September is Life Insurance Awareness Month.
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| Women Hold Families Together |
And while women are the sole or primary breadwinners in a
record 40 percent of U.S. households, women's life insurance coverage is only
69 percent of the average coverage on men "Every woman needs to stop, take a moment
and consider how important it is to protect her income and the value of what
she provides at home in the event something would happen to her or her
spouse," urges Cynthia Tidwell, President/CEO of Royal Neighbors of
America, one of the largest women-led insurers in the United States. "Life
insurance can help replace your salary, pay off a mortgage, cover childcare
expenses, or protect college dreams if you die prematurely."
1. "I don't work or earn as much money as my spouse. I
don't need life insurance." Wives and mothers have worth, and life
insurance can help replace your lost salary or all the things you do for the
family as a stay-at-home mom. Term insurance is an economical option for
families. Term insurance provides coverage at a fixed premium amount for a
specific time period. It is an affordable choice to protect assets such as your
home and can provide funds until your family gets back on its financial feet.
Learn more why women need life insurance.
2. "Life insurance is just for paying for funerals,
right?" The fact is life insurance not only pays for funerals but can also
help offset daily expenses, protect your current lifestyle, or ensure your
children's college dreams still come true. According to life insurance industry
figures, one in three U.S. households has no life insurance at all. For those
that do, they only own enough on average to replace household income for 3.5
years. The recommended industry rule of thumb starts at twice that from 7-10
years.
3. "I'm too young for life insurance. It's for older
people with kids."
The fact is, purchasing life insurance for yourself or your
children at a younger age means you are buying less expensive coverage – and that
coverage can financially protect you against future illnesses that may make you
ineligible for coverage later in life. Consider purchasing permanent coverage
(whole life) because premiums may be more affordable and will build cash value,
or look for economical term policies that can be converted to more permanent
insurance no matter what happens to your health.
4. "Life insurance is too complicated. I have no idea
what to buy."
The fact is women do need to get educated, so take the first
step. Royal Neighbors offers an online tool to help you calculate how much
insurance you may need to stay financially secure, depending on your age,
income, and current expenses. It also explains the different types of coverage
and what might fit your needs best.
