How Declaring Bankruptcy Affects Your Life Insurance Premium Rates

Debt is a part of life, but when debts careen beyond control to a point where you can no longer repay, filing for personal bankruptcy is a way out. However, before you file for bankruptcy, there are important repercussions you should consider, especially facts related to your life insurance premiums.

Bankruptcy and life insurance

If you own an existing life insurance policy, it is usually left untouched by the bankruptcy court, to protect the interests of your beneficiaries.

If you own a permanent life insurance, you will be allowed to retain a portion of the cash value that has accumulated on it. How much you are allowed to retain depends on where you live, because the rules are different from State to State. If you have taken out a life insurance policy on someone else like your spouse or your kids, you will have to surrender the same to the court.

Bankruptcy will affect your life insurance rate

Most people file for bankruptcy because it wipes the slate clean and helps them to start over. It is common knowledge that a bad credit score will adversely affect life insurance premium rates. However, will bankruptcy improve the situation? Let’s explore the repercussions of bankruptcy on life insurance premium rates.

If you are already in deep debt, it makes sense to file for bankruptcy. Buying life insurance with a bad credit score is not a good idea because of the exorbitant premiums you will be charged, which in turn will worsen your financial situation. For someone in this situation, it makes sense to first file for bankruptcy, and then wait a while before applying for a life insurance.

It definitely won’t be easy then too, because life insurance companies see your bankruptcy as a lack of restraint, and being careless with your finances. They therefore have reservations about your ability to pay premiums. It usually takes about 7 to 10 years until your credit report will stop reflecting your bankruptcy.

Buying a life insurance policy after bankruptcy

Since life insurance is a purchase that can never be put off, waiting out for a decade until your credit report stops reflecting your bankruptcy is definitely not advisable. The better option is to buy a 10-year term life insurance policy.

You will be paying higher premiums and it may turn out to be quite a struggle, but it is better than putting your family’s welfare at risk.

The first few years on a policy are the most expensive for a life insurance company, and their high up-front costs make them very cautious when approving policies. As someone with a bad credit history, you will be considered a risky customer.

The good news is that there are term life insurance companies out there, who will look favorably on your case if they know that your bankruptcy has been completely discharged.

The key is to find such companies. Luckily, with the advent of a host of online life insurance quote providers, it is not difficult to identify such companies. All you need to do is, fill up their online form as accurately as possible. Don’t forget to click ‘Yes’ when you are asked if you have filed for bankruptcy in the last 5 years.

Based on the information you submit, you will be given quotes from companies that look most favorably on your bankruptcy and on other information you have submitted. These quotes are unbiased, genuine and correct because they are chosen from among hundreds of policies and reflect information in real-time.

Bankruptcy can be a very difficult experience, and you may be tempted to wait a while before getting your life insurance.

However, you will risk putting your family going through dire financial hardships. Once your bankruptcy is taken off your credit report, you can request the life insurance company to review your policy, so that you can qualify for lower premiums.

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