The legal and viable option for individuals suffering from a terminal illness to sell their life insurance policy for an amount that is more than the cash surrender value but less than the claim amount.
Options for Your Life Insurance
Viatical Settlement
The Results
“Stuart did an excellent job in handling our account. He was extremely professional and expedient. My wife and I appreciated the fact that he kept us informed and made it a very easy process for us.” – Frank Pringle
What Is Viatical Settlement?
In 1911, the United States Supreme Court ruled that life insurance is personal property. Similar to a mortgage payment, with each premium payment you pay towards your life insurance policy you build equity. What this means is, just like your house, you have the option to sell your life insurance policy.
The definition of Viatical Settlement is the sale of a life insurance policy for an amount that is more than the cash surrender value but less than the claim amount. On average, Abacus life provides clients with 6-8x more money than the cash surrender value. This means that you can receive up to 8x more for your policy by choosing to sell rather than surrender.
Our goal at Abacus is to provide you with OPTIONS. In a time when you want to focus on healing, we want to empower you with the knowledge and finances to be able to do so.
1
of Americans are aware that their policy has a market value
143
BILLION is forfeited back to life insurance companies each year in the U.S.
90
of seniors state they would have considered a life insurance settlement option if they knew it existed
76.4
MILLION Americans will be of retirement age by 2020
How Is This Option Different Than Normal Life Insurance Purchases?
Selling your life insurance policy to pay for medical needs is specifically for individuals suffering from a terminal illness. The transaction can typically be done tax-free, so long as the insured meets certain criteria as stated by a medical professional. At its core, it is essentially the same as other life settlement options; with the major caveat being the insured is typically suffering from a terminal illness and has a life expectancy of less than two years.
There are some other slight variations between the two. Below, you can see a comparison of the types.
Viatical
- The insured is terminally/chronically ill.
- The proceeds typically range from 50% to 80% of the death benefit.
- The IRS allows proceeds to be received as a tax-free gain so long as the insured meets certain criteria as stated by a medical professional.
Senior
- The insured is typically a senior in their late 70s.
- The proceeds are usually around 10% to 80% of the death benefit, depending on life expectancy.
- The funds are normally subject to taxation unless they meet IRS guidelines.
When Is The Right Time To Pursue Viatical Settlement?
For many individuals facing a terminal illness, a viatical sale can be a strong financial solution. Patients and their families can receive funds to pay for medical care or quality of life experiences. We commonly see clients use their funds to tackle their “bucket-lists.” Many insured want to be able to see their family enjoy their life insurance money now, rather than not being present to share in their happiness.
Coping with a medical crisis while still worrying about medical bills works against the goals of palliative care and hospice. With the cost of healthcare continuing to rise, even those with excellent health insurance are struggling to keep up with medical expenses. Viatical settlements can provide an inflow of funds which can be used to pay off bills or fund experimental/alternative treatments that may not be covered under insurance.
If you are struggling with medical bills, having an issue keeping up with your premiums, or just want immediate income, a viatical settlement could be right for you. We at Abacus advise that anyone considering a settlement take a close look at their life insurance and financial situation to make sure they are making the correct choice for them and their family. If you do not have an immediate need for a lump sum of cash, we suggest not seeking a life settlement as realistically, the greatest payout you can receive is the death benefit.
In contrast, if you are considering letting your policy lapse or surrendering it, contact us. We want to help you get the most out of your policy.
Regulation
Over the past decade, the market has become incredibly well regulated. The entire life settlement market is regulated on a state-by-state basis instead of nationally. Therefore, the responsibility falls on each state’s government to make sure that companies are behaving ethically. The majority of states do require specific licensing and practice strict oversight to ensure customer safety. Here at Abacus, we are proud to share that we are licensed for life and viatical settlements in many different states.
Whoever you choose to work with, you should make sure they follow the correct guidelines; there are still some companies in the industry who do not operate under the appropriate licensure.
Who Is Abacus Life?
Abacus Life is a nationally licensed life insurance buyer with a corporate office in Orlando, Florida. Founded in 2004, We work with life insurance brokers, professional advisors, consumers and institutional investors to optimize the value of unwanted life insurance policies.
It is easy to find out how much your policy is worth! In as little as 24 business hours we can provide you with a policy valuation, and it’s as simple as filling out our online calculator by clicking here. We don’t believe that you should have to wait the industry standard 45-60 days for life-saving treatment.
Selling your life insurance policy allows you to focus on what is most important right now, healing.
Financial Resources
