5 Things You Need To Know About Credit Life Insurance

1. Credit life insurance is not life insurance

Life insurance covers the policyholder and makes payouts to their survivors upon their death.

Credit life insurance covers a large loan and benefits its lender by paying off the remainder of the loan if the borrower dies or is permanently disabled before the loan is paid.

Here’s how it works: A borrower takes out a mortgage on a new home and also gets a credit life insurance policy on the loan. The borrower pays a monthly premium in addition to the mortgage payment. In the event that the borrower becomes permanently disabled or passes before the mortgage is paid, the credit life insurance policy pays the remainder. The title of the property is transferred to the borrower’s estate and, eventually, to the beneficiaries.

Credit life insurance is only offered by lenders on large loans, such as home loans and auto loans.

2. Credit life insurance costs more than traditional life insurance

There’s a greater risk associated with credit life insurance when compared to traditional life insurance, making credit life policy premiums higher. The cost of the insurance decreases as the debt is paid down by the borrower, but the premium will remain constant, often resulting in a loss for the policyholder.

The risk at play with credit life insurance is on the policyholder. Anyone who borrows a large loan can be eligible for a credit life insurance policy without undergoing a medical examination or sharing their medical history with the insurance company.

3. The policy might not cover the entire loan

Before taking out a credit life insurance policy, check your state laws. Several states have set their own limits on credit life insurance payouts. Depending on individual circumstance, this can mean the loan won’t be fully covered.

4. Some lenders require credit life insurance

Sometimes, a lender will require the borrower to open a credit life policy. This usually occurs with mortgage loans in which the borrower is putting down less than 20 percent of the loan value. A few years down the line, when the borrower owns more equity in the home, the lender may consider a borrower’s request to cancel the policy.

5. Why credit life insurance might be for you

Traditional life insurance, with its affordable premiums and broad coverage, is generally recommended over credit life insurance. However, there are two primary reasons someone might choose to take out a credit life insurance policy:

Exclusion issues are circumvented. Coverage exclusions on standard life insurance policies can be extensive. With credit life insurance, though, exclusions rarely happen.

Anyone can be insured. If you’re unable to get conventional coverage for any reason, a credit life insurance policy may be for you.