When shopping around for a life insurance policy

You need to find out if there is any way to defer a payment on your life insurance policy if you find yourself in a financial bind. There are some insurance companies who are willing to work with their customers and may give you an extension on the due date for your premiums. You will need to talk to your agent to find out.

You need to find out what exclusions or limitations are included in your life insurance policy. There are certain things that a life insurance policy will not cover. If you do not want to leave your family in debt, you need to take the time to find out what is and what is not covered under your life insurance policy.

When you are choosing life insurance, make sure you are only paying for what you need. Think about what your life insurance will need to cover. It may need to pay for the funeral, a mortgage, or college for kids. Or if you have a separate account for your children's college, you would not want to pay for that.

To save some money on life insurance, pay your premiums one time a year. Many life insurance companies will charge you a little less because there usually is some type of small fee to receive the monthly bills. Just make sure you only do this if you can afford it.

When shopping around for a life insurance policy, be aware that certain occupations and hobbies are considered risky and can increase your premium. Some of these occupations include commercial fishing, logging, helicopter or airplane piloting, and roofing. Even a business executive position can be considered risky if it requires you to travel to certain perilous countries. Hobbies that are considered hazardous to your health include hang-gliding, parachuting, skiing, and motorcycling. Make sure to disclose this information to prevent your claim from being denied if the insurance company decides to investigate it.

Have your medical history ready when applying for a life insurance policy, because waiting around can be a hassle for everyone. You know that they're going to request your medical history, and unless you've kept track of it yourself, the hospital's records system might take weeks or months to get it to you.

Think through how you want to purchase life insurance. There are a lot of options available, so you will save yourself time and frustration by deciding how you want to buy your policy. Some of the choices include buying the insurance right from the company, purchasing it through an insurance agent or going through a financial planner.

Look for "no-load"� life insurance policies. There are companies online that will allow you to purchase a policy directly through them instead of going through an agent or broker. Since agents and brokers get commission for their work, you will save yourself quite a bit of money by going this route.

As you can see from the previous list of tips, purchasing life insurance can really make a difference in, well, your life. It takes a lot of research, a lot of budgeting, and a lot of asking questions, but it is all worth it in the end to have a life insurance policy that works for you.