Life insurance has always been considered an essential financial tool. However, not many people know that there are several types of life insurance products. Each of these can be helpful in their own unique ways. While some provide protection to the chief earning member’s family, others can be seen as an investment or retirement tool.

Here are the different types of life insurance plans and their features and benefits, so you can pick the most suitable one:

1. Term Insurance Plans

Term insurance protects your family’s financial future if something were to happen to you. Designed as a simple and affordable way to give financial cover, a term plan is a vital part of financial planning for the primary wage earner in a family.

Term insurance is a pure protection plan and is not market-linked. Moreover, the premiums for term insurance are lower as compared to any other life insurance product. The premiums are also more affordable if you buy them early in life. Experts often suggest that term plan should be a priority for you as soon as you start earning.

Term insurance can be used for various purposes. In the absence of an income, your family can use the cover from the insurance to pay for their day to expenditure, education costs, or wedding expenses. If you have any outstanding debts, such as home loan, car loan, etc., your family can pay them off with the cover.

Some term plans also give you the option to add riders, like critical illness^{^} coverage (providing a lump sum for the treatment of specified critical ailments) and accidental death benefit⁺ (paid over and above the sum assured in the unfortunate event of death due to an accident). These riders can provide you and your family with an extra layer of protection at a nominal increase in the premium.

Let’s understand with an example. A 25-year-old Fatima wants ₹ 1 crore term insurance till she turns 60. She buys ICICI Pru iProtect Smart Term Plan with an annual premium of ₹ 9225 for a premium paying term of 35 years and with the regular income payout option. She also buys ₹ 50 lakhs accidental death cover (premium: ₹ 3540) and ₹ 50 lakhs critical illness cover (premium: ₹ 7657). So, the total premium for this comprehensive package turns out to be less than ₹ 63 a day or ₹ 20422 a year for Fatima, inclusive of all taxes.

2. ULIPs – Unit Linked Insurance Plans

A unit linked insurance plan (ULIP) is a combination of insurance and investment. A ULIP provides life cover that offers financial protection for your loved ones. In addition to this, it also gives you the potential to create wealth through market-linked returns from systematic investments.

A ULIP offers you the opportunity to invest your money in different fund options, depending on your risk appetite. ULIPs come with a 5-year lock-in period, and the money can be invested in bonds, equities, hybrid funds, etc. If you are looking for safer options, bonds can be a good choice. On the other hand, if you are open to more risk, hybrid funds and equities have the potential to offer better returns.

Since each individual is different, ULIPs allow great flexibility for investment. Your risk appetite and investment preferences are likely to change with age. ULIPs permit you to take these factors into consideration and alter your investment strategy accordingly.

ULIPs also provide flexibility in terms of partial withdrawals and fund-switching. They offer interesting benefits like loyalty additions and wealth boosters to help you generate more wealth over time. Additionally, the maturity amount from ULIPs is tax-free^* subject to Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act of 1961.

Let’s understand with an example. Ritesh is a 30-year-old male who purchased the ICICI Pru LifeTime Classic Plan with a policy term of 20 years. He decided to pay ₹ 5000 per month as a premium for 20 years. The life cover for this plan was ₹ 3.6 lakhs. On maturity, Ritesh will get returns according to the performance of the funds he had invested in. This implies that the maturity benefit at a 4% return would be ₹ 9.05 lakhs and at an 8% return would be ₹ 13.9 lakhs. In the case of Ritesh's unfortunate demise, his nominee will receive the death benefit as a lump sum payout.

*On Maturity, you will receive an amount which is higher of Assured Benefit or fund value. Assured Benefit will be 101% of total premium paid, which is applicable only on maturity of the policy and does not apply on death or surrender.

3. Endowment Insurance Plans

Endowment plans are ideal for people who want guaranteed returns along with the protection of life insurance. An endowment plan is a life insurance policy that provides life coverage along with an opportunity to save regularly. This enables you to receive a lump sum amount on the maturity of the policy. In case of death during the policy term, your nominee(s) also receives a death benefit.

Just like ULIPs, endowment plans are quite flexible too. You can choose a suitable method and time frame to pay the premium. Endowment plans also give you a chance to benefit from bonuses, that are paid additionally over and above the sum assured of your policy.

Lastly, the returns generated on maturity from an endowment plan are tax-free^* subject to Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act of 1961. The premiums paid can also be claimed as a deduction under Section 80C^* of the same Act.

Let’s understand with an example. Mohit, aged 35, buys ICICI Pru Savings Suraksha Plan for a policy term of 20 years and a premium paying term of 10 years. He pays an annual premium of ₹ 30,000 and has a sum assured of ₹ 3 lakh. At an 8% return, the maturity benefit would be ₹ 7.21 lakhs. At a 4% return, his estimated maturity benefit, including guaranteed additions, and terminal bonus, will be ₹ 4.47 lakhs.

4. Money Back Insurance Plans

A money back plan is a life insurance policy where the insured person gets a percentage of sum assured at steady intervals. Since you save regularly, the money back plan rewards you regularly. In simple words, a money back plan is an endowment plan with the benefit of increased liquidity with systematic payouts. Money back plans are designed to help you meet your short-term financial goals. The money back feature can add to your monthly or yearly income.

The regular pay-outs, which are tax-free subject to Section 10(10D)^* of the Income Tax Act of 1961 makes the process of investing highly rewarding. This is because you can benefit from the policy with immediate effect. For instance, with the ICICI Pru Cash Advantage Plan, as soon as your premium payment term ends, you start receiving money at regular intervals. These payouts are called Guaranteed Cash Benefits (GCB).

Money back plans also have a maturity benefit. So, you get a lump sum payout at maturity that can be used to secure your future or help you fulfil your family’s dreams.

In addition to the above features, the insurance component of a money back plan allows you to lead a stress-free life. Such plans secure the financial future of your loved ones, even in your absence. Hence, with a money back policy, you can get all-round protection for yourself and your family. In case of an unfortunate event during the policy term, your family will also receive a lump sum amount. Moreover, if you survive the term, you can get regular payouts along with lump sum benefits. Returns generated from money back plans are also tax-free^* subject to Section 10 (10D) of the Income Tax Act of 1961.

Flexibility is another important component of money back plans and you can choose how to pay the premium as per your suitability.

Let’s understand with an example. Anshul is a 35-year-old corporate employee who was recently blessed with a baby boy. He understands his responsibilities towards his son’s education and wants to protect his child’s future against all possible adversities. Keeping in mind these requirements, he buys the ICICI Pru Cash Advantage Plan with a premium paying term of 10 years and an annual premium of ₹ 50,000. His policy benefits include a guaranteed cash benefit of ₹ 30,447 per annum, a guaranteed maturity benefit of ₹ 2.64 lakhs, and additional bonuses of ₹ 1.08 lakhs (at 4% return) that can be used for his son's education expenses. Anshul can also benefit from a life cover of ₹ 5 lakhs for himself for the next 20 years.

5. Whole Life Insurance Plans

A whole life insurance plan is a life insurance policy that gives you life coverage for 99 years. Unlike other policies that have a relatively shorter term of 10-30 years, the long coverage period of such plans ensures protection for your family for an extended period of time.

With coverage of up to 99 years, whole life insurance is ideal for those who have financial dependents even in their old age. The biggest advantage of this product is that not only does it provide lifelong protection to the insured but also provides a simple way to leave behind a legacy for their children.

Whole insurance plans offer a lot of stability. After paying the premiums for 5 years, you get a guaranteed income on maturity. Moreover, the income received from a whole life insurance policy is tax-free^* subject to Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act of 1961.

Whole life insurance policies are beneficial for those who want to leave a financial legacy for their legal heirs. In the case of death of the policy holder during the term, the nominee receives the policy benefits, including a bonus for the total premiums paid.

Let’s understand with an example. 35-year-old Badrinath invests ₹ 1,00,000 per year in the ICICI Pru Lakshya Lifelong Plan for a period of 10 years and chooses a policy term of 64 years. Badrinath pays ₹ 10 lakhs as premium and qualifies to get ₹ 1,50,000 lakhs at the age of 50. Post this, he will continue to receive income in the form of guaranteed income and cash bonus every year until the policy matures. On the day of maturity, he will receive the remaining income as a lump sum. However, an important thing to note is that the amounts received each year will depend on the rate of return and the future performance of the insurer.

6. Child Insurance Plans

Children deserve the best, and a child insurance plan helps to build a corpus for your child’s future. A child plan is one of the most vital financial planning tools for parents. These plans can help you build a significant sum for your child’s education and marriage expenses.

A child plan provides maturity benefits either in the form of annual instalments or as a one-time payout after the child turns 18. There is also in-built insurance coverage for the parent. Protection is an important part of a child plan because the premium is paid by the parent. In case of an unfortunate event where the insured parent passes away during the policy term, child plans can give immediate payment to cover a child’s expenses.

One of the most important features of a child plan is that it allows you to choose how and where your money is invested. The premium you pay is invested in your choice of equity, debt, or balanced funds. ULIP child plans also ensure that, over time, your returns are adequate to counter inflation. As compared to fixed return avenues that often fail to beat inflation, child plans allow plenty of room for rising costs. You can also choose from a collection of fund options to invest and switch between them without worrying about their tax^* implications. ULIP child plans offer dual tax savings. This includes benefits on premiums paid under Section 80C^* and the maturity proceeds under Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act of 1961 subject to conditions provided therein.

Child plans also offer loyalty additions and wealth boosters that add to your overall savings. Moreover, you can either pay regular premiums or a single premium, based on your capacity. You can also use these plans as an emergency fund and make withdrawals from your investment on the completion of 5 policy years. Lastly, child plans allow you to get wider coverage with critical illness and accidental death benefits.

Let’s understand with an example. Tina, a 30-year-old new parent, invests in the ICICI Pru SmartKid Plan for her daughter. She selects a premium of ₹ 5,000 every month and chooses a policy term of 18 years. With an 8% expected return, she can get ₹ 24.16 lakhs after 18 years. Similarly, at a 4% expected return, she can get ₹ 15.83 lakhs after 18 years.

7. Retirement Insurance Plans

Retirement plans are designed to help you build a sizeable corpus for your post-retirement days. They help you gain financial independence in your non-working years. A retirement plan allows you to save and invest for the long-term, thereby offering the potential to accumulate a significant amount of wealth. Since retirement plans offer insurance benefits, you can also ensure financial security for your loved ones by investing in these plans.

Retirement plans give you the opportunity to get potentially better returns. This is done by investing your money in a mix of equity and debt. Moreover, the money you get on maturity is tax-free^* subject to Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act of 1961. Retirement plans also allow you to move your money between funds tax-free^*.

Tax Benefits on Types of Life Insurance

Below are the tax benefits of different types of insurance in India:

Section 80D

If your life insurance policy includes riders that are for medical purposes, such as critical illness rider, heart and cancer rider, then you can enjoy tax^* benefits under Section 80D of The Income Tax Act, 1961. For individuals below 60 years, deductions for self, spouse and children amount to ₹ 25,000, while the same for parents is ₹ 25,000. This brings the total to ₹ 50,000 per annum. For individuals above 60 years, tax deductions for self, spouse and children amount to ₹ 50,000, while the same for parents is ₹ 50,000. This brings the total tax deduction to ₹ 1 lakh per annum under this section.

Section 80C

You can claim a deduction on the premiums paid under the policy. You are eligible for deduction of up to ₹ 1.5 lakh under Section 80C of The Income Tax Act, 1961.

Section 10(10D)

Any proceeds received, which can include sum assured, surrender values, and bonuses, by the policyholder or nominee of an insurance policy, enjoy exemption subject to conditions laid under Section 10(10D) of The Income Tax, 1961.

Conclusion

Now that you have learnt about the different types of life insurance policies, you can make a more informed decision on which plan would be the most suitable for you and your family. You can check out the different types of online life insurance policies offered by ICICI Prudential Life Insurance here.

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