If you have decided to buy a term plan, that is a giant step in the right direction. This is because a term plan is the most fundamental form of financial security you can ensure for your family. Despite advances in medical science, we live in uncertain times. More so, with rising inflation costs, lifestyle upgrades, and medical procedures and longer life spans translating into a need for bigger financial safety nets, your family requires higher insurance than previous generations ever did. This is because their income alone, or your family’s wealth corpus may not be adequate to meet all of the above financial requirements.
However, to ensure the term plan you purchase online from the several options available in India, it is important to consider certain points for an overall fulfilling experience. Let us take a look at these factors.
Follow these best practices
It’s tempting to buy a term plan and pay the premium right away when a plan seems to offer the maximum cover for minimal premium. However, you need to pay attention to some details before you go ahead and do this. Some of the key best practices you need to consider while buying term insurance online are:
Opt for the longest tenure available
Even if you think you children will be old enough after 20 years or your spouse would have built an adequate wealth corpus to not need insurance cover, take it. An additional sum never hurt anyone. Moreover, you have no visibility on their needs 40 years from now; they may go through a rough patch and so on and so forth. While you will have to shell out premium until you retire, it will be worth the peace of mind.
Insurance company’s service quality
This will make a huge difference in the long run. Because once you have purchased a term insurance policy, you may need to interact with the insurance providers for several reasons over the course of the tenure. Your nominee, too, will have to follow up with them on filing a claim. Hence, it is important that they are prompt with their service.
Compare term plans and providers
Buying a term plan is simple. However, several term insurance providers offer a host of options with add-on benefits. Insurance products such as a comprehensive term plan go a long way in offering several additional benefits at the same or slightly higher premium. Depending on your life stage or personal priorities, these can be extremely value for money. Hence, do not just close yourself to considering options to stick with the most traditional product type. Instead, compare and make an informed decision.
Further, make sure you also compare term insurance plan providers on various fronts – claim settlement ratio, claim filing process and documentation, online services etc. While these may seem less important as compared to premium and coverage, in the course of time, these prove to be equally important, and a sore point if not on par with your expectations.
Calculate your ideal term insurance cover
The last and most important thing to do before you buy a term plan is to calculate your exact coverage needs. Instead of falling prey to attractive marketing communication which may highlight a lumpsum cover for an affordable premium, understand if it will actually be adequate for your nominee or family, if they were to make a claim as soon as within a year or two after the policy purchase.
If you are unsure about how to calculate this amount, use an online calculator or even better, consult a financial advisor. This will ensure your family is actually able to benefit from your decision of buying a term plan instead of still having to be prudent with their finances.
Conclusion
Buying a term insurance is akin to future financial planning. Hence, it needs to be met with the same kind of strategic approach rather than as an impulse decision or simply ticking off a checklist. This will ensure your online term insurance purchase ends up being one that will stand your nominee or family in good stead.