Most corporations sell the five basic types of life insurance. Keep in mind that insurance should be purchased from an established and reliable firms because you pay in the present and expect protection long into the future.

Stock insurance organizations

Stock variable life insurance corporations are profit-making corporations owned by stockholders who are not necessarily policyholders. insurance policys are usually sold as "nonparticipating" insurance, meaning they do not earn policy dividends for plan holders.

Mutual firms

Mutual companies are owned by the variable life insurance policyholders. Mutual corporations sell "participating" policy which means that dividends may be paid to the policyholder. These dividends are a result of firms charging too high a premium rate for a particular year. Investment earnings of firms may be higher than expected or firms expenses could be less than planned. Dividends may be taken as cash, applied to the following year's premium, used to purchase paid-up additions to the plan , or left to accumulate interest to add to the cash value of the insurance policy.

Professional, Fraternal and Religious firms

Professional, fraternal and religious organizations operate in a different state from which you live. Usually all business is done through the mail without the services of a local agent. Costs may seem low but the counseling advice from the agent is missing. It is wise to write for a specimen contract of the insurance policy and examine it carefully before purchase.

Check with the State Insurance Commissioner's office to see if the corporations is licensed in your state.

life insurance may be purchased as an individual whole life insurance purchase from a organizations agent or through a group plan where you are a member of that group.

Individual variable life insurance

Individual insurance sold as an individual purchase from a companies agent offers term, whole life, limited payment and endowment type policies. Medical examinations are usually required before coverage is issued. A certificate called a insurance policy is given to the individual as proof of being insured.

Group whole life insurance

Group term life insurance is generally offered as variable life insurance through the group from an insurance organizations and requires no medical examination. Premium costs are lower in a group plan because there are fewer operating expenses. As the employee leaves the job or retires, the protection ends. It is sometimes possible to convert the term group policy to a permanent form of term life insurance, if done within 30 days of leaving the group.