There are a handful of reasons why it can be a smart move to pursue life insurance for children. However, you’ll want to make sure it makes sense for your circumstances. While child life insurance works similarly to adult life insurance, there are some key differences.
In all life insurance plans, the policyholder pays premiums to keep the policy active.1 At some companies, minors may not be able to have their own life insurance plans, nor can they directly receive life insurance payouts.2 We recommend exploring all your options around child life insurance so you can choose the right plan for you and your loved ones.
Child life insurance is generally offered in the form of term or whole life insurance. Term life insurance provides coverage for a set amount of time while whole life insurance provides coverage for the entirety of one’s life.
One of the main appeals of life insurance is that it has the ability to help support loved ones following a loss. When learning about what child life insurance is, you may want to reflect on your intentions and reasoning before taking the plunge.
There are a few instances where it may be a good idea for you to explore a child life insurance policy. Two key questions to consider are:
If you answered yes to either of these questions, it may make sense to continue your search for the best life insurance options for your child.
Even the best child life insurance plans can have their drawbacks. We encourage you to explore all the pros and cons before deciding. Guaranteed future insurability, access to cash value, and final expenses are enticing. However, you may want to weigh out the disadvantages of the cost and poor rates of return too.
As mentioned earlier, it may be beneficial to invest in child life insurance if your child has a serious medical condition or if the family has a concerning medical history. One of the best features of getting a child life insurance policy is the guaranteed future insurability.
Aflac’s juvenile whole life policy allows the child to be covered as long as premiums are paid, regardless of the child’s future health. As long as their premiums are kept current, they will be covered until their 25th birthday. After that, the insured child can convert their existing in-force policy to an individual whole life policy, with up to double the face amount of their current term policy without having to provide evidence of insurability.
This means that even if your child develops a serious medical condition at a young age, which could make life insurance as an adult cost-prohibitive or difficult to obtain, he or she could still have coverage.
Depending on the policy and company you choose, some life insurance policies for children grant the ability to claim cash value or take loans on the policy’s accrued cash value. If you opt for a policy that allows early access to cash value, the child may be able to use the extra funds to assist with college tuition, help with a down payment on a first home or other essential needs.
While we hope no one faces the loss of a child, help with expenses may be a form of relief in a devastating time. Looking into life insurance for family members may help provide peace of mind. Some child life insurance policies may provide benefits that can help cover funeral costs. In other cases, you may be able to add a benefit rider to an adult plan that can help with these types of final expenses.
Usually, children have lower rates of mortality, which in turn can create a poor rate of return on whole life insurance plans for children.3 This is something we recommend you consider before taking a leap and expanding your family’s life insurance.
If you decide that child life insurance is the best route for your child, they may be subject to certain long-term expenses, like life-long premium payments. If you move forward with a child life insurance plan, premiums might stay consistent for the entire life of the child, depending on if you choose a term or whole life policy.
If you have already invested money into a child life insurance plan, it may not make sense financially to forfeit the policy early.4 This is another factor to consider before getting child life insurance.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Help cover yourself and your family with affordable coverage from Aflac.
Like life insurance for all family members, how much you’ll pay may depend on age, medical history, lifestyle, and location. We recommend chatting with an Aflac agent to get a better idea of the costs.
Aflac juvenile life insurance offers both term and whole life options for children, with no medical exams required. Learn more about your child’s options with Aflac.
1 Investopedia. Life Insurance Guide to Policies & Companies. Updated: Jul 10, 2022. Accessed: Oct 24, 2022. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/lifeinsurance.asp.
2 Investopedia. Beneficiary Definition. Updated: Oct 24, 2022. Accessed: Oct 24, 2022. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/beneficiary.asp.
3 Investopedia. Best Life Insurance for Children. Updated: Aug 14, 2022. Accessed: Oct 24, 2022. https://www.investopedia.com/best-life-insurance-for-children-5088586.
4 Forbes. Pros And Cons Of Life Insurance For Children. Updated: May 25, 2022. Accessed: Oct 24, 2022. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/life-insurance/life-insurance-for-children/.
Content within this article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal or financial advice regarding any specific situation. Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to NY. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies/riders have limitations and exclusions that may affect benefits payable. For complete details, including availability and costs, please contact your local Aflac agent. Aflac Juvenile Life Insurance - Policy Series 65000: In Idaho, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia, Policies ICC0965JTO and ICC0965JWO; Policy Series B61000: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, & Virginia, Policies: ICC18B61JWO & ICC18B61JTO.
Aflac coverage is underwritten by Aflac. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by Aflac New York.
WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
22 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Suite 2 | Albany, NY 12211
Z2100664R1
EXP 11/23