Child Insurance

Why Child Insurance is required?

There are critics of child plans who argue that term plans are better than child insurance policies because on maturity they will receive a bigger corpus. However this does not account for the possibility that you as a parent dies after taking the plan. Sure a term plan will give a lump-sum for the immediate needs of the family, but the long term needs of the child will not be taken care of and further investments in the mutual fund will stop. Child plan, on the other hand, will not only pay the lump sum, but will also continue investing on behalf of the policyholder. Insurers believe the waiver of premium feature in a child plan is the key as it doesn't let the death of the policyholder affect the investment plan for the child.

Child Insurance Plan Features and Benefits:

Types of Child Insurance policies: Child Insurance policies come under the categories of linked and non-linked varieties.

Premiums: You also have flexibility when it comes to paying premiums. Policy holders can choose to pay the premium as a lump sum at the beginning of the policy tenure or periodically. You can choose between options such as monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual premium collection. You can even give standing instructions so that the premium will be directly credited from your bank account, so that you do not have to remember to pay another bill. How much premium you choose to pay depends on the sum assured and maturity that you go for.

Maturity: Make sure that you look ahead to the future when you chose the maturity period. Factors such as inflation and interest rates must be considered while deciding because you may find that the released funds at the end of the term may fall short of the requirements your child has in the future.

Tenure: Typically, child insurance is meant for children up to the age of 18 or 21. Specific plans do however have a higher age ceiling. You can choose a tenure from when your child is born until the child reaches a pre-defined age.

Riders: There are specific riders available with your typical Child Insurance that will give you the most out of your money. They come in three basic categories: critical illness, premium waiver and accidental death and disability.

Following are the main benefits of Child Insurance:

Have zero interest rate risk associated with cash value growth.

1. Disbursement of funds upon death or maturity is flexible.
2. The child does not need medical examination for the policy to be issued.
3. You can take out a loan against the policy.
4. You can take advantage of tax benefits under various sections of Income Tax Act.
5. You have flexible options when it comes to periodic premium payment.
6. You can choose between endowment plans and ULIPs.
7. In case of the unfortunate demise of the insured before maturity, and/or if the policy has reached maturity, funds will be provided to the designated beneficiary.
8. If the insured's demise is within premium collection period, premium waivers will be offered.
9. Your family will not be financially burdened in your absence as all the future premium instalments, if any, will not be required to be paid under the policy. Also, if applicable, the policy will continue to accrue bonuses.

What's covered under Child Insurance Policy?

1. As mentioned before, in the event of the untimely death of the provider, the child's financial needs will be taken care of by the plan.
2. There will be compensations given for treatments of any disease that your child contracts. Different insurance companies may vary in the list of diseases and treatments that will be compensated for. It is important that you consider this before you purchase an insurance product.
3. Different insurance companies have different terms as to the amount and frequency of the funds that you will receive. However, having child insurance ensures that your child's education will be taken care of.
4. Once matured, you can take out a lump of the sum for important events like the child's marriage.
5. Another thing that you must consider is the possibility of your child's death. No parent would even want to think of such a possibility but in the remote chance that your child does have an untimely death (during the policy term but also during the extended term), a child insurance will take care of the expenses such as the child's funeral etc.

What's not covered under Child Insurance Policy?

1. Child insurance usually compensates for any treatments that the insured undergoes. However, older children with pre-existing diseases are excluded from the compensation for that particular disease.
2. Treatment that is caused due to insanity or are self-inflicting or immoral may not be compensated for.
3. Treatments caused by high-risk activities including daring acts, mountaineering, hunting etc may not be compensated for.
4. If it is found that there was a deliberate failure to seek medical advice at the right time, compensation may not be provided by the policy.
5. Many companies which offer child insurance offer death benefits and benefits if the insured has a permanent disability. This however does not include accident due to the following reasons:
6. Act under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol
7. Criminal or illegal act
8. Act while racing, illegal flying, betting etc.
9. Accidents due to taking part in riots, strikes or being in the military service, police force etc.
10. Other exclusions include:

1. Diseases arising from sexual misconduct
2. Misinformation about facts and figures in the policy
3. Radioactive-related diseases

Companies which offer Child Insurance Policy are:

Following are some of the insurance companies that offer Child Insurance in India:

1. SBI Life
2. LIC India
3. HDFC India
4. PNB MetLife India
5. Max Life Insurance