Carl

Oklahoma City OK

There are two basic types of life insurance: whole life and term. Whole life insurance, sometimes called permanent insurance, pays your beneficiaries when you die while term life insurance pays your beneficiaries the amount in the contract if you die within the specified term or period of the policy.

As long as premiums are constantly paid on time until the entire the cost is paid, whole life insurance provides life time protection. This type of insurance builds up cash value over time. Cash value is different from a face amount. Unlike the face amount, your beneficiaries will not receive the cash value if you die. It is the amount that you, as the policy holder, will get if you file for a loan on your policy or the amount you could get if you surrender the policy before its maturity.

A whole life insurance has several advantages using your accumulated cash value. Regardless of your credit history, you can borrow a loan from your insurance company using your cash value as your collateral. You can also use it to pay premiums or to buy more coverage. If you cancel your policy, you will get your cash value in lump sum.

On the other hand, term life insurance is in-effect over a specific period of time only. Therefore, it is much preferable to choose term life insurance versus whole life insurance when your financial obligations are on a definite term such as home mortgage or tuition. Terms are usually in 5, 10, 15, 25 or 30 years. Unlike whole life insurance, death benefits are only given if the policy holder dies within the set period.

However, because there is a defined time, protection provided is not for life in term life insurance versus whole life insurance. Premiums for term life insurance versus whole life insurance are also less expensive but may increase at a point specified in the policy.