Life Insurance
- Life insurance is a legally binding contract that pays a death benefit to the policy owner when the insured person dies.
- For a life insurance policy to remain in force, the policyholder must pay a single premium upfront or pay regular premiums over time.
- When the insured person dies, the policy’s named beneficiaries will receive the policy’s face value, or death benefit.
- Term life insurance policies expire after a certain number of years. Permanent life insurance policies remain active until the insured dies, stops paying premiums, or surrenders the policy.
- A life insurance policy is only as good as the financial strength of the life insurance company that issues it. State guaranty funds may pay claims if the issuer can’t.