Life insurance is expensive enough, but premiums can be a huge drain on a budget. Many things can make the cost of a premium skyrocket. Fortunately, though, there are ways to save or bring the price down.
Lifestyle Changes
Just a few changes of lifestyle can bring premiums down considerably. Life insurance companies always charge smokers more because of the risks of cancer, emphysema, and other complications that smoking can cause. Once a policy holder has been a non-smoker for one year, premiums can often be re-evaluated and decreased. Excessive alcohol use can also raise premiums, particularly if medical or driving records reflect it. Any DUI charges can raise insurance premiums significantly. Overweight policy holders are also charged a great deal more because insurance companies predict problems with blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and other associated conditions. Premiums can be brought down just by dropping a few pounds.
Consider Dropping Some Coverage
Often, people buy more insurance coverage than they really need. Insurance agents often encourage prospective customers to select more than necessary because they receive commission. Take a look at the policy and figure out what basics are needed. If a workplace health insurance policy is already in place, there may be some duplicate coverage that can be safely dropped.
Increasing Credit Score
Insurance companies use many methods of predicting the risk of policy holders. While many people assume this is restricted to medical records, this is far from the truth. Credit score can affect premiums. A person with a low credit score is interpreted as high risk because companies assume that the risks an individual takes with their credit will be the same as in other areas of life. By boosting credit score and keeping it high, insurance rates will go down.
Look for Discounts
Most insurance companies have discounts that policy holders can qualify for. Having home or car insurance with the same company can result in large discounts, as can certain organization and alumni affiliations, as well as method of payment. Paying the bill as a lump sum or having it deducted through payroll often qualifies for a discount.