Taking out a mortgage can be a scary proposition. You owe tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to the mortgage holder. What happens if a family breadwinner suddenly passes away and a substantial portion of the mortgage remains unpaid?

Mortgage protection insurance covers this potential financial disaster. You can purchase a policy when you first buy your home, or later if you think your situation warrants it.

The idea behind mortgage protection insurance is straightforward: You pay a premium, which remains the same for the duration of the policy, and if you should die during that time, the insurance pays off the rest of your mortgage.

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