You work hard to provide a comfortable life for your family and ensure their financial stability. However, life is uncertain and an unfortunate event may leave your loved ones in a difficult situation.
Importance of term insurance
If you are the only earning member, your sudden absence may pose financial distress for your family members. A term plan is a pure life cover that pays the benefits to your nominees if an untoward incident occurs during the policy term. It is an affordable way to avail higher coverage, as the premium is lower when compared to regular life insurance plans like money back or endowment policies.
In addition to the monetary security of your family, a term plan offers tax benefits. As per Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 a term insurance tax benefit of up to INR 1.5 lakh per year is available on the premium paid. Additionally, as per Section 10(10D) of the Act, the death benefit that your nominees receive in your absence is tax-free, ensuring they receive the entire sum assured (SA), which they can use as per their requirements.
You can further enhance the term insurance coverage by adding riders. Some of these include waiver of premium, accidental disability or death, critical illness, and more. These riders are available at an extra premium; therefore, consider your requirements before making your choice.
Different payout options
Until recently, insurers paid term insurance benefits as a lump sum to the nominees after the policyholder’s death. However, as the insurance industry has evolved, several insurers now offer the flexibility in paying the death benefits to the nominees. One such option is the monthly payout of the policy benefits. Under this alternative, your nominees will receive the death benefit in monthly installments for a certain period if any unforeseen circumstance arises.
Advantages of monthly payouts
Here are a few plus points of a monthly income payout:
- Enables your family to meet their regular expenses
A monthly payout ensures your family has adequate money to meet their daily costs like household expenses, school fees, and other similar expenditures. This enables them to sustain their lifestyle without any financial difficulties.
- Provides benefits for individuals who are not financially savvy
Your nominees may be unable to make the right investments if they receive the term insurance benefits as a lump sum. They may incur heavy losses due to incorrect investment decisions, which may leave them in a financially difficult position. A monthly payout eliminates the hassle of understanding different investment products to earn higher returns while minimizing the risks.
- Offers customized payout options
Many insurers allow you to personalize the monthly payout option to suit your family’s requirements. One way is where your nominees receive a certain amount of the total policy benefits as a lump sum. Here, the insurer will pay the balance in monthly installments for a specific period. Another option is where the monthly payout slowly increases over a period, which ensures that your family can meet their expenses as the cost of living increases due to inflation.
A term insurance policy helps prevent financial difficulty for your family if an unexpected event results in your untimely absence. While choosing the most appropriate payout option, keep your family’s financial needs and situation in mind to ensure they get the maximum benefits.
Today, term plan offers have transformed as compared to the time when they were first available. Therefore, it is important that you understand what is term insurance, the inclusions and exclusions, and other terms and conditions before you make a decision. Research the different policies offered by insurers and then make a wise choice.
