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What is Term Insurance?
Term life insurance is a form of pure life insurance which provides financial protection to the chosen beneficiary of a policyholder for a fixed duration or term. For easier understanding, suppose an individual purchases a term insurance policy with ₹1 crore coverage for 30 years. During this tenure, if something happens to that individual, their appointed nominees receive a lump-sum payout of up to ₹1 crore.
To ensure this benefit for your family members or dependents, you must keep your chosen term insurance plan active by paying premiums on time. Here, you may wonder how much premium you need to pay for a term insurance plan. For this, you must understand that a premium for a term insurance plan primarily depends on the amount of coverage you choose. Generally, the higher the amount of coverage you choose, the higher the premium you may need to pay.
Other crucial factors like the term you choose, your age during your policy purchase, lifestyle habits (e.g., smoking or tobacco usage or level of alcohol intake), pre-existing medical conditions, etc., also matter in determining your premium. If you survive the policy term, your policy expires without a maturity benefit unless you opt for plans with a return of premium option.
How Does a Term Insurance Plan Work?
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Regular Payment of Premium
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An Unfortunate Event During the Policy Tenure
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Rahul Outlives His Policy Term
Key Features of Term Insurance Plans
Why Do You Need Term Insurance?
Secure Your Family Against Financial Distress
Security Against Financial Liabilities
Reduce Financial Impact from Health Risks
Death Benefit at Affordable Premium
Tax Exemptions
Types of Term Insurance Plans in 2026
Standard Term Insurance Plan
Increasing Term Insurance Plan
Decreasing Term Plan
Term Insurance with Return of Premium
Convertible Term Insurance
NRI Term Insurance
Group Term Insurance
Yearly Renewable Term Insurance
Joint Life Term Insurance
Saral Jeevan Bima
What is Covered and Not Covered in Term Insurance?
Covered
- Death due to natural causes
- Death resulting from covered illnesses or medical conditions
- Death caused by accidents, including road or workplace accidents
Not Covered
- Suicide within the 1st year
- Non-disclosure or misrepresentation of pre-existing illnesses
- Death due to illegal activities
- Death resulting from an accident while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Death related to pregnancy or childbirth
Who Should Buy Term Insurance?
Term Insurance Based on Different Life Stages

Term Insurance in 20s
How to Choose the Best Term Plan for youself?
Assess Financial Requirements
Determine Your Policy Tenure
Compare and Choose Riders
Look for the Grace Period
Consider the Free Look Back Period
Assess Customer Experience
Understand the Claim Settlement Ratio
Look for the Solvency Ratio
Select the Right Payout Option
Review the Smart Exit Benefit
How Much Term Insurance Do You Need?
Understanding Term Insurance Coverage with Examples
| Cases | Life Stage | Suitable Coverage | Key Factor Affecting Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aarav, 25 | Young professional earning ₹6 lakh/year | ₹6 lakh × 10 = ₹60 lakh | With no major liabilities or dependents, Aarav can focus mainly on replacing his future income. |
| Meera, 32 | Newly married, earns ₹12 lakh/year | ₹12 lakh × 12 = ₹1.44 crore | Her cover needs to account for the financial support her spouse may require in her absence. |
| Rohan, 41 | Parent; earns ₹18 lakh/year + ₹50 lakh home loan | ₹18 lakh × 12 + ₹50 lakh = ₹2.66 crore | His cover needs to account for the debt that could otherwise pass on to his family. |
| Priya, 52 | Pre-retirement; earns ₹24 lakh/year + ₹30 lakh loan | ₹30 lakh loan + ₹40 lakh future expenses = ₹70 lakh | Instead of replacing her entire future income, Priya may focus on clearing liabilities and covering her family’s remaining financial needs. |
Choose the Right Term Life Insurance Duration
| Your Situation | Suitable Tenure Consideration |
|---|---|
| In your 20s or 30s | You may have several working years ahead, so a longer tenure can provide coverage for a larger part of your earning years. |
| In your 40s or 50s | A shorter tenure may be suitable, provided it covers your remaining financial commitments and dependants’ needs. |
| Have Long-Term Debt | Choose a tenure that lasts long enough to cover your financial obligations, such as a home loan with a longer repayment period. |
| Planning for Retirement | If you plan to retire at 60, you may consider coverage that continues until your planned retirement age. |
| Concerned About Premiums | Longer tenures may come with higher premiums. Avoid choosing an unnecessarily long tenure if the premium becomes difficult to afford. |
Choose the Right Sum Assured for Your Needs
₹1 Crore
Starting @₹614/month
Book a Call₹1.5 Crore
Starting @₹799/month
Book a Call₹2 Crore
Starting @₹984/month
Book a Call₹3 Crore
Starting @₹1354/month
Book a CallCompare Term Insurance in India: CSR & Features
| Plan | CSR | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus | 99.81% | Step-up benefits by increasing coverage by 10% every year |
| Child education support benefit available | ||
| Axis Max Life Smart Secure Plus | 99.8% | Cover up to 64 types of critical illnesses |
| Avail the option to choose payout as a lump sum, monthly or a mix of both | ||
| HDFC Life Click 2 Protect Ultimate | 99.72% | Accelerated death benefit for specified terminal illnesses, till 80 years of age |
| Get an option to receive death benefits in instalments. | ||
| Receive 100% of your premiums back upon term survival | ||
| Kotak e-Term Plan | 99.5% | Cover enhancement option at different life stages. |
| In-built well-being benefit without extra charges. | ||
| Flexibility to choose from 3 payout options. | ||
| Tata AIA Maha Raksha Supreme Select | 99.45% | Special discount for salaried individuals on first-year premium. |
| Option to get 50% of accelerated benefit on diagnosis of terminal illness. | ||
| Women policy buyers get a 15% discount on premiums. | ||
| ICICI Pru iProtect Smart Plus | 99.34% | Instant relief of up to ₹3 lakh on claim as an accelerated death benefit |
| Flexibility to choose payout as a lump sum, monthly or a combination of both | ||
| Non-smokers get a special discount on premiums | ||
| Bajaj Life eTouch II | 99.33% | Premium Holiday option available which helps you skip your premiums for 1, 2 or 3 years |
| Comes with the Return of Premium (ROP) option | ||
| Half-yearly, quarterly and monthly premium frequencies are only allowed under auto-debit mode | ||
| Aditya Birla Sun Life DigiShield Plan | 98.86% | Inbuilt terminal illness benefit |
| Option to avail Survival Benefit upon attaining 60 years of age | ||
| Option to cover spouse under the same policy with joint life protection | ||
| Bandhan Life iTerm Elite | 98.15% | Avail up to 17% discount on the first year premium |
| Option to include homemakers under the policy with ₹50 lakh coverage | ||
| Discounted premiums for women | ||
| SBI Smart Shield Plus | 96.81% | 3 options available with level cover, level cover with future proofing and increasing cover benefits |
| Lower premiums for women policybuyers |
What are Riders in Term Insurance?
Types of Riders in a Term Insurance Plan
Accidental Death Rider
Critical Illness Rider
Waiver of Premium
Income Benefit Rider
Hospicare Benefit Rider
Live Well Rider
Claim Settlement Process in Term Insurance
- 1In case of an unfortunate event, your chosen nominee must approach your insurer. They can do it by visiting their official website or dedicated mobile app. A nominee may claim by visiting a physical branch, if available. For hassle-free claim support, you can always trust Pluto! Our claim assistance experts are available 24/7.
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Documents Required for Term Insurance Claim
Natural Demise
- ✓
In case of a natural demise of a policyholder, their beneficiaries or nominees must produce these documents:
- Duly filled out original claim form
- Nominees must submit their proof of identity and relationship with the policyholder
- Produce the original term insurance policy documents
- Provide the medical report for cases of demise due to an illness
- Original death certificate
- Produce a discharge summary from the hospital for a demise due to an ailment.
Accidental Demise
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In sensitive cases where a policyholder passes away due to a fatal accident, their nominees must produce these documents:
- A properly filled claim form
- A First Information Report (FIR) copy obtained from the police
- A copy of the post-mortem report
- Produce the original death certificate copy
- Provide a copy of the statement from the attending doctor
- Certificate of attendance in medical terms
How Does Term Life Insurance Payout Work?
- Investigation and Verification Once your appointed nominee submits a claim form, your insurer carries out a thorough verification. They go through the details of the claim form, submit documents and align them with your policy. They may include an investigation to confirm the authenticity of a claim. Depending on the complexity of an incident and policy terms, it may take a few days.
- Claim Processing Upon successful verification and investigation, your insurance company processes the claim. As per the IRDAI, insurers must process or settle claims within 15 days of claim intimation. However, if a further investigation is needed, your insurer must accept or reject a claim within 45 days of initial intimation.
- Approval and Payout As your insurer processes the claim, your nominee receives the payment in a lump sum or by other means as mentioned in your policy. If any documents are missing or discrepancies are found, the insurer may request additional information. Once these are resolved, the payout is released as per the policy terms.
Types of Payout Options in Term Insurance
Lumpsum Payout
Monthly Payout
Lumpsum with Monthly Payout
Increasing Income Payout
How Does Taxation Work in Term Insurance Policies?
Term Insurance Claim Rejection Reasons & Solutions
- Undisclosed Information Fully disclose all the information, such as your current medical condition, lifestyle habits, occupational hazards, and details of any existing policy and other required information to your insurer. Undisclosed information may lead to a rejection if detected during a claim.
- Ignoring Policy Exclusions Understand the exclusions in detail by thoroughly going through the respective brochure before purchase. Purchasing a policy unaware of exclusions can lead to a rejection, as insurers do not cover conditions mentioned in it.
- Incorrect Nominee Details Carefully appoint the nominee who you decide to receive the death benefit. Provide their accurate personal details, contact number and relationship with them.
- Policy Lapse Due to Missed Premiums Keep your policy active throughout your chosen term. Missing premiums, even after a grace period, may lead to a policy lapse and hence a rejection.
- Delayed Claim Intimation Your nominee must inform the insurer about a covered incident immediately. Insurers generally allow a timeframe for this, which they must look for in policy documents or brochures for the applicable period. Planning for the unexpected starts with the right protection. Explore the top leading options and choose one today!
