When it comes to planning for the future, a few topics are as important as the financial security of your significant other.
When you get married or enter into a life partnership, it’s essential that you make arrangements to protect your partner if you die.
Spouse life insurance is one of the best ways to plan for the future and protect their partner into their senior years from financial hardship.
This post aims to introduce you to life insurance for partners as an option and help you understand why it is vital to secure your partner financially so they don’t end up in a GoFundMe life insurance campaign.
So how do you choose the right life insurance policy to meet your needs?
What is Spouse Life Insurance?
Spouse life insurance protects your family’s future if you pass away.
Once you’re married or in a long-term partnership, you must ensure your partner is taken care of financially if you pass away.
One partner’s life insurance needs may be far greater than the other partner’s if there is a significant income gap.
Life insurance for your spouse may be any policy, including:
- Term Life Insurance – Term lengths from 1 to 40 years.
- Universal Life Insurance
- Index Universal Life Insurance
- Whole Life Insurance
- Group Life Insurance
- Supplemental Spouse Life Insurance – An example would be the AICPA life insurance products
- Voluntary Life Insurance
- Accidental Death Insurance
Another option is to have spousal coverage as a rider on another policy.
However, this option may not provide as many benefits as a stand-alone policy.
Consider the life insurance conversion period available with your policy for term life policies, should you need it later.
If your spouse is a foreign national, we can also cover that situation.
If your spouse will receive a pension someday, check out this guide on pension maximization.
Why is Spouse Life Insurance Important?
If you don’t have life insurance, your partner might have to go back to work, change careers, or find a new source of income.
This sudden change could significantly impact their mental health, and their spouse may struggle financially to make ends meet.
It can be tough on couples with children, as many rely on both partners’ incomes to cover the family’s costs.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need for my Spouse?
The life insurance statistics show that most families are underinsured, so don’t let that happen with your family.
The answer to how much life insurance is needed for a spouse depends on several factors, including:
- Working Spouse
- Non-Working Spouse
The most common method for determining life insurance needs is using multiple of your income.
At the very least, you can get a $500k life insurance policy with no exam from many companies.
Working Spouse
A multiple of their income is the easiest method for working spouses to understand.
If your spouse is an entrepreneur, they can use their policy as collateral for SBA loans or key person coverage.
You take the annual income, multiply it by the years you need the coverage, and that’s your insurance need.
That number may be adjusted up or down for special circumstances.
Life insurance companies also have maximum coverage that they will allow, sometimes up to 30-40x your annual income, depending on your age.
Non-Working Spouse
Non-Working Spouse is a term used by insurance companies, not us!
We know that non-working spouses are very busy running households and caring for other family needs.
The amount of life insurance available for this situation is tied to the amount of life insurance on the spouse working outside the home.
We also have this guide to help you – What You Need to Know About Choosing Your Life Insurance Beneficiary.
You’ll find details in the guide to choosing your beneficiaries and death benefit settlement options.
Many companies address this with their underwriting guidelines.
Some examples include:
- AIG-American General
- Age 59 or less – up to $1.5m, depending on household income.
- Age 60-65 – up to 10x household income
- Over age 65 – amounts available depend on estate needs
- Banner Life
- Generally allows up to the amount of the working spouse
- Protective Life
- Generally limited to 50% of the working spouse’s coverage up to $1 million
Remember, those unique circumstances can provide additional coverage; in some cases, we may apply to multiple companies to get the coverage you need.
In general, getting at least one million dollars of life insurance on a spouse is never a problem.
If you have an ex-spouse, you will find additional details to consider: Life Insurance and Divorce
How to Get Started
It’s never been easier to apply for life insurance!
More companies are waiving paramedical exams, instead opting to underwrite your coverage with checks of the MIB and using services like Human API to retrieve medical records quickly.
The underwriter will review your medical history for height and weight, medications, smoking history, etc.
You can get started today by submitting your request for quotes.
We’ll make sure you get the coverage needed.
Final Words
Spouse life insurance is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for the future.
Once you’re married or in a long-term partnership, you must get life insurance for your spouse.
You can get a new policy or add a spouse rider with some companies.
Related Articles:
Life Insurance 101: Your Complete Guide
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
The Complete Guide to Buying Term Life Insurance: Key Insights and Expert Tips
Universal Life Insurance: Everything You Need to Know
Whole Life Insurance: Benefits, Cost, and Key Differences from Term Life
