As the collective standard of living of society has risen, so have expenses involved in maintaining this very lifestyle. Accompanying this is the ever-rising costs associated with healthcare. These are uncertain times we are presently living in. The 2nd wave of the Coronavirus pandemic which has taken the country by storm has only compounded the sense of uncertainty faced by all presently. By availing of a form of financial protection, individuals can have some form of coverage should the need arise. Term insurance plans are therefore viable as they seek to provide insured individuals with a financial safety net.

What is term insurance and how does it work?

Term insurance falls under the umbrella of life insurance and is in fact one of the affordable types of life insurance available in the market. Those who seek out this form of insurance select a policy term within which they’d like to avail for a certain coverage and pay a premium. This premium paid varies and depends upon the sum assured sought after by the insured individual and other conditions which we will talk about later in this article. In the event that this individual dies within the specified time frame mentioned in their term plan, their beneficiaries/ nominees are entitled to a death benefit which is paid for by the insurance company. Individuals seeking to purchase term insurance can take advantage of a term insurance premium calculator which helps provide them with an estimate of what their premium ought to be. They are required to submit information pertaining to their age, gender, medical history, lifestyle preferences, current income, the anticipated annual rise in income, and anticipated retirement details in order for the calculator to provide them with an estimate.

Types of term insurance payouts

As established earlier, term insurance premiums vary. Insured individuals are tasked with paying them on a regular basis which may be according to a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or annual frequency. Death benefits awarded to the insured individuals’ beneficiaries/nominees may be allocated in a number of ways. The insured individual makes the decision of how they want the payouts to be, when they purchase their term insurance policy.

For the most part, term insurance payouts can be categorized as follows –

1. One-time lump sum pay-out

Should insured individuals avail of this form of a payout, their beneficiaries/ nominees receive all the money owed by the insurance company in a single payment.

2. One-time lump sum payment in addition to fixed monthly pay-outs

Here, the beneficiary/nominee avails part of the sum assured as a single lump-sum payment. Additionally, the insurance company is obligated to give them monthly payments for the next few years or as is dictated by the insured individual when they first purchased the policy. This form of a payment scheme is useful as the beneficiaries/ nominees can use this additional monthly payment to fund their daily expenses.

3. One-time lump sum payment in addition to increasing monthly pay-outs

Under this form of term insurance payout, beneficiaries are entitled to a single lump-sum payment at the time of the insured individual’s death which is the entire sum assured amount. In addition to this, they are paid sums of money that increase with each year that passes for a specified period of time which the insured individual determined at the time of purchasing this form of insurance. Such payouts are subject to policy terms and conditions.

Which type of term insurance payout you may choose and why?

Individuals must consider a number of factors prior to considering what their term insurance payout ought to be.

• For those who are in the prime of their lives, young and not married, a term insurance plan most appropriate for them would be one that awards their beneficiary/ nominees with a single lump-sum payout. Funds paid by the insurance company can go a long way in contributing to any pre-existing loans one might have acquired as a part of funding their education or that their parents might have acquired on their behalf.
• For those who are married and aren’t tied down by any children, a term insurance plan most appropriate would be one that awards their beneficiary/nominee with monthly payouts specified for a fixed period of time. At this stage in life, it is not out of the ordinary to incur expenses that arise as a result of running a household. Some expenses might need to be funded with the aid of a loan. Funds provided by the term insurance coverage could serve as a replacement to an income in the event that the insured individual dies.
• For those who are married and have young children, a term insurance plan most appropriate would be one that awards their beneficiary/nominee with a lump sum payment in addition to increasing monthly payouts specified for a fixed period of time. Once people have children, their worlds begin to orbit around them and parents strive to provide them with the best opportunities such that they can maximize their potential. In the event that the insured individual dies, these payments would allow the beneficiary/ nominees to pay any financial liabilities that might have existed. They may also be used to cover any expenses that arise on a daily basis and go hand-in-hand in raising a child such as school fees, grocery bills, utility bills, and so on.
• For those who are parents to children in the final years of school, a term insurance plan most appropriate would be one that awards their beneficiary /nominee with a lump sum payment in addition to increasing monthly payouts specified for a fixed period of time. At this point in time, saving funds for children’s education becomes a priority as it can be expensive. In the event that the insured individual dies, the beneficiaries /nominees can use these payments to foot numerous bills ranging from those that arise on a daily basis as well as larger expenses like university fees.
• Individuals nearing retirement are advised to avail of a term insurance plan which provides life coverage in addition to an increasing monthly payout specified for a fixed period of time. This form of a payout would allow individuals to create a retirement fund and can be used to look after the spouse in the event that the insured individual dies.

Conclusion

Investing in term insurance can provide you and your loved ones with a financial safety net which is much needed during these challenging and uncertain Covid-19 times. Term insurance plans could provide financial security to one in case any uncertainty were to arise. Remember that a term insurance premium calculator is available freely online that can be used to ascertain an estimated premium one should pay based on their desired sum assured.

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