Life Insurance Guide
Does your life insurance actually cover your family?
A plain-English guide for Indian families in the US — H1B, green card, or citizen.
Most families have some life insurance — usually whatever their employer gives them. The hard question is whether it would actually cover what your family needs if something happened to you. Often, it doesn't. This guide shows you how to find your real number in a few minutes.
1. The one number that matters: your coverage gap
Your coverage gap is the difference between what your family would need and what you already have. The cleanest way to size your need is the DIME method:
I — Income: about 10–15 years of your salary so your family can keep their life
M — Mortgage: the full payoff so the home is safe
E — Education: roughly $150k per child (illustrative)
= Total need. Subtract what you already have → that's your gap.
2. Why employer coverage usually isn't enough
Group coverage through work is a great perk, but it has three quiet problems:
✓ It ends when the job ends — layoff, switch, or visa change and it's gone
✓ You can't take it with you — no portability, no control
That's why most families pair a small amount of employer coverage with a personal policy they own and keep — regardless of where they work.
3. Term vs permanent — which is right?
| Term | Permanent (e.g. IUL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Covering a set window (mortgage, kids growing up) | Lifelong protection + tax-advantaged growth |
| Cost | Lowest premium | Higher, but builds cash value |
| Bonus | Simple, affordable | Cash you can use for college, emergencies, or retirement |
There's no universally "best" choice — it depends on your family, budget, and goals. A 15-minute review sorts it out quickly.
See your exact coverage gap — in 2 minutes
Our free calculator does the DIME math for you and shows your number instantly.
Calculate my gap →