Quick Overview

SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha is a one-year renewable group term insurance plan for employers, affinity groups, and borrower groups (with a minimum of 10 members). It offers cost-effective life cover with optional protection against disability and critical or terminal illness, provides 24/7 coverage, and allows eligible tax benefits on premiums.

SBI Life has long been recognized for its role in expanding access to life insurance across India. Majority-owned by the State Bank of India and originally formed as a joint venture with BNP Paribas Cardif, the insurer offers a wide range of insurance products, including SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha, a group life insurance plan that is not designed for individual purchase.

This raises an important question: If a group you belong to offers this policy, should you rely on it, or is an individual term insurance plan a better option?

In this article, we’ll walk you through how SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha works, who it’s meant for, and whether it makes sense for you.

SBI Life Insurance Performance Metrics

MetricSBI Life Insurance
Claim Settlement Ratio (CSR)98.24% (Average: 2022–25)
Amount Settlement Ratio (ASR)95.2% (Average: 2021–24)
Complaint Volume5.62 per 10,000 claims (Average: 2022–25)
Solvency Ratio2.04x
Annual Business (in Crores)₹34,468

Features of SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha

FeatureDetails
Plan TypeOne-year renewable group term life insurance plan 
EligibilityIssued only to employers, institutions, or societies, usually with a minimum group size of 10 members
CoverageWorldwide, 24/7 coverage for death due to natural causes or accidents; optional cover for permanent disability, critical illness
CustomizationCoverage type (flat, graded, or multiple of salary) and benefits are decided by the master policyholder
Medical ExaminationGenerally not required up to the Free Cover Limit (FCL) due to group-level underwriting. The FCL varies by group and insurer and represents the maximum cover offered without requiring medical tests.
Premium PaymentCan be paid monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or annually by the employer, members, or both
Profit SharingAvailable in compulsory schemes; favourable claims experience may reduce future premiums
Death Benefit SettlementNominee can choose instalment payouts for up to 5 years instead of a lump sum
Administrative EaseSimple to manage and cost-effective for organisations covering large groups
Role in Financial PlanningEnsures basic life cover for members, but works best as a supplement to an individual term insurance plan
Tax BenefitsDeath benefits are tax-exempt under Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act. If premiums are paid by the individual member, they may be eligible for deductions under Section 80C, only under the old tax regime.

Note: The Free Cover Limit (FCL) varies from one group to another and is determined by the insurer based on the group’s size, profile, and risk characteristics. It is not publicly disclosed.

What are the Eligibility Criteria for SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha?

Eligibility under SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha is determined by the group or employer purchasing the policy, not by the individual member or by SBI Life directly.

Broad guidelines include:

    • Entry age starting from around 16 years
    • The maximum entry age can go up to 79 years, depending on the group terms
    • The maximum maturity age is typically 80 years
    • The individual must be a valid member of the participating group

In some cases, banks or institutions offer this plan to customers under a different branding, with stricter age limits or lower cover caps. These parameters are fully controlled by the master policyholder.

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What are the Riders available with SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha?

By default, the policy only includes a death benefit. However, groups can opt for paid riders to enhance coverage.

Common riders available include:

    • Accidental Death Benefit: Pays an additional sum assured if death occurs due to an accident.
    • Accidental Total Permanent Disability: Provides a payout if an accident results in permanent disability that prevents the member from working.
    • Accidental Partial Permanent Disability: Pays a percentage of the sum assured based on the severity of permanent partial disability caused by an accident.
    • Critical Illness Rider (Accelerated or Additional): Pays a lump sum on diagnosis of specified critical illnesses, either by reducing the base cover (accelerated) or as an extra payout (additional).

Whether these riders are included or not depends entirely on what the group has negotiated with the insurer.

What are the Inclusions and Exclusions of SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha?

Since this is a group policy, exclusions differ based on how the scheme is structured.

    • Compulsory Employer–Employee Schemes: The suicide exclusion does not apply. If a member dies by suicide, the full death benefit is paid to the nominee.
    • Voluntary or Non-Compulsory Schemes: If death due to suicide occurs within 12 months from the start of cover, the death benefit is not paid. Instead, the nominee receives 80% of the premiums paid (excluding taxes and extras), after which coverage ends.

This distinction exists to prevent misuse in voluntary schemes while ensuring full protection in mandatory employer–employee arrangements.

How to Buy SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha Online?

You cannot purchase the SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha plan directly as an individual because it is strictly a group life insurance product. The "How to Buy" process is designed around group enrollment rather than a typical individual online purchase experience.

I. The Purchasing Entity (Master Policyholder)

The actual policy must be initiated and maintained by a "master policyholder." This entity can be:

    • A company or employer for their employees.
    • An association, cooperative society, or institution for its members 
    • A bank offering the plan to its account holders

II. Member Enrollment Process

If you are part of an eligible group, your enrollment process depends entirely on the procedures established by the master policyholder:

A. Offline/Group Process

    • The group administrator provides details of the plan and enrollment forms.
    • You sign up through their internal process.
    • The group manages the premium payment and administrative details with SBI Life

B. Online Enrollment (Specific Cases): For certain partnerships, online enrollment is possible through specific platforms. If you hold an SBI bank account, you might be able to enroll in the specific version offered to bank customers (SBI Insta Life Secure) directly through the Yono SBI app. This digital path simplifies the process, often requiring minimal documentation or medical checks upfront.

Documents Required to Buy SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha

To enroll under SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha, members of an eligible group are usually required to submit basic identification and membership proof. This typically includes:

    • Proof of group membership or employment, confirming eligibility under the master policy
    • Aadhaar card, for identity and address verification
    • PAN card, for tax and regulatory compliance

In most cases, no additional income proof or medical documents are required, as underwriting is done at the group level. Requirements may vary slightly depending on how the organization has structured the policy.

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Ditto’s Take on SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha

SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha works best for cooperatives, societies, and companies that want to offer basic life cover to their members or employees. It isn’t meant for individuals who want control over features, tenure, or continuity.

If you’re covered under this group plan, that’s a good starting point, but it shouldn’t be your only coverage. Group insurance ends when you leave the organization. That’s why Ditto strongly recommends buying a personal term insurance plan first and using group cover like Sampoorn Suraksha only as a supplement.

Note: SBI Life is not a partner insurer of Ditto. The information in this article is sourced from publicly available materials. Ditto does not advise on group term or group health insurance products and primarily offers guidance on retail term and health insurance plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha be offered to informal groups (like credit or affinity groups)?

Yes, besides employer–employee groups, the plan can also be structured for borrower–depositor groups, professional groups, affinity groups, and other recognised informal organisations.

Is there a minimum and maximum sum assured under SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha?

Yes, the sum assured per member and per group can be customised, with the minimum and maximum limits set by the group policy structure.

What happens if the master policyholder fails to pay premiums on time?

The policy continues only if premiums are paid in full before the grace period ends, coverage may lapse, and benefits may not be payable.

Can the policy be revived if it lapses?

Yes, in many cases, the master policy can be revived within a specified period (e.g., five years) after lapse by paying overdue premiums and fulfilling conditions set by the insurer.

Does SBI Life Sampoorn Suraksha offer a free look period?

Yes, a free look period (30 days) is available after issuance, during which the master policyholder can review the terms and return the policy if unsatisfied.

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