Term insurance is one of the most affordable and popular forms of life insurance that provides financial protection to the policyholder’s family in case of an unexpected death. However, most standard-term insurance policies offer only basic coverage and may not be sufficient to meet the specific needs of an individual or their family.
Everybody’s financial and life planning must include a life insurance plan. In essence, it is designed to safeguard your family’s finances in the case of your passing. However, life insurance policies also have a variety of other uses, such as term insurance tax benefits, savings growth, post-retirement income, etc. Currently, there are 2 tax regimes in India – new and old. To get the tax benefit you desire, choose the correct one after consulting an expert. You can opt for a regime change during the next financial year.
For instance, you might be involved in an accident, and the injuries or, worse yet, the handicap that results could limit your capacity to work. Hospital expenses make premium payments challenging in the absence of consistent income. Riders for life and term plans come in handy in this situation.
What are riders?
Riders are supplemental benefits that let you tailor a policy to your needs. They are less expensive than your life insurance plan. They offer you coverage above and beyond what your policy covers. 5%–10% of the basic policy is the customary price. Ideally, riders should be purchased at the start of the policy. The cost will decrease the earlier they are taken. A rider’s cost cannot exceed 30% of the premium for the primary insurance policy. A term insurance calculator is a tool you may use online to determine the amount of coverage required based on your needs.
Categories of riders
- Accidental death benefit rider
This rider is well-liked. Accidents result in high medical costs for the family. Therefore, if a policyholder dies in an accident, an accidental passing away benefit rider can be helpful. Upon the insured’s passing, the nominee already receives the Sum Assured. They get more money if they add an ADB rider. For instance, the nominee would receive Rs. 50 lakhs if the base term life insurance policy’s total assured was Rs. 35 lakhs, and the rider was Rs. 15 lakhs.
- Accident and accident disability benefit rider
An ADDB rider provides additional coverage in the event of an accident-related disability. Some insurance companies also provide it for a brief disability. Some even provide premium waivers in cases where the policyholder’s impairment prevents them from earning a sufficient income and makes it difficult to pay their premiums. Even better, you can apply for a separate waiver of premium rider if this advantage is not offered.
- Child support rider
This rider provides an additional death benefit in case of the policyholder’s passing away, specifically for the benefit of the policyholder’s children. The rider pays a lump sum amount to support the education and other financial needs of the policyholder’s children until they reach a certain age. This rider can help ensure that the policyholder’s children are taken care of financially, even in the event of an unexpected passing away.
- Waiver of premium (WOP) rider
This rider kicks in, and all subsequent premiums are waived if an accident permanently disables the life insurance insured. The policy is still in effect, giving lifelong insured protection. Critical illnesses like open-chest CABG, cancer, stroke and initial heart attack are also covered by some WOP riders.
- Accelerated death benefit rider
This is helpful if the policyholder develops a terminal illness that shortens their life expectancy. In these circumstances, the rider enhances the nominee’s death benefit by a certain amount.
- Income rider
If the policyholder passes away, their family will start receiving a monthly payment for a predetermined amount of years. When selecting the rider, this duration should be considered. This is a very helpful rider because it protects the family long-term and enables them to cover ongoing expenses. * Standard T&C Apply
Riders are an excellent way to enhance your term plan and provide additional coverage to meet your specific needs. They offer an array of benefits, including increased protection against critical illnesses, accidental passing away, disability, and more, while still keeping the cost of insurance affordable.
Adding riders to your term insurance policy is a smart way to customise your coverage and ensure that you have the appropriate protection in place for your unique circumstances. When choosing riders, it’s important to carefully consider your financial situation and insurance needs to select the most suitable options for you. You can additionally avail of term insurance tax benefits.
Doing so gives you peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are adequately protected. You can always utilise a term insurance calculator to gain more insight into the appropriate level of coverage for your needs and those of your family.
