How to use life insurance while alive
Life insurance comes in all shapes and sizes. Depending on your personal financial situation and long-term goals you could benefit from a term, whole, universal or variable policy.
While life insurance is often thought of as something you leave to your beneficiaries after you have died, there are ways you can use your life insurance while you're alive. This can be used to pay down debt, make mortgage payments or simply to help with major expenses.
But not every policy allows you early access. If you want this ability included in your plan, you'll need to do your homework first.
If you're in the market for life insurance - or want to boost the protection you already have - then reach out to a life insurance expert now. They can provide you with a free quote so you know exactly what to expect.
How to use life insurance while alive
You can potentially tap into your life insurance while you're alive. Here's how:
Get a whole life insurance policy
Whole life insurance is a form of permanent life insurance (as is universal and variable life). Permanent life insurance policies will allow you to access the cash portion of your account while you're alive.
Term life insurance, meanwhile, does not have a cash element for policyholders to access. So, if you're planning on using your life insurance as a backup cash resource you'll want to avoid term policies.
Just note that, because of the cash factor, whole life insurance policies are typically more expensive than term plans. And you won't have immediate access to cash once the policy goes live. You'll still need an adequate cash amount in the account before you can use it (and it takes time to build that up).
It helps to consult a life insurance expert. They can answer any questions you may have and help you get started with a policy that you can access for cash.
Surrender your policy
Assuming you have a policy that has a cash element to it, you could then surrender it and withdraw the entire existing cash value. Again, this assumes two factors: that you have a policy that has cash and that you have built up enough cash in the policy over time so that there's actually something substantive to take out.
If both of those qualifications have not been met then you won't be able to use your life insurance while you're alive - or you'll have to wait until there's an amount large enough to withdraw from.
Borrow from your policy
If you don't want to outright surrender your policy you may be able to take out a loan on the existing cash amount of your policy. Just understand, if you go this route, that the amount you ultimately owe on the policy's outstanding principal (and interest) will be taken from the death benefit before your beneficiaries receive it.
Still, this may be a better option than going to a bank or taking a personal loan because you won't have your credit checked in order to get the funds. You'll probably have better repayment terms, too.
It's best to speak with a life insurance expert who can help guide you through the process.
The bottom line
It's a popular myth that you can't use your life insurance while alive. Not only can you potentially use it, but it may also be a better vehicle than other traditional cash options. The benefits afforded by a life insurance policy will vary based on the type of policy and which options you chose when buying your coverage.
A life insurance professional can help you determine the best and most cost-effective way to use your life insurance while you're alive.
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