Backdating (Saving Age) Life Insurance: How It Can Save You Money [2024]
A simple trick to save money on your life insurance coverage is with a policy dating trick known as backdating. You can lower your policy issue age, thus reducing the term life insurance premiums you pay. Backdating, or ‘saving age’ means the life insurance company will assign your policy a date that is right before your six-month birthday. Backdating to save money on life insurance is common since life insurance discounts do not exist. You can still find affordable life insurance coverage with our free comparison tool below.
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Brandon Frady
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brandon Frady has been a licensed insurance agent and insurance office manager since 2018. He has experience in ventures from retail to finance, working positions from cashier to management, but it wasn’t until Brandon started working in the insurance industry that he truly felt at home in his career. In his day-to-day interactions, he aims to live out his business philosophy in how he treats hi...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Sep 19, 2024
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident life insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one life insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our life insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different life insurance companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.
UPDATED: Sep 19, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right life insurance coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident life insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one life insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our life insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different life insurance companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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Saving money on term life insurance isn’t always easy. Even if you qualify for the best rating class and lowest premiums, there aren’t any discounts, coupons or specials to be had on term life insurance. See our blog post from earlier this month: Why Life Insurance Sales Don’t Exist.
There is a potential way to reduce your coverage costs. By employing a straightforward policy dating strategy called backdating, you might be able to decrease your policy issue age, which in turn could lower your premiums. Here’s how it works, according to a money-saving expert on life insurance. This technique involves working with the nearest insurance company to adjust the age and life insurance terms.
Six-Month Birthday
Some life insurance companies determine your policy’s issue age based on your actual age, but most use the “six-month birthday” method. Your six-month birthday is your date of birth plus six months. This approach aligns with the concept of the age next birthday for insurance and reflects the meaning of age to the nearest year. By using this method, you can potentially backdate an insurance policy.
Let’s take a look at an example:
- John’s date of birth is 1/1/1950. Therefore, his six-month birthday is 7/1 of any given year.
- John turned 61 on 1/12011. But once his six-month birthday passes on July 1, most life insurance companies will consider him to be age 62.
Age Nearest Birthday
Another way to think of it is to find the age you are nearest to on any given date. Again, let’s look at our example from above:
- 1/1 John’s 61st birthday
- 7/1 John’s six-month birthday
- 6/1 John is still considered 61 as he is closer to his 61st birthday.
- 8/1 John is now considered 62 as he is closer to his 62nd birthday.
Backdating
Backdating, or ‘saving age’ in industry speak, means the life insurance company will assign your policy a date that is right before your six-month birthday. In our example, John’s policy would be issued with a policy date of June 30th or prior. This will ‘save his age’ at 61 and keep his premium lower. The alternative would be to issue the policy with a current date (after July 1st), thus resulting in a policy issue age of 62 and higher premiums. (For more information, read our “How To Find a Lower Term Life Insurance Premium“).
Even if the life insurance company determines your policy age based on your actual age, they can still backdate an insurance policy by setting the policy date prior to your actual birthday. This approach is similar to how you might backdate car insurance or backdate insurance coverage to secure lower premiums.
The Disadvantage of Backdating
The main drawback of backdating is that you must make backdated payments starting from the policy date. For example, if your policy is backdated by three months, you’ll need to pay for those three months even if you weren’t covered during that period. Additionally, when you backdate your policy, the selected term length (e.g., 10 years, 15 years) will also begin from the backdated date. This is similar to how payments or coverage start from an earlier date.
The Advantage of Backdating
Backdating a life insurance policy can lead to significant savings over the term of your coverage. To understand how much you can save by backdating, which can help you save age with life insurance, be sure to calculate the potential savings or request your agent to do it for you. A life insurance policy can be backdated up to six months, and the savings could be substantial, reflecting a backdated degree of financial benefit.
One last time, using our example:
- John’s date of birth is 1/1/1950.
- He was approved at a Preferred Best rating class for a $100,000 policy with a 10-year term.
- If the policy is issued with a current policy date of age 62, he will pay a premium of $406.00 per year.
- If the policy is backdated to 6/28/2011 (a few days before his six month birthday), he will pay $358.00 per year for the same policy.
The difference of $48.00 annually adds up to $480.00 over the life of his policy. Even though John’s backdated policy requires him to pay premiums from the policy date of 6/28/2011, the savings make it worthwhile to backdate the policy.
Read more: How To Calculate Your Life Insurance Age
Company Rules
Most life insurance companies will allow backdating up to six months. You may need to sign a statement acknowledging the process of backdating when your policy is issued. Some companies will automatically backdate to save age if only a very short time has gone by since your actual birthday or six-month birthday. (For more information, read our “Life Insurance Policy Backdating (Terms Explained)“).
Check with Your Agent
Backdating may not always save you money, and may not even be necessary depending on your date of birth, six-month birthday and the policy issue date. Make sure to ask your agent if it makes sense in the long run for you to backdate your policy.
Case Studies: Backdating (Saving Age) Life Insurance
Case Study 1: John’s Policy Backdating
John, a 61-year-old individual, wanted to save money on his term life insurance premiums. By using the backdating technique, his life insurance policy was issued with a date right before his six-month birthday.
This backdated policy allowed John to “save his age” at 61, resulting in lower premiums compared to a policy issued with his actual age of 62.
Case Study 2: Sarah’s Policy Backdating
Sarah, a 45-year-old woman, sought to reduce her term life insurance premiums. Through backdating, her policy was assigned a date right before her six-month birthday, effectively lowering her policy issue age. By doing so, Sarah secured a lower premium and enjoyed long-term cost savings on her life insurance coverage.
Case Study 3: Michael’s Backdated Policy
Michael, who is 53 years old, decided to backdate his life insurance policy to potentially reduce his premiums. By opting to date the policy before his actual birthday, he aimed to save on premiums. This approach, where a life insurance application may be backdated to save on premiums, can influence rates, including those for a 30-year term life insurance policy.
This decision resulted in a policy issue age of 52, which qualified him for more favorable premium rates. Michael calculated that over the life of his policy, the savings achieved through backdating amounted to $480.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I backdate any life insurance policy?
Backdating options may vary depending on the insurance company and the specific policy. Some insurance companies offer backdating as a standard provision, while others may have limitations or specific guidelines for backdating. It’s essential to check with your insurance provider to determine if backdating is available for the policy you’re interested in.
How far back can I backdate a life insurance policy?
The allowable backdating period varies depending on the insurance company and the specific policy terms. Generally, the backdating period can range from a few days to six months. However, it’s crucial to note that backdating too far back may result in an increased premium due to the extended coverage period.
Can backdating be used to cover a pre-existing condition?
No, backdating cannot be used to cover pre-existing conditions. Backdating a life insurance policy primarily affects the age at which the coverage begins, not the coverage itself. Pre-existing conditions are typically excluded from coverage or may require additional underwriting or exclusions, regardless of backdating.
What does “save age” mean in life insurance?
“Save age” in life insurance refers to a method used to reduce premiums by setting the policy’s effective date to an earlier time, typically just before the insured’s six-month birthday. This allows the policyholder to be classified as younger, which can result in lower premiums.
What is involved when a life insurance policy has been backdated?
When a life insurance policy is backdated, the policy’s start date is set to an earlier date than the application date. This allows the insured to benefit from a lower age bracket, potentially lowering premiums. However, the insured must pay premiums from the backdated date.
Can you backdate insurance?
Yes, many types of insurance, including life insurance, can be backdated. The policy’s effective date is set to an earlier date than the application date, often to secure a lower premium based on a younger age or to align with specific coverage needs.
How far back do life insurance companies look?
Life insurance companies typically allow backdating up to six months from the application date. This period can vary depending on the insurer and the specific policy terms.
How long can you backdate a life insurance policy?
Life insurance policies can generally be backdated up to six months from the application date. This allows the insured to take advantage of lower premium rates associated with a younger age.
How many months can a life insurance policy be backdated from the date of application?
A life insurance policy can usually be backdated up to six months from the date of application. This period allows the insured to secure a lower premium rate based on their age at the backdated time.
How to backdate insurance?
To backdate insurance, request the backdating option when applying for the policy. The insurer will set the policy’s effective date to an earlier date than the application date, often within a six-month period. Be prepared to pay premiums from the backdated date.
Does insurance backdate?
Insurance policies, particularly life insurance, can be backdated to a date before the application date. This practice allows the insured to benefit from a lower premium based on their age at the backdated date.
Does policy date change on life insurance?
The policy date on life insurance can change if the policy is backdated. The effective date of coverage is adjusted to an earlier date than the application date, which can affect premium calculations.
What age can you apply for life insurance?
You can apply for life insurance at various ages, depending on the insurance provider. Some insurers offer policies starting from as early as 18, while others may have minimum age requirements.
What does backdating mean in insurance?
Backdating in insurance refers to setting the policy’s effective date to an earlier date than the application date. This can help secure lower premiums based on the insured’s age or align coverage with specific needs.
What happens when an insurance policy is backdated?
When an insurance policy is backdated, the policy’s effective date is set to an earlier date than the application date. The insured benefits from a lower premium based on their age at the backdated date but must pay premiums from that earlier date.
What insurance companies will backdate insurance?
Many insurance companies offer backdating options for their policies, especially life insurance. The availability and terms of backdating can vary between insurers, so it’s important to check with specific companies.
What is a backdated payment?
A backdated payment refers to a payment made for a period before the current date. In the context of insurance, it means paying premiums from a date earlier than the policy’s application date.
What is the meaning of backdated?
Backdated means setting a document or policy to an earlier date than the actual date of the document’s creation or policy issuance. In insurance, this often refers to the policy’s effective date.
What is the reason for backdating a policy?
The primary reason for backdating a policy is to secure a lower premium based on the insured’s age at the backdated date. It can also align coverage with specific dates or needs.
When does renters insurance take effect?
Renters insurance typically takes effect on the policy’s start date, which is specified when the policy is issued. Coverage begins on this date, and the insured should ensure that the policy is active before moving in.
Why is backdating bad?
Backdating can be problematic because it requires the insured to pay premiums from an earlier date, potentially for coverage that was not needed or used. It can also complicate claims and administrative processes.
Will health insurance backdate?
Health insurance policies typically do not allow backdating coverage. Instead, they usually start on the application date or a designated future date, rather than an earlier one. This contrasts with practices like backdating health insurance or adjusting for a life insurance look-back period, where the application date or the insurance age limit might influence the policy’s terms.
How many months can you backdate an insurance application to get a lower premium?
An applicant for insurance can typically backdate their application up to six months to secure a lower premium. This allows the insurance company to assign an earlier issue date, potentially resulting in lower premiums based on a younger age.
Where can I find Prudential life insurance quotes?
Prudential life insurance quotes can be found through Prudential’s official website, insurance comparison websites, or by contacting a licensed insurance agent who represents Prudential. Online comparison tools can also help you compare quotes from Prudential with other providers.
How can I get a Prudential term life insurance quote?
To obtain a Prudential term life insurance quote, visit Prudential’s website and use their online quote tool, or contact a Prudential insurance agent directly. You can also request quotes through insurance comparison websites that include Prudential in their options.
What are premium dating script coupons?
Premium dating script coupons are promotional offers or discount codes that insurance companies may provide to reduce premiums on life insurance policies. These coupons are typically used in marketing campaigns and can be applied to lower the cost of insurance coverage.
How do I use the Nationwide IUL calculator?
To use the Nationwide IUL (Indexed Universal Life) calculator, visit Nationwide’s official website and locate their IUL calculator tool. Enter your details, such as age, coverage amount, and premium payment frequency, to estimate potential policy values and premiums.
What is the cost of life insurance at age 62?
The cost of life insurance at age 62 varies depending on factors such as the type of policy, coverage amount, term length, and the individual’s health. Generally, premiums increase with age due to higher risk. For a precise quote, it’s best to consult with insurance providers or use an online quote tool.
What is the Gerber Life coupon code?
The Gerber Life coupon code varies depending on promotions and offers available at the time. To find the current code, check the official Gerber Life website or sign up for their newsletter to receive the latest deals and updates.
What is backdating or saving age in life insurance?
Backdating, also known as saving age, is a provision in life insurance policies that allows the policyholder to request coverage to begin at an earlier date than the actual policy application date. By backdating, the insured person can secure a lower premium by potentially qualifying for a younger age bracket.
How does backdating or saving age in life insurance save money?
Backdating can save money in life insurance because premium rates are often determined based on the age of the insured. By backdating the policy, you can potentially secure a lower premium by being placed in a younger age bracket with more favorable rates. This can result in significant savings over the life of the policy.
Your life insurance quotes are always free.
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Brandon Frady
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brandon Frady has been a licensed insurance agent and insurance office manager since 2018. He has experience in ventures from retail to finance, working positions from cashier to management, but it wasn’t until Brandon started working in the insurance industry that he truly felt at home in his career. In his day-to-day interactions, he aims to live out his business philosophy in how he treats hi...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.