Insurance companies basically offer insurance policies to people which can be of differing types. They can, for instance, offer life, health or auto insurance specializing in one type or offering a combination of these types. Today, an astonishing number of companies exist offering all sorts of insurance. Choosing a life insurance company from a bewildering amount of choices can be extremely difficult.
Consider the following factors to narrow down the number of choices:
Quality
Life insurance is important. As such, it is necessary to make sure you get the best quality for what you are paying for. You can compare life insurance quotes online so you can see the rates of various providers. Since insurance companies can differ greatly in a lot of ways, you’ll really have to go into details and compare the similar points. Compare and contrast and note the extra benefits that are being offered too.
Some valuable extras you should look for are terminal illness and waiver of premium benefits. The former allows payment of life insurance earlier in case you contract a severe disease and the latter will ensure your cover stays intact by allowing you not to pay premiums if you become so sick that you cannot work for many months. It is evident why such benefits would be useful.
Cost
Although insurance companies are highly competitive, they try to avoid competition in terms of pricing. There are a few ways you can still go for the cheapest rates though without compromising on the quality of your cover.
Firstly, consider Term life Insurance as this form is often priced lower than other types. As with anything else you purchase, don’t just settle for the first you come across. Some companies can be very persuasive but make sure you shop around a bit and compare all your options before settling for one. Life insurance is a long-term thing, and you don’t want to end up paying more than you should.
- Stop smoking
This might seem unrelated, but since it is your life that will be insured and smokers have a greater risk of death, you will discover that smoking puts you at quite a disadvantage. Compared to premium rates for nonsmokers, those for smokers can be nearly 40% greater. By quitting, you can save a lot over time.
Claims history
All of the above would be entirely useless if the company you choose is uncooperative when you actually make a claim. It is estimated that nearly 10% of all claims made are denied – sometimes unjustly. Since you don’t want a company that does this too often, check their claims history by contacting the insurer itself. Notice their attitude and if they seem friendly and cooperative or not.
Company ratings
Objective ratings online can tell you a lot you need to know. Check how your prospective insurer is rated online by a company or agency. Ratings can vary from Extremely Strong to Extremely Weak. Some insurance companies may even be Under Regulatory Supervision or not rated at all. This will give you a very good idea about the financial health of a company and whether you should trust them and are they the right choice or not.
