Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance covers you for a term of one or more years. It pays a death benefit only if the policy holder dies during the period of insurance is in force. Term insurance generally is the cheapest form of life insurance. You can renew most term insurance policies for one or more terms even if your health condition has changed.
However each time you renew your policy for a new term, premiums may climb higher, just like a rent agreement. This policy is particularly useful to cover any outstanding debt in the form of a mortgage, home, loan etc. For example if you takke a loan of Rs 5 lakhs, you can take a insurance to protect the loan in case of passing away before the debt is repaid. Term life is the a good choice for individuals who who are looking for temporary coverage.
The low cost and stability of term life insurance make it a very popular type of policy. But premiums vary widely even for similar policies, so it's crucial that you explore your options before you commit to a plan.
How term life insurance works
Any life insurance policy that covers you for a specific, predetermined amount of time is a term policy. Should you die during your policy's term, your beneficiaries will receive the payment - should the policy expire before you do, there is no pay out.
Term policies are only insurance; they have no cash value or added savings feature.However, during the life of the policy, you may be able to secure loans using death benefit as collateral. Any such use of your policy will, however, diminish the death benefit until the loan plus interest is repaid.
Term life insurance policies are popular among consumers because of their affordability and flexibility. With a term life insurance policy, you choose the amount and duration of your policy's coverage.
Insurers typically offer term policies in increments of 5 years, up to a maximum of 30 years. Some insurers also offer annually renewable one-year policies.
Term policies usually feature a fully guaranteed rate that will not change over the life of the policy, but some policies may feature variable rates in return for lower premiums.
Insurers almost always require a medical exam for any type of life insurance. Some insurers will allow a policyholder to renew an expiring policy without benefit of a new exam, but this is not always the case. Most insurers will not extend a new term life insurance policy to applicants who are 70 or older.
Is term life insurance right for you?
Term life insurance is designed to offer basic coverage for a specific number of years at a fairly low cost. This makes it an especially attractive option for people who need to protect their beneficiaries, but who don't have a lot of cash freed up for the project.
When choosing your policy's term and benefit, you need to carefully consider your current financial and family situations. Most insurers will offer helpful tools to help you calculate your ideal policy size.
Who isn't a good match for a term policy? A life insurance policy can be used for any number of goals, from backing a business loan to enabling a charitable gift. If your goal is anything other than temporarily protecting loved ones against the financial hardship that would result from your death, you might want to look into a permanent policy.
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