Mortgage life insurance (MPI), also known as mortgage protection insurance (MPI), pays your remaining mortgage balance if you pass away. According to NerdWallet’s advice on mortgages, this can provide financial security and comfort for your family members. It may even serve as a supplement to life insurance; however, it’s essential that you understand the distinctions between them before selecting one plan over another.
How it Works
Mortgage life insurance differs from regular term life insurance in that it only pays out when you pass away or become disabled. Instead of providing a lump sum payout, this type of policy makes periodic payments to the lender until your mortgage is fully paid off.
In many cases, your payout amount will decrease over time as the balance of your mortgage decreases. This is because a mortgage life insurance policy typically mirrors the rate at which your loan is paid off.
Life insurance does not typically help cover high-interest debt or final expenses, and it may be more expensive than other forms of coverage.
Mortgage life policies can provide your family with peace of mind and stability, but they should not be used as a replacement for other forms of coverage. According to Andrew Marder, data analysis specialist at NerdWallet, if paying off the mortgage is your top priority then term life policy might be more suitable.
According to NerdWallet, the premiums you pay will depend on your age and health status; unfortunately, the death benefit only covers any remaining balance on your mortgage. As you get older and sicker, expect to pay higher premiums as a result.
How it Differs From TermLife
Mortgage life insurance and term life are fundamentally different in that their death benefits will decrease as your mortgage balance decreases, according to NerdWallet. Therefore, purchasing mortgage life insurance for the same duration as a term life policy would have costlier in the long run.
Mortgage life insurance policies often feature living benefits riders, giving you access to a death benefit in case of diagnosis with terminal illness with a prognosis of 12 months or shorter. Furthermore, some policies include return of premium riders which would refund money paid in premiums if you died within certain time after purchasing the policy.
Additionally, life insurance with a rider that pays off your mortgage if you must leave due to serious illness can be obtained. Doing this saves your family the trouble of having to relocate with you.
Marder notes that term life insurance with medical underwriting tends to be more expensive than its non-medical counterpart, though this option could be suitable for those needing a large death benefit but cannot stomach the high premiums required by traditional life insurance.
Mortgage life insurance can often be more cost-effective than term life insurance for young homeowners with healthy lifestyles. Your premiums for this type of policy depend on your age and health status; however, you can get quotes from companies specializing in this product at an additional cost.
