Life Insurance provides financial coverage for the most uncertain part of human life: Life itself! Thus, it offers financial protection to the Life Assured's family in case of unfortunate events like the death or disability of the policyholder. In addition to the life coverage, some policies also provide a savings component and can be used as a prudent investment option.
Below are the major types of Life Insurance policies in India:
1. Term Insurance
Term Insurance is the most basic type of Life Insurance that provides Life Cover for a predetermined period called the 'term' of the policy.
Since they do not offer any cash value, they are generally available at a much lower premium than other products for the same amount of coverage. If the Life Assured dies during the policy term, the nominee receives the Sum Assured, and there is no maturity value if the Life Assured survives the policy term. However, certain Term Plans offer the option of Return of Premium which is paid to the policyholder if Life Assured survives the policy term.
2. Whole Life Insurance
Also known as Traditional Life Insurance, Whole Life Insurance provides coverage for the policyholder's entire life. Besides this life cover, they also have a savings component and accrue periodic bonuses.
Generally, the Whole Life Insurance Plans have a maturity period of 100 years, and if a policyholder survives this term; they are paid a maturity amount.
3. Endowment Policy
A perfect mix of Investment and Insurance, Endowment Plans provide Life Coverage and help build a corpus for major life goals.
A portion of the premium goes towards Sum Assured while the other portion is invested in certain low-risk investments. In case of the policyholder's demise during the policy term, the Sum Assured is paid to the nominee. However, if the policyholder survives the term, they receive a maturity amount along with the accrued bonuses.
Thus, Endowment Plans serve the dual purpose of Insurance and Investment.
4 . Money Back Policy
Money Back Policies are essentially the Endowment Plans only with the additional feature of payments at certain pre-defined intervals during the policy term. Additionally, on maturity, the maturity benefits are paid along with accrued bonuses.
In case of the policyholder’s demise during the term, Sum Assured is paid to the nominee regardless of the survival benefits already paid.
5. Unit Linked Insurance Plans
ULIPs provide Life Coverage and capital-building opportunities by investing in various market-related instruments and funds of varying risks.
ULIPs have some underlying funds related to different asset classes like Equity, Hybrid and Debt funds where a certain portion of the premium is invested as per the policyholder's risk appetite. While this portion of the premium helps generate returns, the other portion goes to the Life Coverage part.
ULIPs are flexible to a certain extent. They allow partial withdrawal after a lock-in period of 5 years and the switching of funds that can help you customize your investment as per your financial goal and life stage.
6. Pension Plan
Also known as Retirement Plan, Pension Plan helps to accumulate wealth for the golden years of one's life and helps you deal with the financial uncertainties of the post-retirement phase.
Thus, a pension plan allows you to contribute a specific portion of your income as a premium during your earning years. Subsequently, in your retirement phase, this accumulated amount is paid back to you in the form of an annuity or pension at regular intervals.
7. Child Plans
These are specially designed endowment plans meant to financially secure a child's future in case any mishap occurs with their parents or, more importantly, the sole earning parent.
In the event of the policyholder's death, the child receives a certain sum assured. However, the policy does not end there. Future premiums are waived off/paid by the insurer, and the child also keeps receiving some amount at regular intervals. This plan ensures the demise of the earning parent does not impact the child's education.
8. Group Life Insurance
A group life insurance policy offers financial coverage to families of the members of a group in case of an unfortunate demise. The entire group gets life insurance coverage under a single policy.
Such plans are usually applicable in case of employer-employee relationships (companies) and non-employer-employee relationships (welfare organisations).
9. Group Term Insurance
A group term insurance policy provides financial coverage to a group of individuals for a specific time period. It is usually provided by employers to employees and is renewable on an annual basis.
In case of the insured employee’s unfortunate demise, the death benefit is provided to the designated beneficiary.
10. Guaranteed Plans
Guaranteed plans provide the benefits of both savings and insurance. They offer a guaranteed return on investment after the policy matures either in the form of a lump sum or regular income over a specific time period.
What’s more, such policies also come with death benefits thus providing financial coverage to the insured individual’s family members in case of the former’s unfortunate demise.