1.What is a life insurance policy?
A life insurance policy is a contract between an insurance provider and a policyholder where the former guarantees the sum assured to the latter’s family or nominees in case of the policyholder’s untimely death during the policy term. In return, the policyholder has to ensure the complete payment of all the premiums that will keep the policy valid until maturity or until the death benefit is paid out.
2.When should you buy a life insurance plan?
You can buy a life insurance policy at any point in time. However, there is an age eligibility criterion where the policyholder needs to be between the age of 18-60 years to be able to buy a life insurance policy. The minimum and maximum entry age will vary from policy to policy. It is also advisable to get a life insurance plan as early as possible to avail of low and affordable premiums.
3.Are retirement plans the same as savings plans?
No, retirement plans are designed to help you receive a regular income during your retirement years, while savings plans help you save your funds systematically for your long-term goals. While both types of insurance policies are not the same, many policyholders may choose to use savings plans as retirement plans.
4.How is a term insurance plan different from a regular life insurance plan?
A term policy offers pure life cover protection to you and your family for a specified number of years or “term” and offers only death benefits in the form of the sum assured in case of the policyholder’s death during the policy term. On the other hand, a life insurance plan can offer whole life coverage up to 100 years of age and may also offer maturity benefits if the policyholder survives the policy term.
5.Is it possible to get a life insurance plan as early as 18 years of age?
Yes, if the minimum age of entry for a certain life insurance plan is 18 years, you can avail of a life insurance policy as early as that age.
6.What benefits do the different types of life insurance plans provide?
The different types of life insurance plans provide various financial benefits with flexible features:
Term insurance plans provide a huge life cover at an affordable rate.
Savings insurance plans provide a life cover for the policy tenure and guaranteed returns at maturity.
Wealth creation plans provide life cover for the policy term and market-linked returns at maturity.
Retirement plans provide options to guarantee a regular income post-retirement.
Group life insurance plans provide life insurance benefits for employer-employee groups or non-employer employee groups.
7.Which is the whole life insurance policy?
A whole life insurance policy is a type of life insurance policy that that provides life insurance coverage up to 100 years of age.
8.Can I get the money back for the term life insurance at the end?
Term life insurance generally does not provide a maturity benefit. However, you can purchase the return of premium option to receive a refund of the premium paid during the policy tenure at maturity, subject to the policy conditions.
9.What are the different types of life insurance that pay you back?
Different types of life insurance in India provide maturity benefits apart from life coverage. Term insurance with the return of premium option will provide a refund of the premium paid during the policy term as a maturity benefit. The savings insurance plans provide guaranteed returns at the end of the policy term. Wealth creation plans such as the ULIP (Unit Linked Insurance Plan) provide market-linked returns based on your investment in financial securities as a maturity benefit. With the money-back life insurance plans, you can receive a guaranteed payout at regular intervals during the policy term.
10.Which is the most popular type of life insurance policy?
The most popular type of life insurance plan is term insurance. It provides a higher sum assured at an affordable premium rate that can help secure your family in the event an unexpected demise of the life assured.
11.What are the Income Tax Benefits from Life Insurance Plans?
When you buy a life insurance policy, such as a term insurance plan and savings plan you are eligible to save income tax12 up to 46,800 as per applicable income tax laws.
12.Can I withdraw money from my life insurance plan?
If you have invested in the ULIP (Unit Linked Insurance Plan), you can initiate a partial withdrawal after the 5-year lock-in period. Life insurance plans, such as savings insurance plans, money-back plans, etc., acquire a surrender value after a certain period of the policy tenure based on the type and policy conditions. You can surrender the policy and receive the payout basis the terms and conditions of the policy. In addition, you can avail of loans based on your investment for certain plans.
13.Does a life insurance plan pay for death due to suicide?
Life insurance plans provide the sum assured for death due to suicide after one year of the policy tenure. However, if the suicide happens within 1 year, a certain portion of the premiums paid will be provided to the nominee. The extent of payouts provided is subject to the policy terms and conditions.
14.What types of deaths are not covered by life insurance?
Life insurance does not cover death due to the following reasons:
Natural disasters
Terrorist activities
Habits or diseases not disclosed
Accidents caused due to intoxication
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Involvement in a criminal activity
In case of suicide, the sum assured is payable if the suicide happens one year after purchasing the line insurance plan. And, if the death occurs within 1 year, a portion of the premium paid between 80% and 100% based on the type of life insurance and the insurer's policy conditions is payable.