Resources
Questions,
answered simply.
Knowledge is empowerment. Here are the questions families ask me most, the words you'll hear along the way, and where all the information on this site comes from.
Frequently asked questions.
Are Living Benefits the same as long-term care insurance?
No. Living Benefits are part of a life insurance policy and are paid once you qualify, generally with no restrictions on how you use the money. Long-term care insurance has no death benefit and reimburses specific care expenses. See the comparison
Do Living Benefits cost extra?
On many policies, including National Life Group's term and permanent policies, the Accelerated Benefit Riders that provide Living Benefits are included at no additional premium. Riders and availability vary by state and product.
How do I file a claim?
Contact me and I'll help you start it, or reach the insurance company directly. You'll need the insured's contact details, the policy number, when the condition began, details of the condition, and which benefit you want to access. How claims work
How is an IUL different from regular life insurance?
An IUL gives you a death benefit like traditional life insurance, plus cash value that can earn interest based on a market index. You're not invested directly in the market — a floor (often 0%) protects against negative index returns, and credited interest is limited by a cap. Policy fees and charges still apply.
How much does a consultation cost?
Nothing. The 30-minute consultation is free, with no pressure — just clear guidance tailored to your goals.
What are Living Benefits?
Living Benefits let you access a portion of your life insurance policy while you're still alive if you face a qualifying condition — such as a critical, chronic or terminal illness, or a critical injury. The money can go toward medical bills, the mortgage, caregiving, or travel to be with family.
Which conditions can qualify?
Common examples include cancer, stroke, heart attack, chronic illness, critical illness (like organ failure), critical injury (like paralysis, coma or a traumatic brain injury), terminal illness and Alzheimer's disease. Not every policy includes every rider — availability depends on the product, state, underwriting decision and policy provisions, and some riders can be excluded even when a policy is approved. I'll walk you through yours.
Will I pay taxes on accelerated benefits?
It may be a taxable event, and it can affect eligibility for public assistance programs. Accelerated payments also reduce your death benefit and cash value. Please talk with a tax advisor before you claim.
Words worth knowing.
- Death benefit
- The amount paid to your beneficiaries when you pass away.
- Cash value
- Savings inside a permanent policy that may grow and can be borrowed against or withdrawn.
- Accelerated benefit
- Receiving part of your death benefit early because of a qualifying illness — the heart of Living Benefits.
- Cap
- The maximum interest an indexed policy can credit in a period.
- Floor
- The minimum interest an indexed policy credits — often 0% — so negative index returns aren't credited. Policy fees and charges can still reduce cash value.
- Participation rate
- The share of an index's gain used to calculate your credited interest.
- Tax-deferred
- You don't pay taxes on growth until you withdraw the money.
- Premium
- The payment you make to keep your policy active.
Where our information comes from.
Every statistic, policy detail and video on this website, with a link to the original source.
Living Benefits & policy details
- WebsiteNational Life Group — Life Insurance with Living BenefitsHow Living Benefits work, plus the policyholder story videos.
- PDF“Life Insurance with Living Benefits” brochure (Cat. No. 62824)Qualifying events, rider details, claims and the Lifetime Income Benefit Rider.
- WebsiteNational Life Group — Contact ClaimsWhere policyholders can start a claim directly.
Statistics used on this site
- StudyDebt.com — Medical Debt Survey (April 2025)51% of Americans carry medical debt or unpaid medical bills.
- StudyLIMRA & Life Happens — 2025 Insurance Barometer Study47% would feel the impact within 6 months; 52% of dependents would rely on life insurance.
- PDFAmerican Cancer Society — Cancer Facts & Figures 2025About 2 million new cancer cases projected in 2025.
- PDFAlzheimer's Association — 2025 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures$405,262 lifetime cost of care for a person living with Alzheimer's dementia.
- GovernmentSocial Security Administration — 2026 COLA Fact Sheet$2,071 average monthly benefit for retired workers in 2026.
- StudyExperian — Consumer Debt Study (2025)$104,755 average debt carried by Americans.
Videos
- VideoNational Life Group — policyholder stories (Lita, Craig, the Tran family)Played on this site through National Life’s video player.
- YouTube“More to Life” — Joven & Benita (The Legacy Code)Played on this site through YouTube’s player.
- StockPexels — family dinner clipHome page background video (free Pexels license).
- StockPexels — couple walking clipHome page background video (free Pexels license).
- StockPexels — doctor and patient clipHome page background video (free Pexels license).
Statistics were current when added and may be updated by their publishers. Links open in a new tab. Policy features vary by state and product — your policy documents always take precedence.
Let's protect what matters most.
A free, no-pressure 30-minute call to find coverage that fits your family.