You’re not too young to talk insurance

As a card-carrying millennial, you’re likely busy paying off debt and pursuing a better job, and insurance isn’t your top priority. In fact, you might think you don’t need policies until you buy a house or have children.

But there’s tremendous value in locking in insurability at a young age — you don’t buy insurance with money; you buy it with good health.

Insurance gets more expensive and harder to qualify with age. A permanent policy could cost a 25-year-old about $175 a month for $500,000 of coverage, but $470 for a 45–year-old, at time of publication. If $175 doesn’t fit your budget, there are other coverage amounts available as well as term policies with a conversion option to permanent insurance, letting you lock in insurability now with making a full commitment.

Even if you’re covered through work, there are limits to employee benefits. They provide basic coverage, but won’t sufficiently replace income as your family grows. An average life insurance plan offered through group benefits pays a $25,000 to $50,000 death benefit. Other companies pay up to one year’s salary if you die. In most cases, that’s not enough to cover costs. It’s also less reliable — if you switch companies, your benefits package changes.

Many insurance companies even offer post-secondary graduates discounts on insurance rates, depending on your occupation and income.

Insurance is a tool that protects you, your dreams and the people that mean the most to you. You owe it to yourself to think about whether it’s right for you.