How to Get Life Insurance on Your Parents: The Ultimate Guide

Shawn Plummer

CEO, The Annuity Expert

If you are wondering how to get life insurance on your parents, you have come to the right place. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step so that you can make an informed decision about what is best for your family. In addition, getting life insurance on your parents can provide peace of mind in knowing that you are taken care of financially if something happens to them.

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Can I Get Life Insurance On My Parents?

Yes, you can get life insurance on your parents. If they agree to it, purchasing a life insurance policy for your parents might help pay for their care after they pass away. No parent wants to be a financial burden, and life insurance gives you peace of mind that their needs will be met. Some plans also offer a front-end payment to assist with immediate expenditures.

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Reasons To Purchase Life Insurance For Your Parents

Life insurance can help your loved ones pay for expenses if something happens to you. If you have a partner or kids, it is a good idea to have life insurance.

Some people buy life insurance for their parents. This insurance pays a lump sum of cash when the person dies. This money can be used for things like everyday expenses, debts, or saving for the future.

How to Pay for Your Parents’ Care as They Get Older

It can be very thoughtful to take care of an older parent. You may welcome them to live in your home or pay for them to stay in a residential care home. If they get sick or need help with daily tasks, you might also take time off work to help them. Once they die, their life insurance payout could help cover the costs.

Covering Expenses Now.

Some life insurance policies come with a cash component that you can access while alive. This money can help pay for hospital bills, home care, and more.

Paying for a Final Expenses

The average funeral costs around $9,000. It is important to talk with your parents about their wishes for the end of their life, so you have time to plan financially. A life insurance policy is a good way to earmark money specifically for their funeral or related costs.

Paying Their Outstanding Debts

No one wants to leave debt for their children, but sometimes it is impossible to avoid. If you have co-signed debts, life insurance can help pay them off if something happens to you and your child has to take on the responsibility. This will help keep your child’s budget from being impacted.

Leaving an inheritance

A life insurance policy can help your parent leave something behind for you, your children, another loved one, or a charity. In addition, you can choose multiple beneficiaries for a life insurance policy, so your parents can choose different ways to help.

How to Get Life Insurance On A Parent

Once you have decided that life insurance is the right choice for your parent, you need to buy the policy. Here are some steps to help make the process go smoothly.

Talk to Your Parents About Their Wishes.

Be open with your parents about the type of care they’d like as they age. For example, will they want to live with you? Are they open to residential care or live-in help? This is also a good time to determine if there are any causes or family members they’d like to provide for after they’re gone.

Get Their Permission

To buy life insurance for a parent, they must give their consent. They must be able to sign the paperwork and be competent. You will also need to prove that their death would financially impact you. This is easy if you are supporting them financially. Finally, you will need their personal information, like their Social Security number, to complete the application.

Select a Policy and Coverage Amount.

You can choose from different life insurance policies for seniors based on your parent’s needs. Once you’ve discussed their needs, you can pick the plan and coverage amount that makes sense for both of you. Keep reading for tips on choosing the right policy.

Designate a Beneficiary.

Choosing a beneficiary for your parents’ life insurance policy is important. This way, the money will go towards what they want. There are two different types of beneficiaries: sole and multiple. With a sole beneficiary, the money goes to only one person. With multiple beneficiaries, the money is split between multiple people.

What Type Of Life Insurance Should You Buy For Your Parents?

What is the best life insurance for my parents? The right plan depends on your parent’s age and health, budget, and financial goals.

The sooner you buy life insurance for your parent, the better. The policy will be more affordable if the person is younger and healthier.

  • Term life insurance can help cover your parent for a few years, like while paying off the last few years of a mortgage or other debts. Remember that term life is available for people up to age 80; permanent policies are better for older parents.
  • You can buy permanent life insurance if you want lifelong coverage to cover big bills. This type of insurance lasts your parents’ entire life, as long as you make the payments on it. It is more expensive than term life insurance, but it can provide a guaranteed source of funds to help cover lost wages, medical bills, or funeral expenses.
  • If you want to budget for your funeral costs ahead of time, you can buy a life insurance policy specifically for funeral costs. This type of policy has lower premiums than other life insurance policies, so it can be a good choice if you want affordable coverage for your funeral expenses.
  • If your parent has significant health issues, a guaranteed issue life insurance policy might be the best option. Premiums are higher than other policies, but coverage amounts are usually lower. In addition, guaranteed issue policies can provide a cushion for funeral expenses or other needs.

Find The Best Life Insurance Coverage At The Cheapest Cost!

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Ethos Life Insurance

Can you get life insurance on a parent without their permission?

You need your parents’ consent to take out a life insurance policy on them. You can fill out the application for them, but they will need to sign it (which means they must be legally competent to do so).

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you know if your parent had life insurance?

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) provides a free service that can help you locate a life insurance policy if you are the beneficiary. You can also check with the state insurance department where your parent lived or died.

Can I purchase life insurance on my parents?

Yes, you can, but you’ll need their consent and must demonstrate “insurable interest,” meaning you stand to face financial loss upon their passing.

How do you get life insurance for unhealthy parents?

There are policies available that do not require a medical examination, although they may come with higher premiums.

Shawn Plummer

CEO, The Annuity Expert

I’m a licensed financial professional focusing on annuities and insurance for more than a decade. My former role was training financial advisors, including for a Fortune Global 500 insurance company. I’ve been featured in Time Magazine, Yahoo! Finance, MSN, SmartAsset, Entrepreneur, Bloomberg, The Simple Dollar, U.S. News and World Report, and Women’s Health Magazine.

The Annuity Expert is an online insurance agency servicing consumers across the United States. My goal is to help you take the guesswork out of retirement planning or find the best insurance coverage at the cheapest rates for you. 

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