{
  "id": 17824202,
  "title": "What is life insurance and how does it work? A beginner's guide",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/what-is-life-insurance-and-how-does-it-work-a-beginners-guide",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-11-02T16:56:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/insurance/what-is-life-insurance-how-does-it-work-beginners-guide/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Life insurance is a type of insurance that provides a payment to your loved ones upon your death. You designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries, pay premiums, and if you pass away during the policy period, the beneficiary receives the death benefit, which is determined by the coverage amount. To obtain life insurance, you'll usually need to complete a medical questionnaire and, in some cases, a medical exam. The cost of life insurance depends on factors such as age, health, gender, term, type of insurance, and coverage amount.",
  "summary": "Life insurance can be a smart tool for protecting your loved ones. Here's what to know before buying a policy.",
  "key_points": [
    "Life insurance provides a payment to beneficiaries upon the policyholder's death",
    "Beneficiaries are designated, premiums are paid, and death benefit is received",
    "Medical questionnaire/exam determines eligibility and premium cost"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}