Term Insurance Vs. Life Insurance: Major Differences

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Updated: Nov 15, 2023, 12:59pm

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Term Insurance vs. Life Insurance

The life insurance policies do not only help you to create a long-term financial corpus for your future, but also ensures that your family has immediate financial support if any unfortunate event like death happens to you. Broadly, there are two types of life insurance plans i.e., term insurance policies and traditional life insurance policies. 

Here are the major differences between the two and which one you should consider in your financial plan. 

Term Insurance Plan

Term insurance is one of the most simple, basic and pure life insurance products. It provides compensation to the family or nominee only at the demise of the person insured. There is no saving component present in the term plans. Thus, they are only designed to offer death benefits and no survival benefits. 

Nowadays, to enhance the scope of coverage, many insurance companies provide optional riders such as accidental death benefit or critical illness cover. One of the best features of term plans is that they provide substantial coverage with low premium prices. For example, one can easily get a life cover as huge as INR 1 crore just by paying a premium of some thousand rupees.

To know more about best term plans available in the market, read our analysis of best term life insurance plans.

What are the Different Types of Term Insurance Plans?

Term plans have basic features; however, they are varied in terms of premiums, sum assured coverage and riders.

Types of Term PlansBasic Features
Level Term PlanPremiums are the same throughout the duration of policy
Increasing CoverAssured coverage increases as per the different stages of life
Decreasing CoverCoverage decreases over the duration of policy
Return of Premium (RoP)Premiums that have been paid are returned in full if you survive till the end of the policy term
Convertible PlanCan be changed to another insurance plan as per the need of the policyholder
Term Plan Plus RidersTerm plan with add-on riders increases the coverage of the basic plan

Life Insurance Plan

Life insurance policies are designed to offer comprehensive and extensive coverage to the policyholder and their families. These kinds of insurance plans also provide the dual benefit of life cover along with a savings component; hence they are considered more expensive than pure and basic term plans.

In life insurance plans, the premiums are divided into two categories, where one part is allocated towards providing death benefit to the nominees, and the other chunk of premium is allocated to the investment and saving component. The best example of this is ULIP plans. 

Read our analysis on the Best ULIP Plans for more details.

What are the Different Types of Life Insurance Plans?

Types of Life Insurance PlansBasic Features
Whole Life Insurance PlanCoverage is provided throughout the duration of policyholder’s life plus death benefits
Endowment PlansDeath benefit is given along with assured maturity benefits
Child Insurance PlansCombination of insurance and investment which secures the child’s future financial needs
Unit-Linked Insurance PlansCombination of life insurance and investment under a single plan
Pension PlanMonthly income payout is given to the policyholder once they retire
Money-Back PlanPay back the maturity benefits in installments or in lump sum, once the policy term has ended

Differences Between Term Insurance and Life Insurance

ParametersTerm PlansLife Insurance Policies
Scope of CoverageVery limited as it offers only death benefitsOffers both death and guaranteed maturity benefits
Premium CostHigh sum assured coverage with low premium ratesHigh premium rates
Policy TermRanges 10-35 yearsWider policy term with whole life coverage option up to 100 years in certain policies
FlexibilityLess flexible, can add riders to enhance the scope of coverageVery flexible. One can avail loan facility, make partial withdrawals, pay additional premiums for more benefits
Surrendering the PolicyEasy to surrender. Once the death benefit is paid or you stop paying the premiums, the policy lapsesTo receive the maturity benefits, one has to complete the policy term
RenewabilityTerm plans are renewable, and one can convert the policy into an endowment plan alsoOption to renew the plan once the policy matures
Investment OpportunityPure insurance planOne part of the premium is allocated to investment funds which ensures wealth creation
Death BenefitsPayablePayable on all the policies
Maturity BenefitsNo maturity benefit, with the RoP option, one can get back all the premiums paidOffers assured maturity benefits along with the bonus, if any, to the insured
Policy LoanNo such loan facilityCertain plans offer loan facility against the policy
Taxation Benefits

Premiums paid are eligible for tax deduction under section 80C of Income Tax Act

Death benefits received by nominees are tax-free under Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act

Premiums paid are eligible for tax deduction under section 80C of Income Tax Act
Death and maturity benefits received by nominees are tax-free under Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act

Bottom Line

Both life insurance and term insurance policies have their own benefits and drawbacks. On one hand, the life insurance plans provide lifetime coverage, flexible premium payment terms, assured maturity benefits, flexible income payout options at a higher premium cost. On the other hand, term plan is a pure life cover which offers only death benefit at a very lost cost and affordable premium range.  

So, to make a decision which kind of policy should be a part of your portfolio, totally depends on your financial goals and financial health of you and your family. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I take life insurance policies?

Life insurance policies offer financial security to the entire family and dependents, if something happens to the life insured. It also helps to accumulate long-term savings which is paid to the policyholder once the policy matures and thus helps in wealth creation. These policies also help in securing your child’s future and help in paying off loans and liabilities, even if you will not be around.

At what age should I consider buying a term plan?

Is it beneficial to purchase a term plan?

Can I pay premiums of life insurance plans as per my wish?

What happens if I stop paying the premiums?

Do I have the option of getting my money back if I purchase a term plan?

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