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Understanding Key Terms and Phrases Life Insurance whole life insurance term life insurance

Updated: Jan 16




When discussing life insurance, several terms and phrases are commonly used to describe the various aspects of policies, coverage, and features. Here are some key terms you may encounter:

  1. Policyholder: The individual who owns the life insurance policy and is responsible for paying premiums.
  2. Insured: The person whose life is covered by the insurance policy. This is typically the same as the policyholder, but not always (e.g., a parent might purchase a policy on their child's life).
  3. Beneficiary: The person or entity designated to receive the death benefit when the insured dies. Beneficiaries can be individuals, such as family members, or entities like trusts or charitable organizations.
  4. Death Benefit: The money paid to the beneficiary upon the insured's death. This is life insurance's primary purpose—providing financial support to survivors.
  5. Premium: The payment made by the policyholder to the insurance company to maintain coverage. Premiums can typically be paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.
  6. Coverage: The amount of protection provided by the life insurance policy. This can refer to the death benefit amount or other features such as riders or additional benefits.
  7. Term Life Insurance: A type of life insurance that provides coverage for a specific period, typically 5 to 30 years. If the insured dies within the term, the death benefit is paid to the beneficiary.
  8. Whole Life Insurance: A type of permanent life insurance that covers the insured's entire lifetime. Whole-life policies also accumulate cash value over time, which can be accessed by the policyholder.
  9. Cash Value: The savings component of permanent life insurance policies, such as whole life or universal life. Cash value grows over time on a tax-deferred basis and can be accessed through loans or withdrawals.
  10. Riders: A life insurance policy can add Additional features or benefits to customize coverage. Common riders include accelerated death benefit, accidental death benefit, and waiver of premium.
  11. Underwriting: The process by which insurance companies evaluate an applicant's risk profile to determine eligibility for coverage and the appropriate premium rates.
  12. Underwriter: The person or department within an insurance company responsible for assessing and determining the risk associated with insuring an individual.
  13. Grace Period: A period after the premium due date when the policy remains in force, even if the premium has not been paid. If the insured dies during the grace period, the death benefit will still be paid, minus any unpaid premiums.
Understanding these terms can help you navigate purchasing and managing life insurance coverage effectively.


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