Is life insurance worth it or not?
Quick Facts
Life insurance may not be worth it for people older or in poor health, as rates will be very expensive
People who have loved ones dependent on their income should consider life insurance
You can purchase life insurance for a set period or your entire life
Since life insurance isn’t required coverage, you may wonder if life insurance is worth it or not, particularly when you already pay for other coverages like health insurance or car insurance.
The answer depends on your financial situation, whether you have dependents, and similar factors. For example, life insurance may be a good investment if you have dependents and can afford the premiums.
Continue reading for a full rundown of whether life insurance is worth getting. We’ll review the pros and cons of life insurance, costs, term vs. permanent life insurance, and more, so you can decide the answer to “is it worth it to buy life insurance?”
Is life insurance worth it?
Are life insurance policies worth it? Life insurance may be worth the money and one of the best insurance investments you make if you meet the following situations:
You have loved ones who depend financially on you, such as children or a spouse.
You have debts that would be difficult for your loved ones to repay.
You have current or future expenses, such as college or a mortgage, that you don’t want to burden your loved ones with.
Why is life insurance a good investment in these cases? If you can afford life insurance rates, it’s worth it to get life insurance because if you pass away unexpectedly, your loved ones won’t struggle financially.
However, in other cases, life insurance may not be worth it. If you’re questioning whether life insurance is a good investment, some of the situations where you can skip out on life insurance without major repercussions include the following:
You’re single and don’t plan to have a family in the future.
You have more than enough money saved to provide for your family and pay off any debts.
If you don’t have any dependents or have enough money to take care of your loved ones, you can skip out on purchasing a life insurance policy if you wish.
For example, suppose you have serious health issues that would make buying a life insurance policy very expensive, but you have plenty of money saved up for your family. In that case, it may be worth skipping out on a life insurance policy.
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Pros and Cons of Life Insurance
As with any insurance policy, there are pros and cons. Life insurance is a great way to ensure your loved ones have financial security after you pass, but it may not be right for every person. We’ve covered all the pros and cons below to help you decide if life insurance is a good investment.
There are several pros to purchasing a life insurance policy since you’re making a financial investment. Some of the top pros include the following:
Cash value components. Some life insurance policies offer a cash value component. This cash value portion grows over time, and you can use some of these funds while you’re still alive. Find out more about cash value vs. surrender value.
Financial protection for dependents and loved ones. The most significant advantage of purchasing a life insurance policy is that your loved ones and dependents have financial security after you pass.
Various life insurance options. Various life insurance policies are available, making it easier to find a policy that suits your coverage needs and budget.
Tax benefits for some policies. Cash value components of life insurance policies are tax-deferred, as are the death benefit payouts of a life insurance policy.
As we’ve mentioned, the biggest pro of a life insurance policy is that you’re financially taking care of your loved ones. So if you have concerns about your loved one’s ability to be financially stable after your death, you should consider getting a life insurance policy.
Before getting a life insurance policy, there are some cons you should know. After all, a life insurance policy isn’t always worth paying the monthly premiums for some people. The biggest cons of life insurance are as follows:
Adds to monthly expenses. Life insurance isn’t always a feasible payment for some, especially younger couples and families dealing with multiple other expenses, like mortgage payments.
Policies become more expensive as you age. The longer you wait to buy a life insurance policy, the more expensive it becomes. It’s better to buy a life insurance policy in your 50s than in your 80s.
Policies are expensive if you have health issues. If you have serious health issues, you may be unable to find an affordable life insurance policy. Some life insurance companies may even refuse to sell you a policy.
As you can see, a life insurance policy isn’t for everyone. For some people, it may be too expensive to purchase, with the cost far outweighing the benefits of a life insurance policy.
Cost of Life Insurance
Is life insurance worth the money? We’ve talked about how expensive life insurance can be for some, but we want to give you a better idea of what different life insurance policies cost.
Remember that your rates may vary drastically depending on your age, overall health, chosen death benefit payout, and more. For example, if you buy a life insurance policy in your 30s while in good health, you’ll pay much less than if you buy a life insurance policy in your 60s after being diagnosed with a serious illness like diabetes.
You’ll also pay more for certain lifestyle habits like smoking or participating in dangerous hobbies like skydiving. The best way to determine how much life insurance costs is to get a few sample quotes.
How does life insurance work?
We want to explain exactly how life insurance policies work, as this can help you decide whether a life insurance policy is worth it for you.
A life insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance company. If you uphold your end of the contract by paying your life insurance premiums, they’ll hold up their end by paying out a death benefit to your beneficiaries when you die.
Your beneficiaries can use this death benefit payout for anything they need, like funeral costs, mortgages, schooling, general living expenses, and more. However, life insurance policies vary in two major ways, as you can pick between term and permanent life insurance policies. We’ve explained both of these life insurance types in detail below.
Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance is a type of life insurance that only covers you for a pre-specified amount of time, such as 10 or 20 years. If you pass away during the coverage period, your beneficiaries receive the death benefit. However, if you outlive your term life insurance policy, you don’t receive a benefit, and you won’t get back any premiums unless you pay extra for the return of premiums.
As a result, term life insurance policies are generally cheaper insurance types than permanent life insurance policies. So, is term life insurance worth it? Generally, people choose a term life insurance policy when they want life insurance coverage for a short period until their major financial obligations are out of the way.
Examples of major financial obligations include:
Outstanding mortgage
College tuition for any kids
Outstanding, long-term debts
Once the obligations are out of the way, people may not wish to continue paying for life insurance, making term life insurance the best choice.
Permanent Life Insurance
Is permanent insurance a good investment? Permanent life insurance differs from term life insurance because it lasts your entire life. Your permanent life insurance policy stays active if you keep paying your life insurance premiums.
Unlike term life insurance policies, most permanent life insurance policies offer a cash component. While taking money from this cash component during your life reduces the amount your beneficiaries receive, it can be a nice backup plan if you need money to pay for unexpected bills like a lengthy hospital stay.
However, the downside of permanent life insurance policies is that they cost more than term life insurance. So if you want a permanent life insurance policy, we recommend purchasing it sooner rather than later. This way, you can lock in lower rates when younger and healthier rather than buying it when you’re older or have health issues.
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The Final Word on Whether Life Insurance is Worth It
So, is life insurance not worth it? Life insurance may not be worth it for those who have enough money to provide for loved ones after their death and would face high life insurance rates due to their age or health. However, it may be a good life insurance investment strategy to get a term or permanent life insurance policy for those who need to provide for loved ones in case of an untimely death.
If the cost of life insurance is a deterrent, we recommend shopping around at a few companies for quotes to see if one offers a more affordable rate. You can also use our free life insurance comparison tool to see if there is a life insurance company in your area with an affordable rate for your policy needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is life insurance worth getting?
It’s always best to buy life insurance at a younger age. Though it may seem premature to get life insurance in your 20s or 30s, buying a policy earlier in life is one of the best times if you can afford it.
Life insurance rates for young people are very cheap, and you could lock in these low rates for your entire life.
What disadvantages are there to life insurance?
The disadvantages are that life insurance can be expensive, especially if you’re older or sick. You also can’t depend on the savings component of a life insurance policy as an investment for funds for later in your life, as it’s only a last resort.
Is whole life insurance or term life insurance better?
Both policy types have pros and cons regarding which insurance is best for investment. For example, whole or permanent life insurance is much more expensive than term life insurance, but it lasts the duration of a customer’s life.
Term life insurance is much less expensive, but it only lasts for a set number of years, so customers could get nothing back from it despite paying premiums for years. Find the best whole life insurance companies here.
Whole Life Insurance: Is it a good investment?
We don’t recommend using whole life insurance as an investment since the cash component isn’t the best source of money. However, it’s a good investment to take care of loved ones after you pass. Learn more about whole vs. universal life insurance.
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.
Rachael Brennan has been working in the insurance industry since 2006 when she began working as a licensed insurance representative for 21st Century Insurance, during which time she earned her Property and Casualty license in all 50 states.
After several years she expanded her insurance expertise, earning her license in Health and AD&D insurance as well. She has worked for small health in…
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Written by
Rachael Brennan
Licensed Insurance Agent
Benjamin Carr was a licensed insurance agent in Georgia and has two years’ experience in life, health, property and casualty coverage. He has worked with State Farm and other risk management firms. He is also a strategic writer and editor with a background in branding, marketing, and quality assurance. He has been in military newsrooms — literally on the frontline of journalism.
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Reviewed by
Benji Carr
Former Licensed Life Insurance Agent
