Shopping for life insurance is a big deal, and can often be a tedious process. However, despite the significant importance of life insurance policies, many people go without. In 2010, just 44% of households had individual life insurance—a 50 year low. Furthermore, 70% of households with children under the age of 18 would have difficulty making basic expenses within just a few months if the primary wage earner passed away today.

Schwartzapfel Bronx Lawyers, a personal injury law firm that specializes in areas like wrongful death, vehicle, and work-related accidents, explains how important a life insurance policy is. “Getting life insurance may feel like a scary situation, but it’s absolutely necessary protection for you and your family. If high costs are the barrier between getting a policy and going unprotected, it’s best to identify some cost savings.”

Furthemore, insurances can actually secure your finances, creating another cost-value situation. With that in mind, here are six ways you can save on life insurance.

1) Get Life Insurance Earlier

The longer you wait, the more likely you are to rack up a health history. Life insurance policies analyze several factors, including your age, health history, lifestyle, and more. The younger you are, the easier and cheaper it is to get a decent life insurance policy. If you wait until you’re 40, for example, your costs will be higher, and the chances you’ll have more expensive medical needs will be greater.

2) Get Term Insurance

Unless you have special needs, most likely you should skip out on permanent life insurance and opt for term insurance. These types of policies are much less expensive, and are more clear cut and dry. This means that they have a strict expiration date, have no cash value components, and are simpler to understand.

3) Take the Medical Exam

When you begin the process of choosing an insurance company, you’ll have to undergo an exam. A paramedical exam is a personal interview between you and the company, used to assess your medical history. This allows the life insurance company to properly assess your current overall health. They’ll collect a urine sample, blood sample, measurements, and discuss your medical history with you.