What is Life Insurance?

Life, as we know it, is essentially divided into four stages. In a similar fashion, a life insurance policy will also have its phases and each phase will have its own prerequisites and features.

Mentioned below are the essential stages of life insurance policies that in turn coincide with the stage of life an individual is in.

1. No Insurance for Early Life: In the absolute nascent stage of our lives, we are the ones who depend on elders, and hence are known as dependants. The primary reason for people to invest in a life insurance policy is to protect their loved ones in case there is an emergency or an unforeseen event occurring in the future. At a fairly young age, children do not need life insurance policies as they are the ones who act as dependants. However, parents have the choice to invest in a plan for their children, which will typically aim at generating funds for the child’s education.
2. Insurance for Young Adulthood: This phase of life insurance typically begins when you complete your basic education and want to continue studying. You might want to move to another city/country, take up a part-time job, or simply travel. At this stage you have limited responsibilities and your focus is on your own life. Therefore, investing in a minimal life insurance policy is a reasonable choice at this point in time. However, this stage can also be considered as the time when you invest in assets on a long-term basis, for example, a car. This particular phase typically lasts till one reaches the age of 25.
3. Insurance for Old Adulthood: This phase is usually the time when people think of settling down and having a family. Therefore, a more elaborate and comprehensive cover is what people opt for. This is also the time when people start investing generously for a secure future. Some may choose to buy a term insurance whereas others might choose to stick to a standard life insurance policy. Whatever the case may be, buying a policy at this stage is imperative.
4. Insurance for Old Age: This is the time when individuals usually find themselves with increased disposable income, since most of their loans have been paid off. And with reduced responsibilities, it is a good plan to invest in a limited life insurance cover. People at this stage can also opt for a comprehensive retirement plan so that a lack of financial security does not become a burden in the future.

Few tools are as effective for long-term financial planning as life insurance. However, in order to ensure the incorporation of a life insurance policy into your portfolio, it is crucial to understand the manner in which life insurance works and when payouts can be claimed.

Life insurance works in a fairly simple manner. Customers will have to make premium payments to the insurance company at regular intervals of time, and in exchange, the company will guarantee the policyholder with a lump sum pay out to his / her beneficiaries in case of his / her untimely death. The premium payments made to the company will accumulate over a period of time and provide bonuses as well.

Benefits under a life insurance policy are usually paid out to the nominee or beneficiary upon the death of the policyholder. To receive the sum assured, the nominee will have to file a death claim with the insurance company for which he / she will have to furnish a copy of the policyholder’s death certificate in addition to any other documents as required by the insurance company. Most insurance providers take around 30 days to review the claim before deciding to make a payment or denying the claim. It takes between 30 and 60 days for an insurance company to settle the claim with a nominee or beneficiary of a policyholder. While there is no specified time frame, most insurance companies try to settle claims as early as possible because it helps them avoid high interest fees for delay in payment of claims.

While most claims are paid out without much concern, there may be situations that cause the insurance company to delay the payment of your claims. For instance, in case the policyholder dies within the first two years following the purchase of a life insurance policy, the nominee or beneficiary may have to wait for a period of between six and 12 months before receiving the payment because the policy may contain a contestability clause due to which the insurance company will have to investigate the original application and confirm there was no fraud committed. A number of life insurance policies also come with a suicide clause that enables the insurance provider to reject claims in case the policyholder commits suicide within two years of taking out a life insurance policy.

Since all life insurance policies pay out a lump sum amount to the beneficiaries or nominees upon the death of the policyholder, it is essential for the nominee or beneficiary to contact the life insurance policy immediately after the death of the policyholder and commence the claims process as soon as possible. A certified copy of the policyholder’s death certificate must be obtained and submitted to the insurance company along with the original policy document and any other document requested by the insurer.

Over the past 20 years or so, an increasing number of life insurance companies have designed and made available policies that enable their policyholders to withdraw money against the policy’s face value. In case you are critically or terminally ill and need funds to meet emergency expenses, you may avail a loan or withdraw money against your insurance policy by simply submitting the necessary documents to the insurance company along with a letter that states the reason for your withdrawal.

The most important thing to do before taking out a life insurance policy is to evaluate and understand your insurance requirements. The following are the points you will have to consider before purchasing a life insurance policy:

• Debt: Regardless of what kind of debt you may have, be it loans, credit cards, mortgages, or car loans, they have to be repaid in full before you can apply for a life insurance policy. . In case you have a mortgage worth, Rs.20 lakh and a car loan worth Rs.2 lakh, you will have to have a minimum of Rs.22 lakh in your policy for the coverage of your debts.
• Income replacement: The terms and conditions of your life insurance policy will depend largely on income replacement. For instance, in case you are the sole provider for your dependents with an annual salary of Rs.10 lakh, you will require a policy payout that is not only sufficient to substitute your income, but also slightly additional to guard against inflation.
• Future commitments: In case you wish to pay for the education of your children or their marriage, an estimate of the costs will have to be created so that they can be added to the amount of coverage you wish to avail. For instance, if your annual income is Rs.10 lacs and you have a mortgage of Rs.40 lacs, and also wish to send your child to university for Rs.20 lacs, the ideal coverage in this case would be around Rs.1.4 crores as you will require around Rs.1 crore to replace your annual income, Rs.40 lacs for the education expenses and Rs.20 lacs for your mortgage expenses. After the face value has been ascertained by your insurance provider, you may start looking around for a policy that will best suit your requirements.
• Insuring family members: There are bound to be other people who you would like to insure. It is advised that you only insure individuals whose death would translate into a financial loss for you. For instance, a child’s death may be an emotionally turbulent affair, but it does not leave you with a financial loss. On the other hand, an income-earning member’s death will not only affect you emotionally, but also financially. In such cases, income replacement strategies can be incorporated to help you determine whom to insure and for how much.

Even before the era of online premiums calculators existed, people did feel the need to analyse their life insurance requirements and wanted to know how much is just enough for them and their family members. This was done through the assistance of financial advisors and experts who used to sit down with the policyholders and used to help them calculate their life insurance requirements and needs. This activity basically includes two things:

• The advisor will essentially add up the existing debts that you have along with your monthly (daily) expenses and income. The result will then be multiplied with the number of years that your family will require financial support for. You can also add any additional expenses that you are expecting, like a marriage in the family or your child’s higher education in a different country.
• The advisor will then minus your current existing assets, including the value of any existing life insurance policy that you may have. This will also include any future assets, for example social security benefits.

The remainder that you have at the end of the calculation is essentially the amount of coverage that you need for your family. This is the amount that should ideally be your death benefit. The period of time that your family will need the coverage for is known as policy term. Policyholders are free to choose from a wide array of policy terms made available by insurance providers.

The general thumb rule of life insurance is always selecting a coverage that is ten times more than your current annual salary. However, circumstances and financial requirements vary from one individual to another. What one person needs as a coverage might not suffice for you. Therefore, it is important to carefully calculate your financial expenses in the future before purchasing a comprehensive life insurance policy.

Since life can be uncertain, it is essential to have a proper savings plan in place in order to deal with unforeseen circumstances and emergency expenses. One of the best ways through which you can plan your savings while also ensuring that you and your loved ones are financially secure.

There is no particular time that can be considered as the ‘right time’ to purchase life insurance as it depends on individual requirements and circumstances. The market has a number of options with varying terms and implications, and the key to picking the right policy lies in research and comparison. If you find the right policy at the right age, the benefits you reap when you most require it can be truly helpful. It is also important to consider such factors as future plans, dependents, income, etc. in order to make an informed decision about the policy term, the premium and the cover.

• Purchasing a life insurance policy in your twenties: Purchasing life insurance in your twenties can be an inexpensive and relatively easy affair as most life insurance providers take in to consideration the fact that you can make premium payments for several years after availing the policy. In strict statistical terms, they are at relatively low risk to pay out. Moreover, most people in their twenties are at a stage where they have just commenced their professional life, and, as a result, are debt free in comparison with older age groups. Therefore, life insurance companies prefer younger applicants as it helps in planning their savings and future at relatively low risk to the company.
• Purchasing a life insurance policy in your thirties: During your thirties, you are likely to have a family of your own. While your income increases, so will your need to ensure your family’s security and financial protection for your assets. In case you are purchasing a life insurance policy in your thirties, the first and foremost point of consideration should be given to your family’s future requirements. Most insurance agents and market experts recommend a policy that is 10x your yearly salary to safeguard your assets and children.
• Purchasing a life insurance policy in your forties: During your forties, investments must be made after considering factors like your retirement plans, your children’s higher education and care of aging parents. A long-term policy is recommended at this stage as it will ensure that your dependents will be covered for a significant period of time and you will also have enough time to clear your loans and mortgages. A permanent insurance policy is the best option as it offers cash accumulation as well as financial protection.
• Purchasing a life insurance policy in your fifties: Most people in their fifties do not really require an insurance policy as they will have likely cleared most of their debts and their children will quite possibly have completed their education too. However, permanent life insurance plans are a great option to consider at this stage as they can come in handy if you plan to create an inheritance for your children. Keep in mind that life insurance at this point of your life will be relatively expensive due to enhanced health risks related to old age.

Purchasing life insurance need not necessarily make sense for all individuals. In case you do not have any dependents, and possess adequate assets to cover all costs related to your death, such as lawyer fees, funeral expenses, etc., then you need not take out an insurance policy. Life insurance is also not necessary in case you have dependents but also have adequate assets to cover them in case of your unfortunate and untimely death.

However, in case you are the main provider of your family and also have debts that are significantly larger than your assets, insurance will work out beneficial for you. Taking out life insurance will ensure that your dependents are covered in case of your death. While many individuals consider life insurance as a form of investment, it does not offer too many attractive benefits when compared with other conventional investment instruments.

Some kinds of life insurance policies are considered as instruments for investing funds for retirement or savings, and are known as cash-value policies, and they are basically policies that help in building up a pool of money that accrues interest, and a percentage of the money will be paid out to you upon the maturity of your policy.

Cash-value policies are the preferred selling instruments for insurance companies and they hire agents who aggressively promote these policies in exchange for commission. In case you wish to surrender a cash-value policy, insurance providers recommend that you avail a loan from your savings to continue making premium payments. While this solution seems easy, you will incur costs due to the loan as interest payments will have to be made to the insurance provider for the money you have borrowed.

Term insurance, on the other hand, allows you to purchase a policy that will pay out a predetermined amount of money in case of your unfortunate demise during the policy term. However, no amount will be paid in case you are alive when the policy term coms to an end. The reason this product was designed in such a manner is to ensure that your assets make you self-insured over a period of time.

However, convertible and renewable term insurance policies are the best options regardless of your debts, income, lifestyle, etc. The coverage offered by them is similar to that offered by cash-value policies and they are also comparatively cheaper.

If your term life insurance policy has a renewable clause, it means that you will be allowed to renew your policy at a predetermined rate without the need to undergo a medical examination. In essence, in case you have been diagnosed with a serious illness when the policy has expired, the policy can be renewed at a competitive rate. Convertible insurance policies offer the opportunity to convert the policy’s face value into a cash-value plan provided by your insurance company when you attain 65 years of age and do not have the financial security to do without insurance. A comprehensive research and comparison of policies will help you better understand which plans best suits your personal requirements and how much coverage you will require.

Purchasing a life insurance policy is considered essential nowadays because it ensures that your dependents will have the financial resources to cope with their daily expenses in case of your unfortunate and untimely death. While life insurance is not necessary for every individual, it definitely plays a crucial role in ensuring the financial security of the family of an income-earning individual, and it becomes all the more important for individuals who are the sole earners in their families.

Insurance can also come in handy for individuals who wish to repay personal loans or home loans, or those who have children that require funds for marriage or higher education. In essence, life insurance policies serve as contingency plans that ensure that your nominees or family members will remain financially stable in case of your demise as the insurance company will pay them a lump sum amount. Based on the kind of policy you purchase, you can also avail a healthy savings-cum-investment instrument that will qualify you for tax benefits as well.

Thanks to advancements in technology, you can now compare life insurance policies from the comfort of your home. All you need is a computer and an internet connection in addition to a payment account such as a debit or credit card. But before you choose a policy and pay for it, it is essential that you do your homework and ensure that the policy is select has all the features and benefits that will come to good use in the future. Following is a brief description of the various policies at your disposal and the important points that must be considered before selecting a life insurance plan:

1. Term Life Insurance Plans: Term insurance policies are usually basic plans that are designed to provide financial cover to the dependents of a policyholder in case of the untimely death of the insured individual. However, term plans do not offer a payout in case the policyholder is alive on the date of maturity. Moreover, the premium payments are also retained by the insurance provider, meaning that benefits will only be paid out in case the insured individual dies. If you want to protect your family’s financial interests above everything else and do not mind if you do not receive a payment at the end of the contract, a term insurance plan is perfect for you.
2. Whole Life Insurance Plans: Whole life insurance policies cover the life risk of an individual for the entirety of his / her life. In case of the death of the insured individual, the insurance company will pay a lump sum amount to the family or nominees.The premium payments associated with whole life insurance policies are relatively high, but these policies offer maturity benefits as well as death benefits. However, the maturity benefits might not be the regular lump sum payments that are usually paid out on the date the contract expires. Instead, these policies offer a benefits when the policyholder reaches a certain age (generally between 80 and 100).
3. Endowment Plans: Endowment plans work as insurance-cum-investment instruments that pay out the sum assured to the nominees or beneficiaries of the policyholder in case of the untimely death of the insured individual. The main difference between an endowment plan and a term life plan is that the former offers death benefits as well as maturity benefits. In case the insured individual is alive when the policy term comes to a close, the premiums paid by the individual will be returned on the date of maturity along with a proportion of the total premium payments which acts as a return on your investment.
4. Money Back Plans: Money Back Plans are considered among the best and most effective insurance solutions as they offer a periodic payment to the insured individual as soon as the initial premium payment is made. In case of the untimely death of the insured individual, the beneficiaries / nominees will be eligible for the death benefits which usually comprise of the total sum assured. In case the insured individual is alive on the date of maturity of the life insurance policy, the insurance company will pay out the total premiums made by the policyholder in addition to an extra payment or bonus which serves as a return on their investment.
5. Unit-Linked Insurance Plans: Unit-linked insurance policies are investment-cum-insurance plans that are unit-linked and participatory in nature. These plans pay out a predetermined lump sum amount to the beneficiaries / nominees of an insured individual in case of the untimely death of the policyholder. Although the premium payments related to unit-linked insurance policies are relatively high, they do offer maturity benefits in case the insured individual survives the entirety of the policy term.
6. Pension / Annuity Plans: Pension or Annuity life insurance policies are non-participating, traditional plans wherein the policyholder can pay a lump sum amount to purchase an annuity. The annuity will be in the form of payouts that the insured individual can opt to receive over regular intervals of time. These plans are ideal for retired individuals or individuals who are approaching retirement age as it offers liquidity as well as life cover in the shape of a steady income stream. Unlike other kinds of insurance, the benefits provided by pension / annuity plans can be availed when the policy term is still in progress.

Life insurance policies are often considered incomplete without riders. While term life insurance policies are the most popular kind of insurance purchased by Indian individuals, they have been designed in a manner such that they offer maximum protection to the family of the policyholder in case of his/her untimely death. However, additional financial cover can be obtained through a life insurance policy by incorporating riders into them.

Riders are basically additional features that enhance the value of a life insurance policy while providing extra benefits that are not covered by the original policy document. Availing a rider along with an insurance policy may slightly increase the premium amount depending upon the kind of raider you have purchased. If you are looking to choose an optional rider to increase your insurance cover, it is essential to understand each rider and what kind of benefits it offers.

Following are the most popular riders that can be availed in addition to your life insurance policy:

1. Critical Illness:

   A Critical Illness rider can prove very beneficial as it not only ensures that you have financial support when it comes to paying your medical bills, but also provides access to quality medical attention, thereby ensuring that treatments are not ignored or delayed owing to lack of finances.

   A Critical Illness rider usually covers medical expenses related to illnesses such as stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, paralysis and cancer among other illnesses. In case you purchase this rider, you can breathe relatively easy in times of ill health, knowing fully well that your insurance policy will cover your medical expenses and that your family will not have to worry about the finances in addition to dealing with the emotional trauma. Individuals who purchase the Critical Illness rider will receive a predetermined lump sum amount the moment they are diagnosed by any of the aforementioned conditions or the conditions mentioned in the terms and conditions section of the policy document.

2. Partial and Permanent Disability:

   Given the uncertainty of life, an incident or accident has the potential to render an individual disabled. In case of disability, the individual is impaired to the extent that he / she cannot work and earn the income they require to support their family, thereby affecting the lifestyles of both, the individual as well as his dependents. In such cases, the individual will require an alternate source of income to ensure the healthy functioning of his / her family. A Partial and Permanent Disability rider is the best bet in such cases as it provides staggered payments to the individual in case he / she has met with an accident due to which they are disabled and unable to work. These payments are generally a certain percentage of the total sum assured (10% or more in most cases), and ensure that you can meet your financial requirements even if you are partially or permanently disabled.

3. Accidental Death:

   The Accidental Death rider is an ideal option for those who intend on ensuring that their families have adequate financial resources in case of their untimely and accidental death. In addition to considerably high medical costs, the number of unfulfilled financial liabilities are also usually high in case of an individual’s accidental death, making it very difficult for his / her family to cope with the financial requirements.

   An Accidental Death rider comes in very handy in such situations as it will ensure that the individual’s family will receive an additional payment in case the policyholder dies from an accident. Although the basic sum assured will be paid out to the nominees upon the death of a policyholder, the Accidental Death rider provides the family with extra funds to ensure that they can manage all their expenses, thereby making it less stressful to deal with the loss of a loved one.

4. Waiver of Premium:

   In case you fail to make a premium payment on time, you will receive a notification from the company to ensure that all due premiums have been paid within a predetermined grace period. Failure to make premium payments within the stipulated time period often results in a situation wherein the policy is considered lapsed. As a result, the policy will no longer be active and you will not be eligible for the benefits upon maturity of contract. There could be a number of reasons as to why an individual may not be able to make premium payments, but regardless, the policy will be rendered useless. In such a case, the rider called Waiver of Premium can come in handy.

   Even if you cannot make premium payments for a certain period of time, be it because of disability or unemployment, purchasing a Waiver of Premium rider will ensure that your policy does not lapse so that you can enjoy all the benefits upon maturity as initially agreed. The rider will allow your premium payments to be waived off but the policy will continue as per the initial agreement.

5. Income Benefit Rider:

   The demise of a sole-earning member of any family can be a devastating loss and make it hard for the dependents to carry on with their lives in the same manner as before. If you have a family whose financial requirements are met solely by your income, it is essential to ensure that they have a regular source of income in case you are no longer able to provide for them. The Income Benefit rider is perfect for individuals who wish to ensure that their family’s lifestyle remains unaffected in case of their untimely death. As the name suggests, the Income Benefit rider provides regular income to the family of a deceased policyholder, and the amount payable to the nominees through such a rider is usually a percentage of the total sum assured. Purchasing this rider will ensure that your family will be financially secure and have lesser concerns to deal with in case of your untimely death.

Why Compare Life Insurance Plans Online?

The importance of comparing life insurance policies before purchasing one cannot be stressed on enough. Following are a few simple reasons as to why it is absolutely necessary for you to compare life insurance plans online:

• Simplicity: Although life insurance plans are relatively easy to understand, comparing different policies will make it simpler to understand the benefits offered by various policies and how exactly they can be of good use to you. Moreover, there are such concepts as cash value and division of premium payments which are rather hard for the average individual to understand. Comparing different policies will make it easier to understand these concepts as you can put different features of different policies together to figure out which policy works best for you.
• Pricing: If you decide on the kind of policy you wish to purchase and proceed to actually buy it without comparing it with any other similar policy, there is a good chance that at a later date, you will find another plan that offers better benefits than the one you purchased, and that too for a lower price. Comparing different policies will make it easier to find out which policy offers what kinds of benefits and how much it costs, thereby helping you make an informed purchasing decision.
• Flexibility: Since all life insurance policies are different in the sense that they offer different benefits and features at varying prices, it is important to find a flexible policy. It is important to note that not all policies allow you to make changes to your terms and conditions once the policy term has commenced, but doing your homework before purchasing a life insurance policy can help you pick one that will meet your long-term criteria. For instance, almost all policies lapse after a certain point following the policyholder’s default on premium payments. However, comparing policies can help you find those that offer all the benefits you wish to receive while offering you the option of using riders such as Waiver of Premium. Also, comparison can help you find the best convertible and renewable policies so that your long-term goals are on track.
• Tax benefits: While insurance policies offer tax benefits in the form of exemptions, it is important to understand what kind of benefits you are eligible for. Moreover, some policies yield tax-free income, and comparing different policies can help you avail maximum benefits.
• Lower premiums: Since the premium payments for each life insurance policies is based on a set of factors, comparing different policies will help you identify those that offer the same benefits as other policies but charge a comparatively lower premium. For instance, you may purchase a term insurance policy of 20 years with the sum assured being Rs.10 lacs and the yearly premium set at Rs.3,000, but if you wish to purchase an endowment policy with the same death benefit, your premium payment could be in excess of Rs.30,000 per year, thus making it essential to compare different policies to find the one that best suits your insurance needs.

When life insurance companies calculate the premium for each individual, there are certain factors that are taken into consideration. Since life insurance is a form of investment, even low premiums have the potential to yield relatively high returns over a period of time. However, availing a life insurance policy with a low premium may not always be possible as you will have to meet some requirements as laid down by the insurer. With that said, some individuals tend to avail similar life insurance policies as others at significantly low costs. The reason for this is that these individuals have made the right life choices that have enabled to avail lower premiums.

Following are the factors that are taken into consideration by life insurance companies for the calculation of premiums:

1. Age: Age is a critical factor when it comes to determining premium rates. Younger applicants are likely to receive lower premiums while older individuals may have to pay a relatively high amount. The reason being, life insurance companies believe that younger people are less likely to contract terminal illnesses or die during the policy term. Older people, on the other hand, are at a greater risk of contracting major diseases or die during the policy term. Hence, the risk undertaken by a life insurance company is considerably lower in case of young adults, and much higher for old individuals, thereby resulting in differing premium payments for each set of individuals.
2. Gender: Although most life insurance companies do not discriminate between genders, they do believe that the life expectancy for different genders is different. Statistical studies and findings have shown that women live five years more in comparison with men, thus affecting their premium payments. Most insurance companies offer lower rates for women so far as premium payments are concerned.
3. Health records: Most life insurance companies undertake a thorough research of their applicants before offering them an insurance policies. Individuals who apply for a life insurance policy will have to provide their health records so that the company can confirm that the individual has no chronic illnesses or potential health problems that might increase their risk. Individuals with clean health records are bound to avail lower premium rates while those with health problems will have to pay slightly more.
4. Medical history: The medical history of an individual has the potential to increase or decrease their premium payments. If you have no medical history of life-threatening diseases such as cancer, then you can expect a lower premium payment rate. However, individuals whose medical records show that they are prone to contract these hereditary problems will have to pay a relatively high rate of premium.
5. Smoking: Smoking is a habit that is not only dangerous, but also puts you at risk of contracting serious diseases in the future. As a result, life insurance companies are sceptical about undertaking the risk of insuring smokers. However, smokers can still avail life insurance policies despite their habit, but the premium payments that will be applicable to them are usually at least twice as much as non-smokers would pay.
6. Drinking: Consumption of alcohol is not only injurious to health in the sense that it leaves you open to potentially fatal problems in the future, but it can also affect your premium rates to a considerable extent. Alcoholics are bound to pay relatively high premiums while non-drinkers can avail life insurance policies for considerably good terms. It is for this reason why insurance companies ask you in advance if you smoke or drink.
7. Type of policy: The kind of policy you select can also affect your premium payments. The longer the policy term, the higher the maturity and death benefits. Hence, policies with longer tenures will be offered at a higher premium than short-term policies.
8. Profession: Individuals who work in dangerous professions such as fisheries, oil and gas, mining, etc., are at a higher risk of dying or contracting potentially fatal diseases. Hence, the risk undertaken by an insurance company to cover such individuals is comparatively higher than that undertaken to insure an individual who works in a bank. Therefore, individuals who ply their trade in dangerous professions are likely to face higher premiums.
9. Lifestyle choices: Individuals who live on the metaphorical edge are likely to pay higher premiums. Insurance companies take note of individuals who take risks such as climbing mountains, driving fast cars, etc., as these individuals are more likely to be a liability to them than the average customer, thereby charging them a higher premium.
10. Obesity: Obesity is related to health conditions such as Osteoarthritis, coronary heart disease, cancer, blood pressure, stroke, etc. that can lead to further complications. As a result, obese individuals are charged higher premium because they are a higher risk to the insurance company.

Once the insurance company has taken the aforementioned factors into consideration, it will determine the amount of premium applicable to an individual, making it essential for you to ensure that you lead a healthy lifestyle and make the right choices in order to avail the best possible rates.

The premium charged on your life insurance policy is the amount of money levied by insurance providers for coverage. The premium charged by each company may vary, making it important for you to compare different policies to find the one that best suits your requirements. However, there may be times when the quote for a premium may differ from the premium that is actually charged as it will depend on the manner in which the premium is computed.

Mathematical calculations and statistics done by the insurance providers underwriting department will determine the premium charged to an individual. In most cases, the statistical data regarding the health, age and life history of an individual are taken into consideration when computing the premium. For instance, a youngster driving a fancy sports car will likely have to pay a higher insurance premium in consideration with a middle-aged individual who drives a sedan. The underwriting process is applicable to all individuals who wish to avail life insurance, and it entails investigation of filial illnesses, analysis of reports such as motor vehicle reports and medical information bureau.

Once the underwriting department of your insurance provider has gathered all your information and analysed it, an actuary will scrutinise it further to determine your risk to the insurance company. The actuary will also forecast how likely you are to make a claim on your policy, and the higher your chances of making a claim, the higher your premium payment will be.The actuary will also peruse mathematical information after which he / she will compile ‘mortality and sickness’ tables based on which potential losses you will incur due to illnesses and death will be noted. There tables are used by actuaries to create models that ascertain how likely an individual is to contract illnesses or die. The premium charged to you will be determined by these results.

Nowadays, when you want to make your premium payments for your life insurance plan, you can do it online conveniently. The different online premium payment options include net banking, debit card, credit card, mobile banking, etc. You can also go for automatic payment options where your premium amounts will be deducted from your account directly on a quarterly, half-yearly, monthly, or annual basis depending on the premium payment mode that you choose. The payment options include eCMS, NEFT, Electronic Clearing Service (ECS), Standing Instructions (SI) mandate, Auto debit facility offered by RBI, etc. These online payment options will depend on the life insurance provider that you choose. You can make these payments by logging into the official website of the company or by visiting your bank’s internet banking portal.

Life Insurance Policy Cancellation:

There could be several reasons as to why you may want to cancel your life insurance policy. It could be because you no longer possess the money to make premium payments. It could be because you have a dire need to cash out the policy. It could be for any reason, but regardless of the reason, it is relatively easy to cancel your life insurance policy. Following are a few tips on how to cancel your insurance policy:

• Visit the website of the company from which you purchased a life insurance policy: Regardless of whether you have purchased a policy from a regional or large national insurance provider, visit their website to check their cancellation policy. The website of the company can be found on any correspondence piece that you have received from the insurer. You can also run an internet search for the website by typing your insurance providers name.
• Contact a broker: Prior to the cancellation of the life insurance policy, it is advised that you establish contact with an experienced broker and clarify whether or not you are making the right decision. Even if you are convinced about cancelling the policy, it is best to talk about it to an expert as it will help you better understand whether or not you are doing the right thing by cancelling your policy. Individuals who have no brokers can contact their life insurance company and request for one.
• Contact an accountant: Cancellation of life insurance policies can leave the door open for tax implications. Earnings and excess premiums help in building up the cash value for universal and whole life policies. When a policy is cancelled, a cheque for the specific amount is cut by your insurance company, and this amount may or may not qualify for tax deductions. It is therefore essential to contact a seasoned tax professional as he / she will have answers to all the questions you may have about the tax implications associated with the cancellation of a life insurance policy.
• Consider partial withdrawal policies: Individuals who have purchased universal life insurance policies are usually allowed to withdraw a partial amount from their policy without the need to completely cancel their policies. Partially withdrawing funds from your policy will free up some funds that can be used immediately, and, at the same time, will still leave some funds in the policy so that your family members / nominees are covered in case of your untimely death. However, partial withdrawal is somewhat similar to taking a loan against your life insurance policy, and it can have consequences, making it instrumental for you to consult a broker before considering partial withdrawal. For instance, some policies lower the death benefit when you opt for partial withdrawal and you will not be allowed to repay the amount withdrawn in an effort to raise the amount again. Moreover, in certain situations, you will have to pay a tax on the amount you wish to withdraw from your policy.

Steps to Cancel Your Life Insurance Policy:

The following are the steps that can help you cancel your life insurance policy:

1. Follow the procedure: In case you wish to cancel your life insurance policy, the insurance company will require you to fill out the cancellation form. A few personal details along with details regarding the policy will have to be entered in the form, and a copy of the same must be kept with you.
2. Present everything in writing: In case you wish to pose any questions to the life insurance company, or make any declarations, make sure you do it in writing. For instance, if you wish to find out how the penalty charges associated with cancellation are computed, you could fire an email instead of getting your solutions over the phone. Written queries have a better chance of receiving responses, and documentation helps in settling any potential disputes between a policyholder and the insurance company.
3. Revoke automatic payments: In case you make premium payments automatically via your credit card or checking account, these payments can be cancelled by calling your credit card company or your bank. You will have to contact your credit card company or bank at least three business days prior to the scheduled withdrawal. Cancellation can also be requested over the phone, but most banks require you to follow up on the same in writing as in most cases, the verbal cancellation request is rendered ineffective after a fortnight.
4. Following up: In case invoices for premiums are continued to be sent to you, you will have to contact the insurance company through a letter and include copies of any documentation that was retained at the time of cancelling the policy. In case a premium has been deducted by mistake from your checking account, a refund must be requested in writing.

Many employees in India can get life insurance with the help of their employer. This is known as the employer-employee structure. The employer will purchase insurance from the insurance company and then the employee will be insured. This brilliant facility is being offered by many employers in order to retain and motivate employees efficiently. When life insurance policies are offered by the company, employees get attracted and stimulated to work at an organisation. The attrition rate will also minimise with the provision of life insurance.

You can check with your employer if you will receive life insurance. Under the employer-employee structure, the employee will receive the benefits of the policy and also tax benefits. You will not have to pay any tax for such an insurance policy. You can buy any type of life insurance under this particular structure.

Your company will most likely offer a life insurance policy to employees if it is a sole proprietorship firm or a legal or corporate firm with at least 5 employees who can purchase the life insurance policy. Your employer will need to draw a single cheque to offer coverage to its employees.

Eligibility Criteria for Availing Life Insurance Offered by Employers:

When an employer offers life insurance policies to its employees, certain eligibility criteria need to be met:

• The policyholder will need to be at least 18 years old and less than 60 years old.
• The policyholder can be an Indian employee or an NRI.
• An NRI employee can apply if the employer that is offering the policy has an office that is registered in India.

• Do your research: Given the number of options at your disposal when it comes to selecting the right insurance provider and then choosing the policy that best suits your requirements from the vast array of options, it is essential to do your research before purchasing a life insurance policy as it can not only help you save a good amount of money, but it can also help you receive maximum benefits. Make sure that you have also checked up on the insurer to ensure that there are no unexpected hassles in the future.
• Go through the terms and conditions: The terms and conditions document of your insurance plan contains all the information regarding the policy. Most people do not pay attention to every detail and as a result, end up dealing with disastrous consequences in rather difficult situations when making claims. Make sure that you read the fine print completely and understand it fully before purchasing an insurance policy.
• Consider lock-in period: There are instances when individuals purchase insurance policies but realise within a few days or weeks that they are not entirely satisfied with the terms and conditions of the policy. In such cases, some insurance companies offer a free lock-in period, which is a short span of time in which a policyholder and return the policy to the insurer for no penalty or charge. Lock-in periods are usually 15 days long, so make sure you purchase a policy with the aforementioned feature as it will make it easier for you to return the policy and purchase another in case you are not happy with your initial purchase.
• Consider premium payment options: Most insurance providers offer premium payment options on an annual, semi-annual, quarterly or monthly basis. It is instrumental that you pick a time period that will allow you to make premium payments without other consequences. Regardless of your premium payment option, it is also advised that you choose the Electronic Check System to make premium payments as it will ensure that you make never miss a payment date.
• Don’t hide anything: There are instances wherein individuals try to conceal some information when filling out the application form and purchasing an insurance policy. Your medical history has to be accurately presented to the insurance company, and you must also notify them if you are a smoker as every detail requested by them is an important factor in determining the terms and conditions of your insurance policy. Missing or misleading information can cause major problems when trying to make claims, even a total rejection of claims in some cases.

Now, even SMEs can provide life insurance policies to its employees. They only need to fill a proposal firm which mentions that they would like to go for the employer-employee scheme and that it will be paying premiums for its employees. The form will need a signature from a certain authorised party working at the company. The form will need details such as names of employees who want coverage, type of insurance plan, policy period, riders, and sum assured. There should also be a stamp or seal of the organisation.

The organisation will need to fill in and sign both the nomination form as well as assignment form and furnish these forms to the insurance company at the proposal stage.

The employer will need to fix the insurance quantum according to the CTC of the different employees, work experience, qualification, and previous work records of the employees.

Life insurance is not exempted from GST (Goods and Services Tax). The introduction of GST will have an impact on the life insurance industry. The insurance premiums will most likely increase from 15% to 18% in the insurance sector. If you are paying premiums for health, car, and life insurance, you will be affected heavily.

GST Code for Life Insurance:

Under the GST regime, there is a Services Accounting Code (SAC). This code is applicable only for services that come under GST. The SAC for GST classification for life insurance services (not including reinsurance services) is GST Code for Life Insurance. Similarly, the SAC GST code for pension services is 997131.

The on-going debate surrounding the linking of Aadhaar to insurance policies, and a string of other important services had previously created some confusion among policyholders and citizens availing these services. As per an earlier Supreme Court ruling, it was mandatory to link your Aadhaar details to not only insurance policies, but also your mobile number and several other facilities. The deadline given for the same was 31 March 2018. However, in a second ruling which was passed on 13 March 2018, the Supreme Court said that the deadline for linking Aadhaar has been extended indefinitely, till a judgement is announced for the same.

The implications of this decision for insurance policyholders are varied, depending on whether you are an existing policyholder, or are looking to purchase a new insurance policy. Existing policyholders will not be required to link their Aadhaar to their policy, until a decision on the matter is announced by the Court.

However, those who are looking to buy a new life insurance policy will be required to provide their Aadhaar and PAN/Form 60 details at the time of registering for the policy. This means that new insurance policies will need to be linked to the policyholder’s Aadhaar number, for which IRDAI has granted policyholders 6 months, starting from the date of registration. If the policyholder does not have an Aadhaar Card, they will be required to provide any other “officially valid document”, from the list of documents mentioned in the Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005. These documents include your driving licence, passport, PAN card, job card issued as per Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), and the voter identity card issued by the Election Commission of India.

• Insurer and Insured: The insurance company that sells a life insurance policy to an individual is called the insurer while the individual who purchases said policy is the insured.
• Grace Period: When a life insurance policyholder is unable to make his / her premium payments on time, he / she will receive an extension from the insurance provider to ensure that the due payment is made. This extension period usually spans between 15 and 30 days and is called the grace period.
• Free-Look Period: In case you are not satisfied with the terms and conditions of an insurance policy, or, for any other reason, would like to cancel the policy, you may do so during the Free-Look period without having to pay any fees or penalties like surrender charges.
• Lapsed Policy: When a policyholder fails to make premium payments on or before the due date, and does not make the payments even after the grace period, the insurance company ceases the benefits offered by the policy and terminates it on account of non-payment. Such a policy is called a lapsed policy.
• Death Benefit: Upon the untimely death of a policyholder, the nominee or beneficiary will be eligible to receive a payout from the insurance company. This payout is called the death benefit.
• Accident Benefit: In case you meet with an accident and are covered by a life insurance policy, there may be a clause in your policy which covers all the costs related to the accident, like medical expenses, hospitalisation expenses, etc.
• Sum Assured: The total amount of money guaranteed to an individual at the time of maturity of a life insurance policy is called the sum assured. The sum assured does not include bonuses that may be added at a later date.
• Cash Value: In case the life insurance policy of an individual is voluntarily terminated prior to the date of maturity, the life insurance company will pay the customer a certain sum of money called the cash value. The cash value of the policy is its present value and the cost at which it can be sold.
• Claims Settlement Ratio: The ratio of claims that has been paid by the insurance provider to the nominees of a policyholder and the overall number of claims received from customers is called the claims settlement ratio. The other claims are usually either denied for reasons such as fraud, misrepresentation, impersonation, etc.
• Reinstatement: In case an insured individual does not make the due premium payments for any reason, and the insurance company, as a result, decides to terminate the insurance policy, the policyholder will have an option to renew the coverage, and the process of making a lapsed policy active again is called reinstatement.
• Rider: Insurance companies offer customers the option of adding extra features to their policy at a nominal fee. These extra features that can enhance the value of your insurance policy and deliver additional benefits are called riders.
• Moral Hazard: When a policyholder is involved in events or situations that could increase the risk of an insurance company to incur additional costs on behalf of that particular individual, he / she is known as a moral hazard.
• Vesting Age: The age at which an individual starts to receive payouts from the insurance company is called the vesting age.
• Bonus: The additional amount of money received by an individual when the policy term is active, or when the life insurance policy matures, considering that he / she has made all premium payments as required for a certain number of years, is called a bonus.
• Convertible Term Life Insurance Policy: Convertible term life insurance policies allow the policyholder to convert the term life insurance policy to a permanent life insurance policy. However, there will be a specified time limit for the customer to make such a conversion.
• Renewable Term Life Insurance Policy: Term insurance policies that have a clause that enables beneficiaries to increase the policy term for a specified period of time are called renewable term life insurance policies.
• Policy Term: The total number of years for which an individual will be covered by an insurance policy is called the policy term.
• Premium Paying Term: The total number of years for which a life insurance policyholder will be making premium payments to the insurance company is called the premium paying term. Premium paying terms are usually the same as policy terms.
• Single Premium Life Insurance: Single premium life insurance plans are those that cover individuals for a certain period of time and guarantee payment to benefits to nominees upon the untimely death of the policyholder, provided that the policyholder has made a lump sum payment as premium.
• Waiver of Premium: Policyholders have an obligation to make premium payments at regular intervals of time. Waiver of Premium is a rider that can be purchased in case the policyholder is disabled or seriously ill, and, as a result, is unable to make premium payments. Waiver of premium ensures that you continue to receive the benefits from your insurance company even when you can no longer afford to make premium payments.