What is Life Insurance?
What is Life Insurance?
A life insurance policy is something that provides a dedicated sum of money on the demise of the policyholder or after a certain period of time.
Life insurance is a contract wherein an individual is offered financial coverage by an insurance company in exchange for a payment over a period. The payment made to the insurer is referred to as the premium. In case the policyholder passes away during the policy tenure, the insurance company will offer a lump sum amount to his/her nominee. This lump sum amount is called the sum assured on death or the death benefit. Upon completion of the policy term, the policyholder receives a sum assured on maturity or the maturity benefit from the insurer along with some bonuses.
A pure protection plan, such as a term insurance policy, offers only the death benefit. However, there are several types of life insurance policies that offer savings in addition to protection. The savings can be in the form of a maturity benefit or bonus. Premiums paid and benefits received under life insurance are liable to tax benefits under Section 80C and Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Benefits of a Life Insurance Policy:
Life Insurance policies offer several different benefits to individuals. Following are the most important:
- Risk Cover: Since uncertainties are unpredictable and may cause problems to an individual and his / her family at any time, availing a life insurance policy will ensure that your family and dependents continue to enjoy a quality lifestyle in case of your unforeseen and accidental death.
- Comprehensive Plan for Different Stages of Life: Not only does life insurance offer financial support in case of the policyholder’s unforeseen and accidental death, but also serves as a long-term investment in the sense that it encourages you to lay down your objectives, whether it is the education of your children, their marriage, constructing the home of your dreams, or even planning for a peaceful retired life. The planning will be done based on your risk appetite and life stage. Most conventional life insurance plans, such as traditional endowment plans, provide specific maturity benefits and built-in guarantees via a number of product options like Guaranteed Maturity Values, Guaranteed Cash Values, Money Back, etc.
- Cover for Increasing Health Expenses: Whether it is through stand-alone insurance policies or through riders, all life insurance providers offer financial cover against hospitalisation expenses and critical illnesses. Since health expenses are increasing constantly, the need for health insurance policies has increased too, as it ensures that the policyholder will have minimal medical costs to deal with.
- Promotes Savings in the Long Run: Since life insurance policies are long-term agreements wherein the policyholder is required to make a fixed periodical payment, it helps the policyholder inculcate the habit of savings. Saving money regularly over a relatively long period of time helps in building a good corpus which will in turn help in meeting your financial requirements at different stages of life.
- Profitable and Secure Long-Term Investment: The insurance industry is highly regulated. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has implemented several regulations through which the money of the policyholder is ensured to be safe with the stakeholders, which means that all the money you invest in your life insurance policy will be the responsibility of the stakeholders of the company through which you avail your policy. Since life insurance is a long-term savings product, it also ensures that the policyholder focuses on long-term returns rather than focussing on risky investment decisions that could provide short-term profits.
- Guaranteed Income via Annuities: When it comes to planning for retirement, there are few instruments as effective as life insurance policies. Since you will be saving money over a period of time, life insurance policies will help in providing a steady source of income after you have retired from professional life.
- Growth via Dividends: Conventional life insurance policies provide customers with an opportunity to take part in the economic growth while taking no investment risk whatsoever. While the policyholder split the investment income through yearly announcements of bonus / dividends, the policyholder will earn maturity benefits in addition to contributing to economic growth
- Loan Facility: Individuals who avail life insurance policies will have the choice of availing a loan against their insurance policy, which could help them meet their unplanned life stage requirements without hampering the benefits provided by the policy they have purchased.
- Redemption of Mortgage: Life insurance policies serve as the best possible tool for the coverage of loans and mortgages availed by the policyholder. If there is ever any unforeseen situation due to which the policyholder is not able to repay his / her loan or mortgage, the bereaved family members will not have the burden of repayment, and the policy can be used to repay the loan or mortgage.
- Tax Benefits: Life insurance policies offer attractive tax benefits and help you save a significant amount of money which would otherwise be spent on taxes.