Your budget, lifestyle, financial needs, and family situation might change as you grow older. You may find yourself shopping for a new life insurance policy after retirement or buying life insurance for the first time to protect your family’s finances.
Senior life insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Fortunately, there are life insurance policies to meet a variety of needs and budgets in your 60s, 70s, and beyond. How much you’ll pay for life insurance depends on many factors, including policy type, coverage amount, and life circumstances, like age and health. Before deciding on a senior life insurance policy, it can help to take some time and review available options, speak with a licensed agent, and find the right fit. Once you understand how life insurance rates work, you can get a quote to determine your possible life insurance rate.
What types of life insurance can seniors get?
Senior life insurance plans fall under one of two categories: term life or permanent life. Term life insurance policies provide coverage for a fixed period. If you pass away while a term policy is active, beneficiaries receive a tax-free death benefit payment. Permanent policies last through the end of your life as long as you pay premiums, meaning beneficiaries will receive a death benefit payment, regardless of what age you pass. Permanent policies can also accrue cash value.
Term policies are more affordable, but permanent policies might fit better if you have long-term expenses or if anyone will indefinitely depend on your income.
Term life insurance
You can choose the coverage period for a term life insurance policy as you begin the application process; terms are typically between 10 and 30 years. Fidelity Life offers a term product specifically for seniors, RAPIDecision® Senior Life Term insurance.
This policy comes in 10, 20, and 30-year terms that provide up to $150,000 in coverage. Your rate depends on your unique circumstances, but it won’t change over the course of your term. Even after your term concludes, you can save money by renewing up to age 95. These policies can offer your family extra financial security through specific periods, for example as your grandchildren grow up or you finish paying off a mortgage.
Permanent life insurance
Permanent life insurance offers lifelong financial protection with a substantial death benefit as long as you pay your premiums. If anyone depends on a portion of your income, a permanent policy can help you provide them with lasting financial support. It could also be a good fit if you’re still paying down your mortgage costs or if you want to guarantee that you can leave behind a financial legacy.
Fidelity Life offers up to $150,000 coverage to adults between 50 and 85 with the RAPIDecision® Senior Whole Life insurance policy. Permanent policies have higher rates than term life policies because a portion of your premiums goes toward building cash value. However, because you can tap into that value during your life, a permanent policy could still be a better financial decision depending on your needs.
Final expense life insurance
Final expense life insurance is a permanent policy offering a modest death benefit to cover end-of-life costs like funerals, burials, or outstanding debt. In most cases, final expense insurance costs less than other permanent policies, making it an affordable alternative for older adults without many significant expenses remaining. For a relatively low rate, Fidelity Life’s RAPIDecision® Final Expense life insurance offers between $5,000 and $40,000 in coverage. Final expense insurance does not require a medical exam. However, serious health issues could affect your eligibility.
If you have health concerns like severe chronic conditions or a history of serious illness, you could still qualify for up to $25,000 in coverage from Fidelity Life’s RAPIDecision® Guaranteed Issue life insurance. These policies are more expensive because they don’t require health information; as long as you meet age requirements, approval is guaranteed. Despite their high rates, guaranteed issue policies can be worthwhile if you otherwise may not qualify for coverage.
How are life insurance rates determined?
Your insurance rate depends on the policy and coverage amount you choose, plus some demographic information. When it comes to choosing a policy, whole life and other permanent policies are typically more expensive than term life policies for the same amount of coverage. Likewise, the longer term you choose, the higher your rate will be because you’re paying for more coverage. Similarly, a policy with a larger death benefit often costs more than a policy with a smaller death benefit.
As you age, life insurance rates increase. However, age is not the only determining factor. Your gender and health status may also influence your rates (except for guaranteed issue policies). Some lifestyle choices, like hobbies and habits, can also impact your life insurance rates. If you enjoy skydiving or rock climbing, that could mean paying a slightly higher rate for life insurance. Regardless of these factors, if you’re a senior under 85, you can still secure affordable rates and get the coverage you need.
What rate might a senior pay for life insurance?
Your senior life insurance rate depends on your individual coverage needs and circumstances. Let’s look at a few examples.
Consider a healthy, non-smoking 60-year-old woman who’s still working full-time. She might want life insurance through the rest of her career to make sure her family’s mortgage is covered even if she passes away before paying it off. With a 10-year RAPIDecision® Senior Life Term policy, she could receive $150,000 coverage for around $33 a month to provide her family with added security until she retires.
Now, maybe a different non-smoking 60-year-old woman wants life insurance but isn’t worried about her mortgage. She’s already handled all of life’s major expenses and only wants to make sure her family can afford to lay her to rest whenever the time comes. She could secure $10,000 of lifelong coverage for about $44 per month with RAPIDecision® Final Expense life insurance.
Each woman manages to secure a relatively affordable life insurance policy. However, they have very different coverage based on their individual financial needs. The best plan for you is the one that provides the coverage you and your family need at a price that fits your budget.
Find the right life insurance plan at a rate that fits your budget
Everyone’s life insurance needs are different. To secure the best senior life insurance rates, consider how much coverage you need and how long you’ll need it. Consider your income, your end-of-life plans, and whether anyone depends on your income. From there, you can choose from the senior life insurance policies you qualify for and lock in a rate that works for you. For help finding the right life insurance policy for your needs, speak to a licensed agent today or get started with an online quote.
