NEWS
What is life cover and why is it essential?
The importance of life insurance cannot be avoided in today’s fast-paced economy when families frequently rely on a single source of income. Life cover, often known as life insurance, is a safety net that provides financial security for your dependents in the case of your untimely death. It’s more than simply having a financial backup; it’s about guaranteeing your loved ones’ futures, ensuring that their hopes and goals aren’t sidetracked by life’s uncertainties. Given the escalating expenses of healthcare and the frequency of lifestyle diseases, having a covered critical illness option in your life insurance policy might be a prudent move.
Why is life cover essential?
- Financial security for family
In countries such as India where the joint family system is still in practice and where usually one or two members go out to earn, life cover is essential. This means that in the event of the premature death of the breadwinner, all the needs of the family in terms of daily and future expenditures are catered for, hence no more financial shocks.
- Covering educational expenses
Education is regarded as one of the most important aspects of life in India. This life cover guarantees that education is not interrupted by the death of the provider. They offer financial security for school fees, college, and other related expenses so that children can remain in school without interruption.
- Debt repayment
Life cover is important in managing debts. In the event of the death of the debtor, the amount from the policy can be utilized to pay off debts including home mortgage, car loan, or any other loan. This helps in avoiding the situation where the debt burden is shifted on the surviving family members, and they end up being financially strained.
- Wealth creation
There are some plans in India that provide both protection and savings and investment aspects of life insurance. They provide not only coverage for the policyholder’s death but also create a corpus in the long run through regular premium payments which are invested in different funds of the policyholder’s choice for wealth accumulation.
- Business Security
In the case of businesspeople and business entities, life cover is mandatory. It guarantees business sustainability since compensation can be vital for bearing the costs of operations or paying business liabilities, thereby protecting jobs and the business entity.
- Covered critical illness
It is important to have a life insurance policy that covers critical illnesses due to the rising cost of health care and the high prevalence of critical illnesses in India. These policies pay certain sums of money when the policyholder is diagnosed with certain diseases, and this money can be used for treatment without having to dip into the family’s pocket.
- Support in retirement planning
Some of the life insurance products such as endowment plans and whole life policies offer both risk coverage and savings that can be used to fund retirement. These policies provide a lump sum amount on maturity and can be used as a source of income after the retirement age.
- Tax benefits
Premiums paid on life insurance policies are also allowed under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act of India with tax deductions up to Rs 1.50 lakh available annually. This makes life insurance to be a tax-efficient investment instrument.
- Encourages savings
Savings in the form of regular premium payments help to develop a culture of saving. For many in India, this enforced saving is important as it creates a pool of funds that can be used in the future or an emergency.
- Mental peace
This is because the knowledge that your family will be financially secure in your absence offers mental solace and emotional steadiness. This assurance is especially important, especially in a socio-economic structure like the Indian one where the family usually comes first.
- Healthcare costs
With medical costs on the rise, it can help the family manage the unexpected costs of a critical illness or a medical emergency by having a life insurance policy with a critical illness rider or keeping a medical emergency fund.
- Lifestyle maintenance
Life insurance ensures that a family’s quality of life does not suffer due to the death of the breadwinner. The policy payout assists in maintaining the standard of living they are used to.
- Inflation protection
The right life insurance policy provides benefits that are indexed to inflation and will provide a payout in the future commensurate with inflation, thus effectively protecting a family financially.
- Support during emergencies
In cases of sudden financial shocks, such as when a family member is hospitalised or when the property is destroyed, the proceeds of life insurance come in handy to meet unexpected expenses since it offers instant financial assistance.
- Asset protection
Instead of selling assets such as property or investments to meet some expenses at some point in life, life insurance pays the required amount without compromising the accumulated investment.
- Flexible options
The insurance market provides a variety of life insurance products starting from term insurance for protection only to unit-linked insurance products for investment, to fulfil the various needs and objectives.
- Rider benefits
Riders increase the coverage of a basic life insurance policy by providing extra benefits for certain situations such as accidental death, disability, or critical illness, thus offering personalised solutions.
- Long-term goals
Life insurance can be wisely applied to fulfil long-term financial objectives such as purchasing a home, financing a child’s wedding, or other events, guaranteeing that they are achieved no matter what happens in life.
- Sense of responsibility
The act of buying life cover is a sign of prudence and responsibility of an individual towards the welfare of the family, a sign of having the potential to take responsibility for the family’s future.
- Cushion against decreasing income
Life insurance for the elderly can serve as a financial safety net in case other regular income sources are depleted, which is still an issue in many sectors in India where pension systems may not be as developed.
Ending note
In India’s dynamic and often uncertain economic climate, obtaining life insurance is not only a choice but a requirement. It is about making a responsible decision to secure the future of the people who are most important to you. The vast range of advantages, including the peace of mind that comes with knowing severe diseases are covered, make life insurance an essential component of prudent financial planning. One of the most important financial decisions you can make is to ensure that you have adequate life insurance coverage. By doing so, you not only secure your family’s financial future but also leave a legacy of care and stability.
