Which Life Insurance Options Can Help Keep Pace With Inflation?

The bottom line Inflation protected life insurance options can help a death benefit keep its intended purpose as prices change, but the contract may raise premiums or limit increases. Compare a cost-of-living rider with a larger level-benefit policy, then test each choice against your budget, coverage period, and family’s actual needs. Inflation changes the cost … Read more

Can Any Life Insurance Policy Cover BASE Jumping?

The bottom line Is base jumping covered by any life insurance? Sometimes, but there is no universal yes: an insurer may exclude the activity, decline the application, or offer coverage only on terms stated in the contract. Disclose it, ask for the exclusion language, and confirm what the death benefit covers before applying. BASE jumping … Read more

How Simultaneous Death Rules Affect Life Insurance Proceeds

The bottom line Simultaneous death act and life insurance proceeds are governed by state law and the policy: when the order of death cannot be proved, a 120-hour survival rule often treats a beneficiary who dies within that period as having predeceased the insured. The payout may then go to a contingent beneficiary or the … Read more

What Does a Life Insurance Bad-Faith Lawyer Charge?

The bottom line Life insurance bad faith lawyer fees are usually agreed as a contingency percentage, but there is no universal rate: your signed agreement should explain the calculation, expenses, and what happens if the claim loses. State rules and the case agreement control, so compare those terms before deciding whether legal help fits your … Read more

Which Tools Can Help You Find a Lost Life Insurance Policy?

The bottom line The best lost life insurance search tools are the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator and state unclaimed-property offices, both free starting points. The NAIC says a search may take 90 business days or more, so gather the deceased person’s identifying details, search each relevant state, and keep records of every request. When … Read more

Should Co-Signers Carry Life Insurance on Borrowers?

The bottom line Should cosigners carry life insurance on borrowers? Often, yes: a policy can give the cosigner funds to address a loan balance after the borrower dies, but the right answer depends on the contract, policy ownership, consent, insurable interest, and whether the debt would strain the cosigner’s finances. Cosigning is a financial obligation, … Read more

Do Standard Life Insurance Policies Cover Oil Rig Accidents?

The bottom line Are rig accidents covered by standard policies? Usually, not automatically: a standard life policy may cover an occupational death unless its contract contains an occupation or hazardous-duty exclusion, but underwriting can also rate, limit, or decline a rig worker before issue. Read the actual policy and application answers before relying on it. … Read more

Why Do Life Insurers Use Different Build Limits?

The bottom line Why insurers use different build limits is usually simple: each insurer estimates your home’s rebuilding cost from its own property details, cost data, and policy options. The right limit is the amount needed to rebuild with similar materials, not the home’s sale price or land value. A dwelling limit, sometimes called a … Read more

How to Keep Life Insurance Active During Unemployment

The bottom line Keeping life insurance active during unemployment starts with protecting the policy’s grace-period deadline and asking about cash-value or conversion options before coverage lapses. Your contract controls the dates and available choices, so contact the insurer early, document the answer, and review replacement options only after you know what you could lose. Keeping … Read more

Hybrid Life Insurance: Are the Care Benefits Worth the Tradeoffs?

The bottom line Hybrid life insurance pros and cons center on one trade-off: you get lifelong coverage plus a long-term care benefit, but you may pay more and commit money for the long term. The right choice depends on the contract, your care-planning goals, and the death benefit you want to leave. Weigh those terms … Read more