Insurance
industry targets seniors, but beware of risks
Centenarians — people age
100 or older — are the fastest-growing segment of the nation's population,
according to the New England Centenarian Study, which estimates there are about
50,000 centenarians in the
Chances are, you won't live to be 100. But Americans are living longer
than ever, a fact that hasn't escaped the insurance industry. Eager to tap a
growing market of older, healthy Americans, the industry is making term life
insurance affordable to older customers. According to the Web site QuickQuote, a 65-year-old in good health can buy a 10-year,
$500,000 term policy for about $2,500 a year.
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Most
older Americans don't need life
insurance because they don't have dependents. But in a few limited cases, a
term policy may make sense.
Don't confuse these term
policies with the "guaranteed" life insurance that is often
advertised on late-night television. You don't need to take a medical exam to
qualify for a guaranteed life insurance policy, says Lou Geremia,
president of Insurance.com, an online insurance provider. But premiums are
usually very high, and the payout is low — usually just enough to pay funeral
costs, he says.
With traditional life
insurance, premiums are much lower, but coverage isn't automatic, Geremia says. You'll still have to meet the insurer's
criteria, which usually means taking a medical exam. But new research on
longevity has led some insurers to relax their criteria for seniors.
For example, a slight rise
in blood pressure or cholesterol won't automatically disqualify you. Studies
have shown such increases are normal as people age.
It's not hard to see why
the insurance industry is targeting seniors. The number of Americans 70 and
older is expected to double by 2035. And older Americans account for a small
percentage of life insurance sales (see box), creating lots of room for growth.
Before you buy a policy,
understand the risks. Some insurers report an increased interest among older
customers in term life insurance, which pays out a death benefit if you die
while the policy is in effect. But if you outlive the term of your policy and
apply to renew it, your premiums will likely skyrocket, says David Bergmann, a financial planner in
Cash value life insurance,
such as whole life and universal life insurance, has an investment feature and
is designed to provide permanent coverage. But the policies are much more
expensive than term life insurance, says Robert Hunter, director of insurance for
the Consumer Federation of America.
Before investing in a cash
value policy, consult a fee-only financial planner who doesn't receive
commissions for selling a particular product, Hunter suggests.
Who needs insurance
Traditionally, parents of
young children have been the biggest buyers of term life insurance. But some
older Americans have big responsibilities, too. You may want to consider a term
life policy if:
•You want to provide
security for dependent grandchildren. Many older Americans are caring for their
grandchildren, says Chris Cooper, a financial planner in
If your grown children have
decided to go back to school or are pursuing a graduate degree, a short-term
insurance policy would help pay for your child's education costs without
tapping your estate, Hunter says. Depending on how long your child is in
school, a five-year term policy may be all you need, he says.
•You want to provide
financial security for a younger spouse. If you're older than your spouse, a
term life insurance policy could provide income for your spouse after you're
gone. And unlike other assets, such as investments and real estate, your spouse
won't have to sell anything or wrestle with thorny tax issues to get the money,
says Malcolm Greenhill, a financial planner in
The downside: You could
outlive your policy. If you're in your 60s, you may be able to find a company
that will sell you a 20-year term policy, Greenhill
says. But there's a reasonably good chance you'll live into your 80s, which
means you'll have to come up with another way to support your spouse.
"Insurance shouldn't be about gambling," Greenhill
says. "It's too important."
Sandra Block covers
personal finance for