Insurance Needs Assessment: When You're Young and Single

The transition to adulthood is an exciting new stage that marks true independence. You may have graduated college, taken your first job, and even rented your first apartment. With this new freedom come real responsibilities, including protecting yourself from the financial risks life presents.

Auto

Once you are no longer covered on your parent(s) policy, you will need to find insurance coverage in your name. It can be expensive for a young driver, so consider shopping around for the best rates and learn the myriad of ways to manage costs, such as coverage and deductible elections.

Renter’s

If you are moving into an apartment, you should consider renter’s insurance. You may not think you’ve accumulated much in value, but when you calculate the cost of replacing your computer, electronic equipment, HD-TV, your clothes, etc., it can run into thousands of dollars. Renter’s insurance can be inexpensive. When shopping for a policy, ask about whether it includes liability coverage, which can protect you in the event of being sued by someone who is injured in your apartment.

Health

Health-care coverage is frequently obtained through your employer. However, if your employer does not offer a health insurance program, you have two choices for obtaining coverage.

The first is to maintain coverage through your parent’s health insurance plan. Federal law permits parents to keep adult children on their plan up to age 26. This choice may be relatively inexpensive, so you may want to ask your parents to inquire what the monthly premium is to add you to their plan.

Another idea is to purchase a policy directly, either through a private insurer, the federal health insurance exchange (HealthCare.gov), or through a state exchange, if available in your state of residence.

Disability

Your single most valuable asset is your future earning power. Your ability to work and earn an income is essential when it comes to your financial survival. Incurring a disability, even for a short period of time, can have substantial economic consequences, making disability insurance one of the most important insurance needs at this stage of life.

Keep in mind that this article is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for real-life advice, so make sure to consult your legal professional before implementing a strategy that includes disability insurance.

Life 

Since a young, single adult typically does not have other people depending upon his or her ability to earn a living (e.g., children, dependent parents), some believe the need for life insurance is minimal.

However, due to a long life expectancy at this young age, life insurance coverage can be very inexpensive. You may want to consider obtaining some coverage to take advantage of low rates and good health in advance of a time when you will have dependents.

Several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. If a policy is surrendered prematurely, the policyholder also may pay surrender charges and have income tax implications. You should consider determining whether you are insurable before implementing a strategy involving life insurance. Any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments.

Extended Care

Given limited financial resources, extended care insurance may be a low priority. Nevertheless, you may want to have a conversation with your parents about how extended-care insurance may help protect their financial security in retirement.

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG Suite is not affiliated with the named broker-dealer, state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright FMG Suite.