Which are the Top 5 Best Online Term Insurance Plans in India 2020? What is the claim settlement ratio of these best term insurance plans? Let us choose the best term insurance plans in India by comparison with charts.
We have around 24 Life Insurance Companies and as of now, all insurance companies offer online term insurance plans. Hence, it is hard to shortlist the BEST among them. This post will help you in shortlisting the Top 5 Best Online Term Insurance Plans in India 2020.
Term Insurance is the type of Life Insurance. If death occurs of the policyholder during the policy period, then his/her nominee will receive the Sum Assured selected. If policyholder survives till the end of the policy period, then he/she will not receive any maturity amount.
This is the reason, these policies cost you very less and cover a large amount of life risk. This is the PURE LIFE INSURANCE. Hence, anyone who has financial dependents must buy this product immediately.
However, nowadays there are so many variants in Term Life Insurance. For example, the return of premium, Term Life Insurance up to 100 years of age, a variety of riders and a variety of claim payable options.
But instead of complicating your dependents, buy a simple plain term life insurance. Why you complicate your dependents when you are buying this is that this product’s benefit will come into picture when you are not here.
Nowadays all Life Insurance companies offer you online term insurance plans. The advantages of online term plans are as below.
# It is convenient to buy as with the click of a button you can buy it.
# As there will not be any middlemen involved, the price is cheap than offline term insurance plans.
# You fill the proposal form on your own. Hence, an error of margin is LESS.
# Undue influence by agents is not there.
# Along with the discount of DIRECT purchase, if you buy through online then now life insurance companies will give you 8% on your FIRST YEAR PREMIUM. This is to promote cashless online transactions.
Now let us shortlist the Top 5 Best Online Term Insurance Plans in India 2020. How I selected the Top 5 Best Online Term Insurance Plans in India 2020?
# How old are the companies
# Claim Settlement Ratio
# Premium Cost
# Plan Features.
Below is the chart which explains the age of all life insurance companies. I am comfortable with the company which is at least 15 years old.
You noticed that among 24 companies, around 14 companeis are around 15 years old. Hence, let us concentrate on these 14 companies. It does not mean that those who are less than 15 years are not trustworthy. However, I feel comfortable with the well eshtablished companies than exploring with new companies. After all Life Insurance is a long term contract.
I have already written a detailed post on this at “IRDA Claim Settlement Ratio 2018-19 | Best Life Insurance Company in 2020“.
However, for the better understanding purpose, I am putting the data again in this post.
You notice that among total 24 Life Insurance Companies, around 20 companies are in GREEN (Claim Settlement Ratio above 95%). Earlier it was 11 companies. Only three companies are in yellow (claim settlement ratio above 90% but below 95%) and one is in red (Less than 90%).
As usual, LIC tops the list. But don’t feel happy. Let us see the claim amount settled by individual companies to arrive at best companies.
As I said above, the claim settlement ratio will not give you a clear picture of which type of products the insurance companies settled. However, we can assume the types of products they settled by looking at the average claim settlement amount of Life Insurance Companies in 2018-19.
Here come the results !! LIC stands in lowest with red in colour along with Life Insurance Companies like Bajaj Allianz, Exide, Future Genereli, IDBI Federal, India First, Max Life, Reliance, Sahara, SBI Life, Shriram, Star Union. What is it indicating?
It shows that, even though LIC settled the highest number of claims, the majority of such claims are less than Rs.2,00,000 Sum Assured. Hence, it is indicating indirectly that LIC’s claim settlement is mainly in the category of Endowment Plans but not Term Insurance.
Now let us go deeper into IRDA Claim Settlement Ratio 2018-19 and try to analyze the how much amount of claims they rejected. Here, I calculated average amount as I don’t have data to check the maximum and minimum amount.
The results are as below.
You notice that Sahara’s claim rejection amount is ZERO. The reason is that IRDA Annual Report itself mentioning it as ZERO. Then comes the LIC. LIC’s claim rejection is less because the quantum of claims it handles is HIGH but value is less. So no need to say that LIC done a great job here along with other players. However, you notice that as usual HDFC and ICICI tops the list.
Hence, the moral of the story is that DON”T RELY TOO MUCH ON CLAIM SETTLEMENT RATIO ALONE!!
Based on the IRDA Claim Settlement Ratio 2018-19, which are the Top and Best Life Insurance Company in 2020? I select a few based on the above data. You may differ in my view and come up with a different set of ideas. But these are my choices.
Now I will consider these 5 Life Insurance Companies premium only to arrive at best. The Insurance Companies which I shortlisted are as below
Even you can consider companies like Bharti Axa or Tata AIA Life. However, I have to choose only five among 24 Life Insurance Companies. Hence, I have selected these 5 as per my choice and comfort with the companies.
Now I will consider an example of a person whose age is 30 years, Term of Plan as 30 years, Non-Smoker and healthy, Sum Assured Rs.1 Cr and yearly premium payment. I selected plain vanilla products without any riders or add-on features.
Many of you may be aware that last year LIC launched the new Term Plan by closing it’s old plan. I have written a complete details about this plan earlier and refer the same at “LIC’s Tech-Term (No.854) – Online Term Life Insurance Review”.
Now let us look at the plan features and decide which are the Top 5 Best Term Insurance Plans in India 2020.
Note:-Refer our latest mutual fund recommendations also at “Top 10 Best SIP Mutual Funds to invest in India in 2020“.
Claim Settlement Ratio is raw data. This data will not give you enough picture of what type of products the insurance companies settled. Hence, relying too much on this single data and selecting a product is not a good idea.
Ideally one must have at least 15-20 times of your yearly income. This is the basic calculation.
Sharing data especially materialistic information must be accurate. If you are unable to understand anything, then immediately contact Life Insurer for the help. Understand the questions and fill only when you know what you are filling.
Never budge on the decision which is against your wish. If you are fully comfortable, then only go ahead and buy.
Ideally, it should be up to your working life. Because you retire when you are financially free. Hence, Life Insurance is not required during your retirement age.
There are few who are apprehensive of relying on a single insurer. Hence, they try to split among few. But in reality, there is no logic in splitting. What is the guarantee that the all insurer will accept or reject the claim?
Never combine Life Insurance with General Insurance requirement. You will get better-featured covers from general insurers regarding accidental and critical illness covers. Hence, simply avoid riders.
Nowadays there are so many online aggregators. You may not know that they act exactly like insurance agents. Hence, never rely on their claim. Do your own research. If you are satisfied, then only go ahead and buy. Refer my post about the same “Beware of Insurance Comparison portals in India“.
After the recent clarification about Sec.45 of Insurance Act, the customer became king. It states “No policy of life insurance shall be called in question on any ground whatsoever after the expiry of three years from the date of the policy, i.e. from the date of issuance of the policy or the date of commencement of risk or the date of revival of the policy or the date of the rider to the policy, whichever is later.”
Refer the complete post at “Term Insurance-Claim Settlement Ratio no more a big criteria“.
Buying Life Insurance of Rs.1 Cr or Rs.3 Cr is not a one-time affair. You must review your life insurance requirement at least once in the 5 years. If required, then you must increase the sum assured.
In case of term insurance, you have to be very cautious when it comes to premium payment. It is always better to opt for yearly premium payment and also if possible make it automated by the way of ECS. If policy lapses due to your negligence, then you have to undergo medical tests and all kinds of stuff once again. If there are any health issues, then the insurer may reject to renew the policy.
Recently one of my blog readers pointed that few Life Insurance companies insisting just Telemedical Examination by questioning about your health details in the phone (Refer-Can I buy Term Life Insurance with Telemedical Verification?).
It may be the easiest process for you and for life insurance companies. However, I feel suspicious of such kind of medical examination. Because in future insurance companies may find 100000 reasons to reject the claim on health ground.
Instead, I suggest you to go for medical examination. This will really clear the dust or doubt in your mind about future claim settlement.
Final Note:-The list of “Top 5 Best Online Term Insurance Plans in India 2020” is my personal choice and comfort with insurance companies and by verifying features. However, it does not mean that my selection will be the UNIVERSAL selection.
Hence, if you have a different opinion from my selection, then it does not mean you are buying the wrong product. My only concern here is not to shortlist “Top 5 Best Online Term Insurance Plans in India 2020”, but to give the gyaan which you must take into consideration before you shortlist your term life insurance.
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View Comments
Hello Sir,
Hope you're doing well.
I have a question regarding life insurance for someone who's living outside India - can this person continue having a term policy in India which he/she is already paying for even before moving abroad? What are the tax or other implications in such cases? or what is the right thing to do as discontinuing the insurance and buying it after few years may become a very expensive option?
thanks much
Dear Isha,
Yes, they can continue. Tax implication for what? Better to continue.
Hi,
Thanks for information.
What you suggest? Some of the company are providing limited payment option.
Can we go for that?
Like Policy for Upto Age 75 and Premium payment term for 15 Years.
Dear Chirag,
Regular premium is the best option.
Dear Sir,
Please let me know if the payout of Term plan is taxable for the nominees?
Regards,
Yash
Dear Yash,
It is tax-free.
Dear Sir,
Your analysis is comprehensive and an eye opener.
I have question regarding 'Sec.45 of Insurance Act' and Telemedical Examination.
If Telemedical Examination was done during policy creation and pay annual premiums for 3 years.
Still is there any chance of policy being rejected during claim due to Telemedical Examination ?
Dear Bora,
Yes, they can reject if they found that you hid some information.
Hi Sir thanks for detailed post, i am planning to purchase Icici pru term plan and their premium is 12000++/yearly without any critical illness benefit? so what if i suffer from any critical illness or accidental death and i didnt get any benefit from the policy..??
Dear Harsha,
Death due to critical illness or accident is also covered as usual.
Dear sir ,
In term insurance policies it's written that Death Benefit is the highest of
1. 10 times the annualized premium
2. 105% of all the total premiums paid as on date of death
3. Sum Assured
As for any term policy highest is always Sum Assured.Then why they write this ?Pls elaborate
Dear Rupesh,
It is not only for term insurance but for all the policies the standard format. Hence, you no need to worry.
hi sir.... i like your content......i have seen the individual claim ratio of ICICI in IRDAI ANUUAL REPORT 2018-19 it shows zero..but you have mention average claim rejection amount ratio is too high...so please clear my doubt
Dear Nirmal,
Please check the report properly.
Dear Sir,
I have a HDFC life insurance term plan. HDFC click to protect plus 3D plan bought in 2018.
In this policy's proposal form I have not mentioned about my 2 personal accident policies and my 3 lapsed policies.
Because company's executive told me that mention only about my existing term plan.
Now, what to do ? Will this information effect on my policy in future ?
Please clear my doubt.
Dear Nilesh,
You no need to mention about accidental insurance products and also for the lapsed policies.
Hi sir,
Can I buy PNB TERM PLAN
Please suggest
Dear Ramachandra,
If you feel the features and premium affordable, then go ahead.
Hi basu, I had purchased HDFC life click to 3D plus term plan through online mode but they had not asked me to take any medical. My age was 27 & am healthy. Now should I concern about medical test. If so what implications does it may have in future claims ?
Dear Sravan,
Don't worry. If you disclosed the facts properly, then be calm :)
Hi basu, I have also made few mistakes.
1. I have a ULIP and is still active. I have not disclosed it. 2L worth
2. I also have SBI Life accidental insurance. I have not disclosed this too. 20L cover
I thought these are not term so no idea if I had to disclose. Now can I stop these two so that my disclosure will be correct. I am having 1cr cover in HDFC life simple vanilla from 2018.
Also should i buy any riders too ?
Am very much confused if I have to stop and restart a new policy. Now am 30 yrs old.
Dear Sravan,
Not disclosing ULIPs is a mistake but not accidental insurance.
Thanks basu, my ULIP is of 10 yr plan. I have already finished 8 yrs. It will be matured in 2 more years.. May I think After that My HDFC term declaration would be correct ?
What is the best solution I can do now. Please guide.
Dear Sravan,
My suggestion is to exit.
As per sec 45 of insurance act. I will be completing 3yrs by next year, so can I continue this policy if I stop these two existing policies ? Please guide.
Dear Sravan,
Exiting and retaining must be as per your requirement but not just because of Sec.45.