What is Mortgage Life Insurance Coverage?

Posted by Ernest Longfield

March 13, 2010

Mortgage life insurance (also known as mortgage life assurance) is a standard life insurance policy adapted to cover mortgage loans. Borrowing to buy a house provides a huge financial liability to all but the wealthiest of individuals. It is often stated that mortgage life insurance is a form of mortgage protection but in reality it is more accurate to view it as a form of family protection, after all mortgages are material whereas families are not.

In this light, mortgage life insurance provides family financial security. If one partner were to pass away it is unlikely that the other partner would be able to maintain the mortgage loan payments and thus continue to live in the family home. Mortgage life insurance pays out a (usually) tax free lump sum upon the death of the policyholder. The funds from this payout can then be used to pay off the mortgage loan in its entirety (as long as the level of cover taken out equals the amount outstanding on the loan).

As mentioned previously, mortgage life insurance is adapted from simple life insurance. In fact, level term life insurance (which is used to cover an interest only mortgage loan) is exactly the same as standard life insurance. Level term insurance is used to cover an interest only home loan because the level of cover remains content just the same as the amount of debt outstanding (i.e. it is no different from basic life insurance except that the payout is destined for mortgage repayment).

To cover a principal repayment mortgage loan decreasing term life insurance would be most appropriate. Decreasing term insurance is an adaptation of basic or standard life insurance. It provides all of the usual traits of life insurance except that the level of cover declines over the term of the policy. This ‘decreasing’ amount of cover is supposed to mirror the amount of mortgage debt outstanding as it falls over the repayment years, eventually reaching zero as the loan is repaid. Naturally, as the amount of cover declines over time decreasing term life insurance is less expensive than level term life insurance.

There are no stipulations that the amount of cover taken out with mortgage life insurance has to equal the amount outstanding on the mortgage loan. It may be the case that additional cover is desired to provide further family protection. On the other hand, it may be the case that the family has a large amount of savings so only a fraction of the full cover is required to top up those existing savings to the full mortgage level. In either case, life insurance is a flexible policy that can be adapted to the specific requirements of the policyholder(s).

It is possible to take out joint mortgage life insurance if a joint mortgage is in existence. In this case the policy would payout upon first death of either policyholder. This would leave the remaining policyholder with the finances to pay off the loan in full. It is also possible to add critical illness cover to mortgage life insurance, which would cover the loan should the policyholder suffer a critical illness.

Looking to find the best deal on cheap term life insurance quote, then visit www.thelifeinsuranceinfo.com to find the best advice on define term life insurance for you.

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