Credit Life Insurance

If you’ve recently applied for a loan and been offered credit life insurance, you may be confused as to what this type of coverage does and whether you need it. Unfortunately, lenders aren’t always up front about your obligation to purchase credit life insurance — and some have been known to include it in loan payments without fully disclosing its existence, which is against the law.

Exactly what is credit life insurance, and is it worth purchasing when taking out a sizable loan? This depends on a few variables such as where you’re located and who is signing the paperwork with you.

What Is Credit Life Insurance?

Lenders know that every time they issue a loan, there’s a chance of the borrower not paying the funds back. Most often this is because the borrower falls on hard financial times and is unable to continue making payments. While much less likely, another possibility is that the person who took out the loan passes away unexpectedly before the full amount has been repaid.

To protect themselves against this circumstance, lenders turn to credit life insurance. This is one of four main types of credit insurance, but the only one specifically designed to pay off the loan balance in the event of the borrower’s death. Credit life insurance is typically taken with a death benefit that equals the full loan balance amount. This benefit can then be collected by the lender if you pass away.

How Credit Life Insurance Works

Since they’re similar in name, many people equate credit life insurance to traditional life insurance. While both types of policies share some similarities, credit life insurance works quite differently from a whole or term life policy you might take out yourself.

With credit life insurance, the borrower is responsible for covering the insurance premium, which can be paid in cash or financed as part of the loan. In the latter scenario, the borrower will also have to pay interest on the premium amount. However, unlike standard life insurance, the lender is the sole beneficiary of the policy and will receive the funds directly if you die. Your surviving heirs won’t ever see a dime of the payout.

Who is Credit Life Good For?

According to U.S. law, lenders are forbidden from requiring borrowers to purchase credit life insurance or including it in the loan terms without informing you. To skirt these requirements, some lenders may intentionally use confusing language to make credit life insurance seem like more than it is.

In reality, credit life insurance is only good for the lender most of the time. The CFPB clearly states that your family members can rarely be held responsible for your debts if you pass away. There are a few exceptions that vary by local law; for example, in nine states, your surviving spouse may be on the hook for any outstanding loan balances in your name. Otherwise, if there aren’t enough assets in your estate to repay your debts, the lender will be out of luck.

All things considered, credit life insurance can be a good idea in a couple different scenarios. If someone is cosigning a loan with you, credit life insurance will make sure they don’t bear the responsibility of repaying the loan in your absence. It’s also beneficial if you do happen to live in a community property state that considers debt the responsibility of the surviving spouse. These states are Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

How To Get Credit Life Insurance

If a lender wants you to get credit life insurance before signing loan paperwork, they’ll typically already have a provider in mind. But remember that you’re never required to use the insurer your lender works with. Plenty of credit life insurance companies will be more than willing to write you a policy. Don’t be afraid to shop around for quotes and see if you can find something more affordable than the bank’s suggestion.

Of course, there’s also the alternative of simply purchasing a standard life insurance policy with a higher limit that takes all your various debts and financial responsibilities into consideration. This is a more flexible option as it lets your surviving beneficiaries decide where to put the funds based on their needs at the time of your death. It also typically costs less than taking out a separate credit life insurance policy.

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