Insurance World

A mortgage is often the single biggest financial commitment that many people make during their lifetime, yet fewer than half of all residential mortgage holders choose to take on protection of their mortgage repayment ability with mortgage protection insurance.

Mortgage protection insurance, or mortgage payment protection insurance, is a form of insurance that ensures mortgage repayments are met should the mortgage holder become unemployed, fall critically ill or be unable to earn income due to an accident. This type of protection insurance product is quite cheap to maintain, and allows mortgage holders to set an insurance amount for monthly protection pay-out that covers mortgage costs and additional expenses up to a set percentage above mortgage outgoings.

Most mortgage payment protection insurance policies are strict on protection insurance claims. For instance, should the mortgage holder become unemployed through their own free will, then they would not be covered by the mortgage payment protection insurance policy. However, redundancy does qualify for payment through the protection insurance policy, providing that the mortgage holder actively seeks new employment. Additionally, mortgage protection insurance may not pay out if the claimant takes on voluntary or part-time work, although the protection insurance terms & conditions relating to this area will vary with each type of mortgage payment protection insurance product.

Typically, mortgage holders will have to endure a mortgage payment protection insurance qualifying period before receiving payment protection pay-outs. The qualifying period on mortgage payment protection insurance policies is normally 90 - 120 days. If the mortgage holder is still eligible for mortgage payment protection insurance after this period, then protection payments are commenced on a monthly basis.

Insurance companies often require holders of mortgage payment protection insurance to renew their mortgage protection insurance claim every month by completing a form. Sometimes the insurance companies will request evidence from the mortgage holder so they can evaluate the mortgage holder’s eligibility for the continuation of mortgage protection insurance payments. This could be a doctor’s note of illness or copies of job applications if claiming mortgage payment protection insurance pay-out because of redundancy. Mortgage payment protection insurance pay-outs are normally paid directly into the mortgage holder’s bank account one month in arrears.

Pay-outs on mortgage payment protection insurance are often limited to a set insurance period. Depending on the insurance company, monthly protection payments over six months or twelve months from the first mortgage protection pay-out is normal. As two out of every ten people who are made redundant take over a year to re-establish themselves in a new job, mortgage payment protection insurance could mean the difference between keeping your home or losing it.

It can be very difficult to decide if you need life insurance. Life insurance can be an extremely onerous financial commitment and investment, and it will also last for a considerable period of time, so you should take careful consideration in deciding if it is the best way of achieving the financial and other goals you and your loved ones may have.

Life Insurance Policy

Basically, a life insurance policy will cause a sum to be paid to the named beneficiary upon the death of the insured. This sum will generally be paid to the beneficiary, free of income tax. So in which instances is life insurance generally used above its alternatives? Well its primary function is to provide death benefit protection in a tax efficient way. For example, if you would like to transfer wealth from your estate to your beneficiaries you can do it through life insurance.

You should now that it may still be liable to federal estate taxes. It can also be used to ensure the continuation or protection of a business and to provide financial benefits to your partners or employees who may otherwise be at risk financially. It may also be used to support your family or other dependents that rely on your income during life. It can replace this income and support them in your place for a period. It can also be used to supplement retirement income in various instances when other contributions are not possible.

Be Aware

You can access the money in your policy unless it is a Modified Endowment Contract. What’s more, it will be federal income tax free so long as you make the withdrawal by borrowing against the policy and do not exceed what you have paid into the policy. Withdrawals from an MEC are subject to federal income tax on the gains they have made. There is an additional 10% tax in certain situations.

You should be aware that all withdrawals and loans against a permanent life insurance policy would reduce the policy’s value and the amount of any pay out upon death of the insured. There may also be various fees and penalties associated with accessing the money early so you should be aware of these and if they are very onerous, you may wish to look for an alternative source of funds so that you don’t have to fall prey to these. Also, if your policy is invested on your behalf, the amount available for withdrawal or loans may be less or more than what you have paid in, depending on how your investments perform.