Life Insurance Death Benefits: Pros & Cons

Claiming life insurance death benefits can be a lifesaving option for a person’s family after he or she passes away and can even be beneficial for the policyholder while he or she is still alive. When selecting a life insurance policy, it is important to consider the pros and cons of each option, especially the policy’s death benefit.

Death Benefit Pros

Death benefits are generally designed to help a policy holder’s beneficiaries pay for his or her final arrangements, to settle debts and, in some cases, to help them save and build wealth. Some policies also include the option of claiming life insurance death benefits through loans while the individual is still alive. That can be an effective way of paying down debts and confronting financial emergencies, such as cancer or other critical medical conditions.

Death Benefit Cons

Death benefits vary greatly depending on the individual’s policy. For instance, term policyholders generally cannot draw on their benefits while they’re still alive. Those who want that option would need to invest in a whole or permanent life insurance policy, which is generally more expensive as it lasts throughout the duration of an individual’s life. That means higher premiums each month, which can be challenging for many, especially those who are just starting out.

Another Option

Those considering the best options for claiming life insurance death benefits can also explore avenues like Life Credit’s Living Benefit Loans. This program allows policyholders—regardless of whether they have term or whole life insurance—to borrow against their policy’s death benefit to address immediate financial concerns. Individuals can receive up to half of their death benefit, even if they haven’t paid the hefty monthly premiums often associated with whole life insurance.

Learning which options for claiming life insurance death benefits best suit your needs can help you address debt in a practical way while ensuring financial success.