Term Insurance

PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus

Subhashish Banerjee

Written by Subhashish Banerjee

Insurance Writer

Ishita Jain

Reviewed by Ishita Jain

IRDAI-Certified Expert at Ditto

SP0738675913

Certified
PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus

Overview

PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus is a customizable pure-term insurance plan designed to provide financial protection for individuals and families.

Key Features

  • Whole Life Protection: Offers life cover that can continue up to age 99.
  • Multiple Plan Options: Choose from variants such as Life, Life Plus, and Life Plus Health, with protection available for terminal illness, Critical Illness (CI), and disability depending on the variant.
  • Spouse Protection: The plan can provide coverage for both spouses under a single policy structure.
  • Return of Premium Option: Under the option, eligible premiums are returned if you survive the policy term.
  • Flexible Cover Enhancement: Features such as Step-Up, Life Stage, and Child Education Support can help increase or structure coverage as your financial responsibilities evolve.

Eligibility

  • Minimum Entry Age: 18 years
  • Maximum Entry Age: 60 years
  • Maximum Maturity Age: Can extend up to 99 years
  • Minimum Sum Assured: ₹25 lakh

Choosing term insurance is not just about finding the lowest premium. The right plan should offer adequate protection while giving you flexibility without adding unnecessary complexity. Mera Term Plan Plus by PNB MetLife stands out with multiple cover options and spouse coverage. The question, however, is whether these added features genuinely justify the additional cost for your needs.

This guide covers the features, riders, cover enhancement options, insurer track record, and whether the term plan meets your family needs.

What Is PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus?

PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus (UIN: 117N126V04) is an individual, non-linked, non-participating pure-term insurance plan designed to provide financial protection. It offers three plan variants.

Eligibility Criteria

ParameterCriteria
VariantsLife, Life Plus, and Life Plus Health
Premium Payment Term (PPT)Single pay, regular pay, and limited pay (5, 10, 15, 20, pay till age 60)
Entry Age18 years to 60 years (55 years if pay till 60 is chosen as PPT)
Maturity Age (Without ROP)28 years to 75 years (for Life Plus Health) and 99 years (for Life and Life Plus)
Maturity Age (With ROP)28 years to 75 years
Minimum Policy Term 10 years
Maximum Policy Term (Without ROP)99 minus entry age (for Life and Life Plus) and 75 minus entry age (for Life Plus Health)
Maximum Policy Term (With ROP)40 years
Premium Payment ModesYearly, half-yearly, quarterly, and monthly
Sum Assured ₹25 lakhs with no upper limit (subject to insurer underwriting) 
Death Payout OptionsLump sum, monthly income, and lump sum plus monthly income

Talk to an expert
today and find
the right
insurance for you.

Ditto Advisor

Key Features and Coverage of PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus

    • Life Variant: Provides a death benefit to your nominee if demise happens during the policy term, subject to the policy conditions.
    • Life Plus Variant: Covers death and terminal illness, with future premiums waived if you suffer accidental permanent disability or are diagnosed with a listed critical illness.
    • Life Plus Health Variant: Adds critical illness protection, including an accelerated lump sum payout on diagnosis of a listed critical illness, along with death, terminal illness, and premium waiver benefits.
    • Waiver of Premium (WOP) Benefit: Under the Life Plus and Life Plus Health options, all future premiums are waived if the life assured suffers an Accidental Total and Permanent Disability (ATPD) or is diagnosed with any of the 50 listed critical illnesses. For Life Plus, the premium and benefits under the policy will be reduced to the Life variant when the life assured has attained age 75 years.
    • Accelerated Critical Illness Benefit: Under Life Plus Health, 25% of the basic sum assured, up to ₹50 lakh, is paid as a lump sum if the life assured is diagnosed with a covered critical illness. A 90-day waiting period applies from policy inception or revival for the listed critical illnesses.

Cover Enhancement Options

Background Image

01

Step-Up Benefit

You can choose this when you buy the policy. The sum assured increases by 10% of the basic sum assured every year for 10 years, starting from the first policy anniversary. Each increase attracts an additional premium based on your attained age and remaining policy term.

02

Life Stage Benefit

Lets you increase your sum assured after key milestones such as marriage or taking a home loan. The combined additional cover across these events is capped at ₹50 lakh.

03

Child Education Support

Designed specifically to build additional protection for your child's education where the nominated child has 5 to 19 years of education remaining. The additional sum assured ranges from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore.

Note: These benefits are available only when the basic sum assured is ₹50 lakh or more. At policy inception, the policyholder can choose any one of the three available options, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.

Riders and Add-Ons Available With PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus

    • Accidental Death Benefit Rider Plus: Pays the selected accidental death benefit sum assured to the nominee if the insured dies due to an accident within 180 days, subject to rider terms.
    • Accidental Disability Benefit Rider: Provides a pre-decided accidental disability benefit if an accident results in a covered disability within 180 days, subject to the rider's conditions.
    • Serious Illness Rider: Pays a lump sum on the first diagnosis of any of the 10 covered serious illnesses, subject to the applicable definitions and conditions. The rider comes with a 90-day waiting period and a 30-day survival period.
    • Critical Illness Rider: Pays the benefit on the first diagnosis of either of the two covered conditions, cancer or first heart attack, subject to rider terms. The benefit comes with a 90-day waiting period and a 30-day survival period. This is one of the riders we recommend at Ditto, based on the customer profile.

Note: Besides the riders, the plan offers additional options for spouse cover and Return of Premium (ROP), but we do not recommend either. Separate term policies provide independent coverage and greater flexibility, while ROP returns are not inflation-adjusted, reducing their purchasing power significantly over a long policy term.

PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus Sample Premium Comparison

AgePNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus (Life Option)Axis Max Life Smart Term Plan PlusHDFC Life Click 2 Protect Supreme PlusICICI Prudential iProtect Smart Plus
25₹18,600₹17,222₹19,719₹16,111
30₹22,800₹20,656₹25,153₹19,283
35₹28,800₹26,154₹31,118₹26,030

Note: The illustration assumes a salaried, non-smoking male from Delhi (110010) seeking ₹2 crore level term cover until age 65. First-year discounts have been excluded. Actual premiums vary based on underwriting, medical profile, and other individual factors. You can use the PNB MetLife calculator for rough estimates. 

Insight: Premiums are higher than those of comprehensive plans from Axis Max and ICICI Prudential. Axis Max Life Smart Term Plan Plus covers up to 64 listed illnesses if the critical illness rider is selected, while ICICI Prudential iProtect Smart Plus offers an accelerated partial payout of up to ₹3 lakh at claim intimation for qualifying policies.

PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus appears attractive compared with offerings from larger insurers such as HDFC Life, based only on premiums. However, plans like HDFC Life Click 2 Protect Supreme Plus provide comprehensive health management services and the confidence of an established insurer. 

PNB MetLife: Performance Metrics

Metric (Average FY 2024-26)PNB MetLifeIndustry Average
Claim Settlement Ratio99.53%99.00% (Mean)
Amount Settlement Ratio (Average FY 2023-25)97.50%94.83% (Mean)
Annual Business Volume (In Crore)₹4,490.27₹3,778.58 (Median)
Volume of Complaints (Per 10,000 Claims)24.3313.10 (Median)
Solvency Ratio1.77x2.00x (Median)
Annual Death Claims Paid (In Crore)₹473.39₹237.24 (Median) 

Note: The table figures represent the insurer's performance across products. The data is based on PNB MetLife public disclosures and IRDAI annual reports. You can explore the Ditto Data Lab for more insurer metrics. 

Pros & Cons of PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus

Pros of PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus

    • Strong WOP Feature: Future premiums can be waived for qualifying ATPD or listed critical illnesses.
    • Step-Up Option: Basic sum assured can potentially double, allowing cover to increase as financial responsibilities grow.
    • Life Stage Option: Allows predefined cover increases without fresh underwriting, subject to applicable limits and conditions.
    • Flexible Payouts: You can choose different death-benefit payout structures based on your family's needs.

Cons of PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus

    • Spouse Cover is Asymmetric: The second life may receive narrower protection than the primary policyholder.
    • Step-Up Costs More: Higher coverage means higher premiums based on the life assured's attained age.
    • Life Stage has Limits: You generally must select it upfront, and the combined increase is capped at ₹50 lakh maximum.
    • ROP Costs More: Returning premiums on survival can increase costs by 60% to 100% compared with pure term insurance.

Who Should Buy PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus?

Who Should Buy the PlanWho Should Avoid the Plan
Someone who wants a plain term plan with strong premium-waiver protection and values flexibility as financial responsibilities increase.Someone primarily attracted by return of premium, since getting premiums back usually comes at a higher cost than pure term cover with no real returns.
Someone who values Step-Up or Life Stage options and wants to increase protection as income, liabilities, or family responsibilities grow.Someone choosing it mainly for the “cover till 99” headline without assessing whether such long coverage is actually necessary.
Someone who wants spouse coverage under one policy and understands how the spouse benefit works under the selected configuration.Someone assuming Life Plus Health provides an additional 25% CI payout without checking the exact benefit structure and applicable conditions.
Life Plus can be worth considering for death and terminal illness protection, along with WOP for qualifying ATPD or listed critical illnesses.Someone seeking multiple in-built features, such as cover continuance, wellness benefits, and instant payouts, while still wanting strong value from the premium they pay.

Why Choose Ditto for Term Insurance?

At Ditto, we’ve assisted over 12,00,000 customers with choosing the right insurance policy. Why customers like Aaron below love us:

Aaron Quadros LinkedIn Customer Testimonial
    • 100% Free Consultation
    • No Spam. No Sales Pressure.
    • Rated 4.9/5 on Google Reviews by 30,000+ Happy Customers
    • Backed by Zerodha
    • Dedicated Claim Support Team
    • Compare Plans and Premiums with a Trusted Insurance Advisor

Confused about the right insurance? Speak to Ditto’s certified advisors for free, unbiased guidance. Book your call now or chat with us on WhatsApp. Slots fill up fast!

Ditto’s Take on PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus

PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus is a feature-rich term plan that makes the top 10 best term insurance plans, but not the top 5. However, PNB MetLife operates at a smaller scale than established insurers such as Axis Max Life and remains below our ₹5,000 crore benchmark, with complaint volumes above the industry average.

For customers who prioritize insurer scale and an established claims experience, we suggest comparing other term insurance plans from larger insurers such as HDFC Life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus a good term insurance plan to buy?

It is a feature-rich term plan with Life, Life Plus, and Life Plus Health options, along with spouse cover, Step-Up, Life Stage, and ROP features. However, whether it is suitable depends on your need for these PNB MetLife features and their cost. For straightforward protection, compare the premium and benefits against simpler term plans. 

Does PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus offer a return of premium option?

Yes. You can choose the PNB MetLife return of premium option at policy inception and receive the applicable base premiums if you survive until maturity. However, this option comes at an additional premium and is subject to a maximum policy term of 40 years or age 75, whichever is earlier.

How can I make a PNB MetLife premium payment online if I have missed the due date?

You can use PNB MetLife's available online premium-payment channels to pay a renewal premium. The plan provides a 15-day grace period for monthly premium mode and 30 days for all other permitted modes. If PNB MetLife premium payment is not received within the grace period, the policy may lapse, and life cover will cease, after which reinstatement requirements apply.

What is the maximum entry age for PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus?

The standard maximum entry age is 60 years, although it reduces to 55 years if you choose the pay till age 60 premium-payment option. Your maximum maturity age then depends on the benefit option selected. Life and Life Plus can extend up to age 99, while other configurations have lower limits.

How accurate is the PNB MetLife calculator at estimating the actual premium I will pay?

The calculator provides an indicative premium estimate, not a guaranteed final premium. PNB MetLife considers factors such as age, gender, lifestyle, income, sum assured, policy term, and selected benefits. Final premiums can change after underwriting and medical assessment, so treat the calculator result as an estimate, not a confirmed quote.

Can I increase my cover under PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus after marriage or childbirth?

Yes, the Life Stage Benefit allows you to increase your cover after certain major life events without further underwriting. You can add 50% of the basic sum assured after your first marriage, 25% after the birth of your first child, 25% after your second child, and 50% after taking a qualifying home loan. This is subject to individual caps of ₹50 lakh, ₹25 lakh, ₹25 lakh, and ₹50 lakh, respectively. The benefit is subject to the policy's eligibility conditions and the overall maximum additional sum assured permitted under the plan.

What happens to PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus if I stop paying premiums midway through the term?

The outcome depends on whether you selected Return of Premium (ROP). Without ROP, the policy generally lapses if the premium remains unpaid after the grace period, and applicable benefits cease. With ROP, a regular or limited pay policy may continue as reduced paid-up after acquiring surrender value. If you have paid premiums for at least two full policy years, the policy acquires a guaranteed surrender value. You can generally revive a lapsed or paid-up policy within five years of the first unpaid premium, subject to PNB MetLife's revival conditions.

How does spouse coverage work under PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus?

Spouse coverage provides a death benefit only to the second life, payable as a lump sum. The first life must have at least ₹50 lakh basic sum assured, while the second life can receive up to 100% of the first life's cover, subject to underwriting. For a non-earning female or housewife, coverage is limited to 50% of the first life's basic sum assured, capped at ₹50 lakh. However, waiver of premium, terminal illness, and accelerated critical illness benefits (Life Plus and Life Plus Health option) apply only to the first life.

Are PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus premiums and benefits eligible for tax benefits?

Yes. Premiums qualify for deductions under Section 123, formerly Section 80C, under the old tax regime, subject to the ₹1.5 lakh overall limit and applicable conditions. Eligible health-related rider premiums may qualify separately under Section 126 (formerly Section 80D). Death benefits are generally exempt under Section 11, formerly Section 10(10D), subject to applicable tax provisions.

Last updated on: