Life insurance provides financial security for your family by replacing income, covering monthly expenses, and paying off debts. It protects your dependents from financial stress while offering peace of mind. It also provides tax benefits and ensures long-term stability, especially when you purchase it early at lower premiums.

Introduction

Did you know that India’s mortality protection gap, the shortfall between the financial security people need and what they actually have via savings and insurance, is estimated to be a staggering 83%? 

In the event of the unexpected passing of the primary breadwinner, most households are left financially exposed, and they struggle to meet essential expenses. This is precisely where life insurance becomes indispensable.

In this article, we break down what life insurance is, the benefits of having a life insurance policy, and how buying early can help. 

Talk to a Ditto advisor and find the right life cover for your family today. Book a free consultation call now!

What Is Life Insurance?

Life insurance is a contract between you and an insurer. You pay regular premiums, and in return, the insurer promises a sum (called the “sum assured”) to your chosen beneficiaries if something happens to you, or, in some plans, when the policy matures. It’s essentially a financial safety net for your loved ones.

There are different kinds of life insurance: term insurance (pure life cover), whole life, ULIPs (unit-linked insurance plans), etc. But for protection and simplicity, term insurance is the best choice.

Ditto’s Take on Life Insurance: Out of all the life insurance product offerings in the market, term insurance is the best choice. It offers a high sum assured at very low premiums, making it the most cost-effective way to protect your family. It’s simple, transparent, and focuses solely on financial protection without the complexity of investment.  

What Are the Benefits of Life Insurance?

Here are some of the significant benefits of getting life insurance:

    • Financial Security for Loved Ones
      If you pass away, the policy's death benefit helps your family cover their financial needs (monthly expenses, debts, education, etc.). It can also act as an income replacement, especially if you’re the primary breadwinner. 
    • Simplicity and Peace of Mind
      Buying and managing a policy can be easy, especially with digital-first platforms (paperless applications, online servicing).
    • Flexibility via Riders
      You can add “riders” such as critical illness cover, disability benefit, waiver of premium that extend the protection of your life insurance policy. If you’d like to learn more about term insurance riders, you can check out our comprehensive guide on the same. 
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What Are the Benefits of Buying Life Insurance at an Early Age?

Lower Premiums:

When you're young and healthy, insurers charge less because you’re considered low-risk, so you can lock in a lower premium for the long term.

Better Insurability:

Buying early ensures that you’re insured when it’s actually needed. If your health worsens later, getting coverage becomes more difficult or expensive.

Longer Protection:

Since you start early, you can choose longer-term durations to match your life goals (e.g., covering until retirement or your kids’ education).

More Time for Financial Planning:

You can use life insurance as a foundational part of your broader financial plan (debts, investments, dependents).

Life Insurance Benefits Under Section 10(10D)

Under Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act, the amount received from a life insurance policy, whether on maturity, death, or surrender, is fully exempt from tax. 

In general, the maturity proceeds of a life insurance policy are exempt when the annual premium does not exceed the specified percentage of the sum assured (10% for policies issued on or after 1 April 2012; 15% for policies issued to persons with disabilities or specified diseases). If these conditions are not met, the maturity amount may become taxable, but death benefits are always fully exempt, regardless of premium limits.

Ditto’s Note: The treatment is slightly different for ULIPs, especially those issued on or after 1 February 2021, if the aggregate yearly premium exceeds ₹2.5 lakhs, as they may lose the Section 10(10D) exemption and be taxed like capital market instruments.

Why Choose Ditto for Life Insurance?

At Ditto, we’ve assisted over 8,00,000 customers with choosing the right insurance policy. Why customers like Arun below love us: 

Benefits of Life Insurance
    • No-Spam & No Salesmen
    • Rated 4.9/5 on Google Reviews by 15,000+ happy customers
    • Backed by Zerodha
    • Dedicated Claim Support Team
    • 100% Free Consultation

You can book a FREE consultation. Slots are running out, so make sure you book a call now!

Conclusion

Life insurance, particularly term insurance, plays a pivotal role in bridging the vast protection gap that many Indian households face. It offers critical financial security for your dependents, helps pay off liabilities, and brings peace of mind. When you start early, you benefit from lower premiums, better insurability, and long-term coverage that aligns with your life goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary advantage of term insurance?

The most significant advantage is that it provides high coverage at a low cost. Since term insurance is pure protection (no savings or market risk), premiums are much lower than for whole life or ULIP plans. 

What is the right age to purchase a term plan?

Ideally, when you’re young and healthy, because the younger you are, the lower your premium will be. Also, starting early helps secure insurability for later.

What benefits do you get from life insurance?

Financial security for family, debt protection, tax deductions (80C), tax-free payouts 10(10D), flexibility via riders, peace of mind, etc. Note: 80C is only present under the old tax regime. 

What is the basic life insurance benefit?

We truly believe financial information should be made accessible to people free of cost. And we will go to extreme lengths to make that dream a reality.

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