Quick Overview

SBI Life Smart Shield Premier is a pure term insurance plan offering life cover starting at ₹2 crore, designed for high-income individuals seeking simple, no-frills financial protection. The plan pays a death benefit to nominees through lump sum, installment, or combination options and offers level or increasing coverage choices. It’s backed by SBI Life’s 98% claim settlement ratio, and the pricing is competitive at higher sum assured levels.  Rider options remain limited, with only accident-related add-ons available. It suits buyers prioritizing affordability and insurer credibility over advanced features or customization.

Choosing a term insurance plan from a large, trusted insurer often brings peace of mind, especially when your family’s financial security is at stake. SBI Life is currently the second-largest life insurer in India, based on annual business volumes and total death claim payouts. This makes it a popular choice among buyers seeking dependable term insurance coverage.

In this SBI Life Smart Shield Premier review, we break down whether this plan truly delivers on protection, affordability, and reliability.

SBI Life Insurance: Performance Metrics

MetricSBI Life’s MetricsIndustry Average
Claim Settlement Ratio (FY 22–25)98.24%98.66% 
Amount Settlement Ratio (FY 21–24)95.2%94.07% 
Annual Business Volumes  (₹ crore) (FY 22–25)₹34,468₹3,411.73 
30-day Claim Settlement (FY 22–25)98.92%97.48% 
Amount Paid in Death Claims (₹ crore) (FY 22–25)₹2,041.3₹195.05 
Volume of Complaints per 10,000 Claims (FY 22–25)5.6217.67
Solvency Ratio (FY 22–25)2.04x2.04x

Insights: SBI Life maintains low complaint volumes along with healthy solvency and amount settlement ratios considering the business volume. While its claim settlement ratio is slightly below the industry average, the gap is not concerning, as it still remains comfortably above the 97% mark, indicating reliable claims performance overall.

Features of SBI Life Smart Shield Premier Plan

ParametersSmart Shield Premier
Entry Age18-60 years
Maturity AgeUp to 85 years
Policy Term10 years - 67 years
Premium Paying Term (PPT)Limited Pay (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 years), Regular Pay
Premium Payment ModesYearly, Half-Yearly, & Monthly
Sum Assured₹2,00,00,000 - No maximum limit (subject to underwriting)
Plan OptionsLevel Cover, Increasing Cover
Death Benefit Payout OptionsLump sum, installments, or a combination

You can find more detailed information about the plan in the SBI Life Smart Shield Premier brochure PDF.

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Riders Available in SBI Life - Smart Shield Premier Plan

Unlike many modern term insurance plans that offer a wide range of add-ons, SBI Life Smart Shield keeps rider options limited to just two accident-related covers:

  1. Accidental Death Benefit (ADB) Rider

    The Accidental Death Benefit rider pays an additional lump sum over and above the base sum assured (up to ₹2 crores) if the life insured dies due to an accident within 180 days of the accident. While it may seem useful for dependents facing sudden financial disruption, we don’t typically recommend this rider at Ditto. Accidental deaths are already covered under the base term plan, and increasing the base sum assured usually offers broader, all-cause protection rather than accident-specific cover.
  2. Accidental Partial Permanent Disability (APPD) Rider

    This rider provides a payout (up to ₹1.5 crores) if the life insured suffers a permanent disability due to an accident, provided the disability occurs solely because of the accident and within 180 days of it. The benefit is paid as a percentage of the rider's sum assured, depending on the severity of the injury, such as 75% for loss of hearing in both ears or 50% for loss of one hand.

Note: SBI Life Smart Shield Term Plan does not offer Critical Illness (CI) cover, Waiver of Premium (WOP), Terminal Illness benefits, cover continuance options, or any health and wellness services.

Benefits and Drawbacks of SBI Life Smart Shield Premier Plan

ProsCons
SBI Life Smart Shield Premier offers competitive pricing for ₹2 crore+ cover and flexible payout options, lump sum, installments, or both, helping families manage finances smoothly after a claim.The plan only offers accident-related riders, with no options for critical illness or waiver of premium benefits, reducing customization flexibility.
SBI Life’s strong claim servicing track record, large business volumes, and low complaint levels provide confidence in long-term claim reliability.Unlike many new-age term plans, this plan lacks features like cover continuance options, wellness benefits, or instant payout support.
Policyholders can opt for Increasing Cover, where the sum assured rises by 10% of the base cover every 5 policy years (for an in-force policy), capped at a 100% increase, with no hikes after age 71.Since the plan requires a minimum annual income of ₹10 lakh, it may not be accessible to all buyers seeking high coverage.

SBI Life Smart Shield Term Plan Premium Comparison

AgeAMLI Smart Term Plan PlusHDFC LIFE Click2Protect Supreme PlusICICI Pru iProtect Smart PlusSBI Life Smart Shield Premier
25₹18,952₹21,424₹17,014₹16,426
30₹23,234₹27,000₹21,237₹20,268
35₹29,362₹35,945₹28,238₹26,380
40₹39,924₹45,694₹39,594₹35,444

Profile Considered: Premiums are based on a ₹2 crore sum assured, with coverage up to age 70, for a non-smoking male, with no added riders or 1st year or online discounts.

Insights: SBI Life Smart Shield Premier remains competitively priced across age groups and emerges as one of the more affordable options at higher entry ages, making it attractive for buyers seeking large cover at reasonable premiums.

Why Choose Ditto for Term Insurance?

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

SBI Life Smart Shield Premier
    • 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

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

Ditto's Take

Overall, the SBI Life Smart Shield Premier plan is a simple, decent term plan with no unnecessary complexity. However, because it misses several in-built benefits and rider options, the premium may not feel worth it for buyers who want more comprehensive protection. If you are looking for a broader feature set in a similar price range, you can take a look at the best term plans in India according to Ditto.

Disclaimer

SBI Life is not a partner insurer of Ditto. All information in this article is for informational purposes only and based on publicly available sources. Learn more about how we evaluate term plans through Ditto’s Cut.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SBI Life Smart Shield Premier?

SBI Life Smart Shield Premier is a pure term insurance plan that provides a death benefit to nominees if the insured passes away during the policy term.

Is SBI Life Smart Shield Premier a good term insurance plan?

Based on our SBI Life Smart Shield Premier review, the plan is suitable for buyers seeking affordable high coverage, but may feel limited for those wanting comprehensive base cover and extensive rider options.

Where can I find the SBI Life Smart Shield Premier brochure PDF?

You can download the SBI Life Smart Shield Premier brochure pdf directly from SBI Life’s official website for detailed plan information. 

Does SBI Life - Smart Shield Premier offer critical illness riders?

No, SBI Life - Smart Shield Premier currently offers only accident-related riders and does not include critical illness or waiver of premium benefits.

Who should consider buying SBI Life Smart Shield Premier?

It suits first-time buyers seeking a simple term plan, conservative buyers who value stability over features, and customers who prefer trusted legacy insurers like SBI, especially those already banking with SBI for added convenience.

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