Most life insurance companies will issue a refund of your premiums to beneficiaries if you die within the first year of the policy. Investopedia states that this policy prevents the payment of large sums immediately for people who are seriously ill and may want to sign up for a policy in order to provide a death benefit for their loved ones.
The application for guaranteed issue insurance does not require any medical exams or health questions. You will receive a small death benefit to help you and your family with funeral expenses or medical bills.
You may also call it guaranteed acceptance life insurance.
So what's not great about that? High costs, low coverage amounts and "graded deaths benefits" all make it difficult to afford.
If you are not suffering from severe health issues, buying traditional policies will likely save you significant money. A 70-year-old woman could spend $18,700 for a guaranteed-issue life insurance policy that provides $20,000 coverage.
The majority of life insurance policies require that you have some medical underwriting. Medical underwriting evaluates the applicant's health using the results of tests, blood tests, pharmacy records, and other information. An underwriter with experience in understanding health conditions and interprets results will approve or reject the insurance application. The underwriter will assign a rating classification that determines the premium applicant will pay. Consumers can be underwritten for medical reasons to ensure they pay the appropriate premiums. People who are healthy pay less than people who are sick.
Most guaranteed-issue insurance companies require applicants to be between 40-50 years old to apply. They won't sell any new coverage to anyone over 80.
Certain guaranteed issue policies have cash value which you can access by taking out a loan. You will lose your right to receive the cash value of the loan if you don't repay it in full before your death. Additionally, the payout to your heirs depends on the coverage amount, not the cash value.
Not only are the premiums higher, but your beneficiaries will not receive a total benefit until the policy has been in force (typically one to two years depending upon the life insurance company). This is often called "Graded Benefits" in the insurance sector.
Let's suppose you die in the first two or three-years of your policy for any reason other that an accident. In this case, the beneficiary will receive interest and a refund for any premiums paid. While interest amounts paid to beneficiaries can vary from one company to the next, they could range between 10% to 30%. If the death is caused by an accident, such a car wreck, the policy will cover your beneficiaries up to the maximum amount, even if you purchased it recently.
Guaranteed issue life insurance's main selling point is the fact that you cannot be turned away for it. It's also much more convenient than other types: The application doesn't need to ask for any medical questions.
While you can't be denied coverage for health reasons, most policies include a waiting period, often 2-3 years, before the full death benefit is paid out. If you die during this period, the beneficiaries may only receive a refund of premiums paid, plus interest.
Eligibility typically depends on your age, with policies often available to individuals between the ages of 50 and 85. The requirements may vary by insurer, but medical underwriting is not part of the application process.
Premiums for guaranteed issue life insurance tend to be higher than for policies that require medical underwriting, since insurers assume more risk by offering coverage without health questions. The cost will depend on factors such as your age, gender, and the amount of coverage.