10 Best Life Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania
Key Terms
- Pennsylvania residents have varying life insurance options, with term life offering affordable coverage, while whole life builds cash value over time.
- Most advisors recommend life insurance coverage of 10X to 20X your annual income, ensuring financial security for your loved ones in case of an untimely death.
- Unique features in Pennsylvania include a 10-day review period, a 30-day grace period for payments, and a policy incontestability after two years.
Strategically positioned in the eastern U.S., Pennsylvania, the Keystone State, is bordered by New York, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, and Ohio. Home to nearly 13 million residents, it ranks as the 5th-most populous state, with Philadelphia as its largest city and Harrisburg as the capital.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average life expectancy in Pennsylvania is approximately 76.8 years which is lower than the national average life expectancy, which is currently around 79.05 years in the United States. Over the past few years, the leading causes of death in Pennsylvania have been cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Covid-19. The homicide rate in Pennsylvania is around 8.5 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, which is higher than the national average of 7.5.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in Pennsylvania, the 90th percentile income is currently $99,330. The median income in the state is approximately $44,900. Most financial advisors recommend acquiring a life insurance policy that covers your loved ones for between 10X and 20X your annual earnings. In Pennsylvania, this amounts to around $993,300 – $1,986,600 for the majority of residents.
Show Me Life Insurance Companies
How life insurance works in Pennsylvania
There are different types of life insurance, but they all work in a similar way. You, the policyholder, pay monthly or annual premiums to the insurance company. If you die while the policy is active, the company pays a death benefit to your beneficiaries. The beneficiaries can then use the money to cover your final expenses and any other debts or expenses you may have left behind.
There are two main types of life insurance: term life insurance and whole life insurance. Term life insurance is the more affordable and straightforward option. It pays a death benefit only if you die during the term of the policy, which is usually 20 or 30 years. If you outlive the term, the policy expires. Term life insurance is ideal for people who want coverage for a specific period of time, such as when they have children under the age of 18 and large mortgages.
Whole life insurance is more expensive and involves an investing component. It pays a death benefit regardless of when you die. In addition, whole life insurance builds cash value over time that you can borrow against or cash out. Universal life insurance is similar to whole life, but can be more expensive depending on the provider. Neither type of policy is very attractive to most people.
In terms of what type of term life insurance policy to buy, it really is a matter of personal preference. You should evaluate your current health, age, net worth and other factors when purchasing term life insurance policies to protect your family from an untimely death.
Some life insurance policies can include additional riders that cover things like annuities, long-term care riders, or even a rider for accidental death. Working with an independent insurance agent or an independent insurance agency is one of the best ways to see all the life insurance coverage options available to you.
Once you get a series of life insurance quotes, dig deeper into the companies. This will help you find an insurance provider based on financial strength, including ambest ratings. This tells you more about the viability of the company in the insurance industry overall. Further, an A+ rating gives you a good idea about whether this is a decent company.