim if your insurer becomes insolvent. The association set the maximum limit for a death benefit of life insurance policies at $300,000, while the cash value limit is $100,000. The Guaranty Association is similar to the FDIC for banks. For example, if you have a life insurance policy with a death benefit of $250,000 with company XYZ and that company becomes insolvent, the Guaranty Association will pay the $250,000 death benefit if you die within policy’s term. The Guaranty Association is funded by insurers doing business in Missouri.

Is the company I'm considering buying life insurance from reputable?

The Missouri Department of Insurance keeps records of each insurance company’s consumer complaint history, known as the complaint index. The higher a company’s complaint index, the more cautious you should be about purchasing a policy with that company. You can view the Consumer Complaint Index. If you have questions, call the Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390 or email us.

What do I do if a deceased loved one purchased a life insurance policy in Missouri?

You can use the Life Policy Locator service to help locate missing life insurance policies.