Some parents may feel coerced into getting a life insurance policy for their children by shrewd insurance salesmen. Others may feel obligated to do so when they get one for themselves. But, the question – life insurance for children: is it a need? – will depend on the financial circumstances of the parents and what benefits the child will accrue by having an insurance policy in his or her name. Just like an adult insurance policy, there are two main types of life insurance policies that can be taken for children:

1. Whole life insurance
2. Term life insurance.

A children’s life insurance policy is worth having for a child with a genetic medical condition as it gives security at later stage of life. Most of the life insurance companies wrongly suggest the parents that child’s life insurance policy is a must. They try to misguide the parents and sell the policies. In fact, it depends on the type of policy. So, don’t believe in this kind of propaganda. The real reason why one should have life insurance policy there should not be future insurability problems. This will result in the case of a family history of medical conditions like heart disease or diabetes, which a child can inherit. In such a case, getting life insurance policy when they are earning could be a problem or work out too expensive. On the other hand, if a parent has already taken an insurance policy for such a child, then continuing it in adulthood will be easier. In such cases, the cheapest form of insurance will be a twenty year term life insurance with the option of renewing it to a whole life policy at the end of the term.

Obviously, parents will not be able to use any kind of benchmark to calculate how much their child will need by way of insurance. In such a case, using a parent’s salary level is the obvious way to go. If parents decide to go in for a whole life policy, then the child can continue with the policy even after the age of 18. Taking a term life insurance does not guarantee future insurability for the term life insurance has a fixed period. In fact, a term life policy for a child will not amount to anything when it expires. This is especially true for a majority of kids will probably outlive the term life insurance their parents take.

Term life insurance amounts can be used to pay for funeral expenses of the child or any outstanding medical bills. Some term life policies even make payments if the insured child gets disabled during the term. While term life will not allow a person to borrow against the amount, it is useful to repay outstanding debts or even pay for therapeutic costs for parents traumatized by the loss of a child. Of course, most parents will not want to consider the possibility of losing their child and hence may prefer not to take a term life policy.

Whole life policy has so many advantages particularly for some one whose family has genetic disorders or health problem that the child can suffer from in his or her future. Money can be used for medical needs. Unlike the term life policy, whole life policy will allow the parents to borrow money for short term expenses like school fees. Most of the financial experts feel that life insurance is not a must for children as they are the nominees and hence beneficiaries on their parent’s insurance policies.

In fact, instead of paying premiums on insurance policies, the amount can be used to open a savings account for children, which basically amounts to the same thing. This money can be then used for a child’s college expenses, medical expenses and such. With medical science improving in leaps and bounds, most people remain insurable well past the age of 80. The chance that a child will become uninsurable is relatively small, so parents need not really worry about taking life insurance for them.

Investing in mutual funds or annuities can earn better returns that parents can use for their child’s future educational or other needs. So, the advice that most experts will offer is not to do something because everyone else is doing it. Consider your family’s unique circumstances and take a life insurance for your child only if you deem it absolutely necessary.