Term coverage only protects you for a limited number of years, while whole life provides lifelong protection—if you can keep up with the premium payments. Whole life premiums can cost five to 15 times more than term policies with the same death benefit, so they may not be an option for budget-conscious consumers.
Whole life insurance can give you lifelong coverage and provide extra support during retirement. Term life insurance covers you for a shorter period, but it's cheaper and simpler.
Policygenius reports that whole life insurance can cost six to 10 times more than a comparable term policy. That greatly increases the odds that you won't be able to afford your premiums at some point down the line. If that happens, you may have no choice but to drop your coverage, leaving your loved ones vulnerable.
Disadvantages of Term Life Insurance
Term Life Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lower premiums when you're younger | It's temporary coverage |
| Beneficiaries will receive larger death payouts | Must re-qualify at the end of the term |
| Can be converted to whole life insurance | Difficult to qualify if there is a significant health issue |
Term life is designed to cover you for a specified period (say 10, 15 or 20 years) and then end. Because the number of years it covers are limited, it generally costs less than whole life policies. But term life policies typically don't build cash value. So, you can't cash out term life insurance.
If you outlive your term life policy, you usually don't get any money. ... Return of premium (ROP) term life gives you back the premiums. The downside is you'll pay more than a regular term life policy. If ROP interests you, compare policies with and without that rider to see whether the extra cost is worth it.
Whole life insurance policies are the best option for some people, especially those who will always have dependents due to disabilities and the like. But if you're paying for an expensive policy you don't really need, cashing out may be the best option, even if you have to pay fees and taxes.
Whole life insurance is generally a bad investment unless you need permanent life insurance coverage. If you want lifelong coverage, whole life insurance might be a worthwhile investment if you've already maxed out your retirement accounts and have a diversified portfolio.
Suze Orman recommends that you stick to term life insurance to cover your needs. Term life insurance lasts only for a specific period of time, usually 10 to 35 years, while whole or universal life insurance covers you for your entire life.
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