Buying a home is a major financial commitment. Depending on the loan you choose, you might commit yourself to 30 years of payments. But what will happen to your home if you suddenly die or become too disabled to work? Mortgage protection insurance can help your family cover your mortgage under certain circumstances – you can avoid foreclosure if you can no longer work to pay your mortgage. Let’s take a closer look at what MPI is, what it covers and who might need a policy.
MPI helps your family make your monthly mortgage payments when you die. Some MPI policies will also offer coverage for a limited time if you lose your job or become disabled after an accident. Some companies call it mortgage life insurance because most policies only pay out when the policyholder dies.
Most MPI policies work the same way as traditional life insurance policies. Every month, you pay your lender a premium. This premium keeps your coverage current and ensures your protection. If you die during the term of the policy, your policy provider pays out a death benefit that covers a set number of mortgage payments. The limitations of your policy and the number of monthly payments your policy will cover come with the policy’s terms. Many policies agree to cover the remaining term of the mortgage, but this can vary by lender. Like any other type of insurance, you can shop around for policies and compare lenders before you buy a plan.
MPI differs from traditional life insurance in a few important ways. First, the beneficiary of an MPI policy typically isn’t your family – it’s your mortgage company. If you die, your family doesn’t see a lump sum of cash like they would with a typical term life insurance policy. Instead, the money goes directly to your lender. When you receive a lump-sum payment from a term life insurance policy, your family is the beneficiary and can spend the money however they please.
