New Genworth Study Identifies Largest Life Insurance Gaps Among Four Major Consumer Groups

RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For those who think life insurance isn't for them, it turns out they may be right – at least partially. A new Genworth white paper, released today, points out that life insurance isn't intended to benefit the consumer; it's designed for the loved ones who rely on that person's financial support, both now and in the future.

The paper, titled "Getting Over the Gap: Insights on Life Insurance Coverage in the U.S.," focuses on four major consumer groups that are facing the largest life insurance coverage gaps and stand to benefit the most from an insurance review -- unmarried parents, large families, women and those with certain common health conditions. The paper is based on key insights from Genworth's 2012 LifeJacket ^SM Study.

"Consumers often believe life insurance costs nearly three times its actual price, and this is a major contributor to the large coverage gap we're seeing in these four groups," said Brian Bulakites, vice president and national sales manager for life insurance at Genworth. "We're working to close these gaps by educating consumers on the importance of a good insurance policy. By addressing these needs now, we're able to help our customers help provide the financial resources to their loved ones that will be lost upon their death."

Large families

With tight budgets and busy schedules, life insurance may appear to be an expensive luxury for those with large families. Genworth's white paper outlines a major gap in coverage among adults who have children in their households. Not surprisingly, the pattern of either or both parents lacking life insurance is exacerbated by lower income and larger families.

Unmarried parents

The white paper also looks into the differences between married and unmarried parents. Genworth's 2012 LifeJacket Study revealed that unmarried parents are significantly less likely to have life insurance than their married counterparts, despite their clear need for coverage. The research shows that 59 percent of unmarried women are without insurance, compared with 43 percent of those who are married. For fathers, this gap is even larger, with 69 percent of unmarried fathers lacking insurance, compared with 34 percent of married fathers.

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