Guide to Understand Term Insurance Plan with Return of Premium

Written by : Knowledge Centre Team

2020-12-06

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The unexpected nature of life makes it necessary for one to prepare for the future and ensure the financial safety of their family. We can never be sure how long we will live, but caring for our family is something that we can do even in the afterlife. A term insurance policy ensures that the financial needs of your family are fulfilled even after the sole income-earner of the family meets a premature death.

Term insurance plans are like a salary that your family gets even when you are not there to earn it. Most Indian families have a primary bread-winner that holds the financial responsibilities of the family. When they die or are met with an accident, the family is bound to suffer through various problems, including the one with the most hurdles; financial issues. Salary cannot cut in such conditions. Understanding the benefits of a term insurance plan can help you ensure that your family lives comfortably.

Term Insurance Plan with Return of Premium

Other term insurance plans do not have any maturity benefit. If the policyholder is alive even after the end of the term, there are no benefits in the usual term insurance plan. Though, with a Return of Premium, you can get maturity benefits even in that case. In case the policyholder outlives the plan, they will be refunded their premiums back. The plan provides not only financial security but ensures that you get assured benefits at the end of the term.

The biggest concern of most life insurance plan buyers has been the failure to get any returns or benefits if they fail to make a claim before the end of the term. The solution to this problem is to get a term plan with a return of premium. Through ROP, you can get assured returns, exactly equal to the premiums paid by you, at the end of the term. The payment stands regardless of whether the policyholder could make a claim or not.

Here are some benefits of buying a term insurance plan with return of premium:

1. Maturity Benefits

The definition of ROP stands as its biggest benefit. You do not need to worry about getting zero returns at the end of the term. You will not lose your premiums even if there are no claims. In such cases, the policy works as a means of saving.

2. Continuation of Policies

There are times when we fail to make it through a premium or sometimes when we simply forget. You will not have to lose your previously paid premiums over a single missed premium. With ROP, you can choose to continue your policy even after a failed or missed premium payment.

3. Tax Benefits

As per the Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, premiums paid to an ROP are exempted from tax. Thus, when you get a return of a policy plan, you do not just ensure your financial security, but also you get tax-exempted returns once the plan matures.

Make sure that you take all the features of a term insurance plan under consideration. Carefully choose the amount of premium that you can pay and the kind of coverage you wish for your beneficiary.

How to Buy the Right Term Insurance Plan with Return of Premium?

Look for a term plan that addresses all your needs and fulfils your future financial requirements. Consider certain factors to find the best term insurance plan for you. However, here are a few ways you can find the right term insurance plan:

1. Assess your current financial condition, the number of members in your family, your age, health history, and other such factors. According to these factors, you will need to select a premium that is feasible for you to pay regularly. Usually, the premium for term insurance plans is paid annually.

2. Once you have confirmed the term insurance plan for you, you will need to make sure that you pay your premium at regular intervals.

3. In case of the demise of the policyholder before the maturity of the term insurance plan, the company will pay the coverage amount to the beneficiary mentioned by the policyholder.

4. If the policyholder is alive once the plan has matured, the company does not provide any financial payment. Though according to the plan selected by you, there can be other benefits added to the plan at the end of the term.

5. At the end of the term, the policyholder can choose to renew the policy. This way, they can keep paying the premium till they reach the maximum age that is defined by the insurance company.

Different Types of Term Insurance Plans

You are not bound by just one set of rules when it comes to term insurance policies. There are various kinds of policies that are customized to suit the requirements of different policyholders. The bank and the insurance provider understand that each household is different from their separate needs. Thus, they offer the following types of term insurance plans.

1. Level Term Plans

These are the simplest form of term insurance plans. There are no additional benefits and no complicated terms and conditions attached to such term plans. You will receive the exact sum that was guaranteed at the beginning of the term insurance plan. The sum is paid only in the condition of the policyholder’s demise before the maturity of the plan.

2. Increasing Term Plans

These policies have a higher amount of premiums. When you get an increasing term plan, the insurance provider adds a set amount of interest to your amount. For example, the policy may detail that you will get 5% additional interest upon your premium. Once the policy has matured, or upon the death of the policyholder, the insurance provider will provide the amount as calculated after adding the interest compounded annually.

3. Decreasing Term Plans

These term insurance plans are offered as loan redemptions for those who need help to pay off their personal or other loans. The amount assured at the end of the term will be decreased each year by a certain amount. It works in the opposite way of the increasing term plans.

4. Group Term Insurance Plan

When a group of people signs up under the same term insurance plan, then it will be categorized as group insurance. These plans are usually offered for no more than a year. All the members that are registered under the plan are covered by a master policy. In such plans, if one of the members dies during the term, then the other members will get the benefits of the plan as assured. These plans need to be reviewed each year, and the premiums need to be paid as a group, in specific ratios.

Documents Required to Buy a Term Insurance Plan Online

It is one of the biggest questions for term insurance buyers. What documents will they need to provide while buying a term insurance plan? These documents are as follows.

I. Age proof
II. Identity proof
III. Address proof
IV. Income proof
V. Proposal form
VI. Colored passport-size photographs

Now that you have understood how the life term insurance plan works, you can choose the level of coverage as per your needs. There is usually no limit assigned to the coverage by the insurance provider and the coverage period can go up to 30 to 35 years, depending on how long the policyholder wants the coverage to last. One thing to note that if one fails to pay premiums or discontinues the policy, they will not revive any benefits. There are no bonus or add-ons values provided in a term insurance plan. After the demise of the policyholder, you will get the exact amount as guaranteed at the beginning of the policy.

You can compare various term insurance plans offered by various providers and choose one that suits your needs the best. There are various tools and apps available online that can help you compare the premium and benefits of these plans. Make sure that you take your current and future needs into consideration before signing up for any plan.