What is term life insurance?

When you’re shopping for life insurance, you can choose from two basic types of policies: term life insurance or permanet life insurance. Term life insurance policies offer coverage for a specified amount of time, typically anywhere from one to 30 years. Term life insurance offers a death benefit, which is intended to help your beneficiaries replace your income if you pass away. For example, the money can be used to help pay for things like a mortgage, education costs or everyday expenses, such as groceries.

If you’re considering buying a term life policy, here’s a brief primer on its essential characteristics and benefits.

How does term life insurance work ?

If you pass away while your term life insurance policy is in force, your beneficiary will receive the death benefit. If you do not pass away during the term, no one will receive the death benefit. And premiums you pay are typically nonrefundable, unless you bought a term policy with a “return of premium” option.

What happens when the term ends?

If your term policy is renewable, you may be able to extend your coverage for another term, up to a specified age. If your term policy is convertible, you may be able to convert it to a permanent life policy. Check with your agent for details on convertible policies, as the conversion typically has to happen within a specified time period.

When your term ends, you’ll likely pay higher premiums (or regular payments) if you renew or purchase a new policy, says the insurance  information institute (III) 

How much does term insurance cost? 

The cost of a term life insurance policy is based largely on the insured person’s health and age at the beginning of the term, says the III. Declining health or increasing age can make it difficult or more expensive to acquire a new term policy as you get older.

Additional options for term life insurance

Term life insurance policies may be classified as either level or decreasing term, according to the III. Level term policies, in which the death benefit does not decrease, are the more common form of term life insurance, the III says. Decreasing term life insurance policies typically see the death benefit decrease at specific intervals during the course of the term.

Some term policies allow for an increase in your premiums during your existing term. To avoid any surprises down the road, read your policy carefully and ask your agent questions up front.

Finally, some term policies offer a return of premium” option that entitles you to have some or all of your premiums refunded at the end of the term, assuming you have made no claims on the policy, says the III. It’s worth noting, however, that such policy premiums tend to be significantly more expensive than non-refundable premium options.