You've seen these commercials for a $500,000 policy for only $21 a month, we all have, but then you wonder why yours is so much more expensive. The story is in that teeny fine print at the bottom of the screen that you can barely see.
The main commercial that I've seen is quoting a rate for a 35 year old male, at a 'preferred plus' rate, for a 10 year term policy. 'Preferred plus' is an ultra healthy person, not always an easy rating to get. The way rates are figured out is based around what are the chances an insurance company is going to have to pay out a death benefit? The odds of the average 35 year old male dying before age 45 is relatively low, so you can cover them at a really low rate generally. If it were a 20 year term, you could still probably have a good rate because you are likely to still be alive at the end of 20 years.
But watch the rates pop when you have someone age 50 look for a 20 year term. Again, health may or may not be as good, and god help you if you're a smoker--that usually will more than double many rates.
So remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. If you are looking for life insurance, you can go to a web site but seriously consider contacting an agent to help you navigate this. Different carriers handle certain health issues more conservatively than others, so you don't want to go barking up the wrong tree and wasting your time if you can avoid it. It won't cost you any more, as we are paid by the insurance carrier, not the client, and you will have a better idea of what you've got.
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