Term Insurance Vs Whole Life Insurance
When it comes to buying life insurance, neither there
is any dearth of plans nor are the insurance companies and their well meaning
agents shying of bombarding you up with options. Two of the most fundamental
life insurance plans are Term insurance and Whole life insurance. Knowledge
about the right insurance plan to buy for yourself can not only save you lot of
money but also give you the appropriate risk coverage.
What
is Term Life Insurance?
Term life insurance or term assurance is life
insurance which provides coverage at a fixed rate of payments for a limited
period of time, the relevant "term". After that period expires,
coverage at the previous rate of premiums is no longer guaranteed and the
client must either forgo coverage or potentially obtain further coverage with
different payments or conditions.
If the insured dies during the term, the death benefit
will be paid to the beneficiary. Term insurance is the least expensive way to
purchase a substantial death benefit on a coverage amount per premium dollar
basis over a specific period of time.
A few other salient features of Term insurance are:
1) Term insurance is usually least expensive
2) The first thing to be decided while buying a term
insurance is the sum assured. This is arrived after considering the lifestyle
and the current debts of the person taking it up. In the event of the death of
the person the sum assured could be used to repay the debt.
3) Term insurance does not give any maturity benefit
to the buyer.
What
is whole life insurance?
A whole life insurance policy serves as an investment
and offers protection for the entire life of a person or up to 100 years
whichever comes earlier.
The buyer of this policy pays a premium every year.
Out of this a portion will be for protection aspect and the remaining is
invested in the company. If a profit is made, the buyer will get a bonus on the
invested amount.
Also, the investment grows in value and is returned to
the buyer, normally at the value sum assured, if he chooses to withdraw or
surrender or lives till the maturity of the policy. In the case of death of the
buyer of the policy before the maturity period the nominee would be given the
sum assured.
Term
versus whole life
Usually, term insurance is a pure risk cover, and
allows you to separate your investments from risk coverage. It is the cheapest
form of insurance and therefore, if your immediate need is risk mitigation, go
for term insurance.
If it is likely that you may need coverage even after
30 years span (ie when your term insurance expires), then go for whole life
policy. Whole life insurance plans cover you for your entire life irrespective
of the age of your death (or till you attain 100). If you attain 100, you get
your sum assured in any case, while there is nothing in return in term
insurance.
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