Term Insurance
What is Term Insurance?
Term Insurance is the simplest and purest form of life insurance. It provides financial protection to your family at the most affordable rates. With term insurance, you can get a large amount of life cover (i.e. sum assured) at a relatively low premium rate. The benefit amount is paid out to the nominee in case of the death of the person insured during the term of the policy.
Why do you need Term Insurance?
Financial security for your family
If you are the primary earner, buying a term plan would take care of the monthly financial needs of your family in your absence.
Secure your Assets
You might have taken a loan like an education loan, home loan, personal loan, or a vehicle loan. The repayment of these loans can financially weigh down your family in your absence. The proceeds from your term insurance plan pay off your loans and ensure that the financial burden does not fall upon your family.
Risks related to lifestyle
The probability of developing a lifestyle disease increases with age. Some term insurance plans offer critical illness protection which not only protects your family in case of uncertain eventualities but also during your lifetime. Critical illness benefit provides you financial security against various life-threatening health conditions such as cancer & heart attack.
Features of Term Insurance
Affordability
Term insurance policies are some of the most affordable life insurance products. The premiums you have to pay for term plans are usually much lower than other life insurance policies.
Age of entry
With the minimum eligibility age of 18 years, you can get term plans early in life. Buying a term plan at a young age helps you get sizeable coverage at very reasonable premiums.
Policy Term
Term insurance provides coverage for the specified number of years, known as the policy term. In case of an unfortunate event during this period, your nominee will receive the sum assured in your policy. Term insurance tenures can start from 5 years and extend up to your 99th birthday if you choose the whole life insurance option. Depending upon how long your loved ones might need your financial support, you can select the right policy term for your needs.
Maturity Benefit
Term insurance provides financial protection to your family in case of an eventuality. It is not meant to be used as an investment instrument. Thus, it does not offer any return on the premium you pay in the fortunate event that you survive the policy tenure. However, the very absence of this investment component makes term plans so affordable. One of the unique features of term insurance is that your entire premium goes into securing your insurance cover. No part of it is deducted for investment purposes. Thus, you can get substantial coverage, enough to cover the current and future expenses of your loved ones at pocket-friendly premiums.
Flexibility in Premium Payments
You can pay your term plan premiums as per your convenience. Annual, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly premiums are some of the premium payment frequencies you can choose. Such regular premium payments are ideal for salaried individuals with a stable income. You can also go for a one-time, lump sum premium payment if you have some surplus funds lying unused. Alternatively, you can go for a limited pay option and pay off your premiums within the initial few policy years. Your life cover remains active for the entire term plan tenure.
Life cover
A term plan keeps your family secure from financial challenges if an unfortunate event occurs. It provides a life cover of your choice at affordable premiums. With this life cover, your loved ones get an assured sum in case of an unwanted incident during the policy period. The payout can help your family avoid compromising with the lifestyle you want for them in your absence.
Additional add-ons
You can add riders or add-on benefits to your term insurance policy to extend the scope of your base coverage at a nominal cost.
Increasing term insurance
Term plans allow you the flexibility to update your policy as per the changing financial needs of your life. You can increase the sum assured or add riders to your plan at your life’s key milestone events. Thus, after marriage, or when you welcome your children into your family, and your financial liabilities increase, you can enhance your coverage. It enables you to provide your loved ones with the right financial backup against unforeseen situations.
Tax benefits
Term plans offer many tax benefits. Under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, you can claim deductions up to ₹ 1.5 lakh on the premium you pay for your term plan. The payouts are also tax-exempt under Section 10(10D). Moreover, with an add-on health-related rider, you can avail of tax benefits under Section 80D on the premium paid for the rider.
Premium waiver
This benefit waives off all your future premiums in the case of a disability caused by an accident. Hence, even if you fail to pay the premiums due to any income loss from a disability, you will still be able to keep your family’s future secure.r them in your absence.