In the context of life insurance and living benefits (such as disability insurance, critical illness insurance, long-term care insurance, and health insurance), a “premium” is the amount of money that the policyholder is required to pay to the insurance company in exchange for the insurance coverage. Premiums are the cost of the insurance policy and can be paid on various schedules, including monthly, quarterly, annually, or as a single lump-sum payment, depending on the policy terms.
Key aspects of premiums in life insurance and living benefits include:
Determination of premiums
Premium amounts are determined based on several factors, including the type and amount of coverage, the policyholder’s age, health status, lifestyle choices (such as smoking), and the length of the coverage period. For living benefits, the likelihood of a claim being made based on the policyholder’s health and occupation may also influence premium costs.
Payment schedules
Policyholders can often choose from different payment schedules to suit their financial situation. Regular payment of premiums is required to keep the insurance policy active and ensure coverage is in place.
Policy renewal and premium adjustments
For certain types of living benefits insurance, premiums may be adjusted at the time of policy renewal based on the policyholder’s age or changes in the risk profile. For life insurance, especially whole life or universal life policies, premiums may remain level throughout the life of the policy.
Non-payment consequences
Failure to pay premiums within the grace period provided by the insurer can result in the policy lapsing, which means the coverage would be terminated, and the policyholder would lose the protection provided by the policy.
Premium returns and dividends
Some types of life insurance policies, particularly participating policies, may return a portion of the premiums to policyholders in the form of dividends or reduced future premiums, depending on the company’s financial performance.