Skip To Content
Blog Get a Quote
Search

8 simple ways to save money on life insurance

So how do you go about saving money on life insurance? We’re glad you asked. Take these easy steps to cut your life insurance premiums.

As a wise man once said, price is what you pay, value is what you get. That wise man? Warren Buffett, who knows a thing or two about investing well. This could easily be applied when shopping for life insurance or updating the terms of their policy. Obviously, you want to get good value — insurance is meant to provide a level of financial security for those you love most. But you also want to get that value at the best price possible, because it’s always better to keep money in your pocket rather than put in someone else’s.

So how do you go about saving money on life insurance? We’re glad you asked. We have a few friendly pieces of advice below.

If you don’t have it, consider getting it now.

Youth and health are relative things, but it’s a fact of life that you’ll never be younger than you are right now. (And while you no doubt have plans—or hopes—to get healthy in the future, the reality is that, as you age, your health will likely decline, too.)

The upshot? Life insurance is almost certainly more affordable right now than it will ever be. The reason: Insurers are making an actuarial bet on your longevity, and essentially can offer you a lower premium for the same policy, based on the number of years you’ll be paying into it. Also, if your health history changes in the future, it might increase your premium (or even limit your options). Getting covered ASAP is almost always a good idea—you never know when an emergency might strike. It turns out, it’ll save you some money, too.

If you’re a smoker, quit

This is another one that doubles as both good life advice and a potential money-saver. Simply put (and as the surgeon general has been warning for decades), smoking is hazardous to your health. This makes you a riskier bet for insurers, so they will charge you more for coverage. In fact, some studies have shown that this is the No. 1 factor in raising your premium. We understand that it’s hard to break this particular habit, but consider the potential financial savings an extra motivator.

And note: If you’re already insured and you quit smoking, be sure to let your insurer know. You probably won’t qualify for a lower rate right away, but generally, if you’re able to show you’ve gone about 2 years living smoke-free (give or take, depending upon the policy provisions), you will likely save a bit of cash.

Disclose any health issues up front

Basically, any issues will likely be discovered during your exam, so the rate you shopped for might not be the rate you ultimately get. In other words, disclosing your health history is important for you to find out the actual rate, which is important for comparison shopping. (For example, some insurers charge more than others to insure people with diabetes. Disclosing this condition up front makes it easier to find out which insurer will offer you the best rate.)

Buy what you need

Term life insurance covers you for a specific period of time, for example, 10, 20 or 30 years.  Your hope is that you never need your term life insurance policy to pay out (because, you know, that means you outlived it). Because of that, you want to pay no more than is absolutely necessary. Fortunately, it’s never been easier to determine how much term life insurance you need. And again, obviously, but underinsuring can prove expensive in a different way—not for you, but for the loved ones who needed more coverage. You’ll also want to make sure your policy covers an adequate number of years. Again, no more and no less.

Decide what kind of policy to buy based on your needs

When shopping for life insurance, you will come across both term and permanent life insurance (whole life insurance is an example of one type of permanent insurance). We’ve already talked about term life insurance and its features. Permanent life insurance offers lifetime coverage, and includes a cash accumulation feature that builds value over the course of the policy. That also means that premiums for permanent life insurance are significantly more expensive than term insurance. It’s also more complex, and might require the assistance of a financial professional. Want to know more? Learn more about what type of life insurance may be a good fit for you here.

Haven Life: Life insurance that’s actually simple

Life insurance is more affordable than you think

Get your free quote

If you’re healthy, consider a medically underwritten policy

We get it: Taking a medical exam can seem like an inconvenience. But consider, for a moment, your insurer’s point of view: Insuring someone without having all his or her medical information is a risk, and your whole business is assessing (and charging for) risk. In other words, if your policy isn’t medically underwritten, it will almost certainly cost you more because your insurer will charge you for this unknown risk.

As we said above, to get the most accurate rate on your policy, be completely transparent about your medical history and overall level of health. A medically underwritten policy gives the insurer the most information to work with. Here’s how you can prepare for your life insurance medical exam.

Watch for level premiums

This is another way of saying that what you pay at the start of your coverage is what you’ll pay every month for the duration of your policy. If you don’t have this option, you will pay a higher premium as you age, which obviously will cost more money.

Another thing to look into: Whether your insurer offers a discount for making annual, rather than monthly, payments. (This might also reduce fees.) Obviously, this means paying a larger lump sum, and not everyone can afford to do this. But if you can, it’s worth considering.

Comparison shop

Behold, the glory of capitalism! You, the consumer, can choose from an array of suitors after you’ve narrowed down the list to insurers who suit your needs. One way to do this is to hire a broker to shop for you, which can spare you the hassle of requesting quotes from a range of insurers. (Just know that, by law, these brokers cannot negotiate better rates for you—insurers must offer you the same rate they offer the broker.) If you’ve decided to get term life insurance, good news –  in the 21st century, you can also quickly and easily get a quote online.

Keep in mind that you can’t necessarily put a price on some things—for example, the convenience of applying for insurance online. You should also check the ratings of insurance companies to make sure the company that issues your policy is in good standing.

When it’s all said and done, life insurance is like anything else: You want the best you can afford. Fortunately, there are ways to increase the value you get while lowering the price you pay. (Great tip, Warren.) Ready to get started? Get an estimate for coverage now.

It’s not just easier life insurance, it’s an easier life.

Learn about the perks that come with being a Haven Term policyholder.

Explore Haven Life Plus

Louis Wilson is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in a wide array of publications, both online and in print. He often writes about travel, sports, popular culture, men’s fashion and grooming, and more. He lives in Austin, Texas, where he has developed an unbridled passion for breakfast tacos, with his wife and two children. This article is sponsored by Haven Life Insurance Agency. Opinions are his own.

Default author headshot

About Louis Wilson

Louis Wilson is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in a wide array of publications, both online and in print. He often writes about travel, sports, popular culture, men’s fashion and grooming, and more. He lives in Austin, Texas, where he has developed an unbridled passion for breakfast tacos, with his wife and two children.

Read more by Louis Wilson

Our editorial policy

Haven Life is a customer-centric life insurance agency that’s backed and wholly owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). We believe navigating decisions about life insurance, your personal finances and overall wellness can be refreshingly simple.

Our editorial policy

Haven Life is a customer centric life insurance agency that’s backed and wholly owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). We believe navigating decisions about life insurance, your personal finances and overall wellness can be refreshingly simple.

Our content is created for educational purposes only. Haven Life does not endorse the companies, products, services or strategies discussed here, but we hope they can make your life a little less hard if they are a fit for your situation.

Haven Life is not authorized to give tax, legal or investment advice. This material is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for tax, legal, or investment advice. Individuals are encouraged to seed advice from their own tax or legal counsel.

Our disclosures

Haven Term is a Term Life Insurance Policy (DTC and ICC17DTC in certain states, including NC) issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), Springfield, MA 01111-0001 and offered exclusively through Haven Life Insurance Agency, LLC. In NY, Haven Term is DTC-NY 1017. In CA, Haven Term is DTC-CA 042017. Haven Term Simplified is a Simplified Issue Term Life Insurance Policy (ICC19PCM-SI 0819 in certain states, including NC) issued by the C.M. Life Insurance Company, Enfield, CT 06082. Policy and rider form numbers and features may vary by state and may not be available in all states. Our Agency license number in California is OK71922 and in Arkansas 100139527.

MassMutual is rated by A.M. Best Company as A++ (Superior; Top category of 15). The rating is as of Aril 1, 2020 and is subject to change. MassMutual has received different ratings from other rating agencies.

Haven Life Plus (Plus) is the marketing name for the Plus rider, which is included as part of the Haven Term policy and offers access to additional services and benefits at no cost or at a discount. The rider is not available in every state and is subject to change at any time. Neither Haven Life nor MassMutual are responsible for the provision of the benefits and services made accessible under the Plus Rider, which are provided by third party vendors (partners). For more information about Haven Life Plus, please visit: https://havenlife.com/plus

You might also like

Get our most-read stories, twice a month

.newsletter-msg-success, .newsletter-msg-error { display: none; }

What our customers are saying

Sign up for our newsletter

Get our most-read stories, twice a month

Thanks for signing up. See you in your inbox soon.