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ASK KIM
Expectant Moms: Don't Put Off Life Insurance
by Kimberly Lankford

I'm seven months pregnant with my first child and finally realize how important it is to get life insurance. But I'm worried that I won't be able to get a good deal because I'm pregnant and weigh a lot more than I usually do. Should I wait until after the baby is born?

Start shopping for life insurance now. Many life insurance companies recognize that it's normal to gain some weight during pregnancy, and they'll base your price on your pre-pregnancy weight.

If you've figured out that you need the coverage to provide for your baby, it's important to have it from the start -- so your family will be protected if anything happens to you during childbirth or afterward. And with a new baby filling up all hours of your days and nights, the last thing you'll want to worry about is shopping for life insurance.

The good news is that the risk of dying in childbirth is so rare that being pregnant generally won't affect your rate.

"We look at their pre-pregnancy weight and cholesterol, because your cholesterol level can also go up during pregnancy," says Dr. Joanne Mambretti, underwriting medical director for Prudential. The same is true if you're applying for insurance shortly after delivering your baby, before you're back down to your regular weight. In fact, Prudential doesn't count your current weight until six months after you've delivered.

In other circumstances weight can make a big difference in premium prices. Be sure to let the agent know up front that you're pregnant or just had a baby, even if your first contact is through the Web or a phone call, so the agent can start searching for companies that don't penalize you for the baby weight.

By the way, when figuring out how much life insurance you need, keep in mind that the coverage is just as important for stay-at-home parents as it is for those who earn a salary. In addition to any income you may earn, consider the costs of any child care your spouse or other guardian would need to pay if anything happened to you.