Have you ever wondered how life insurance policies were first developed? The following information will take you on a journey though the ages to discover how the concept of life insurance was born.

The first mention of life insurance in history was in Roman times some 2,000 years. Burial societies charged a premium or monthly fee from members who anticipated that the rising costs associated with funerals meant that some form of insurance was necessary.

In medieval Britain, insurance for funerals was provided by Trade Guilds with the earliest life insurance policy in history being recorded on June 15, 1583. William Gybbons, occupation listed as a salter for the City of London, was insurance by a Mr Richard Martin for eight pounds sterling. The policy allowed for up to £100 for the costs associated with funeral expenses and financial support for Gybbon's family.

Following the policy's expiration, a dispute arose between the insurer and Mr Richard Martin. Martin subsequently took the insurer to court and won his case. This is the earliest case of litigation associated with life insurance that we know of today.

The first company to specialize in life insurance policies was the Annuity Association in 1699. However, the company was forced to close its doors due to bankruptcy after 46 years in business. In these days, life insurance policies were not charged at a fixed rate as they have been since modern times. Instead the fund would pay out whatever sums it could afford based on the number of customers who died.

Fortunately, most life insurance policies today come with a guaranteed sum that you can insure yourself for. This sum must be paid out by the insurer regardless of the health of the company. Increasingly, life insurance policies are also seen as a form of fixed savings or investment. They are usually tax free and can be cashed in once the time period of the policy elapses.

Today the insurance industry is a highly competitive, multi-million dollar operation, which offers life insurance policies at affordable prices to millions of individuals each year. Due to the variety of policies available, the average consumer needs to pay close attention to what he is purchasing. It is important that a needs analysis is carried out thoroughly before signing anything.
This is made easier by the growth of insurance online. You can request multiple quotes from insurance companies and conduct substantial research over the internet before you part with your hard-earned dollars.