Benefits Of Getting A Life Insurance Policy

Money is the most important commodity needed for the survival of humanity. Without these resources, we would end up on the streets. Along with monetary resources, our lives are also precious. Some may be the sole breadwinners of their family. If that person ceases to exist, then the family members depending on him will be in turmoil. A sudden accident or financial crisis creates a void in our financial resources. Thereby creates many liabilities for the dependent family members like pending bills, EMIs, rent, and other expenses. To prevent such besetting circumstances, the Life Insurance Policy comes to your rescue. The insurance policy ensures the financial security of the insurers family in his absence.

Most of us are already mindful of this policy. As the name suggests, it is a financial protection cover for your family. The life insurance policy is an agreement with the insurance company that assures returns after the premium payment. You can use a return calculator to calculate these returns. Thus, the policyholder has to pay the premium amount for a fixed duration of time. Upon the policy’s maturity or when the insured person dies, the sum of money on the surviving policy term is made to the family. The money from the insurance policy is disbursed to the family members of the insurer for their sustenance.

Types Of Life Insurance Policies

Life insurance policies are divided into different categories. These categories are designed to meet the various needs of every individual. The various types of insurance schemes are given as follows.

1. Term Insurance

This is the most basic insurance plan that offers financial security to your family. The term insurance plans can be availed at affordable rates as the premium are cheap. They do not include any savings or profit component that can enable the benefits of getting higher returns. These insurance schemes cover the financial necessities of your family during your absence.

2. Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIP)

The ULIP merges the life insurance plan with financial investment. The applicants of this scheme can choose from a variety of options and portfolio strategies. They provide additional liquidity of withdrawing the funds after a lock-in period of 5 years. They disburse the assured sum upon the maturity of the term or in case of the sudden death of the insurer.

3. Endowment Plan

These are traditional insurance schemes that provide risk-free investment opportunities that act as an armour of safekeeping. These plans have low risks as they are not linked to the stock market. The endowment plan is accompanied by several bonuses that enhance the insurance sum upon attaining maturity. There are two types of bonuses offered on the plan. They are reversionary and terminal bonuses.

4. Savings Plan

The savings plans run dual functions. They provide the life insurance cover, thereby ensuring the applicant and also offer a means of investing their money. So, the corpus generated can be utilised to secure the financial needs of an individual and his family and meet other financial goals at different stages in life. The returns earned from any protection and savings plans are usually fixed. But some plans facilitate creating a regular source of income throughout the term of the insurance policy.

5. Whole Life Insurance Plan

This insurance plan provides coverage till the individual attains 99 years of age. These plans differ from other regular insurance schemes, which have a limited term of 10, 20, or 30 years. Such a plan has immense importance in the life of those individuals whose financial dependence on the scheme exceeds a long time.

6. Retirement And Pension Plan

The life insurance plan also has provisions for generating a retirement pension. There are various ways through which the insurer can generate his retirement corpus through the life insurance scheme. They could either invest a lump sum and earn huge returns after the term. The other way is to accumulate the funds according to the risk appetite.

7. Money back policy

The money-back policy is a form of the endowment plan. According to this policy, the company pays the insurance amount periodically over the entire policy term. Thus, a regular sum is paid out to the insurer during a period. At the end of the term, if the policyholder continues to live, he gets the balance amount assured. But if the policyholder dies during the policy term, his nominee will get the full amount that was assured.

Why Is The Policy Necessary?

1. Illness Protection

Health is wealth. But once a person ages towards retirement, his health deteriorates, and the life insurance policies become significant. Thus, the insurance policies that cover critical illnesses are of paramount importance. Some insurance scheme provides cover for various ailments like heart attacks, and other chronic diseases. Therefore, investing in insurance policies that offer such benefits is highly beneficial.

2. Family Support

If you are the sole breadwinner of the family, make sure you build a security net for your family. This safety net should ensure financial support to your family in your absence. If the family’s sole breadwinner passes away, then the sum from the insurance company will enable your family to lighten the hardships in your absence.

3. Savings Growth

Investing early in the insurance plans will help the insurer to fortify his savings. It can be achieved only when the individual has invested in an investment cum insurance scheme. The ULIP (Unit Linked Life Insurance Policy) is the best insurance scheme to enhance savings. They allow the policyholders to invest in both equity and debt-based markets. Besides, the insurer is also assured of tax deductions under the income tax act.

4. Debt

Many individuals avail of loans to meet various financial goals. Sometimes they may avail large loans to purchase houses, cars, and so on. If the person dies without paying off the debt, this will cause a serious financial burden to his family. In such circumstances, the corpus disbursed from the life insurance policy can be employed to pay off the insurer’s existing debt. Thus, the life insurance policy has various benefits associated with it.

How Do Insurance Policies Fulfill The Needs Of The Insurer?

Life insurance is a vitality of our lives that bridges the financial gaps. It nullifies the void created by crises, emergencies, and unexpected circumstances. The insurance policy assists the insurer during different walks of his life. Thus, the insurer should contemplate his needs and choose the right insurance plan for himself. Some of the circumstances are given as follows.

1. These Savings Can Fund The Education Of Every Child

In India, on average, parents spend approximately Rs.12 lakhs funding their education. Times are changing, and education is no longer available free of cost. The rise of top-tier schools, colleges, universities, tuition centres, and other college expenses has put pressure on the parent’s pockets. Thus, parents need to give the highest priority to the educational goals of their children. This means that they have to save for their educational aspirations. Child Insurance facilitates the parents to fulfil their need for educational savings. These policies are available in the form of Unit Linked Insurance Plans. Thus, the future of the children will be secure, and their educational needs will be fulfilled.

Let us look into an example. Consider a parent aged 40 years starts to save money for the education of his 15-year-old son. He invests Rs.1 lakh on an annual basis towards the children’s insurance plan. The insurance schemes guarantee an assured corpus return worth Rs.10 lakh. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the parent expires 5 years after starting the plan. Then the corpus of Rs.10 lakh will be disbursed to the child to meet his immediate educational requirements.

2. Financial Protection During Major Health Illnesses

A major portion of individual earnings is spent on medical bills and their health care. This amount accounts for 70% of the average Indian individuals’ income. If the insurer or the family’s sole earning member is down with an illness and cannot work, then the income earnings will come to a standstill. Although the person is undergoing treatment, his family’s financial needs will not halt. Thus, life insurance provides the necessary financial aid to the insurer and his family in such cases. The critical illness cover provided sufficient corpus during this period of the policyholder. The lump-sum is disbursed only on a diagnosis. This cover provides sufficient funds that enable the insurer to pay his medical bills and meet the household expenses.

Consider a working individual aged 38-years-old. He buys an insurance cover that has a critical illness cover worth Rs.10 lakh. The term of the cover is 15 years which involves a premium payment of Rs.7,000. Now suppose after 7 years of activation of the cover, the insurer suffers a major chronic illness that requires treatment of Rs.5 lakh. So, the insurance company will make the payment of Rs.5 lakh with 50% of the plan forwarded to the other ailments that may strike in the future. Thus, his cover persists at a value reduced by 50% of the original.

3. Retirement Planning

Individuals in the public sector often enjoy the benefits of pension post-retirement. But such opportunities are not available for the workers in the private sector. Therefore, they need to foresee the circumstances post-retirement and start working towards planning their retirement corpus. The retirement period is the most peaceful time for an individual. It is that time when every retiree is free from the pulls and pressures of the world. But life insurance schemes also provide retirement plans that guarantee a stable source of income for the retiree’s post-retirement. So that they can cherish their retirement period without any regrets; this will enable them to lead a life they always hoped for.

The retirement plans by the life insurance schemes offer a regular pension for the insurer and his spouse. The retirement corpus accumulated could be large if the individual had started early. Therefore, individuals should plan years before to make sure that they accumulate sufficient corpus by the time they retire.

Benefits Of Life Insurance

Having life insurance is the cushion to the worst financial crises that can strike us. It comes with a lot of benefits. Let’s discuss the benefits associated with having a life insurance policy.

• Tax Benefits.
• Return on Investment.
• Loan options
• Life Risk Cover.
• Death benefits.
• Life Stage Planning.
• Assured Income Benefits.
• Riders
• Wealth creation.
• Security of business.

1. Tax Benefits

The investment amount for life insurance is bounded to rebate under the Income Tax Act. According to section 80C of the act, the tax liability can reimburse. The amount available for reimbursement under the section is Rs.1 lakh. This amount can be invested in life insurance premiums, pension superannuation funds, employee provident fund, equity-linked mutual funds schemes, National Savings Certificate, and public provident funds. Thus, tax benefits have attracted the policyholders to avail of these facilities.

2. Return On Investment

The returns on insurance policies are way better than those offered by any other investment scheme. The insurance policies often offer bonuses on the insurance amount. These bonuses contribute to the returns that the company generates. The insurance money is paid in a monthly premium amount. The money invested in insurance is safe and risk-free. Thus, the full amount will generate good returns and will be returned to the insurer after the policy matures, or it will be returned to the nominees after his demise. Therefore, the invested amount will be securely transferred to the insurer with the bonus.

3. Loan Availability

Through the insurance policies, the policyholder has the added advantage of availing of policy loans. If an insurer requires money desperately, then he can approach the company for a loan. According to the policy provisions, the company will sanction a loan on par with the invested amount or the returns assured under the scheme.

4. Life Risk Cover

Life insurance provides great relief to the insurer as it can be disbursed during any financial crisis. It provides ultimate peace to the insurer and his family as they already have a safety net prepared during the black days. Therefore, financial security is provided to the insurer and his family from unanticipated situations. This is an important feature of the insurance policy that guarantees a risk-free life to the policyholders.

5. Death Benefits

Sometimes, due to unforeseen circumstances, the insurer may lose his life. This means the termination of the source of income for the family. Then the insurance company provides compensation to the family of the deceased called the death benefit. The nominee who the policyholder appointed during the application is liable to get the entire insurance money. The full sum of money is assured, along with interest earned during the entire period of maturity. Besides death benefits, life insurance also provides monthly income. The monthly payment facility is of immense importance for those individuals who are expected to retire or already retired. Numerous insurance companies provide policies with varying rates. Thus, individuals should avail themselves of the right policy through the appropriate providers.

6. Life Stage Planning

Life insurance is a long-term investment that assists the insurer to plan in his life. Thus, any individual can plan his financial goals according to his convenience. The insurance policies offer financial sustenance to the family of the insurer in case of his sudden death. Besides this, it also facilities the insurer to meet his and his family’s goals. Such as children’s educational needs, their marriage, purchasing the dream car, building the dream house, and leading a happy retired life.

7. Assured Income Benefits

The returns from the insurance policy ensure a stable source of income for the insurer and his family. Thus, the insurer and his family can lead a comfortable life as the insurance amount will suffice the bill payments, education fees, monthly expenses of the family, and other payments. The amount disbursed after the maturity of the insurance term compensated for the income loss with the discontinuation of the source of income.

8. Riders

The riders are surplus benefits that are combined with the basic insurance policy. The added advantage of riders increases the insurance coverage of the insurer. They provide comprehensive protection that is more than the risks covered by the insurance cover alone. The riders cover realistic life-oriented issues like medical ailments, treatments, personal accidents, and so on. These expenses may not be entirely covered by the insurance corpus alone. For example, if the insurer avails of the accidental death rider, that can get tax deductions. These deductions are possible under section 80C on the premium payment. For critical illnesses, the deductions can be claimed under section 80D.

9. Wealth Creation

Life insurance schemes are lucrative opportunities to boost the financial level of any individual. As these policies offer great bonuses on the monthly premium payment, they are potential sources of amassing wealth. Besides wealth creation, other investment classes deliver great performances in beating inflation and enabling the growth of insurance corpus. For instance, if an individual pays a monthly premium of Rs.20,000 per month for 20 years, then after the term, he will get returns worth Rs.65.39 lakh at a 4% annual return.

10. Security Of Business

Sometimes the policyholder may be running a business with his partner. If he dies, then his partner can claim the insurance amount and purchase a share of the deceased insurer. Therefore, the partner would have to notify the insurance company about it. So, he has to sign a contract with the company. After this documentation, the partner’s pay-out by selling the shares of the deceased partner will have to return to the nominee appointed by the policyholder. In this case, the nominee or any other eligible candidates like the children of the policyholder are not entitled to receive the stakes in the company.

How To Choose The Right Life Insurance Plan?

To select the best life insurance scheme for yourself and your family, make sure to keep the following points in mind.

• Calculate your annual earnings. Make sure that the insurance cover is at least 10-20% of your annual income.
• Along with life insurance, make sure that the insurance company also offers several amenities with the policy. These benefits include accident covers and critical illness covers.
• Make sure that your insurance plan provides a regular income to you and your family after your death.
• Factors like the settlement ratio of the insurer and the ease of buying the policy are more important than a low premium payment.
• Check the policy details provided by the insurance company. Avail of the insurance scheme from a reputed company that has a good history.

Which Is The Best Life Insurance?

Various insurance companies are providing different schemes in the financial market. As per the individual choices and preferences, he can avail of these schemes. Individuals who wish to take the risk should invest their money in the Unit Linked Insurance Plan. Others who only intend to provide a protection cover to their family can invest in a term insurance policy. Here are some of the additional benefits that should be associated with the insurance policy.

1. Critical Illness Benefits

This is an additional feature associated with most insurance policies. It enables the insurer to gain monetary benefits during severe health crises like heart attacks or cancers. These benefits assist the insurers big-time along the line as they do not replenish the assets in his pocket. A fixed amount is provided to the insurers irrespective of their medical expenditures. This means that the insurer need not provide any bills or other proofs for medical insurance. The best part will not be demanded back from the insurer even if he overcomes the illness.

2. Personal Accident Benefit

Individuals are prone to several accidents. Thus, the personal accident benefit pays the additional amount if the policyholder dies in the accident. So, the family members will receive the assured sum from the company and an additional amount if the policyholder dies in the accident.

3. Steady Income After Death

If the only earning member of the family dies, it is challenging for the family to manage the finances. Thus, life insurance provides a stable source of income in these tough times. This feature can be availed of instead of paying a lump sum which is often difficult to manage.

What Are The Benefits Of Purchasing A Life Insurance Policy Online?

There are several advantages if the insurer purchases the insurance plan online. These are as follows.

• The insurance plans bought online may have discounts. Thus, online purchases are cost-effective.
• The insurance can be easily bought at the click of a button.
• The insurance plans can be easily customized online according to the needs of the applicant.
• The insurance company also provides customer support 24×7.

What Are The Various Payout Options Available With The Plans?

There are several payout options available that cater to the needs of every policyholder. You should also know in detail how you can claim a life insurance. The four types of payout modes are given as follows.

1. Lump-Sum

According to this mode of payment, the entire insurance corpus is disbursed at a time. After the policyholder’s demise, the life cover is paid as a fixed amount to the nominee.

2. Income

Through this mode, the payout is done in equal monthly instalments. Thus, the family’s monthly financial requirements are fulfilled and taken care of.

3. Increasing Income

The company disburses the funds monthly in instalments for 10 years. Thus, the nominee will receive an increase of 10% per annum every year. The nominee will receive an additional life cover of 45% through this payout mode.

4. Lump-Sum Plus Income

The insurance amount can be paid in two parts. The amount can be disbursed in both lump sum and monthly instalments. Thus, half the amount can be received in a lump sum manner, and the other part can be received in equal monthly instalments.

FAQs

Conclusion

Human life is fragile. Accidents and mishaps are the contingencies that force us to plan. Many times, people neglect the importance of life insurance as a redundant saving. They ignore this fact until a sudden disaster comes crashing into their lives. Life is unpredictable, and we should be smart to make good decisions. Preparation is the key to safeguarding your family’s future. Life insurance policies achieve this milestone. They provide financial protection and security to you and your family. It is an important tool that ensures the safety and the security of ones’ family in his absence. Life insurance is an absolute necessity today. The individuals insured through insurance are helped in various aspects of their lives.

In this article, we have seen the different aspects of a family facilitated through insurance schemes. The benefits associated with the insurance plans are tremendous. Apart from good returns, these schemes also ensure tax benefits. The insurance cum investment plans fortify the savings and provide coverage against liabilities. Riders provide additional covers for illness and retirement that are hard to resist. Moreover, several other compulsive offers can be availed by individuals through life insurance plans.