What is term insurance and how does it work?

Asked by: Tabitha Armstrong  |  Last update: February 11, 2022
Score: 4.7/5 (69 votes)

A term life insurance policy is the simplest, purest form of life insurance: You pay a premium for a period of time – typically between 10 and 30 years – and if you die during that time a cash benefit is paid to your family (or anyone else you name as your beneficiary).

Do you get your money back at the end of a term life insurance?

If you cancel or outlive your term life insurance policy, you don't get money back. However, if you have a "return of premium" rider and you outlive the policy, premiums will be refunded. If you have a convertible term life policy, you can sell it instead of canceling it.

What happens at the end of a term life insurance policy?

Generally, when term life insurance expires, the policy simply expires, and no action needs to be taken by the policyholder. A notice is sent by the insurance carrier that the policy is no longer in effect, the policyholder stops paying the premiums, and there is no longer any potential death benefit.

Is it worth having term insurance?

A term insurance plan will help the family to meet their day to day expenses and accomplish the long-term financial goals too. Yes, it is worth buying a term insurance policy no matter what year it is. When compared to other types of life insurance products, a term insurance policy is much beneficial.

What kind of deaths are not covered in term insurance?

Term insurance plans do not cover death due to self-inflicted wounds. Death due to any critical illness is covered under Term plans. It also includes sexually transmitted disease like HIV/AIDS. If you have an existing illness when purchasing a Term insurance plan, then it is mandatory to disclose it.

Term Life | Life insurance Explained

23 related questions found

What is 1cr term insurance?

1 Crore term insurance plan is one policy that guarantees to pay the sum assured of the mentioned amount to the nominee on the death of the insured. This plan works as a guardian for the family of the policyholder and helps them to fulfill their financial needs and aspirations.

Is postmortem compulsory for term insurance?

To receive a claim amount without any hassles, the insurer is required to be informed about the death and the other information such as policy number, death date, and the tenure of the policy till when the company is responsible for compensation.

Who is eligible for term insurance?

Age of entry: With the minimum eligibility age of 18 years, you can get term plans early in life. Buying a term plan at a young age helps you get sizeable coverage at very reasonable premiums. Policy Term: Term insurance provides coverage for specified number of years, known as the policy term.

What is the catch with term life insurance?

What's the catch? Your premiums could be 2-4 times higher than with a level term policy. Also, if your financial status changes and you let the policy lapse you may only get a portion of your premiums returned – or nothing at all.

What is better whole life or term insurance?

Term coverage only protects you for a limited number of years, while whole life provides lifelong protection—if you can keep up with the premium payments. Whole life premiums can cost five to 15 times more than term policies with the same death benefit, so they may not be an option for budget-conscious consumers.

What's the difference between whole life and term life insurance?

Just like term life insurance, a whole life insurance policy will pay a death benefit to your beneficiaries upon your death. That's where the similarities end. While a term life policy covers you for a specified time period, a whole life policy will cover you for your life, so long as your policy remains in force.

What reasons will life insurance not pay?

If you die while committing a crime or participating in an illegal activity, the life insurance company can refuse to make a payment. For example, if you are killed while stealing a car, your beneficiary won't be paid.

What age does term life insurance stop?

Most modern term life insurance policies do not expire until you reach age 95. Even though you may have a 10-year term life policy, your coverage will not end after 10 years.

Can I sell my term life insurance policy?

You can sell a term life insurance policy for cash, but your policy will usually have much more value on the market if it is the type that can be converted to a whole or universal life policy. The provision in a term life policy that allows for this change is called a conversion rider.

What is minimum income for term plan?

As a general practice, calculation for Sum Assured in a Term Insurance policy is - Minimum Sum Assured = Annual Income x 10 times + Loans/Liabilities. If you can afford the premiums (which are pretty affodable for the kind of cover which you get), we recommend that you go in for 15 to 20 times your annual income.

Does term insurance depend on salary?

Income proof helps the insurance company decide the total life coverage that can be offered to you. They calculate the risk and your ability to pay premiums for the insurance policy. The following income documents are required when applying for a term insurance policy: Slip of the last 3 months salary.

Is medical test mandatory for term insurance?

A medical test is a necessity when it comes to buying a term insurance plan. ... However, every insurance applicant must take a few basic tests such as Complete Blood Count, Differential Count, Fasting Plasma Glucose, Cholesterol, HIV I and II, and urine test.

Can I have 2 term insurance policies?

It is legitimate in India to have multiple term insurance plans as it comes with various benefits such as bigger claim amount, different benefits and safety for the future. ... However, it is always mandatory for the policyholder to disclose about an existing term insurance plans at the time of taking a new one.

What documents are needed for term insurance?

Documents Required for Term Insurance Claims
  • Original Policy Documents.
  • Duly Filled Claim Form.
  • Nominee's Photo ID Proof (Adhaar Card, Voter ID Card, Passport etc.)
  • Nominee's Bank Account Details (such as bank statement/ cancelled cheque)
  • Death Certificate issued by local authority.
  • Attending Physician's Statement.

How long does it take to get term insurance?

After submission of proposal of a life insurance policy, it generally takes about 15 days for the insurance company to send the policy bond. Life insurance plans come with a freelook period of 15 days from the date of receipt of policy.

Is it easy to claim term insurance?

Most of the insurance companies offer a hassle-free claim settlement process so that the nominee can file a claim and get insurance coverage without any hassle. Let's take a look at the claim settlement process of the term insurance plan, before zeroing in on one.