Finding the right life insurance policy is vital.
It could all be over in the blink of an eye, so you need to be prepared. At the same time, you have to be practical about the cost of monthly premium payments if you’re living on a budget.
If you’re looking for a term life insurance policy that is entirely online and can be adjusted according to your life insurance needs through the years, then Ladder may be the perfect answer.
Join us as we take a look at what this budding online insurance services provider has to offer.
History of Ladder
Ladder is a subsidiary of the company Ladder Financial Inc., which came into existence in 2015.
As a life insurance services provider, they are practically in their infancy as they only launched their life insurance division in 2017. Throughout 2017, they primarily limited their operations to the state of California.
Today, they offer life insurance throughout the United States.
While the company’s life insurance division is relatively new, it does not mean that you should not take them seriously.
How to Apply With Ladder
One of the most endearing features of Ladder is that you can apply entirely online in about 5 minutes. And you can get a decision immediately.
Applications for up to $3M in coverage are 100% digital, with no medical exams. However, there are some exceptions because some clients applying for more than $3M in coverage may be required to take a medical exam.
If you apply for life insurance through Ladder, you have to answer in-depth questions about your physical and mental health, your income, lifestyle, and your driving record.
Of course, you’ll need to provide your details as well, which include your social security number. While these questions and information may be personal and feel invasive, they are all vital in ensuring the quote will be accurate.
If you want more than $3 million in coverage, you may not be eligible for the no medical exam policy with the company.
In that case, they may send a medical technician to either your office or your home. The technician will collect blood and urine samples, and take a blood pressure reading along with other factors to gauge your health accurately.
This will delay your application process, and it can take a week or maybe more.
Ladder Life Insurance Policies
Ladder offers level term life insurance policies.
Term insurance is a policy that provides coverage to holders for only a specified amount of time.
If the policyholder passes away during the specified period, the beneficiary, usually the spouse, child, or even parent of the insured person, will receive the payout for the policy.
As a level term life policy, the premiums do not change for the entire duration of the policy.
Ladder’s term policies are available in the following durations:
- 10 years
- 15 years
- 20 years
- 25 years
- 30 years
One of the great things about Ladder is its no medical exam policy. If your application is approved, you can get a term policy that covers as low as $100,000 and as high as $8 million.
That is an impressive amount as most online life insurance companies only offer up to a million dollars without a medical exam.
Moreover, you can easily adjust your Ladder policy depending on your current financial needs. The best part is you can do it online, and it is as simple as logging in and updating your details.
There are two options available to you in case you want to adjust your policy. You can apply to ladder up your policy, and this involves increasing the value of your policy or extending the length of your plan’s term.
Why would you want to do this? Well, let’s say one of your siblings passes on unexpectedly and he or she leaves their family behind and no significant insurance policy. This may get you thinking about how you may want to help ensure that your family is adequately covered, so you adjust your policy and increase its face value.
You can also opt to ladder down, so you can reduce your policy’s face value to reduce your life insurance payout. Therefore, you reduce your monthly premium payments.
Why would someone want to do this? Well, let’s say your child has just graduated and received a job in another state, and you and your spouse are now living alone.
If this is the case, then you may not need as large of a payout anymore. And, more importantly, it may be better to put the savings from the lower monthly premium payments towards a savings fund for when you reach 60.
Ladder Life Insurance Riders
As previously mentioned, like most online insurance options, Ladder only offers term life policies.
But, unlike other companies, they do not offer riders that will allow you to customize your coverage.
Let’s say you want to get an Accidental Death, Double Indemnity, or Accelerated Death Benefit Rider to increase the payout on your life insurance. It would be best to apply to a different company.
Who Can Get a Ladder Policy?
Anyone aged 20-60 can apply for a term insurance policy through Ladder, barring rejection due to certain health issues.
But Ladder is better for some people in certain situations due to the ladder up and ladder down options. If you expect your life insurance needs to decrease over time or if you are currently struggling to afford enough life coverage, then the life insurance Ladder offers may be perfect for you.
The Pros and Cons of Ladder
Pros
High-value Term Life Insurance Policies
One of the most significant advantages of Ladder is the face value that you can get from the policies they offer.
As previously mentioned, policies can range from as little as $100,000 to as high as $8 million, which is impressive when compared to other online companies.
Policy Scaling
The ability to scale your coverage depending on your current needs is incredibly convenient.
Moreover, the ladder up option is straightforward. Other online insurers would usually not allow this unless you cancel your current plan first and purchase a new one.
More importantly, you can easily adjust your policy from the comfort of your own home.
Quick Application Process
You can easily apply online and get a decision within minutes of completing your application. And, if you’re applying for up to $3 million in coverage, a medical exam won’t be required.
Cons
Coverage is limited from ages 20-60
Ladder only offers insurance to people between the ages of 20-60. So, if you’re looking for a term life policy that extends late into your senior years, then this is not the option for you.
Limited to Term Life Insurance Policies
If you’re not comfortable with a defined coverage end date, meaning that you have to die within a specified period for your family to benefit from your policy, then you’ll need to find another insurer that offers permanent life insurance.
No Riders
As mentioned previously, Ladder does not provide additional or supplementary coverage with their policies, unlike some other online insurance services providers.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a DIY insurance policy and you do not like to interact with an agent, then Ladder is a clear choice for you.
You can easily apply for a policy online and get a decision quickly.
The ability to scale your plan according to your needs is vital to any practical individual in today’s world of uncertainty.
Ladder
- Term Life Insurance Policies
- No medical exam for up to $3 million term life coverage
- Decision on your application in as little as 5 minutes.
Ladder Insurance Services, LLC (CA license # OK22568; AR license # 3000140372) distributes term life insurance products issued by multiple insurers – for further details see ladderlife.com. All insurance products are governed by the terms set forth in the applicable insurance policy. Each insurer has financial responsibility for its own products.
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