According to the 2024 California State Employees Financial Preparedness Report 37% of California State employees overall say they are very concerned about having enough life insurance protection in case of their death. Additionally, the study found that 59% of married households and 21% of single households have life insurance protection in place.
The basics of life insurance
There’s a lot of information available about life insurance, but knowing the basics will help you get started. The basic premise is simple: Life insurance provides peace of mind while you’re alive and financial support for your loved ones when you’re gone. It’s something you should have in place if there are people in your life who depend on your income to supplement everyday living expenses, college tuition, or retirement income.
Consider base level of protection through work.
Many, but not all, California state employees get a base amount of employer-provided life insurance and accidental death coverage as part of their benefits. The base amount is what will be paid out upon your death. Accidental death coverage provides an additional amount if your death is caused by a covered accident. Depending on the department and position with the State, face amounts typically range between $10,000 and $100,000. This “basic group life” is typically capped at a certain amount and terminates if you leave State employment.
While a valuable and attractive benefit, many workers may be surprised to learn that life insurance from any employer may not be adequate. Every employee has a unique situation — responsibilities could include children, a mortgage, or student debt. That’s why it’s so important to consider coverage that gives you the ability to customize your coverage based on your needs and allows you to select features and riders that are specific to your future goals.
Here are some things to think about life insurance, courtesy of New York Life Insurance Company’s “Life Insurance 101.”
Know what you want your coverage to do.
As you begin investigating life insurance coverage, it is helpful to understand the reasons why you are buying a life insurance policy. Is it to replace your income, pay off your mortgage, or create an inheritance for your loved ones? Whatever the reasons, you’ll want to keep them in mind as you select your coverage.
Figure out how much protection you need.
There are plenty of formulas you can use to determine how much insurance you need. However, it often comes down to the reasons you need coverage in the first place. For example:
- If you need income replacement, you can add up your annual expenses and multiply that by the number of years you have until retirement.
- If you want to make sure your loved ones have enough money to pay for a wedding, go to college, take over your business, or fulfill any of your other long-term goals, you can calculate the total cost
- If you want to make sure your spouse has money to cover their living expenses and stay in your current home, should you pass away unexpectedly, that should be factored into your plan selection.
Consider the base level of protection you may have from the State, if any. The number you come up with will give you a ballpark idea of whether that plan will meet your needs.
Decide how much insurance you can afford.
It’s important to make sure your life insurance premiums fit within your budget. Remember, some life insurance premiums increase over time, so it’s important to make sure you can afford them today—and tomorrow.
Find the right policy.
Once you figure out how much coverage you’ll need, you’ll need to find the right insurance plan. Your main options are buying supplemental group coverage through work (if offered) and/or purchasing additional term life coverage, or a whole life policy for permanent coverage that also builds cash value
Check out the insurance provider.
An insurance policy is only as good as the company that backs it, so make sure you choose a company that has a proven history and is financially strong enough to be there for you and your loved ones when needed.
If you are thinking about purchasing additional coverage, you may want to consider one of the group term life insurance plans offered by New York Life Insurance. These insurance plans are available through CSEA Member Benefits and are offered exclusively to members of SEIU Local 1000, CSUEU Local 2579, and Association of California State Supervisors.
Learn the lingo.
With terms like “premium,” “dividend,” “beneficiary,” and so on, understanding how life insurance works can be confusing. To help you understand this whole process, New York Life has put together a glossary of insurance terms.
Source: Life Insurance 101, New York Life Insurance Company https://www.newyorklife.com/resources/life-insurance-101
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Retiring from the State? 6 Things You Should Think About Before Taking the Leap
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About the Survey: The project was sponsored by the nonprofit California State Employees Association (CSEA) which provides member benefits to members of SEIU Local 1000, CSUEU Local 2579, Association of California State Supervisors and California State Retirees.
The 2024 Report is based on the quantitative study of California State employees across the state, examining their personal financial planning needs, concerns, attitudes, and behaviors for a secure retirement. The report includes insights gleaned from nearly 5,000 active and retired State employees surveyed in November 2023. Individual responses were strictly anonymous. N=3,817 Active employees analyzed at 95% confidence, ±2%. N=1,172 Retirees, 95% level of confidence, ±2% margin of error.
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Retirement? 9 Tips from
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Wills and Trusts.
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Plan Started
DIYing Your Own
Retirement Savings Plan?
Here’s What You Need to Know
Life Insurance Basics
for California State Employees
On Track or Ahead of Schedule
for Retirement?
Chances Are
You Do These 7 Things
Q & A with
Russel L. Phelps,
Certified Financial Planner
Retired Too Soon? How Some
Retirees Are
Supplementing Their Income
Retiring from the State?
6 Considerations Before
Taking the Leap