Mortgage insurance is coverage to the mortgage lender in case of the potential default of payments by the borrower. It is an insurance policy like any other, and requires premiums to the paid. Premiums are generally passed on by the mortgage lender to the buyers of the mortgage. Mortgage buyers may wish to pay the premiums either on a monthly basis, or as a lump sum amount at the end of the year or closing period. Since mortgage insurance premiums have to be paid by the borrowers of mortgages, mortgage insurance companies target their advertisements to the borrowers.