A: Some factors that has helped to greatly reduce the cost of term life insurance rates is the price transparency that is seen when comparing rates online. Increased price competition and ease of comparison has made for some very cheap rates. Term  life insurance is less because there is no investment element, term life insurance is the cheapest life insurance out there.

A: On the other side of losing weight is gaining weight. There are some people who do not weigh enough. If an applicant has a low BMI, they may be unhealthy. By gaining weight and having a new physical, your life insurance company may help you with your rates by lowering them due to the lowered risk.

Something else that can lower your rates is to lose extra weight. If you are over a certain percentage of your BMI (body mass index) number, you will be charged more for life insurance premium. Being overweight is seen as a health risk, and the rates given by the insurance companies will reflect that. Because you have the ability to ask for a new physical at any time, you may be able to show the company your weight loss and hope for a lower rate.

Some companies do offer incentives for losing weight in the terms of lowering your term life insurance rates. If they do not, you may want to consider another company.

Though most people are not aware of this, death is expensive. You must consider funeral costs (thousands of dollars); debts; medical costs; estate costs; and death taxes (yes, even after you die, you will owe taxes). When all is said and done, these costs can total thousands of dollars – even more if you happen to have a lot of debt. Why buy life insurance? Aside from all of the costs associated with your death, life insurance can also provide a bit of a legacy after you die.

Good life insurance policy can be passed on to your heirs if you name them your beneficiaries. Therefore, if you do not have any other funds to leave behind, you can still leave your heirs the money that your life insurance will provide.