The general belief when the phrase “life insurance” is mentioned is that it’s a way parents secure their children’s future in the event they meet their end. But can a child have a life insurance policy?
Everyone who is a parent or legal guardian will agree that having children is the greatest blessing in life. Tragically, accidents that result in death and medical problems do happen.
Does a child also require life insurance coverage? Yes! A child can have a life insurance policy. In the United States, more than half of all adults have life insurance.
Just like with auto, business, disability and travel insurance, getting life insurance for children is possible and can give parents, grandparents, or legal guardians peace of mind.
The purpose of these plans, which are comparable to adult life insurance policies, is to pay for funeral and burial expenses in the event of an untimely death.
What is a child life insurance policy?
Both adult and child life insurance policies share many characteristics, but they also differ significantly in several important ways. In the event that a child dies, a life insurance policy for them normally offers a death benefit.
These whole life insurance policies are paid either monthly or annually (as opposed to term life insurance policies). Most insurance providers will cover children up to age 17, while some may decrease it to 14 or 16.
Even when the child is covered, they are not allowed to hold the policy. When a child reaches maturity, the policy can be transferred to them. This effectively gives them a permanent life insurance policy as long as premiums are paid on time.
The policy must be owned by a parent or guardian. However, a lot of insurance providers cap the coverage level at $50,000 to $100,000.
The best time to buy life insurance for your children
The family’s security for a better financial future in the event that an income-earner goes away is the goal of an adult life insurance policy.
The only financial burden that a child’s premature death would normally entail would be related to medical and burial costs. This is because the majority of youngsters do not serve as the head of households.
Does purchasing life insurance for a child make sense? Yes, for families who have a history of hereditary illnesses. Because the cost of child life insurance rarely rises, purchasing a policy now will provide a child with access to a low-cost life insurance policy when they reach adulthood.
A dedicated life insurance policy for your child would be sensible. That is, if he or she is a star or earns a sizable income that the entire family depends on.
However, purchasing this policy can put an unnecessary pressure on the resources of other families. These insurance policies have a poor rate of return and need long-term monthly payments.
As an alternative, many adult life insurance policies provide policyholders the option to add a child rider for a small additional payment.
The remaining money could be invested in a different savings account with a higher rate of return and used for other costs, such as college tuition savings.
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As a parent, you need to consider these before buying a child life insurance
Every parent and guardian wants to choose the best financial path for the people they love. Before purchasing life insurance for your child, weigh the benefits and drawbacks.
You should think about your personal financial situation, your family’s medical history, and your long-term financial objectives.
To create a healthy financial plan for your family and your child’s future, you might also want to see a financial expert.
In essence, a child life insurance policy serves as a safety net for money in the event of the worst-case scenario. It can, at the very least, provide you with piece of mind until your child is an adult.
However, you might want to think about a high-yield savings account if you’re interested in setting up a savings account that could potentially increase an emergency fund for your child.
Related: Life Insurance and Assurance: Striking Differences
Decide the range of monthly payments you can make for the foreseeable future before choosing a policy, and think about the best way to invest that money to safeguard your family’s financial future. See more here