We are all busy with everyday chores and getting on with life and no one likes to consider the unthinkable. But… we all have loved ones for whom we’d like to make sure are financially secure in the event of our death.
Life insurance or life assurance is a contract between the policyholder and the insurer, where the insurer agrees to pay a sum of money upon the occurrence of the policyholder’s death. In return, the policyholder agrees to pay a stipulated amount called a premium at regular intervals.
As with most insurance policies, life assurance is a contract between the insurer and the policyholder whereby a benefit is paid to the designated Beneficiary (or Beneficiaries) if a claim occurs which is covered by the policy. To be a life policy the insured event must be based upon life (or lives) of the people named in the policy.
Insured events that may be covered include:
- Death;
- Accidental death;
- Sickness.
Life policies are legal contracts and the terms of the contract describe the limitations of the insured events. Specific exclusions are often written into the contract to limit the liability of the insurer; for example claims relating to suicide (after 2 years suicide has to be paid in full)(in India after one year Suicide is covered), fraud, war, riot and civil commotion.
Life based contracts tend to fall into two major categories:
- Protection policies - designed to provide a benefit in the event of specified event, typically a lump sum payment;
- Investment policies - where the main objective is to facilitate the growth of capital by regular or single premiums.