Spring Into Health: Why Your March Physical is the Best Time to Lock in Life Insurance Rates
Many people use the arrival of Spring to get back into a fitness routine and schedule their annual physical. In the world of Life Insurance, your “Attained Age” and your health status are the two primary drivers of your premium costs.
Understanding the “Rating”
When you apply for life insurance, you are assigned a “Rating” (such as Preferred Plus, Standard, or Substandard). If your March physical shows that your blood pressure or cholesterol has improved since last year, you may be eligible to “re-rate” your policy and lower your monthly payments. Conversely, if you are planning to buy a new policy, doing so before your next birthday can save you thousands over the life of the policy.
The Strategy of “Laddering”
As you review your needs this March, consider “Laddering.” Instead of one giant, expensive 30-year policy, you can stack multiple policies:
- A 30-year policy to cover the mortgage.
- A 20-year policy to cover your children’s college years.
- A 10-year policy to cover your highest-earning years.
By “laddering,” you ensure you have the most coverage when your debt is highest, while your total premium costs drop as the shorter-term policies expire. It’s a smart, “Spring-clean” approach to your financial security.
