Life Insurance for people over 60

Life Insurance for people over 60 in AZ.

Life Insurance for people over 60For a long time many people have assumed that life insurance for people over 60 is unnecessary as such people had no need for any new life insurance policies, and even if they did have a need the insurance companies would never provide policies for the over sixties.

But times have changed.  There is a growing perception of a need among some of the over sixties for new life insurance policies and the insurance companies have responded to this need by offering life insurance for people over 60 policies to the more elderly, although often at higher premiums.


Why would you need Life Insurance for people over 60?

Many people now work beyond traditional retirement ages.  This occurs for a number of reasons.  They may face a severe pension shortfall.  The downturn in the economy may also have battered their savings.  There is now greater life expectancy and many people may simply want to work longer.

The consequences are that such people continue to earn income, they continue to spend, and some of them continue to accumulate debts. If they want to prevent their families having to sort out any debts after they have gone then it makes good sense to take out a life insurance policy which will pay out on the death of the insured.  In addition if the more elderly are still working they are more likely to be able to afford the premiums.


One of these debts could be the mortgage.  A growing number of people are still paying off a mortgage well into their sixties.  If they were to die with the mortgage still not paid off then the surviving spouse or partner could find themselves with a very difficult situation without a life insurance payout to help out.

Many family relationships have become much more complex in recent years with many people onto their second or third spouse, sometimes with children being born to fathers well into their fifties.  The chance of a main breadwinner dying before all the children have grown up is now a greater possibility and parents in such circumstances might well find it sensible to take out a life insurance policy to provide support to the remaining spouse and any children.

The great majority of long term care for the elderly is carried out free of charge by families and friends with the caregiver very often being an elderly person looking after a spouse.  Should the caregiver die unexpectedly then the elderly person being cared for is likely to have nothing to support them. A life insurance policy could provide some financial cushioning in these circumstances.

An obvious motive for getting a life insurance policy is the need to pay for funeral costs.  The last thing people want is financial anxiety while dealing with their grief.

Why are some insurance companies happy to provide life insurance for people over 60?

The main answer to that question is greater life expectancy.  Americans are living longer.  Many are more active than their parents were when they themselves reach old age.  Insurance companies face the prospect of collecting life insurance premiums for decades from the older generation.  And the premiums will be higher to cover the greater risks.

Obviously insurance companies will pay greater attention to health checks which are required before new policies are issued and a proportion of the older potential customers will be refused, especially if they have pre-existing conditions.

Life Insurance for people over 60 Summary

Regrettably there are regular stories in the media of unscrupulous sales people exploiting elderly people with false promises.  It is important therefore that if you are considering taking out a life insurance policy not to be rushed into a decision.  Get independent advice.  Get several quotes and read the small print before you sign up.  Exploitation will always be with us.  Just make sure you are not a victim.