Employer-provided life insurance, often called group life insurance, is a policy your employer purchases to cover you and sometimes your dependents. It’s typically offered as part of a benefits package and may be fully paid for by your employer or offered at a group rate.
Most group life insurance policies provide a death benefit equal to one or two times your annual salary. So if you earn $60,000 a year, your policy might pay out $60,000 to $120,000 to your beneficiaries. While that sounds significant, it may not go as far as you’d expect when it comes to replacing income, covering a mortgage, or funding your children’s education.
The Limitations of Group Life Insurance
There are a few important limitations to keep in mind with employer-provided life insurance:
Coverage ends when you leave your job. Whether you resign, get laid off, or retire, your group life insurance policy typically doesn’t travel with you. If you have a health condition that develops while you’re employed, getting a new individual policy after leaving could be more difficult or more expensive.
The benefit amount may not be sufficient. Financial experts often suggest having life insurance coverage worth 10 to 12 times your annual income, depending on your financial obligations. A policy worth one or two times your salary may leave a significant gap.
You may have limited control over the policy. With group coverage, you generally can’t customize your benefit amount or choose specific riders the way you might with an individual policy.
What Is Supplemental Life Insurance?
Many employers offer supplemental life insurance, which allows you to purchase additional coverage on top of your group policy, often at group rates. This can be a cost-effective way to increase your coverage without going through a separate application process.
Outside of what your employer offers, individual life insurance policies are another option worth exploring. These policies are not tied to your employment, which means they stay with you even if you change jobs or retire. An independent insurance agent can help you look at different options to see what might fit your needs and budget.
How Much Life Insurance Coverage Do You Actually Need?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Your coverage needs depend on factors like:
- Your income and how many people depend on it
- Your current debts, including a mortgage or car loans
- Future expenses you’d want to plan for, such as college tuition
- Whether you have a spouse or partner who also works
- Your existing savings and other assets
Taking stock of all of these factors can help give you a clearer picture of any gaps in your current coverage.
Take the Next Step
Reviewing your life insurance coverage doesn’t have to be complicated. At Bedford Insurance Group, we’re here to help you understand what you currently have and explore options that may better fit your situation.
Give us a call at (410) 462-4700 or fill out a quote request on our website to connect with a licensed agent in Baltimore, Maryland. We’re happy to help you take a closer look at your coverage so you can feel confident about your family’s financial future.