WHOLE LIFE PLANS
​Whole life insurance provides coverage throughout the life of the insured person. In addition to paying a tax-free death benefit, whole life insurance also contains a savings component in which cash value may accumulate.
Whole Life Plan
Lifelong protection
​Potential to earn dividends
​Ability to flexibly borrow money
What is life insurance?
Life insurance is a contract signed between a person and an insurance company. In exchange for premium paid at regular intervals, the insurance company promises to pay a lump sum known as a death benefit to the beneficiaries of the policyholder after the death of the policyholder. The intention of the life insurance is to provide a financial benefit to the dependents of the person buying the life insurance, to guard them against financial pitfalls in the event of the premature death of the insured person.
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The death benefit that accrues to the beneficiaries upon the death of the insured person replaces the income that was earned regularly by the policyholder. This amount can be used by the dependents to pay off debts, meet living expenses and fund education and other long-term goals.
You can buy different types of life insurance plans, including term insurance, endowment plans, retirement insurance plans and Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs). You can buy life insurance online as well, in simple steps. Buying life insurance online is a simple way to make sure your loved ones will continue to be financially secure in your absence.
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Buying life insurance does not just help provide financial support in the event of the insured person's untimely death, but it can also be a sound long term investment by helping you meet your life goals such as children's education, your retirement corpus or buying a second home.
Life Insurance - FAQ's
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What are the benefits of life insurance?
The biggest benefit of life insurance is that no matter your income level, life insurance ensures that your loved ones can make ends meet if you were to pass away.
Buying a life insurance policy at any stage in life gives you peace of mind. It offers a life cover that keeps you and your family protected in case of your unfortunate demise. The life insurance claim in the event of your death will help your family have a secure financial future, by paying for children's education, paying off debts and helping towards household expenses. The money you invest in life insurance is safe, and your family stands to gain from the benefits of insurance payouts in case of unforeseen circumstances.
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Life insurance premiums are eligible for rebate for salaried persons to reduce their tax liability. Life insurance also gives you the benefit of taking a loan against the policy in certain cases. A life insurance policy will help you to plan your life goals, including your children's education, their marriages and your retirement corpus.
The riders available with your life insurance policy help you customise your plan and get maximum benefit.
There are different types of life insurance which help you reap the benefits of a secure future for yourself and your family.
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Who needs life insurance the most?
Anyone who has dependents to support and is an income earner for the household needs Life Insurance. Your loved ones who depend on your income would be negatively impacted by your untimely passing and the subsequent loss of income. A life insurance policy makes sure their financial future is protected through the payouts by the insurer in case of the insured person's death.
If you own a business, it helps to have life cover so that the business is not negatively impacted by your passing. It can help to sustain it by covering expenses and paying debts till your successor finds their feet in the business.
If you have taken loans during your lifetime, having a life cover will help your family to pay off your debts with the help of the payouts received against the insurance claim.
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What are the types of life insurance plans?
In India, we have a variety of insurance plans to suit every need.
The simplest plans are Term insurance plans, in which there is a death benefit but no maturity benefits. In Term Insurance, the insurer promises to pay the beneficiaries a lump sum amount in the event of the insured person's death. Some Term insurance plans nowadays also offer to give back the premiums you pay on surviving the policy period; these are called Term insurance with return of premium plans.
Other life insurance plans in India include Endowment Insurance plans, Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs), Moneyback Insurance plans, Whole life insurance plans, Group life insurance, Child Insurance Plans and Retirement Insurance Plans.
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Factors that affect life insurance premium
The main factor influencing the life insurance premiums of a policyholder is their age. Younger persons are generally considered healthy and unlikely to contract illnesses or pass away suddenly; hence younger people attract lower insurance premiums.
Gender is another factor that determines the premium amount as proven scientific and statistical evidence points to women likely to live an average of 5 years more than men. Consequently, since women are perceived to avail of policies for a longer tenure, they can avail of lower premiums.
Medical records play a crucial factor in deciding the premium as well, since life insurance policies typically come with an underwriting process that includes a thorough medical exam of the policyholder. Any red flags concerning physical health and potential illnesses can have an impact on the amount of premium to be paid.
Family history is important as certain hereditary diseases could be passed on to the policyholder. The family's medical history plays a part in revealing these patterns and can influence the amount of premium.
Smoking and drinking, which are considered harmful to health and can impact your longevity, also influence the amount of premium to be paid. Professions and lifestyles can also impact the life insurance premium. Persons working in professions considered dangerous like mining, oil and gas and fisheries, and indulging in risk taking activities like mountaineering can attract higher premiums.
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How do I file a life insurance claim?
Life insurance claims can be made either on death of the policyholder, on maturity of the policy or as a Rider claim. In case of death claim, the beneficiary who is the nominee of the policy should intimate about the claim to the insurer at the earliest by filling the intimation form which can be obtained from the nearest branch of the insurance company or can be downloaded from the website of the insurance company. Relevant documents like death certificate of the insured person, birth certificate of the insured person (for proof of age), the original policy document, and any other documents requested by the insurer should be provided.
The insurer is obliged to settle claims, once filed, within 30 days of receipt of all documents. In case further investigation is needed, the insurer gets six months to complete its procedures from the date of receiving written intimation of the claim.
If you are making a maturity claim, the insurer reaches out to the policyholder in advance with a bank discharge form, which the policy holder has to fill in and submit to the insurer along with the relevant documents requested.
In the case of rider claims, which are additional benefits accruing to policy holders for paying extra premium, duly filled claim forms and policy copies are to be submitted to the insurer. Different riders like Waiver of Premium and Critical Illness are settled through different means.
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What types of death are not covered by life insurance?
While deaths due to accidents are covered by life insurance, there are certain exceptions. Accidental death if the insured is involved in any criminal activity or if death occurs due to intoxication or drugs are not covered by term life insurance plans. Accidental deaths while the insured was engaged in adventure sports like sky diving and bungee jumping are also not covered by such plans.
Death benefits for suicide are generally made at the discretion of insurance companies. Usually, beneficiaries are entitled to 80 per cent of amount accumulated from premiums paid in case of a non-linked plan, and 100 per cent in the case of a linked plan, if the insured dies by suicide within the initial 12 months.
Term insurance plans do not cover death occurring from self-inflicted injuries, or due to illnesses like sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS.
Death due to alcohol or drug abuse is also not covered by term plans, nor is homicide where the policy holder is murdered by the nominee for money. Death due to an existing illness that has not been disclosed at the time of purchasing the plan is also not covered by term life insurance plans. Death caused by natural disasters like tsunami, earthquake, floods etc is not covered by term insurance, unless the policy holder has opted for riders for that purpose.
Learn more about Life Insurance Products
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What are the 3 benefits of term insurance?
The premiums are reasonable, your family will be financially secure in the event of your death and you may even add coverage for critical illnesses and accidental deaths.
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Is it good to have a term insurance plan?
It is possible for a family to achieve their financial goals as well as meet their day-to-day expenses by purchasing a term insurance policy. The dependants of the insured do not suffer financially if a term insurance is in place.
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Is accidental death covered in term insurance?
Accidental death is covered by a term insurance policy. The sum assured on a term insurance policy will pay out no matter what the cause of death is, whether it is a result of a health issue or an accident.
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What happens at the end of a term life policy?
When term life insurance policy plans expire, the policyholder does not have to take any action. A policyholder will be notified that the policy is no longer in effect; no premiums are payable, and no death benefits would be paid out.
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What are the Death Benefits under Term life Insurance?
Death Benefits are paid to your dependents in a lump sum payment if you die unexpectedly. But few term insurance policies do provide a monthly income along with a lump sum amount to assist with regular expenses.
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What is Term Insurance Premium?
This is the sum of money you pay the insurance company in exchange for financial security. A monthly, semi-annual, or annual premium payment can be made.