Frequently Asked Questions

Usually yes. Green card holders are treated the same as citizens by most carriers - full underwriting, full product access, standard rates. Visa holders (H-1B, L-1, O-1 and others) can also qualify, though carriers ask for more documentation: a copy of the visa, how long you've been in the U.S., and whether you intend to stay. Many will ask you to complete a foreign national or foreign travel questionnaire. Approval is generally easier if you plan to remain in the U.S. for at least five years and have local ties such as a bank account, employment, or property. Carrier appetite varies enormously here, which is exactly why shopping the case matters.

It affects your rate more than your eligibility, and carriers differ sharply. Some classify any cannabis use as tobacco use; others distinguish it from cigarettes and will offer non-tobacco rates to occasional users. What underwriters look at is frequency, whether it's medical or recreational, and how it's consumed - smoking is generally viewed less favorably than edibles or tinctures. As with nicotine, disclose it honestly: the lab work and prescription records typically surface it, and a misstatement can void a claim during the contestability period.

Don't just stop paying - you have options, and most people never learn them. Every policy has a grace period, commonly 30 or 31 days, before it lapses. Beyond that, term policies can often be reduced in face amount to lower the premium. Permanent policies with cash value usually have non-forfeiture options: reduced paid-up insurance (a smaller death benefit, no further premiums), extended term insurance, or using accumulated cash value to cover premiums temporarily. Call before the policy lapses. Reinstating later means new underwriting at your current age and health, and sometimes it isn't possible at all.

Every state operates a life and health insurance guaranty association that steps in when a licensed insurer becomes insolvent, and coverage is transferred or continued up to statutory limits. In Texas, the guaranty association generally covers death benefits up to $300,000 per insured life, though limits vary by state and by benefit type. This safety net is one reason financial strength ratings matter: an A-rated carrier is far less likely to put you in that position, and guaranty coverage is a backstop rather than a substitute for choosing a strong company.

Yes, and it's a common strategy rather than a loophole. Many families 'ladder' coverage - layering a shorter 10 or 15-year policy over a longer 30-year policy so the extra protection exists during the years when obligations peak, then falls away when the mortgage is paid or the kids are grown. That usually costs less than one large 30-year policy. Carriers will ask about coverage in force elsewhere and apply total limits based on your income and net worth, so disclose existing policies when you apply.

This is what contingent beneficiaries and simultaneous death provisions exist for. Most policies contain a survivorship clause requiring a beneficiary to outlive the insured by a set period, commonly 30 days, to receive the benefit. If no primary beneficiary survives, the benefit passes to the contingent beneficiary. If none is named, it typically goes to your estate - which means probate, delay, and possible creditor exposure. Naming a contingent beneficiary takes one line on a form and prevents all of it.

Texas provides notably strong protection. Under the Texas Insurance Code, life insurance proceeds and cash values are generally exempt from the claims of the insured's creditors when payable to a named beneficiary other than the estate. That protection is a significant reason to name a living beneficiary rather than your estate. Protections vary by state and don't apply in every circumstance - including certain federal claims - so confirm your specific situation with an attorney.

Sometimes. A life settlement is the sale of an existing policy to a third-party investor for more than its cash surrender value but less than the death benefit. It's generally only viable for insureds over roughly age 65, or younger with a serious health condition, and typically requires a policy of $100,000 or more. Before selling, compare it against the alternatives: reducing the death benefit, using a non-forfeiture option, or accessing living benefit riders you may already have. A settlement ends the coverage permanently, and the proceeds may be taxable.

Yes, and many carriers will issue standard rates during an uncomplicated pregnancy. Underwriting typically considers pre-pregnancy weight rather than current weight, so it helps to have that figure ready. Complications such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia can lead a carrier to postpone a decision until after delivery. If you're planning a family, applying before pregnancy is generally simplest - but being pregnant is not a barrier to getting covered.

Nothing. Your policy follows you - it's a contract with the insurer, not a state-specific product, and moving doesn't change your premium, coverage, or beneficiaries. Life insurance rates are filed at the state level and set when the policy is issued, so relocating won't re-rate you. Just update your address with the carrier so notices reach you, and review your beneficiary designation if the move accompanies a life change.

DG Life Group does not provide will, trust, or estate planning services, and we are not attorneys. Some carriers do include access to online will and estate document tools as a complimentary policy benefit, and if that applies to a policy you're considering, we'll tell you. For an actual will or trust, work with a licensed estate planning attorney. What we can do is make sure your life insurance is structured to work alongside that plan - particularly the beneficiary designation, which controls the policy regardless of what your will says.