• Endowment Policy

    Life Insurance
    • Premiums as low as Rs.17/day for sum assured of Rs.1 crore*
    • Claim up to Rs. 1,50,000 deduction under section 80C**
    • Choose between annual and monthly premium payment options
    Endowment Plans not only offer you protection but also helps you to save your money and help it grow over a period of time. You get a lump-sum amount called the maturity benefit after the policy term comes to an end.

    An endowment policy is a form of life insurance coverage that combines the benefit of life insurance and savings under a single policy. The death benefit offered under an endowment plan helps policyholders protect their families from unforeseen circumstances. Unlike a term insurance cover, endowment policies provide maturity benefits if the insured person outlives the policy term. With regular investments, policyholders can build a corpus large enough to take care of specific milestones like retirement, children’s education, buying a house, etc., while also having the added advantage of life coverage.

    Being a savings-oriented life insurance plan, most of the endowment policies in the market provide guaranteed returns for policyholders along with additional bonuses. The savings portion of the money invested in an endowment policy is invested in bonds and other securities to generate returns. Endowment policies are ideal for investors who prefer risk-free, long-term investments. Most of the top insurers in the market have endowment plans in their product lineup. The benefits and returns may vary from one policy to another. If you are looking for an endowment policy to invest, you need to do quick research about the products available in the market and pick the best one suitable for you.

    Why do you need an Endowment Policy?

    The sum assured offered by a term insurance policy is paid only if the insured person dies within the policy term. However, this is not the case with an endowment policy. A plan that gives you both maturity benefits and death benefits is better in case you outlive the policy. An endowment policy not only helps your family in case of your demise, but also helps you take care of large expenses that come later in life, such as education of children or grandchildren, children’s wedding, medical procedures, retirement needs, buying a house, etc.

    Best Endowment Plans Available in India:

    Some of the best endowment policies available in India are listed below:

    Policy names Entry age Maturity age Policy term Premium payment option Sum assured (minimum) Sum assured (maximum) Premium paying term
    LIC’s New Endowment Plan 8 to 55 years Up to 75 years 12 to 35 years Regular only:
    • Monthly
    • Quarterly
    • Semi-annually
    • Annually
    Rs.1 lakh Unlimited Throughout policy period
    Kotak Classic Endowment Plan Regular Pay: 0 to 55 years Limited Pay: 0 to 60 years Policy term (15 years) and Premium payment term (7 years): 0 to 58 years 18 to 75 years 15 to 30 years Minors: 15 years or 18 years minus age at entry, whichever is greater Regular and Limited:
    • Monthly
    • Quarterly
    • Semi-annually
    • Annually
    Depends on:
    • Premium
    • Policy Period
    • Entry Age
    • Premium Payment term
    Unlimited Regular Pay: Throughout the policy duration Limited Pay:
    • Policy term minus 5 years
    • 7 years for 15-year policy term
    HDFC Life Sampoorn Samridhi Plus 30 days to 60 years 18 to 75 years 15 to 40 years
    • Monthly
    • Quarterly
    • Semi-annually
    • Annually
    Rs.65,463 Unlimited 5 years less than policy tenure
    PNB MetLife Endowment Savings Plan Plus Minimum:
    • 8 years for Savings
    • 18 years for Savings Plus
    Maximum: Savings
    • 55 years (Annual mode)/50 years for (other modes) for Regular Premium Payment term
    • 60 years (Annual mode)/55 years (other modes) for Limited Premium Payment term
    Savings Plus
    • 50 years (Annual mode)/45 years (Other modes) for Regular Premium Payment term
    • 55 years (Annual)/50 years (Other modes) for Limited Premium Payment term
    • 80 years for Savings option
    • 65 years (Regular pay)/80 years (Limited pay) for Savings Plus option
    Regular Pay: 10 to 15 years Limited Pay: 10 to 25 years Regular and Limited:
    • Monthly
    • Semi-annually
    • Annually
    Rs.2,20,000 Unlimited
    • Throughout the policy term
    • Limited Pay for 5 years, 7 years or 10 years
    Bajaj Allianz Life Save Assure Plan 1 to 60 years 18 to 75 years 15 years or 17 years
    • Monthly
    • Quarterly
    • Semi-annually
    • Annually
    Rs.1 lakh Unlimited 5 years less than the policy tenure
    Reliance Nippon Life’s Super Endowment Plan 8 to 60 years 22 to 75 years 14 years or 20 years
    • Monthly
    • Quarterly
    • Semi-annually
    • Annually
    Rs.1 lakh Unlimited Half of the policy term
    SBI Life Smart Bachat Endowment option: 8 to 50 years Endowment option with in-built Accidental death and total permanent disability benefit: 18 to 50 years Up to 65 years 10 to 25 years
    • Monthly
    • Quarterly
    • Semi-annually
    • Annually
    Rs.1 lakh Unlimited 5 to 15 years
    • LIC New Endowment Plan: The policyholder can also add the Accidental Death and Disability benefit rider to the plan.
    • Endowment Policies India
      Endowment Policies
    • Kotak Classic Endowment Policy: This is a long-term protection-plus-savings plan that gives yearly bonuses apart from maturity/death benefits. Several riders can be added to the policy for optimum coverage. The minimum premium amount is Rs.7,000 for the regular and limited pay options.
    • HDFC Life Sampoorn Samridhi Plus: This endowment plan allows you to have a whole life cover of up to 100 years, and offers yearly and other bonuses. You can add Critical Illness Plus rider to the policy. Premium amounts start from Rs.1,000 per month.
    • PNB MetLife Endowment Savings Plan Plus: This policy gives you bonuses along with death benefit and maturity benefit. Also, a waiver of future premiums if you are diagnosed with a critical illness. The least premium you can pay to get this policy ranges between Rs.18,000 and Rs.48,000 per annum.
    • Bajaj Allianz Save Assure Plan: This policy gives a maturity or death benefit of up to 115% of the sum assured. You can add several riders to the policy and enhance your protection levels. The premium amount is as low as Rs.800 per month.
    • Reliance Nippon Life Super Endowment Plan: With this policy, you can get guaranteed benefits at maturity, and also get discounts for choosing a high sum assured amount.
    • SBI Life Smart Bachat: This is a limited premium plan that also comes in an iteration that has built-in accidental death and total disability benefit. Premium needs to be paid only for 5, 7, 10 or 15 years depending on the total policy period the person chooses. The premium amount is as low as Rs.450 per month.
    • *Note: This list is by no means exhaustive.

    How does it work?

    Like all insurance plans, you have to pay a premium amount as per the decided frequency every year. A part of this premium will go towards the sum assured, a small part will cover your fees and administrative expenses, while another part will be invested for you in bonds, funds and other investment forms. Some endowment plans give you extra benefits such as cashback, annual bonuses, and vested/reversionary bonuses at maturity. You can add riders to the plans to increase your protection and get a higher death benefit or maturity benefit. If the policyholder dies before the date of maturity, his/her nominee will receive the death benefit, which includes the sum assured amount and the guaranteed bonuses. If the policyholder survives the policy term, the company will pay the maturity proceeds as per the policy terms. So for a slightly higher premium amount, you get both life protection and profits at the end of the tenure.

    Are Endowment Policies for you?

    You should go for an endowment plan under the following circumstances:

    • Endowment policies are good for people who want more than a term life insurance but don’t want to invest large amounts in a growth plan or ULIP.
    • Ensure that you have a steady income before you buy an endowment plan because most policies need regular and long-term premium payment.
    • You should choose an endowment plan if you wish to save money for a specific milestone in life such as children’s marriage, children’s higher education, buying a home, retirement planning, etc.
    • The corpus generated by an endowment plan may not be sufficient to meet all the future requirements of a family. Hence, it can be used mainly to supplement your term insurance cover.
    • The returns generated by an endowment policy are moderate and can be beneficial only in the long run. Hence, it is essential to invest for a long period to build a large corpus.
    • If you are a risk-averse individual, you should go for an endowment plan instead of ULIP or growth-oriented insurance plans.

    Types of Endowment Policies:

    The following types of endowment policies are available in the Indian market currently:

    • Participating plans: These are endowment plans in which the policyholder is a participant in the insurance company’s growth. This means that the company will give a small portion of its profits to the policyholder along with death or maturity benefit in the form of bonus. Max Life Life Gain Premier Savings Plan is an example of this kind of policy.
    • Non-participating plans: These are policies in which the policyholder does not get a part of the company’s profits. Non-participating schemes do not pay any additional bonuses to the policyholder along with the maturity or death benefit. SUD Life Aashirwad is an example of this kind of endowment plan.
    • Whole life or full endowment policy: This kind of policy covers your entire life – up to 100 years – with a basic sum assured. Bonuses are added to the death or maturity benefits as and when your account makes profits. HDFC Life Sampoorn Samridhi Plus is a good example of this kind of policy.
    • Money-back plans: Money back endowment plans ensure that you get regular returns from your investment instead of a lump sum at the end of the policy period or at death. You may get money back every year, or every 5 years, during the last 5 years of your policy, or other options, depending on the terms of the policy.

    Other than this, endowment policies can be differentiated based on payment of premiums as given below:

    • Regular Pay: Under this, you need to make premium payments regularly as long as the policy is active and the policyholder is alive. The frequency can be as chosen by you – every month, every three months, every six months or once a year.
    • Limited Pay: Here, you need to pay only for a specified number of years out of the total policy tenure. This could be 5 years, 7 years, 10 years or 15 years, depending on the insurer and the product.
    • Single Pay: When you need to make just one payment towards your plan, it is known as a Single Pay policy.

    Features and Benefits of Endowment Policy:

    Some of the notable features and benefits of endowment policies are listed as follows:

    • Death as well as survival benefits: You get sum assured and bonuses both in case of the death of the policyholder before the policy matures and in case of the policyholder outliving the policy.
    • Higher returns: An endowment policy helps you not only to provide for your family in case of your untimely demise, but also to make higher savings for the future. Whether it is death benefit or survival benefit, the payout with an endowment policy can be much higher than that of a pure life policy.
    • Premium payment frequency: You can make regular, limited or single payments of premiums depending on the policy you choose. You can also choose to make payments in frequencies of monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly.
    • Flexibility in coverage: You can add riders such as accidental death and total disability or critical illness, to the policy and increase your life cover. Some policies also give you premium payment waiver in case of critical illnesses or permanent disability.
    • Tax benefits: You get tax concession on both premium payments (under Section 80C) and the final death or maturity payouts (under Section 10(10D)).
    • Low risk: Endowment policies are safer than other types of investments such as ULIPs or mutual funds because the amount is not directly invested in the stock market or equity funds.

     

    • Term Insurance vs Endowment Policy – Which is better?

      At the time of purchasing a life insurance policy, you will most likely have a range of product types to choose from. Insurance companies usually have a varied product mix, including ULIPs, term insurance plans, endowment policies, child insurance plans, etc. Some of the most popular among these products offered are term insurance plans and endowment insurance plans.

      What is a Term Insurance Plan?

      Term insurance plans are protection-oriented and offer the policy buyer a life cover for the duration of the policy tenure. Thus, if the policyholder passes away while the policy is still active, the insurer will pay a lump sum death benefit to the nominee. Term insurance plans are popular since they offer a high sum assured at a relatively low premium rate. However, under a term insurance plan, no benefit is typically paid out if the policyholder survives till the end of the policy tenure.

      What is an Endowment Plan?

      An endowment insurance plan, on the other hand, is a policy that provides a risk cover against death on the life of the policyholder and also provides a lump sum benefit at maturity of the policy. Thus endowment plans provide the policyholder both protection cum savings features, making them useful when it comes to long-term wealth creation.

      Which policy type should you opt for?

      Listed below are a few factors that you should consider before you select a certain type of life insurance policy.

      • Premium Payment Capacity: Term insurance plans are offered at a much lower premium rate than endowment policies, since they don’t have a cash value attached to them. Thus, if the premium is your primary concern, a term insurance plan will be the better option.
      • Benefits: A term insurance policy only offers a death benefit to the nominee in the event of an unfortunate eventuality. No other benefit is offered to the policyholder under a term insurance plan. On the other hand, endowment plans also offer a lump sum amount at maturity of the policy. Thus, in case of endowment policies, you are guaranteed a payout regardless of the eventuality. Thus, endowment policies can be especially useful in helping you meet long-term financial goals.
      • Liquidity: Term insurance plans do not let the policyholder take a loan against their policy in case of an emergency. In comparison, most endowment insurance plans give policyholders the option to take a loan against their policy, after a certain number of policy years. Further, endowment plans also offer the policyholder a surrender benefit, in case the policyholder wishes to surrender his/her policy after a few years. Such benefits can be especially useful in the event of a financial emergency.
       

      In addition to all the factors mentioned above, it is vital that you consider your stage of life, needs, and liabilities before opting for a certain type of insurance plan. While no one policy can be classified as the best endowment policy or the best term insurance plan, you can ensure that you find the right policy by comparing policies online, either on the insurer’s official website or through trusted third-party websites, and opting for a policy that offers benefits that match your needs at an affordable cost.

    Factors to Consider Before you buy an Endowment Policy

    Before you select an endowment policy, consider the following:

    • You should have a steady and regular income. Endowment schemes are long-term commitments, so if you do not have a regular source of income, you may be in a situation in the future when you cannot pay premiums on time and the policy will lapse or get terminated.
    • You should have a disciplined approach to investment/financial payments. If you are the kind of person that forgets to make premium payments, then it might be difficult to maintain an endowment policy. This is actually applicable for any kind of investment or insurance that needs fixed, regular payments. Financial discipline is an absolute necessity unless you are making single payments.
    • Endowment policies are good for people who want to save but cannot spare huge amounts or pay attention to the market keenly. They are easier to manage than mutual funds and cheaper than ULIPs or growth insurance plans.
    • You should choose a plan according to your age, income, how much you can save in a month/year, and your future financial goals.
    • The older you are, the higher your premium and future needs might be.
    • Let your income and monthly savings decide how much premium you would be able to pay towards an endowment policy.
    • Make sure that you are choosing a plan that gives good returns and a sum assured plus bonuses that will cover your future needs. It would be ideal to choose a policy with a sum assured of at least 10 times your current annual income.

    Eligibility criteria for Endowment Policy:

    Each endowment policy by different insurers has different eligibility criteria. The common parameters are:

    • Minimum age at the time of buying a policy – which could be 0 years to 60 years;
    • Maximum age at the time of maturing of policy – which could be 18 years to 100 years; and
    • The ability to pay the premium for the chosen policy.

    Many insurers might also need you to declare your existing illnesses.

    Documents Required:

    The most common documents that insurers ask applicants to produce are:

    • ID Proof: A valid photo identity card issued by the government or a company, such as Passport, PAN Card, Driving Licence, Aadhaar, Voter’s Identity Card, MNREGA Job Card, company ID card, etc.
    • Residence proof: Apart from the above ID cards that include your permanent address, you might be asked for rental agreement (if you’re staying in a rented house), latest utility bills, Property Tax or Municipal Tax receipt, bank account or Post Office savings account statement or passbook, and other documents issued by the government of India.
    • Age proof: Any government ID card or document, or a school leaving certificate that has your date of birth.
    • Income proof: Latest payslips or certificate of employment.
    • Your latest photographs.

    Endowment Policy Premium Calculator:

    A premium calculator is a financial tool that allows you to estimate how much premium you would be required to pay if you are buying a specific policy. Each insurer that has a website has an online premium calculator. The calculators are simple to use, as you need to enter information only about the policy you are interested in, your current age, the policy term you wish for, and the amount you want as sum assured or death benefit. Some calculators, such as the LIC India premium calculator, also allow you to factor in riders.

    Let us illustrate this using the LIC Premium Calculator. We shall input the following details and see what the result is:

    Plan: New Endowment Plan

    Age: 21 years

    Term: 30 years

    Sum Assured: Rs.4 lakh

    Accident Benefit: Yes

    When we click on ‘Calculate’, the result is –

    Mode Premium
    Monthly Rs.1,100
    Quarterly Rs.3,299
    Half-yearly Rs.6,530
    Yearly Rs.12,925

    Riders for Endowment Policy:

    Riders are extra benefits that can be added to an insurance policy at a slightly higher premium. Different insurers offer different set of riders for the endowment policy. Among the most common riders are:

    • Accidental death benefit: This rider will add an extra sum to the death benefit payout if the policyholder dies in an accident whether inside the house or outside.
    • Total permanent disability benefit: If the policyholder becomes permanently disabled and is unable to earn an income, then this rider will ensure that you get the sum assured and bonuses over a period of a few years in instalments. This will help you have a regular income for some time even if you are unable to go to work anymore.
    • Critical illness benefit: This rider will cover severe diseases such as cancer, serious heart ailments, kidney failure, major organ transplant, stroke, paralysis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, etc. You will get a lump sum when you contract one of these illnesses to help you with the treatments. Some insurers also waive off your future premiums in case you are diagnosed with a critical illness.
    • Premium waiver benefit: This rider can be added to get a waiver of premium payment in case of a severe disease or temporary/permanent disability. You will not have to pay the future premiums, and at the same time you won’t lose any benefits of the policy.
    • Term assurance rider: Most of the top insurers in the market offer a term assurance rider along with an endowment policy. If the policyholder dies unexpectedly during the policy term, this add-on cover provides lump sum benefit to policyholders similar to a regular term insurance cover.

    Endowment Policy Bonus Rates:

    The rate of bonus of an endowment policy depends on the insurer and the policy you buy. There is no guarantee on how much the bonus would be, especially in a participating unit-linked plan. However, for illustrative purposes, let us look at the policy bonus rates of the last three years of LIC India, the country’s largest insurer:

    Policy Term Bonus rates per Rs.1,000 in 2016 Bonus rates per Rs.1,000 in 2017 Bonus rates per Rs.1,000 in 2018
    Endowment-Type Plans Less than 11 years 34 34 34
    11 to 15 years 38 38 38
    16 to 20 years 42 42 42
    More than 20 years 48 48 48
    New Endowment Plan 12 to 15 years 38 38 38
    16 to 20 years 42 42 42
    More than 20 years 48 48 48
    Single Premium Endowment Plan 10 to 15 years 41 41 41
    16 to 20 years 46 46 46
    More than 20 years 51 51 51

    A bonus rate of Rs.50 per Rs.1,000 – which is 5% - means that for a sum assured of Rs.1 lakh you would get a bonus of Rs.5,000.

    Additional Bonus on Endowment Policy:

    There are several kinds of bonuses that are associated with endowment policies. Every insurer may not give all these bonuses, and each insurer may have a separate jargon for the bonus given. Let us look at some common bonuses in brief:

    • Simple Reversionary Bonus: This is a bonus that is accumulated in the policyholder’s account every year until maturity or death. This bonus is calculated on a yearly basis and is based on the sum assured. It is not compounded yearly and merely adds up to a final lump sum. For example, if you are receiving a simple reversionary bonus of Rs.40 per Rs.1,000, and your sum assured is Rs.2 lakh, then the total bonus of this kind at the end of policy or death would be Rs.8,000.
    • Compound Reversionary Bonus: This bonus is a compounded amount based on all the bonuses that you receive throughout the policy period. Not all plans offer a compound reversionary bonus.
    • Interim Bonus: This is an amount added to the policy account in case the policyholder dies or the policy matures before the annual bonus is declared. Interim bonus may be lower than the annual bonus, and is paid out to ensure that the insured person does not lose any money merited by them.
    • Terminal Bonus: This is a one-time amount added to the policy at the end of its tenure or at the time of disbursing the death benefit.
    • Additional Bonus: This is paid in participating policies which include a portion of the insurer’s profits for the year. This additional bonus is a small percentage of the total profits that an insurer makes in a given year.

    Claims Process :

    To make a claim on an endowment policy, you need to follow the below-listed steps:

    1. Fill in the Claims Form. This will be available either on the insurer’s website, or with your insurance agent. The form has to be duly filled and submitted to the insurer via email, fax, snail mail or through direct submission at the company’s office.
    2. Attach all the documents that would support your claim. For example, if it is a death benefit claim, you need to provide the death certificate of the policyholder, and identity and address proof of the nominee.
    3. Once your request is received at the insurance company’s office, you will get a confirmation from the company.
    4. The Claims Cell of the insurance company will review your claim and verify the documents. If any further documents or investigation is/are required, an executive will approach the policyholder/nominee.
    5. If your or your nominee’s mobile number is registered with the insurer then you will receive regular updates on the status of your claim.
    6. If your claim is approved, then the money will be disbursed electronically through bank transfer, or via cheque. Each insurer will have its own timeline on claim settlement.
    7. If your claim is rejected, the insurer will send you a rejection letter along with reason for the denial.

    If you are making a maturity benefit claim, things would be easier, as the company itself will remind you about the upcoming maturity of your plan. You will need to confirm identity documents and the company will send you a voucher or discharge form, which you have to sign and return. You will need to give back the original policy document and send a cancelled cheque or passbook copy to confirm your bank account number.

    Endowment Policy vs. Mutual Funds:

    Some of the key differences between endowment policies and mutual funds are:

    Endowment policies Mutual funds
    They have a life insurance cover. They are exclusively for investment purposes and do not provide any life coverage.
    They do not always invest in equity or debt instruments in the market. They are market linked and invest primarily in equity and debt instruments.
    The returns offered by endowment policies are typically lower than mutual funds. The returns offered by mutual funds are typically higher than endowment plans.
    Endowment policies are mostly risk-free. Mutual funds have a certain level of risk on the investments.
    They have lower administrative costs. The administrative costs are higher than those of endowment policies.
    Tax relief is offered for both premium payments as well as proceeds. Tax relief is offered only for the invested amount. Long-term capital gains are taxable.

    Endowment vs. Money-Back Policy

    Endowment policies and money-back plans are types of life insurance products that in addition to providing a risk cover to the policyholder also serve as an effective savings instrument. These policies are ideal for individuals who are looking for a protection-cum-savings option. Listed below are certain key aspects of these policies:

    Endowment policies Money-back policies
    They provide life insurance coverage for the policyholder They provide life insurance coverage for the policyholder.
    They offer maturity benefits at the end of the policy term. They offer maturity benefits at the end of the policy term.
    There is no survival benefit in regular endowment plans. They offer survival benefit at specific intervals after the completion of certain policy years.
    The maturity benefit also includes additional bonuses. Money back policies also provide bonuses as per the policy terms.
    Tax relief is provided for both policy the premium amount as well as the policy proceeds. Tax relief is provided for both policy the premium amount as well as the policy proceeds.

    Which should you choose?

    Endowment plans and money-back policies share several similarities. The only difference between these two types of products is the way the payouts are offered. Thus, money-back plans are best-suited to individuals who would like to receive regular returns from the insurance provider. On the other hand, endowment plans are ideal for those who would like to receive a lump sum benefit from the insurer at the completion of the policy tenure. The payouts provided by both types of policies can help policyholders meet key milestones in their lives.

    1. I want to purchase a new policy for my daughter. My daughter is just 2 years old right now. I want her to get the money as soon as she reaches 18 years of age. I want a low-risk plan that will provide guaranteed benefits for her. Which one is the best policy suitable for me - endowment or child plan? What happens to these policies if something happens to me in the middle of the policy term?
    2. Yes, you can definitely purchase a policy for your daughter. Both endowment policies and child plans are good options for you. There are plenty of products available in the market today. It is best if you understand the features of these policies before signing up for one. Evaluate the different products in the market and pick the best one suitable for your requirements.

      In endowment policies, your dependents will get the full sum assured amount in case of your demise during the policy term. Here, the sum assured amount will be paid immediately to your nominee. If there are other guardians for your daughter, you can nominate them to take care of the money until she reaches 18 years of age. If you survive the policy term, the maturity amount along with additional bonuses will be paid to you. You can use the money for your daughter’s benefits.

      Child plans are also suitable considering your specific requirements. In fact, they can ideal for your specific requirements. If you die during the policy term, the future premiums of these policies will be waived. The policy will continue to remain active and accumulate earnings. At the end of the maturity term (your daughter’s 18 years of age), the amount will be paid to her. Since the future premiums are waived in case of the death of the parent, child plans are ideal if you wish your daughter to have the money at a specific age.

    3. I bought an endowment policy about 10 years ago. The total policy term for this cover is 20 years. I paid premiums only for about four years and then stopped. The paid around Rs.22,000 per year in premium. What happens to my policy now? Is it possible to surrender the policy now and get back the premium paid? Are there any charges I should be aware of?
    4. In endowment policies, a policy becomes a paid-up policy if premiums are paid for at least three years and subsequent premiums are not paid. In this case, the policy will continue to remain active with the reduced sum assured amount (proportional to the premium paid) till the end of the maturity period. In the case of the death of the policyholder during the policy term, this reduced sum assured is paid. Upon maturity, the sum assured along with accrued benefits will be paid.

      Since you have paid for four years, your policy would have become a paid-up policy by now. You may either choose to keep it active at the reduced sum assured amount or surrender it. If you are surrendering the policy, surrender charges will be applicable to the policy. Most insurers provide a table for the exact surrender value of a policy. You may calculate your policy’s surrender value based on this. In the early years of coverage, the surrender value tends to be extremely low. You need to take this into consideration while deciding on the surrender.

      If you are not sure about the surrender value, you may contact the company directly and enquire about the value. The charges may vary from company to company and plan to plan. Hence, it is kind of difficult to provide the exact surrender charges that may be applicable to your policy. If you are not in immediate need of money, you may also choose to keep the policy till the maturity date and get the maturity amount.

    5. I have invested in an endowment plan from an insurance company. Recently, I got an announcement that the company has closed the plan. What can I do now? I am worried that I might lose my insurance money.
    6. You don’t have to worry even if your insurer has closed the plan you have already subscribed. Closure of a plan means that the company will not enrol any new customers under the plan. Existing customers will be protected as per the policy agreement. You may continue to pay regular premiums as per the plan and get returns as mentioned in the policy document.

      Once the plan matures, the company is bound to honour the insurance agreement as per the terms and conditions mentioned in the policy document. If you are still worried, you may contact the company directly and ask them to provide clarification about your policy. The company’s customer service department will provide you with further clarifications regarding the policy.

    1. When should I purchase an endowment policy?

    2. It is best to buy an endowment policy as soon as possible as it provides the double advantage of risk protection as well as savings.

    3. Will I receive any bonuses along with the maturity benefit?

    4. Yes, certain bonuses such as the simple reversionary bonus and interim bonus are payable for participating endowment policies. The bonus will be declared by the insurer and added to the maturity benefit amount.

    5. Is the maturity benefit guaranteed under the policy?

    6. Yes, the maturity benefit and the death benefit are guaranteed under the policy. The bonuses, however, are not guaranteed.

    7. How do I know if I need an endowment policy?

    8. If you’re looking to buy a financial product that acts as a savings tool, aids in growing your wealth and assured financial protection of your loved ones, you should choose an endowment policy.

    9. Can I buy an endowment policy for a specific purpose?

    10. Yes, certain life insurance companies offer insurance plans that help achieve a specific goal such as amassing wealth for one’s wedding, education, retirement, etc.

    11. How is an endowment policy different from a term insurance policy?

    12. The major difference between the two life insurance plan types is that the term insurance policy does not come with a maturity benefit whereas the endowment policy does. A term insurance policy only provides a death benefit.

    13. How is an endowment policy different from a whole life policy?

    14. A whole life policy has a policy term equal to a hundred years i.e. the maturity benefit will be paid to the policyholder if he/she survives up to the age of 100 years. However, in the case of endowment plans, the policy terms are much shorter. A few whole life policies offer periodic payments as survival benefit.

    15. How is an endowment policy different from a ULIP?

    16. Unit-linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs) are types of plans that are market-linked and provide returns that depend on the market conditions. Hence, the returns are not guaranteed. In the case of endowment policies, however, the returns are guaranteed.

    17. How is an endowment policy different from a money-back policy?

    18. The returns provided under an endowment policy are based on the performance of the funds, bonds, or other investment methods to which the policy is associated. In the case of a money-back policy, a fixed percentage of the sum insured is provided as returns to the policyholder.

    19. What are the premiums I pay utilised for?

    20. While a part of the premium is used to offer life coverage, the rest is invested in investment platforms to help grow the money invested.

    21. What riders can I purchase with an endowment plan?

    22. Insurance companies offer a number of riders which policy buyers can choose to purchase along with their base policy. The riders that are most commonly offered are the Waiver of Premium Rider, Accidental Death and Disability Benefit Rider, Term Rider, Accidental Death Benefit Rider, Critical Illness Rider, etc. However, the total number of riders that are offered will vary from plan to plan and insurer to insurer. Thus, when purchasing a policy, make sure to keep an eye out for riders offered by the insurance provider.

    23. Why should I purchase an endowment policy?

    24. A few benefits of endowment policies are listed below:

      • Comprehensive Life Cover: Policy buyers can choose a sum assured as per their needs and receive a comprehensive risk cover against death.
      • Guaranteed Returns: Individuals who purchase endowment plans are eligible to receive a maturity benefit at the completion of the policy term. In addition to this, policy buyers might also be eligible to receive bonuses or loyalty additions, as per the respective insurance provider’s terms and conditions.
      • Tax Benefits: Policy buyers can claim tax benefits for the premiums that they pay and the payouts that they receive under Section 80C and Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
    25. What are the documents that I will need to submit in order to purchase an endowment plan?

    26. While the number of documents that are required will vary from one insurance firm to another, the basic documents that you will need to submit in most cases are:

      • Photo ID Proof
      • Income Proof
      • Address Proof
      • Proof of Age
    27. Can I surrender an endowment policy before completion of the policy term?

    28. Yes, most endowment plans can be surrendered after the policy has acquired a surrender value. Upon surrendering your policy, you will be eligible to receive the guaranteed surrender value or the special surrender value, based on whichever is the higher of the two.

    29. Can policyholders choose to increase the sum assured during the policy term in the case of endowment plans?

    30. Certain insurers give policyholders the option to enhance their sum assured during the policy tenure or during important stages of their lives, such as the birth of a child, legal adoption, etc. However, you will need to check if your policy comes with this option at the time of purchasing it.

    31. What is a paid up policy?

    32. A paid up policy is one in which the premiums are paid continuously for at least three years and the subsequent premiums are not paid. Here, the policy continues to remain active at the revised sum assured value and accrues interests till the end of the policy term. If the policyholder dies before the end of the policy term, this revised sum assured amount will be paid to his/her dependents. If the policyholder outlives the policy term, this accumulated maturity amount will be paid by the company.

    33. Can I take a loan against my endowment policy?

    34. The option to avail a loan against your policy will be based on the policy terms and conditions. However, in most cases, if this option is provided to you, you will be able to avail it after the policy has acquired a cash value.In most cases, you can take loans only after the policy has acquired a surrender value after three years. Even then, the loan amount available will usually be within the surrender value acquired by the policy.

    35. What is the free-look period?

    36. Most insurance policies come with a 15-day free-look period, during which time policyholders can return the policy if they find the terms and conditions of the policy to be unsatisfactory. Upon returning the policy, the insurance provider will return the premium paid by the policyholder after deducting a nominal charge.

    37. How do I go about reviving a lapsed endowment policy?

    38. Policyholders are expected to pay the due premiums as per the premium payment schedule. If the policy has lapsed due to non-payment of premiums, you can choose to revive the policy within 2 or 3 years (as specified in the policy document) from the date of lapse. A lapsed policy can be revived by paying all due premiums for the lapsed period to the insurer. The insurer might also require you to pay an additional interest and submit a certificate of good health.

    39. What are the various premium payment channels offered by insurance providers?

    40. In most cases, premiums can be paid through both online and offline channels. Thus, you can either pay it via the insurer’s official website (if this option is provided) or pay it at the cash counter of the nearest branch of the insurer.

    41. Can I purchase an endowment plan online?

    42. Insurance providers may not offer all insurance plans online. Thus, you will need to visit the insurer’s website and check if the policy that you wish to purchase is also offered online. You can also choose to purchase certain life insurance plans through trusted third-party insurance websites.

    43. Can I switch my premium payment frequency from monthly to quarterly or between other options?

      A. Yes, you can. However, insurers may have a cap on how many times you can change your premium payment frequency.You may contact the insurer’s customer service department if you wish to enquire about this facility. You may also visit the branch office of the insurer and submit a written application for this change.

    44. Can I buy an endowment policy for someone else?

      A. You can buy an endowment policy in the name of your spouse, parents or children. You could be the one making the payment, but as long as the correct documents of the actual policyholder are provided to the insurance company, it is not a problem.

    45. What is the rule of 72?

    46. The rule of 72 is a simple method used to determine the approximate time it will take for an investment to double. According to the rule, we can determine the exact timeline of duplication by dividing 72 by the annual interest rate. For instance, it will take 7.2 years for one rupee to become two rupees at an interest rate of 10%. The calculation here is (72/10) fairly accurate. The rate of return generated by a fund is a key indicator for this estimate.

    47. Does my health condition matter while taking an endowment policy?

      A. It depends on what kind of policy you are taking. For example, if you are taking a critical illness rider when you already have one of the listed critical illnesses that would be a problem. If you are a smoker and/or drinker, then the company is likely to charge a higher premium from you as the chances of you dying early or contracting a severe disease.

    48. If I don’t pay premium once or twice, what will happen to my policy?

      A. Each policy and insurer has their own guidelines on policy lapse and termination. However, in general, there will be a grace period of at least 15 days after the due date, within which you can pay the premium and keep the policy active. If you don’t pay the premium within the grace period, then the policy will lapse. The lapsed policy can be revived within 6 months by paying the pending premium amount and late payment fees.

    49. Can I appoint more than one nominee for my policy? Can I change these nominees later on?

      A. Yes, You can have more than one nominee for your policy, and you can change the nominees whenever you want. Some insurers may have a limit on how many nominees one policy can have and how many times they can be changed.  

    News About Life Insurance

    • ACESCO Endowment Services offer better deals on your life cover than insurer’s surrender value

      Finance professional, Ketan Mehta after winning a long battle with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) in the Supreme Court has started a new company called the ACESCO Endowment Services which purchases life insurance policies and offers the customers a better deal on the surrender value than the one offered by the insurance companies.

      In order to ensure that the insured does not treat their endowment policies as a short-term investment, the insurers offer low benefits in case the policyholder decides to surrender the policy in a premature manner. Though the surrender benefits are a part of the maturity benefit, lot of customers surrender their policy in order to raise funds. In the previous fiscal year, LIC paid Rs.45.237 crore which was 27% of the total payout as surrender benefits to those who surrendered their policies.

      Mehta sees an opportunity in this as there are investors who are willing to wait for the policy to be matured provided the plan assures them of a guaranteed return. The insurance laws help in providing for life insurance schemes to be assigned to a third party for consideration. Due to the presence of liquid-seeking investors and policyholders, it has become possible to trade life insurance policies in other markets.

      According to Mehta, creating a market for such life insurance schemes will be beneficial for the investors and policyholders as it will allow them to make more money as compared to the amount paid by the insurance company as a surrender value. ACESCO will continue to provide the benefit of a life cover to the policyholder which will help both the insured and the insurance company. The insurance company will continue to receive the premiums until the policy is matured and will see a significant decrease in the number of policies that get lapsed every year. The insured will continue to reap the benefits of a life insurance policy.

      This is Mehta’s second attempt at creating a market for life insurance policy trading, the first attempt being the Insure Policy Plus Service (IPPS) set up almost a decade ago. IPPS looked to purchase the life cover from those who wanted to surrender their policies, but their attempt took a hit as LIc intervened and refused to assign such schemes. The tussle between Mehta and LIC was taken to the high court where the ruling was in the favour of the former. LIC appealed in the Supreme Court but were unsuccessful.

      ACESCO which has altered their business model slightly will take help of Amicorp Trustees. The return for the investor will not exceed more than 10% and the benefits of the scheme will go directly to the beneficiary of the scheme.

      14 September 2018

    The content on this website is meant only for general information purpose and does not and shall not be construed as any solicitation, procurement, display, aggregation, marketing or advertisement of insurance products. BankBazaarInsurance is not an insurance intermediary and hence does not endorse or solicit any such products. The information on this website is derived from publicly available sources and BankBazaarInsurance cannot verify or confirm the genuineness, truth, veracity or authenticity of this information.

    Display of any trademarks, tradenames, logos and other subject matters of intellectual property belong to their respective intellectual property owners. Display of such IP along with the related product information does not imply BankBazaar's partnership with the owner of the Intellectual Property or issuer/manufacturer of such products.