THE SHORT ANSWER
Life cover becomes particularly relevant when someone depends on your income. A life insurance policy may pay a lump sum to survivors if you die while the policy is in force.
This does not mean everyone needs a separate life policy. Cover may already exist through work, membership or a pension. Start with what is there and who it can be paid to. [1][2][3]
Keep these points in mind
- Start with financial dependence, not a standard checklist.
- TGL may be available through work.
- Check recipients, amounts and the period of cover.
STEP BY STEP
How to check your cover
Describe the financial situation
Write down whether anyone relies on your income for housing or day-to-day expenses. Joint loans and responsibility for supporting others can make the question relevant. This does not determine a particular sum insured.
[1]Distinguish life insurance from pensions
Find pension statements showing any survivor protection. Check whether benefits are paid as a lump sum or over a period. Choosing protection within an occupational pension can affect your own pension, so read the consequences before changing anything.
[3]
Several sources, different terms
Private life insurance, TGL and pension survivor protection are not interchangeable names for the same agreement. They can differ in amounts, recipients and how long cover lasts.
Survivor pensions also exist within the public pension system. Eligibility for those benefits is assessed under separate rules and is not confirmed by a private policy document.
[1][2][3][4]Check the documents in My Forsio
Add the insurance documents you have and complete the questions under About you. Information about financial dependence helps make the review relevant.
When a statement from work is missing, it is Unverified, not evidence that life cover is absent. My Forsio's document overview is not a complete pension assessment or a recommendation for a particular amount.
Fictional example
No private life policy in the documents.
A person with financially dependent children has added home and car policies, but no documents from work.
- Financial dependence
- Stated in the person's answers
- Private life insurance
- Not in the documents
- TGL through work
- Unverified
The workplace statement needs checking before describing what life cover is in place.
Common questions
Does everyone need a separate life policy?
No. Its relevance depends partly on whether others depend on you financially and what cover already exists. A product being absent from a list is not enough for an individual recommendation. [1][2]
Is life insurance a form of saving?
A standard life insurance policy covers a risk. It pays according to its terms if you die during the insured period; it does not build up savings to be paid out when cover ends. [1]
Can cover change as I get older?
Yes. The policy may have an end age and the amount may change with age. Read the current statement and terms rather than relying on the amount in an older document. [1]
MY FORSIO
Include the cover you already have.
Bring your policies together in My Forsio. Cover through work or your union may need to be added as documents. Free for individuals, with no invitation needed.
Sources and references
Sources checked
This guide explains general principles of Swedish insurance. Your policy schedule and terms set out what applies to you.