How Does Term Insurance Works?

What is Term Insurance?

Term insurance is one of the most popular types of life insurance, it provides coverage for a set period, known as the term. The term typically lasts between 10 to 40 years. If the insured passes away during the term, insurance company provides the policyholder's beneficiaries with financial security. It is crucial to understand that term insurance only provides a death benefit, unlike other life insurance policies that provide lifetime coverage. If, in case, the policyholder outlives the policy term then there'll be no payout or maturity.

The cost of buying term insurance is less than the whole life insurance but it lacks the maturity payout factor.

How Does Term Life Insurance Work?

The below key pointers help you understand how Term Life Insurance works:

1. Agreement between insured and insurer

   A term life insurance policy is a legal contract between the policyholder and the insurance provider. The person who pays for the life cover is the policyholder. However, you can buy life cover for yourself or your family members. To keep your plan active, you've to pay a pre-decided premium. In exchange, the insurer pays a death benefit to beneficiaries in the event of the policyholder's untimely demise within the policy tenure.

2. Filling Out the Proposal Form

   To opt for a life cover, you've to provide the following information in the term plan application form:

   • Gender
   • Educational qualifications
   • Medical history
   • Present Health conditions
   • Lifestyle habits
   • Age
   • Annual income
   • Nature of your profession
   The insurer estimates the health risk and provides adequate premiums based on the data. Here, we've listed a few factors that can elevate the premium amount:
   • Higher age
   • Risky hobbies such as scuba diving, racing, potholing, etc
   • Unhealthy addictions like smoking & drinking
   • Risky professions
   • Chronic health problems

3. Assessing Your Requirements

   Before opting for life insurance, you must assess requirements, such as:

   • Deciding your life cover

     Some policyholders make the general mistake of choosing inappropriate life cover. So it is necessary to decide on appropriate life cover based on your financial needs.

   • Choosing the policy tenure

     Opting the right policy tenure based on your requirements helps to take appropriate benefit of the term insurance.

   • Picking a premium payout option

     An individual has to choose which type of payment option they will opt for. There are several payout options available such as lump sum or one-time payment, monthly payment, or a combination of both.

   • Selecting the payout option

     An individual has to select how the payout will be available to your beneficiary. They can either choose a lump sum payment, or a monthly payout to meet their monthly expenses.

   • Adding optional riders

     Additional riders help an individual enhance their coverage. Various riders include accidental death benefit riders, critical illness riders, etc.

4. Assigning a Nominee

   You must nominate the beneficiary who will get the death benefit after your demise. However, the policyholder should ideally choose a responsible person whom they can trust to fulfill their family's requirements.

5. Review the Premium

   Based on your data, the insurer reviews a premium. The insurer has to choose the beneficiary whom they can trust.

6. Making the premium payment

   After reviewing the quote the individual has to pay the premium amount. The insurance company provides you with the policy document.

What is Term Insurance Eligibility Criteria?

Let's take a look at the eligibility criteria required to buy a term plan in India:

Types Of Term Insurance

Term insurance provides a range of options to accommodate various needs and preferences. The following are examples of typical term insurance policies:

Who should buy Term Insurance plans?

Term insurance plans are popular among policy buyers because you can get cheaper coverage for a specified term. It is a pocket-friendly way to get higher life cover, whether you're a businessperson or a salaried employee. It works as a protection net against the uncertainties of life at any age.

Whether you're in your 20s, 30s, 40s, or even 50s, you can avail of a term insurance plan and get adequate coverage to fulfill future goals and financial protection of your family in your absence. However, it is advisable to buy a term plan at an early stage of life because you'll get cheaper premiums and coverage for a longer duration. Moreover, policyholders also get tax benefits under the Income Tax Act of 1961.

Conclusion

Term insurance is like having a partner on which you can depend financially, which will provide financial security to your loved ones in your absence. You can choose a term insurance plan wisely if you understand how does term insurance works, satisfy its requirements, and research the various types of term insurance offered. It is essential to do a little bit of researching and selecting a policy that fits your needs and situation perfectly.Therefore, buy term insurance timely and affordably to protect the future of your loved ones. Do spend some time learning about what term insurance is and how it works, determining whether you meet its requirements, and analyzing your options wisely. In this way, you'll be prepared to make a decision that truly has your family's interests at heart.