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SMART MONEY STRATEGIES FOR EVERY AGE AND SITUATION
Your 60s and Up—The Retirement Years

Section 6 of 11:
INSURANCE:
A Necessary Evil?
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When you spend money on insurance, you might feel like you are wasting hard-earned cash on something that produces no tangible benefit. This report will help you cut through the complexities of insurance so you can buy the most coverage for the fewest dollars possible. Learning about insurance is not as stimulating as uncovering the intricacies of the stock market or mutual funds, but it is equally important to your total financial plan.

You can learn to micro-manage your funds so that your money
multiplies itself. Use the techniques and tips and action strategies
included here in combination with those included in the other
sections and watch your money grow.

Read on and reap the financial rewards!

Jordan E. Goodman
America’s Money Answers Man
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INSURANCE:
A Necessary Evil

In your 60s and up you may not need all five types of insurance: car,
disability, health, homeowners  (or renter’s), and life.

1.
Car Insurance
Car insurance is mandatory in most states. If you have a superior
driving record and file few claims, your premiums now should be
much lower than you paid when you were younger.

Many insurers offer mature driver discounts of about 10 percent off your
premium. On the other hand, if you have been a reckless driver
and have been rejected by many insurance companies, you’ll
probably find coverage expensive and difficult to obtain now.
Depending on the condition of your car, you may be able to lower
your premium by reducing the amount of collision damage
coverage you carry.

Don’t cut back on basic comprehensive liability
coverage, though; a massive lawsuit could wipe out your retirement
nest egg if you get into an accident.

2.
Disability Insurance
Disability insurance, because it is designed to replace lost wages if
you are injured on the job, is not necessary once you retire. If you
have been receiving disability payments, they may cease once you
reach age 65 or qualify for Social Security, which also pays
disability benefits. Some disability policies offer a life-extension
rider that will pay you benefits for the rest of your life if you are
permanently disabled before age 60. Such riders are quite
expensive and usually not worthwhile.

3.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is extremely important in your retirement years
because, as you age, you will probably need more medical care.
The best health coverage is probably that provided by the company
from which you retired even though you must pay the full
premiums. You might find a good health maintenance
organization (HMO) or preferred provider organization (PPO) that
provides good care and controls your health costs.

In addition, sign up for both Part A and Part B of Medicare after
evaluating the various plans. You will also need a Medigap policy on
top of Medicare. If your income is low enough, you can also qualify
for Medicaid. If you are a veteran, you may be able to obtain
medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

If you anticipate needing a nursing home or medical care in your
own residence, look into the many long-term-care policies offered
by insurance companies. The younger you buy such a policy, the
less expensive your premiums will be. If you purchase the policy
right before you need the benefits, it will be prohibitively
expensive.

4.
Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance continues to be necessary if you still own
your home. Document all the possessions you have accumulated
over the years, and make sure that you have enough coverage to
replace essential items if they are damaged, lost, or stolen. If you
have acquired valuable property, such as jewelry, computers, or
artwork, you might buy a rider to cover them adequately. If you sell
your home and move into an apartment or a condominium, buy
enough insurance to replace your possessions, if necessary.

5.
Life Insurance
Life insurance can be very useful for retirees. If you have funded a
cash-value policy—such as whole life, variable life, or universal
life—for many years, you probably have built up considerable cash
value. Either you can let that cash value continue to accumulate tax
deferred, or you can tap that asset by converting it into an annuity
that pays monthly income for the rest of your life or for the rest of
both your life and your spouse’s life.

If you have term insurance, the premiums are now probably so
high that it makes little sense to continue coverage. The main
reason for life insurance is to replace your salary for your spouse
and children if you die during your working years. When you no
longer produce a salary, the need for coverage disappears.

The life insurance product often appropriate in retirement is an
annuity. You can either transfer a lump sum from a pension plan
payout into an annuity or buy one with your accumulated
investment capital. The longer you obligate the insurance company
to pay benefits, the lower your monthly check.

Life insurance is necessary if you support someone financially,
such as a spouse or child.

To get quotes on all types of insurance in one spot:

Get Quotes!

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