What is Term Insurance?

Term insurance is a type of life insurance product that provides a large sum assured to the policy buyer at a relatively affordable premium. Term insurance plans can usually be purchased for a policy tenure ranging anywhere between 5 years and 40 years. The catch to this kind of life insurance is that usually it does not carry any survival or maturity benefits, unlike whole life policies or endowment/money-back policies. Term insurance plans are much cheaper compared to whole life insurance plans because these plans carry no cash value. Term insurance plans provide pure financial protection benefits. This means that if the life insured dies during the policy term, the beneficiary will receive the death benefit, provided all premiums are paid and the policy is in force. If the person survives until the end of the policy term, no benefits are payable to anyone. In most cases, term insurance plans offer a level premium rate, wherein the policyholder is charged the same premium for the duration of the policy tenure. However, in such cases the premium payable will increase during renewal of the policy based on the concerned individual’s age at the time. While the coverage provided by a term insurance policy is more or less fixed, most life insurance providers offer a number of riders that policy buyers can choose to purchase along with a term policy.