We all know that when buying a term insurance plan we should choose an optimal level of sum assured based on our requirements. The optimal level of sum assured should be determined based on our income-expenses schedule, the assets we have, the liabilities we owe and the financial goals we have in our life. But, does our financial situation stay the same?
Our financial situation is dynamic. It changes with our life stages and age. Moreover, even the rate of inflation necessitates a higher coverage level in later years of life. As such, estimating the correct amount of sum assured needed for a term life insurance plan might prove difficult. What if you need a higher cover later on in life?
An increasing term l insurance plan comes to your rescue in these situations. Do you know about the plan?
As the name suggests, an increasing term insurance plan is a term insurance plan wherein the sum assured chosen on plan commencement increases every year by a specified amount. It is just opposite to the decreasing term insurance plan.
The premium rate might or might not remain same throughout the plan tenure. However, the coverage allowed under the plan depends on the health of the insured at the time of buying the policy.
Increasing term insurance is typically designed keeping inflation and other changing circumstances in life in mind.
While this is the simplest and the most basic definitions of an increasing term insurance plan, the plan actually has many features, which include the following:
So much for the plan’s definition and some important features, an increasing term insurance plan can be fully understood only through an example. So, here is an illustration of an increasing term insurance plan –
Example – Anil, aged 40 years, buys an increasing term insurance plan for a sum assured of Rs.20 lakhs. He chooses the plan tenure of 30 years. The plan allows a 5% simple rate of increase in the sum assured at the beginning of every year up to a maximum increase of 200% of the original sum assured.
Here’s is how his sum assured would increase during the plan tenure –
| Policy Term | Applicable Sum assured |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Rs.20 lakhs |
| Year 2 | Rs.21 lakhs |
| Year 3 | Rs.22 lakhs |
| Year 4 | Rs.23 lakhs |
| Year 5 | Rs.24 lakhs |
| Year 6 | Rs.25 lakhs |
| Year 7 | Rs.26 lakhs |
| Year 8 | Rs.27 lakhs |
| Year 9 | Rs.28 lakhs |
| Year 10 | Rs.29 lakhs |
| Year 11 | Rs.30 lakhs |
| Year 12 | Rs.31 lakhs |
| Year 13 | Rs.32 lakhs |
| Year 14 | Rs.33 lakhs |
| Year 15 | Rs.34 lakhs |
| Year 16 | Rs.35 lakhs |
| Year 17 | Rs.36 lakhs |
| Year 18 | Rs.37 lakhs |
| Year 19 | Rs.38 lakhs |
| Year 20 | Rs.39 lakhs |
| Year 21 onwards till Year 30 | Rs.40 lakhs |
From the 22nd policy year there would be no further increment in the sum assured as the maximum allowed increase is up to Rs.40 lakhs which has been attained in the 21st policy year itself.
If Anil dies in the 15th policy year, Rs.34 lakhs would be paid as the death benefit. However, if Anil dies any time after the 21st policy year, Rs.40 lakhs would be paid as sum assured.
An increasing term insurance plan is suitable for you if you are young and expect your responsibilities to increase in the future. The plan would increase the sum assured to pay for your increased responsibilities in future. Moreover, if you want a plan which pays a benefit which corresponds to the economic inflation, an increasing term life insurance plan is your go to plan. So, assess your needs and, if suitable, choose an increasing term insurance plan.
Given the advantages of an increasing term insurance plan and its suitability, you must be wondering about the availability of increasing term insurance plans in the Indian insurance market. Well, there are a handful of plans available in the market. Here is a list –
| Name of the plan | Allowed sum assured Limits | Rate of increase in the sum assured | Salient features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birla Sun Life Insurance Protect @ Ease | Rs.30 lakhs and above | 5% or 10% simple rate of increase in the sum assured at the start of every year | |
| Birla Sun Life Protector Plus Plan | Rs.30 lakhs and above | 5% or 10% simple rate of increase in the sum assured at the start of every year | |
| SBI Life Smart Shield | Rs.25 lakhs and above | 5% simple rate of increase in the sum assured at the start of every year | |
| SBI Life eShield Plan | Rs.20 lakhs and above | 10% simple rate of increase in the sum assured after every 5 policy years |
Term insurance is a contract between the insurance company & you. According to this contract, in case of your death, your family will receive a large cover amount. This cover amount is decided based on the yearly premium you pay & also many other factors. The reason you need to buy health insurance is because life is uncertain. You might be the sole breadwinner of the house. You might also have car, bike or home loans on you. In case, anything happens to you, term insurance will take care of your family financially, in your absence.
Generally, the term insurance plan's premium during the time when you buy the policy remains the same throughout the tenure of the policy. However, the premium might increase if you add more add-on rider policies for an extensive coverage.
Yes, it's legal in India that a person can have multiple term insurance policies.
