A life settlement could be an opportunity to receive cash in exchange for the life insurance policy you don’t require or cannot be able to. For those who struggle to cover health expenses or long-term health healthcare in retirement, it may be a desperately needed lifeline.
Many people don’t be aware of this option.
“Some people are selling their houses [to pay for care] when they have an insurance policy that’s worth as much as the equity in their house,” says Michael Freedman, CEO of Life Settlement firm Lighthouse Life. “They just don’t know they can sell it.”
Before you leap into making the life settlement, you should know how it works, whether you are eligible, and if selling your policy is even the right choice.
A life settlement refers to selling a life insurance contract to a third party to receive a single cash payment. The purchaser of the policy is its beneficiary, responsible for paying the premiums and receiving the death benefit if the insured passes away.
The amount you will receive from the life settlement will be contingent on many aspects, such as the health and age of the person who is insured, the type of insurance, and the current rates of interest. In the majority of cases, you will be able to get higher than the cash surrender amount of the policy, however, less than the total death benefit.
A few points to consider before selling the life insurance coverage to a life settlement arrangement. First, you need to locate a reliable life settlement service. Many companies offer life settlements, but they are not all trustworthy. Make sure you do your homework and select an insured and licensed firm.
In addition, you need to be aware of the tax implications of a life insurance settlement. The proceeds of the life settlement are typically tax-deductible as regular income. There are, however, some exemptions, so it is recommended to consult a tax professional.
In addition, you must be aware of certain risks that come with life settlements. The buyer of your insurance might be unable to pay the monthly premiums, or the insured could live longer than anticipated. You may not pay for the policy if one of these scenarios occurs.
A life settlement is an ideal option for people who require cash but don’t want or need the life insurance coverage they have. It is, however, crucial to conduct research and know the potential risks before selling your insurance policy.
Here are a few advantages of settling a death settlement
- You can receive money in one lump for any reason, like paying for medical bills, debts, or retirement.
- It is possible to avoid future premiums on the insurance policy.
- You can eliminate the policy you do not require or want.
Here are some dangers of settling a life insurance settlement:
- The proceeds of an estate settlement are tax-deductible as regular income.
- The person who purchased the policy could not pay the premiums. This could lead to the policy becoming inactive.
- The insured may have a longer life span than anticipated, which could mean you receive less than anticipated from the life settlement.
Suppose you’re considering the possibility of a life settlement. In that case, you should consult with a financial professional to discuss the benefits and disadvantages and determine if it’s the best option for you.
Who Qualifies for a Life Settlement?
The health and age of the person insured are two of the most important aspects to consider when selling a life insurance policy. In general, you must be sick or old enough to make investors willing to accept the risk of purchasing the insurance policy, Freedman says.
Investors aren’t interested in paying premiums for someone likely to endure for decades. This is why they prefer buying policies from people who have shorter lifespans. “The shorter the life expectancy, the greater the value is to the investor,” Freedman states.
Typically, it would help if you were at least 65 years old to qualify. The median age of people who sell life insurance policies via settlements is around 75 years old, Freedman says. It is possible to be younger, but you must suffer from a severe illness. Freedman states that many state statutes stipulate that policyholders must be diagnosed as terminally ill and have an expected life expectancy of fewer than two years, or chronically ill and in a position to carry out at minimum 2 “activities of daily living” like bathing, eating or dressing, or even taking a bathroom trip by themselves. This type of sale is typically called a viatical settlement instead of an estate settlement.
Investors are also concerned about the size of the death benefit. For instance, Siegel says his company demands that a policy have a death benefit of at least $50,000.He claims policies with a value of $500,000 or more will be more likely to be sold to the company.
Magna Life Settlements estimated that the face value of a policy of life settlements was $1.24 million in 2018.
Reasons to Consider a Life Settlement
There are many reasons to consider the possibility of settling a life estate. Here are some of the most frequent:
- To receive the cash. A life settlement will give you an amount of cash in one lump to use for any reason, like paying medical bills, debts, or even retirement.
- To save on the future cost of costs. If you sell your life insurance policy as a form of a life settlement, you do not need to pay the cost of premiums. This can be a significant savings, particularly if you cannot pay the monthly premiums.
- To dispose of a policy that you don’t want or require. If you have a life insurance policy, you don’t require or want it. A life settlement may be an option to get out of the policy. It can be beneficial when trying to streamline your finances or worrying about the policy’s expiration.
- To care for your loved family members. If you are seriously ill, a settlement will ensure your loved ones are cared for when you pass away. The money from the life settlement could be used to cover the expenses of their loved ones, like funeral costs or medical bills.
It is vital to keep in mind other potential risks in insurance settlements. In particular, the earnings of a life settlement can be tax-deductible as regular income. Furthermore, the buyer of the policy might not be able to pay the cost of the policy, resulting in the policy being canceled.
Considering the possibility of settling your life, it is crucial to consider the benefits and risks carefully. Also, you should consult an expert in financial planning to obtain their advice regarding the right choice for you.
There are other things to take into consideration before selling the life insurance plan as an estate settlement:
- The amount you will receive from the policy will be contingent on a variety of aspects, including the health and age of the insured, the type of insurance, and the rate of interest at the moment.
- It is essential to locate an established life settlement company. There are a lot of businesses that provide life settlements. However, there are a few that are trustworthy. Research thoroughly and make sure you choose a licensed and insured business.
- Awareness of the tax consequences of a life settlement is essential. The funds from a life settlement are usually tax-deductible as regular income. However, there are a few exemptions, so it is recommended to consult a tax professional.
- Be aware of the potential risks that come with life insurance settlements. The person who purchased your policy could not be able to pay the policy’s cost, or the insured might live longer than anticipated. If any of these scenarios occur, you may be unable to pay for the policy.
In the end, a life settlement is an ideal option for those who require cash but do not have the need or desire for the life insurance coverage they have. It is, however, essential to conduct your research and be aware of the risks before selling your insurance policy.
Types of Life Insurance Policies That Can Be Sold
You can sell the term life insurance policy or a permanent life insurance policy. If you own the term life insurance, investors would prefer that the policy has the option of being converted to a long-term policy since they don’t want the risk of losing the insured beyond the duration that the insurance policy covers, Freedman says. Also, the insured’s life expectancy is not longer than the duration of the policy before selling it, Siegel says.
The majority of policies offered comprise universal life policies. The cost of universal life insurance policies is typically lower than traditional life insurance premiums, making them attractive to investors, Siegel states. Since premium payments are flexible, the owners of these policies may encounter situations where they weren’t paying enough premiums initially and have to pay more in the future to ensure that the policies remain in force. This means that certain people cannot afford their insurance and are willing to dispose of the policy, Freedman says.
How to Sell a Life Insurance Policy
Brokers process the majority of life settlements. Brokers must be licensed and fulfill the fiduciary obligation to represent the policy owner. They put the policy up for sale as an “auction” and get bids from multiple buyers; according to Siegel, his firm, Suncrest Benefits, is a life settlement broker. “Their goal is to get [policy owners] the maximum price possible,” Siegel states.
Since brokers conduct their comparison shopping, they receive the commission. Siegel claims that his brokerage receives no more than 8 percent of the face value of a policy or 30 percent of the settlement payment or less, whichever is less. The most common commission his business receives equals 22% of the value of a life settlement.