life insurance?

Life Insurance can be defined as a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurance company, where the insurer promises to pay a sum of money in exchange for a premium, upon the death of an insured person or after a set period.

Different Types of Life Insurance Policies

Listed below are the various types of life insurance policies

Term Life Insurance

Term Life Insurance or Term Plan

Term life insurance is the most popular type of life insurance. It is widely considered to be the simplest and purest form of life insurance. It offers a death benefit to the beneficiaries of the policy if the policyholder passes away during the policy term. Term insurance is the most affordable types of life insurance. The most distinctive feature of this plan is the high amount of coverage offered at extremely nominal premium rates. It is thus cheaper than other types of life insurance policies. In general, term life insurance does not offer maturity benefits. But certain types of term plans also offer maturity benefits, i.e., term plan with return of premiums (TROP) if the policyholder outlives the policy term. One can also increase the amount of coverage offered by a term plan by opting for additional riders, such as Accidental Death Benefit or Child Support riders.

Whole Life Insurance Plan

Whole life insurance is a type of life insurance that offers coverage right until the death of the policyholder. In this policy, you can opt for either a participating or non-participating policy, as per your financial needs and risk appetite. Though the premiums for participating whole life insurance are higher in comparison, dividends are paid out at regular intervals to the policyholders. The premium rates for a non-participating policy are lower, but the policyholder generally cannot avail the benefits of regular dividends.

Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP)

Unit Linked Insurance Plan or ULIP is a type of life insurance product that offers dual benefits of investment and life insurance. Among the different types of life insurance policies available, ULIPs enjoy a high amount of popularity owing to their versatile nature. A portion of the premiums paid is directed towards ensuring insurance coverage, while the rest of the premium is invested into a bouquet of investment instruments, which can include market-backed equity funds, debt funds and other securities. ULIPs are extremely flexible instruments since investors can easily switch or redirect their premiums between the different funds available. They are also touted as having an edge over other market instruments in terms of tax-saving benefits, since their proceeds are exempted from LTCG (Long Term Capital Gains).

Endowment Policy

Endowment Policy is a type of life insurance policy which acts as, both, an instrument for insurance and saving. These plans aim to provide maturity benefits to the life insured, in the form of a lump sum payment at the end of the policy tenure, even if a claim hasn’t been made. It is the most suitable types of life insurance for people looking to get maximum coverage alongside having a sizable savings component. They help the policyholder inculcate the habit of savings, even while providing financial security to their family. Endowment plans can broadly be classified into two types: with profit and without profit. Policyholders can choose from these two types based on their risk appetite.

Money Back Policy

Being one of the best types of life insurance policies, a money-back policy offers policyholders a percentage of the total sum assured at periodic intervals in the form of Survival Benefits. Once the policy reaches maturity, the remaining amount of the Sum Assured is handed over to the policyholder. However, if the policyholder dies while the term is ongoing, their dependents are given the entire Sum Assured without any deductions.

Retirement Plan

Retirement Plan  A retirement plan is a type of life insurance that focuses on providing you financial stability and security post your retirement. After you retire, you lose your regular income from employment. Investing in retirement plans can help you create a stable regular income stream. If you continue to invest until retirement, the plan will help you take care of your expenses after retirement. It requires you to invest a certain part of your income regularly during your working life. At the time you retire, the amount that you create over the years will be converted into a regular income stream. Retirement plans also involve death benefits. Thus, if the policyholder passes away during the course of the policy, their beneficiaries will be provided with an assured sum.

Child Insurance

A child insurance plan is a savings cum investment plan that provides financial protection for the child’s future upon the unfortunate demise of the policyholder. It is ideal for ensuring the future needs of the child are well taken care of, even in the absence of the life insured. Parents can invest in the best child insurance plans, in order to meet the financial requirements for their child’s education, marriage or to fulfil a multitude of other financial goals their child might have.

Group Insurance Plan

A group life insurance policy is a type of life insurance that covers a group of people inside a single insurance policy. Unlike individual life insurance policies, which cover one person for a period, group insurance covers a minimum of 10 members Employers, banks, corporates, and other homogeneous groups of persons can buy group Life Insurance policies for their employees and customers. While employers would want to offer financial protection to their employees' families banks and lending institutions aim to keep the debt off the borrowers’ family after their death.

1.The plan under which the group is covered is called the Master Plan.
2.The policy is issued to the manager of the group (master) but will remain in the name of the group only.

For example, Ram is the manager of a firm, to protect his employees, he has taken a group insurance policy. Now the policy will be issued to Ram in the name of the firm. One of the distinct features of these life insurance policies is that you get insurance till the time you are part of the group. If you leave the group, your cover ceases to exist.

Savings and Investment Plan

Savings and investment plans from life insurance are the plans which channel your regular savings into long-term investment goals. iSelect Guaranteed Future is a life insurance cum savings plan that offers a life cover along with guaranteed maturity benefits. With this, you can plan your investments so that you can achieve your life goals smoothly. You can also protect your financial goal with a premium protection option. This option allows the planned investments to continue even after your demise.