Living Benefits Life Insurance: The Safety Net That Supports You in Life — Not Only When You Die
- Howard Shanley
- Sep 17
- 5 min read
If you’re like most people, the phrase "life insurance" probably brings to mind one thing—money paid to your family after you die. But what if life insurance could protect you while you're still alive? What if it could step in during your darkest moments—like after a cancer diagnosis, a heart attack, or a disabling accident—and help cover bills, treatments, and lost income? That’s exactly what Living Benefits Life Insurance does.
In this blog post, you’ll learn why living benefits life insurance is a game-changer, how it compares to traditional life insurance, and why more people are choosing policies that work in life, not just in death.
What Is Living Benefits Life Insurance?
Living Benefits Life Insurance, sometimes called Accelerated Benefit Life Insurance, is a policy that allows you to access part of your death benefit while you’re still alive if you're diagnosed with certain serious illnesses or suffer a major health event.
These include:
Heart attack
Stroke
Cancer
Major Organ failure
Chronic illness (needing assistance doing 2 out of the 6 adl's)
Critical illness
Alzheimer's
Coma
Paralysis
Severe Burns
Traumatic Brain Injury
Instead of waiting for your policy to pay out after you die, living benefits let you tap into your policy benefits and access the money early— helping cover expensive treatments, monthly bills, or even alternative therapies that traditional health insurance won’t touch. The only life insurance plan that you can use while still alive.
How Traditional Life Insurance Works
Traditional life insurance is exactly what it sounds like: a policy that pays only in the event of death to your beneficiaries when you pass away. While this is a powerful financial tool for protecting your loved ones, it has one big limitation: you’ll never benefit from it directly. Living Benefits life insurance on the other hand, allows you to be your own policies beneficiary and you can benefit directly.
If you become sick, injured, or disabled during your lifetime, your traditional life insurance policy doesn’t do anything to help. You or your family are still on the hook for:
Medical expenses
Lost income
Home modifications
Long-term care
Why Living Benefits Are a Lifesaver (Literally and Financially)
Imagine this scenario:
You’re 45, working full-time, and supporting your family. Suddenly, you’re diagnosed with aggressive cancer stage 3 cancer. You can’t work. Medical bills pile up. Your savings drain. You have to choose between paying your mortgage and starting treatment.
Now imagine you had Living Benefits Life Insurance. With a qualifying diagnosis, you could access $150,000 from your $250,000 policy while still alive. That money can cover:
Cancer treatment not covered by health insurance
Regular monthly bills
Groceries
Travel to a top hospital to receive experimental treatments
Income replacement
And here’s the key—"The money is yours to use how you see fit", and you don’t have to repay it. That’s not just peace of mind—it’s "Lifesaving Financial Support."
Comparing Traditional Life Insurance vs. Living Benefits Life Insurance
Let’s break it down clearly. Here's a side-by-side look at how these two types of policies stack up:
Traditional Life Insurance vs. Living Benefits Life Insurance
Feature | Traditional Life Insurance | Living Benefits Life Insurance |
Pays After Death | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Pays While Alive (If Sick or Injured) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Covers Terminal Illness | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Covers Critical Illness (Heart Attack, Cancer, Stroke) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Covers Chronic Illness (long-term care needs) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Helps Replace Lost Income | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Tax-Free Payouts | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Cost Each Month | Same Price | Same Price |
Best For | Death-only protection | Life changing & Death-only protection |
Which One Is Right for You?
Here’s the truth: Traditional life insurance only protects your family if you die. Life Insurance with Living benefits can help you financially if you live through a medical crisis—and we all know how common that is and, if you were to die.
Nearly 1 in 2 people will face cancer in their lifetime. Heart disease and stroke are still leading causes of disability in America. If you couldn’t work for six months due to illness, would your family be okay? "Living Benefits Life Insurance" gives you more control, more flexibility, and more support—when you actually need it. That’s why it’s quickly becoming the smartest choice for families, business owners, and anyone who wants real financial protection for life’s “what ifs.”
Real-World Peace of Mind
Most people don’t know these policies exist until it’s too late. But the families who do own living benefits policies will tell you—this insurance saved us. It’s not just about paying for a funeral someday. It’s about fighting for your health today. Living benefits give you a financial parachute if life drops you off a cliff. And they let you focus on healing—not hustling to pay bills.
Final Thoughts: Choose the Policy That Protects You in Life and Death
We’re not saying traditional life insurance is bad—it’s just incomplete. If your plan only helps after you die, you’re missing a major piece of the protection puzzle. Living Benefits Life Insurance is the 21st-century upgrade to life insurance. It’s the same cost as traditional life insurance that only pays out in the event of death. It’s flexible and, it could be the financial lifeline that you need one day.
If you’re shopping for life insurance, make sure to ask: “Does This Policy Include Living Benefits?” It could be the most important question you ever ask.
Ready to Learn More?
Let’s talk about a life insurance policy that protects your life—not just your death.
Now is the time to take action and invest in living benefits life insurance. Don’t let uncertainty about the future linger over your savings and well-being.
Understanding the importance of living benefits life insurance can provide peace of mind, knowing that you and your loved ones are protected from the unexpected hardships life can bring. Make the informed choice and secure your family's financial future today!
At Shanley Insurance Agency, we’ve been trusted since 1999 in Upstate SC. We have helped families across our area understand the real power of Living Benefits Life Insurance. With over 35 years of experience, we work with top-rated carriers that offer these powerful policies.
📞 Call us today at (864) 868‑5194 or 🌐 Visit www.shanleyagency.com to request more information about, how Living Benefits Life Insurance provides much more protection for your family at the same price of Traditional Life Insurance.