Life Insurance - Meaning

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. Here, at ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, you pay premiums for a specific term and in return, we provide you with a Life Cover. This Life Cover secures your loved ones’ future by paying a lump sum amount in case of an unfortunate event. In some policies, you are paid an amount called Maturity Benefit at the end of the policy term.

There are two basic types of Life Insurance plans -

  1. 1. Pure Protection
  2. 2. Protection and Savings

 

What is Pure Protection Plan?

A Pure Protection plan is designed to secure your family’s future by providing a lump sum amount, in your absence.

What is Protection and Savings Plan?

A Protection and Savings plan is a financial tool that helps you plan for your long-term goals like purchasing a home, funding your children’s education, and more, while offering the benefits of a Life Cover.

Click here to know more about different types of Life Insurance Plans.

Factors that affect life insurance premium

Now that you know what is life insurance and why you need it, find out the factors that can affect the life insurance premium:

  • Age:

    One of the prime factors that affect the premium for a life insurance plan is your age. The life insurance premium is lower for younger people and gradually increases with age
  • Gender:

    Studies have shown women live longer than men1. Therefore, the life insurance premium is lower for women as compared to men
  • Health conditions:

    Your present and past health conditions can determine the premium for your life insurance plan. If you have any pre-existing illnesses or have suffered from an illness in the past that may resurface or affect your present health, you would be charged a higher premium
  • Family health history:

    The chances of suffering from a disease that runs in your family are considerably high. So, if any hereditary illnesses run in your family, you may have to pay a higher premium
  • Smoking and drinking alcohol:

    Lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking alcohol can impact your health and lead to multiple health issues. Therefore, insurance companies charge a high premium for individuals who smoke or drink alcohol
  • Type of coverage:

    The type of coverage you opt for can increase or decrease the life insurance plan’s premium. If you add any riders to your plan, the premium would increase. A longer policy term can also result in a higher premium compared to a shorter term. In addition to this, the type of life insurance plan you select also impacts the premium. For instance, term life insurance is the most affordable form of life insurance
  • Amount of coverage:

    A higher sum assured would result in a higher premium and vice versa
  • Occupation:

    If you work in a high-risk job, the premium for your life insurance plan would be higher than others. For example, if you work in construction or if your job puts you at any kind of risk, such as regular exposure to chemicals, the insurance company will charge a higher premium

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What are the benefits of having Life Insurance?

Life insurance can offer several benefits to you and your loved ones, including the following:

  • Financial Security

  • When you buy a life insurance policy, the insurance company charges a premium in exchange for providing financial security to your beneficiaries in case of an unfortunate event of death. The proceeds from life insurance can be used by the beneficiaries as an income replacement to cover day-to-day expenses.

  • Wealth Creation

  • Some life insurance plans offer you the option to invest and grow your money. This enables you to stay financially prepared for your future needs. Life insurance can offer good returns and income.

  • Tax benefits

  • Life insurance plans offer multiple tax$ benefits. The premiums paid towards a life insurance plan are deductible up to ₹ 1.5 lakh per annum under Section 80C$ and the maturity benefits are also tax-free subject to conditions prescribed under Section 10(10D)$ of The Income Tax Act, 1961.

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Let us understand some commonly used terms in Life Insurance:

  • Life Assured: It is the person who is covered under the insurance policy
  • Proposer: It is the person who pays the premiums of the policy. For example: If you have bought the policy for yourself, then you are both the Life Assured as well as the Proposer. Similarly, if you purchase an insurance policy for a family member, then you are the proposer and the family member is the Life Assured.
  • Nominee or Beneficiary: It is the person you appoint at the time of buying the policy to receive the benefits of your insurance policy, in your absence.
  • Insurer: The insurance company that sells the life insurance policy is called the Insurer (for example, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance).
  • Life Cover: It is the amount that the Insurer will pay to your Nominee in case of an unfortunate event.
  • Maturity Benefit: For Protection + Savings policies, the Insurer pays a certain lump sum of money on completion of the policy term. This amount is known as the Maturity Amount.
  • Premium: A premium is the amount you pay to the insurer for receiving the benefits of the insurance policy. These payments can be made on a regular basis throughout the policy duration, for a limited number of years or just once, as per the options available under the policy you choose.
  • Premium Payment Term: The number of years for which you pay the premiums is known as the Premium Payment Term.
  • Policy Term: The number of years for which the Life Cover continues.

Let us understand how Life Insurance works:

In today's era, having a life insurance policy is a must for every individual as it is one of the best ways to secure one's future along with their loved ones. There are many different types of life insurance policies available in the market. However, before choosing one, it is important to understand how a life insurance policy works. Let us look at an example to understand how life insurance works:

Now, let’s see an example:

Mr. Kumar (Life Assured) pays ICICI Prudential Life Insurance (Insurer) an annual amount (Premium) over 5 years (Premium Payment Term) to make sure that his wife (Nominee) gets a certain assured sum of money (Life Cover) in case of an unfortunate event during the 10 years or Lumpsum amount at maturity on survival at the end of policy term.

Life insurance not only covers the risk arising due to an unfortunate event, but also gives you additional benefits like tax benefits, savings and wealth creation over a period of time. The right life insurance plan from a trusted company can help one get long-term risk cover plus savings, i.e. dual benefits from one solution.

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1. Is life insurance worth buying?

Yes, life insurance is a worthy purchase. Anybody with financial dependents will find the benefits of buying life insurance attractive. In case of the demise of the only income earner, a life insurance policy becomes a financial safety net that helps your loved ones pay for expenses such as a loan, childcare, education, health, and many other everyday bills. Life insurance is an affordable way to financially protect the people you love most.

2. How to claim life insurance after death?

It is a simple process. You can report your claims online, at our branches, central office, via SMS, e-mail or through our call center as per your convenience. Physical documents will be required to be sent to the nearest branch to start the process. The documents needed are:
  • Claimant's statement form - Download Form
  • For Lender Borrower Group (only for Credit Life policies) - claimant's statement / claim intimation form - Download Form
  • For Affinity / Employer-Employee Group - claimant's statement / claim intimation form - Download Form
  • Original Policy Document
  • Copy of death certificate issued by Local Municipal Authority
  • Copy of claimant's photo identification proof and current address proof - List of Photo ID and Current Address Proof
  • Cancelled cheque/ Copy of bank passbook
  • Copy of medico legal cause of death certificate
  • Medical records (admission notes, discharge/ death summary, indoor case papers, test reports, etc.)
  • Prior medical records of insured/ Life assured
  • Medical attendant's/ hospital certificate issued by doctor - Download Form 
  • Certificate from employer (for salaried individuals) - Download Form 
In addition, below Documents required for Accidental/ Suicidal Death
  • Post Mortem Report and chemical viscera report
  • FIR/ Panchnama/ Inquest Report and final investigation report
  • Copy of driving license if Life Assured was driving the vehicle at the time of accident (applicable if 'Accident and Disability Benefit Rider' is opted)

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Next, our claims department/team will assess the claim and inform in case any further documents need to be submitted. Once your claim is intimated and the life insurance company receives all the relevant approvals and then settle all the valid claims through cheque or Electronic Clearance System (ECS)

3. How many beneficiaries can be on a life insurance policy?

There is no limit on the number of beneficiaries you can add to your policy. However, if the insured has a will and it specifies who the amount of the insurance benefit should go to after he/she passes away, then the benefit will go to the person mentioned in the will irrespective of the mentioned nominee.

4. How long does it take to get life insurance amount after a death?

  • We offer Claim For Sure. It guarantees death claim settlement in 1 day*. It offers quick and hassle-free claims service when your family needs it the most. It also pays interest# on claim amount on every day of delay beyond one working day.
To avail Claim For Sure
  • Policies that have been active for 3 consecutive years^
  • All Mandatory claims documents** are submitted at branch
  • Total claim amount of all the life policies held by the Life Assured <= ₹ 1.5 Crore
  • Claim does not require any on- ground investigation
  • Working day will be counted as Monday to Friday##
Our Claims Settlement Ratio for FY2021-22 is 97.8%~

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* 1 Day is a working day, counted from the date of receipt of all relevant documents from the claimant, additional information sought by the Company and any clarification received from the claimant. The Company will be calling the claimants for verification of information submitted by the Claimant which will also be considered as part of relevant documents..

## Working day will be counted as Monday to Friday and excluding National holidays /Bank holidays/Public holidays.

$Tax benefit of ₹ 54,600 (₹ 46,800 u/s 80C & ₹ 7,800 u/s 80D) is calculated at highest tax slab rate of 31.2% (including Cess excluding surcharge) on life insurance premium u/s 80C of ₹ 1,50,000 and health premium u/s 80D of ₹ 25,000. Tax benefits under the policy are subject to conditions under Section 80C, 80D, 10(10D), 115BAC and other provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Goods and Services Tax and Cesses, if any, will be charged extra as per prevailing rates. Tax laws are subject to amendments made thereto from time to time. Please consult your tax advisor for more details.

# Interest shall be at the bank rate that is prevalent at the beginning of the financial year in which death claim has been received. In case of breach in regulatory turnaround time, interest will be paid as per IRDAI regulations.

** Mandatory documents to be submitted at Branch Office- Claimant statement form, Original policy certificate, Copy of death certificate issued by local authority, AML KYC documents- Nominee’s recent photograph ,Copy of Nominee’s pan card, Nominee’s current address proof, photo identity proof, Cancelled cheque/ Copy of bank passbook, Copy of medico legal cause of death, Medical records (Admission notes, Discharge / Death summary, Test reports, etc.), For accidental death - Copy of FIR, Panchnama, Inquest report, Postmortem report, Driving license.

^ All due premiums in the policy have been paid and the policy has been active for 3 consecutive years preceding life assured’s death.

Under ULIP policies, if claim is submitted prior to 3 pm then the claim will be considered under Claim For Sure on the same day. If claim is submitted post 3pm or if the policy is inactive at the time of claim notification then the claim will be considered under Claim For Sure the next day as per availability of NAV.

1 Why do women live longer than men? - https://ourworldindata.org/why-do-women-live-longer-than-men.

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