Life insurance and health insurance are two crucial facets of financial planning. Financial planning generates feelings of safety and confidence in dealing with life’s unpredictability. Through this guide, you will learn how life coverage is an essential component of personal finance and the different types of health insurance.
Understanding life cover: Life insurance, commonly called life cover, is an insurance contract between an insurance company and the person who holds the policy. In case of death, the insurer undertakes to pay out a sum to the beneficiaries indicated in the policy. This cover may be instrumental in ensuring that your family gets financial security and continues with a life of the same standards, even when you are not physically there.
Reasons for availing a life cover –
Financial security: A life insurance policy offers a sum assured, called the death benefit, paid to the nominee or beneficiaries immediately after the policyholder’s departure. This payout shall take care of the daily expenses or debt repayment needs among many others. It can also substitute income, keeping the family’s financial health and lifestyle stable at the same time.
Loan repayment: The life insurance proceeds will be available to the policyholder’s beneficiaries to resolve any unpaid loans or mortgages outstanding at the time of death. Through this feature, your family will not have to worry about repayments of debt.
Retirement savings: Some specific life insurance policies such as endowment plans or whole life plans pay out maturity benefits if the insured survives the policy term. Such policy instruments can be a powerful tool for retirement planning, which makes it possible for you to live comfortably in the years that you don’t work.
Child’s education: The amount of life insurance assures your child’s education costs in case of your demise. This may be advantageous, especially for a child who dreams of studying abroad.
Funeral expenses: Funeral expenditures may be expensive and unexpected. A life insurance policy can provide the cash required to cover these expenses, freeing your family of a financial burden at an already difficult time.
Estate planning: Life insurance may be a valuable instrument in estate planning. The payout from a life insurance policy is normally tax-free and can be used to pay any estate taxes that may be owed following your death, safeguarding the value of your estate for your beneficiaries.
Tax benefits: Premiums paid for life insurance plans are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. This can help you lower your taxable income and save on taxes.
Income replacement: In the event of the policyholder’s unexpected death, life insurance can serve as an income replacement instrument. It can financially support your family members, especially if you are the sole provider.
Long-term investing: Life insurance plans, particularly those that have a savings or investing component, can serve as long-term investment vehicles. They provide returns at maturity, which aids in wealth growth.
Business continuity: If a business owner dies, life insurance can provide the finances required to keep the firm functioning until a suitable replacement is identified. It guarantees that the firm you’ve developed does not fail owing to financial difficulties.
Emergency fund: Some life insurance plans allow for partial withdrawals in case of an emergency. This function can be a lifesaver when faced with unforeseen financial difficulties.
Health expenses: Certain life insurance plans provide riders or add-ons for critical illness coverage. They offer a lump-sum payment upon the diagnosis of a certain serious disease.
Wealth creation: Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs) combine the benefits of life insurance with investing. A portion of the premium is placed in funds of your choosing, which can aid in wealth accumulation.
Legacy planning: Life insurance may be a useful instrument in legacy planning. It enables you to leave a considerable financial legacy for your successors, assuring their financial stability.
Peace of mind: The assurance that the emotional components of your departed family will be no longer affected by financial difficulties will add more peace to your heart. Mental comfort tends to be the biggest factor that determines the move of people to buy life insurance.
Types of health insurance: Health insurance is designed to assist individuals with expenses that are not budgeted for medical and surgical procedures. Below is a detailed look at five types of health insurance plans –
Individual health insurance: Individual health insurance is a form of medical coverage that protects the health of one person. The insurance policy is valid for the expense of medical treatments, pre and post-hospitalisation expenses, ambulance charges and sometimes even daycare procedures. It has a major role in the lives of those who have specific health risks or pre-existing conditions, being in the form of a customised and targeted cover. This policy premium is determined by the age, health condition, and sum insured selected by the individual.
Family floater plan: Just as the name implies, a family floater health plan insurance every member of the family with a single policy. Among them are the policyholder and spouse, dependent children in most cases, and sometimes dependent parents. It is a cheaper way of providing family coverage because it covers all family members with only one premium. Sum insured is a reserve that is owned by all and can be used by any member or all the members altogether.
Senior citizen health insurance: The high medical expenses, specific health issues, and the fact that these plans are designed for those aged sixty years and above, have contributed to the development of senior citizen health insurance plans. This particular insurance plan covers hospitalisation costs, medicines costs and critical illness treatment. Other plans also have options like no-claim hospitalisation, pre-existing disease cover and cover for certain treatments such as dialysis, and chemotherapy.
Critical illness insurance: This is a type of health insurance that pays out a lump sum if the policyholder is diagnosed with one of the critical illnesses listed in the policy. These ailments are often life-threatening, such as cancer, stroke, heart attack, renal failure, and so on. This sort of insurance is especially useful for people who have a family history of such illnesses, as it provides financial assistance during the treatment and recuperation period.
Group health insurance: This is a kind of health care coverage provided by companies to their employees. It pays for medical treatments, hospitalisation, and, in some cases, the employee’s family members. Employees benefit from this sort of health insurance since it offers them with health coverage at a reduced or even no cost. It is a key benefit that employers provide to attract and retain great employees. The company normally pays the payment for group health insurance, and coverage ends when the employee quits the organisation.
In conclusion, both life insurance and health insurance are critical components of financial planning. They offer financial security and safety from life’s uncertainties. A life policy assures your family’s financial security in your absence, whereas health insurance covers any unexpected medical expenses. It is critical to understand the many types of insurance available and select the one that best meets your requirements and those of your family.
