Life is full of surprises. Having an unanticipated visit from a long lost friend or walking into a balloon-filled room with your loved ones yelling "surprise!" can be some of the most delightful surprises of all, but sometimes the unexpected can be catastrophic. Case and point: when Hurricane Katrina smashed through The Bayou State in 2005, homes were lost, pets vanished, jobs became obsolete and thousands of families and friends lost loved ones. Sadly, residents had little to count on in the aftermath of Katrina unless they had Louisiana insurance policies. According to LIMRA International's Facts About Life 2005 report, almost three fourths of Americans agreed that life insurance was the best way to protect against the premature death of a primary wage earner, yet 22 percent of U.S. household had no life insurance protection at all. If you have a family that relies on your income to survive, there's no question as to whether or not you should have a life insurance policy. Life is unpredictable and preparing for the unforeseen can mean the difference between adversity and endurance.

All About You
The factors that determine the rates of your Louisiana life insurance quotes include your age, health status, occupation, hobbies and habits. As you age your health begins to deteriorate which is why it's important to purchase a policy at a younger age. Stress can trigger a host of health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease and heart palpitations which is why those with high-pressure jobs generally have higher premiums. Dangerous hobbies such as drag racing or scuba diving can garner hefty Louisiana life insurance quotes as can unsafe habits such as smoking or excessive drinking. The Insurance Information Institute estimates that the annual premium for a 40-year-old male smoker buying a $500,000 20-year level term life insurance policy in 2008 would be between $1,400 and $1,775. The same man would pay between $350 and $725 annually if he were a nonsmoker. The type of policy you choose will affect your Louisiana life insurance quotes as well. Term life insurance is generally less expensive than permanent life insurance. A term life policy has a fixed expiration date and only pays the death benefit if the policyholder dies while the policy is active. Louisiana life insurance quotes are likely to be higher for permanent life insurance policies. However, permanent insurance is good for your entire life and has a cash value that increases during the life of the policy, unlike term insurance where the death benefit is equal to the amount of insurance you purchase.

The Element of Surprise
Buying a Louisiana life insurance policy while you're young and healthy will result in lower premiums, but it might just shock you to see how much you can save by shopping around for quotes. The life insurance industry is a competitive one and each company wants your business. Relieve yourself of the grunt work involved in contacting individual insurance companies by utilizing a free service like LocalInsurance. Simply fill out an easy form on LocalInsurance.com and representatives will work diligently to provide you with several Louisiana life insurance quotes so you can compare rates and coverages.

There are numerous resources regarding life insurance. Each state has a Department of Insurance that is able to help you educate yourself on life insurance. They may also be able to provide you with information regarding any specific laws regarding life insurance in Louisiana. There are also a number of other resources online that may assist you in learning more about life insurance so that you can choose the appropriate policy for you. These include: