Insurance penetration is approximately 4% in India, which is among the lowest across the world. Another reason for the lower penetration is that many people think life insurance is confusing with many available options. Some people consider life insurance expensive, wherein the premium can burn a hole in their pockets. A few others do not want to acknowledge the uncertainty of life or think of their family’s long-term financial future in their absence.
Moreover, there are various misconceptions about life insurance, which discourage people from investing in it. Before debunking the myths about insurance, let us first understand what term insurance is. A term plan is a pure life cover that benefits your nominees if something untoward happens with you during the policy’s duration. Here are five myths about term insurance that you must not believe:
1. As there are no survival benefits, term plans are a waste
Term plans pay the death benefit to your nominees in your untimely absence. This sum helps to ensure their financial security in unfortunate circumstances. However, these plans do not pay any survival or maturity benefits, so you may think the premiums paid for these are wasted. However, if you are the sole earning member of your family, your absence may result in monetary distress for your loved ones. Without term insurance benefits, your family may be unable to repay the debts and meet their regular expenses. Without term insurance benefits, your family may be unable to repay the debts and meet their everyday payments. Additionally, if you have any outstanding liability like a home loan or car loan, the responsibility of its repayment falls on your family when you are not with them.
2. Term plans are expensive
Traditional insurance policies like an endowment or money-back plan are costly, as these combine life coverage and investments. However, term plans are pure life covers among the most reasonable life insurance policies. You can easily avail of a higher sum assured (SA) at a nominal premium, especially when young and healthy.
3. SA should be equal to your annual income
This is another common myth that must be debunked. Your family would maintain a certain lifestyle when you do and require sufficient coverage. While calculating the SA, in addition to your current income, consider the rise in future expenses due to inflation, your family’s financial goals like children’s education, and any pending monetary obligations. Generally, the term insurance benefits should be 15 to 20 times your yearly earnings to secure your family’s economic well-being.
4. You do not need insurance at a young age
If you are young and single, you may have limited financial responsibilities. However, remember that your obligations will increase with age. The biggest advantage of buying term insurance for a younger generation is getting a higher SA at a cost-effective premium. So, it is advisable not to believe in this myth.
5. Buying term insurance is a long process
When you buy term insurance online, you finish the entire procedure quickly and without any hassles. Once you finalize the insurer, you can complete the online application form, the know-your-customer (KYC) process, and submit some basic documents to conclude the purchase. As the insurance company reduces its overheads and can save on the agent’s commission, you can buy term insurance online at a lower premium, giving you value. Insurers offer various term plans with several beneficial features. You can procure quotes from multiple insurers and compare the various policies to make your decision. Compare the different approaches to make an informed decision.
