Quick Overview

A term insurance premium chart (or calculator) is a digital tool or table that provides an estimated cost of coverage based on factors like age, gender, smoking habits, and desired policy term. It allows users to compare different premium amounts (monthly, annual) against specific sums assured to find an affordable, customized life insurance plan.

When you’re buying a term plan, the process often starts with the confusion of “why do premiums for the same cover vary so differently?” While a term insurance premium chart may seem helpful, without context, it can be misleading. 

At Ditto, we’ve seen many first-time buyers previously assume the lowest premium to be the best option until we helped them out. In this blog, we’ll explain what these charts actually show, how to read them correctly, and how they fit in choosing the right term plan for you. 

What is a Term Insurance Premium Chart?

Premium charts are commonly published in health insurance (age band X sum insured X family composition) in prospectuses or standalone rate-chart documents.

However, term insurance is less standardized. The premiums here depend on many variables, because of which insurers usually rely on online premium calculators rather than fixed charts. 

Here, some brochures may show illustrative or base premiums to give a rough idea, but these are indicative only. Internal rate charts may exist, often expressed as ₹X per lakh of sum assured, but they are rarely available publicly.

What is the Purpose of a Term Insurance Premium Chart?

Instead of calculating premiums individually for every insurer, a term life insurance premium chart lets you:

    • Understand how premiums change with an increase in age
    • Compare premium ranges across different term insurers
    • Check affordability for different coverage amounts
    • Get clarity before shortlisting plans

For first-time buyers, especially, a term insurance premium chart acts as a starting point. It sets expectations and prevents underestimating the cost of adequate life cover.

Here’s what a term insurance premium chart looks like:

ProfileHDFC Life Click2Protect SupremeICICI Prudential iProtect Smart PlusAxis Max Life Smart Term Plan Plus
25-year-old, Male₹19,333₹15,951₹17,222
30-year-old, Male₹24,660₹19,093₹20,656
35-year-old, Male₹25,932₹21,906₹22,570
40-year-old, Male₹29,900₹28,806₹30,126

Note: We have considered the example of healthy, non-smoking male profiles, covered for 2 crores till the age of 65. The reason for considering three policies in the table above is to showcase premium comparisons across different insurers in the market.

What Information Does a Term Insurance Premium Chart Show?

A typical term insurance premium chart includes the following details:

    • Age of the policyholder (usually starting from 18 up to 60/65 years)
    • Sum assured (₹1 crore, ₹2 crore, 5 crore, etc.)
    • Policy term (20, 30 years, or up to 60-70 years of age)
    • Premium payable (with frequency - Annual, Half-yearly, Quarterly, and Monthly)
    • Gender
    • Smoking status (in more detailed charts)
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Term Insurance Premium for Male vs Female

Let’s consider an example of a 25-year-old non-smoking, healthy person, covered for ₹2 crore until the age of 65, paying annual premiums (regular-pay). 

PlanMale PremiumFemale Premium
HDFC Life Click2Protect Supreme₹19,333₹16,433
ICICI Prudential iProtect Smart Plus₹15,951₹13,558
Axis Max Life Smart Term Plan Plus₹17,222₹14,640

One noticeable difference that you’d come across in a term life insurance premium chart is the premium variation between male and female policyholders.

This happens because, statistically, women tend to have a higher life expectancy than men. Since insurers expect to pay claims later, the risk is considered slightly lower, which results in lower premiums.

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How to Use a Term Insurance Premium Chart to Choose a Plan?

01

Start With the Right Coverage

Decide your sum assured based on income, liabilities, and dependents, and not just what looks reasonable in the chart.

02

Compare at the Same Age and Policy Term

Always compare premiums for the same age, policy term, and coverage.

03

Use This for Shortlisting (Not Finalizing)

A term insurance premium chart helps narrow down options, but it shouldn’t be the only deciding factor.

04

Check Long-Term Affordability

A slightly higher premium is okay if the policy offers better features and claim support.

Note: Once you buy a term insurance policy, the premiums get locked in for the entire duration. 

Is a Term Insurance Premium Chart Enough to Choose a Policy?

While a term insurance premium chart is useful, it doesn’t show the full story. You also need to consider:

1) Key Performance Metrics

Check the Claim Settlement Ratio (CSR), Amount Settlement Ratio (ASR), solvency ratio, overall business volume, and complaint volume. These metrics give you insight into how reliably an insurer handles claims and whether it is financially stable.

2) Policy Inclusions and Exclusions

A low premium means little if important scenarios are excluded. Always review what is covered, what isn’t, and any conditions that could lead to claim rejection.

3) Add-ons and Riders Available

Riders such as critical illness cover, total and accidental permanent disability, or waiver of premium can significantly improve protection. A term insurance premium chart usually doesn’t account for the value these riders add.

4) Quality of Customer Support

Your family will interact with the insurer and not the premium chart during a claim. Easy documentation, clear communication, and responsive support can make a huge difference during stressful times.

Why Your Final Premium May Differ From the Chart?

Most premium charts show premium rates pre-underwriting. Your final premium is confirmed only after underwriting, which may include medical tests and risk assessment. During this, your premium can change based on medical results (BP, sugar, cholesterol, ECG), BMI and waist measurements, family history (in some cases), occupational risks, lifestyle disclosures (alcohol, smoking, adventure sports, etc.), and past medical history. 

Where Can You Find an Accurate Term Insurance Premium Chart?

You can find premium charts or premium examples in a few places:

1) Insurance company websites

Many insurers push you to an online calculator. Some also publish:

    • Brochures with sample premiums
    • Product annexures with premium rates (for certain plans)

It is common to see full rate tables for standardized products like Saral Jeevan Bima, while many mainstream term plans show examples and rely on calculators for exact quotes.

2) Comparison and advisory platforms like Ditto

Platforms like ours can help you compare plans and premiums with consistent assumptions across insurers.

However, charts available online are often generic. For the most accurate numbers, your age, health details, lifestyle habits, and income must be factored in. This is where expert guidance helps avoid costly mistakes.

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 Aaron below love us:

Term Insurance Premium Chart
    • No-Spam & No Salesmen
    • Rated 4.9/5 on Google Reviews by 15,000+ happy customers
    • Backed by Zerodha
    • 100% Free Consultation

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

Conclusion

A term insurance premium chart is useful for setting expectations, but it’s not a definitive pricing tool. Most premium charts are assumption-driven and built around standard profiles, which means they rarely reflect real-world scenarios. If your age, health, income, occupation, or lifestyle differs from those assumptions, the final premium can vary significantly. That’s why charts should be used only as a starting point for comparison, not the basis for a final decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do insurers define “smoker” for premium calculation purposes?

Insurers classify you as a smoker if you have consumed cigarettes, cigars, bidis, vaping products, chewing tobacco, or nicotine-based products within the last 12 months (some insurers use 24 months). Even occasional or social smoking must be disclosed.

How Much Premium for Term Insurance?

The premium for term insurance depends on factors like your age, sum assured, policy term, gender, health condition, and lifestyle habits (such as smoking).

What’s the difference between policy term and premium payment term?

Policy Term is the total duration for which life cover is active (e.g., up to age 65). On the other hand, the premium payment term is how long you pay premiums (e.g., regular pay till age 65, limited pay for 10-15 years, or single pay).

How Much Premium for ₹50 Lakh Term Insurance

The premium for a ₹50 lakh term insurance plan for a 30-year-old would be roughly around ₹8,000-₹9,000. You can check out our detailed guide for more details. 

How Much Premium for ₹1 Crore Term Insurance?

For a ₹1 Crore term insurance plan, the average annual premium for a healthy, 30-year-old non-smoking male is approximately ₹9,600 to ₹12,000.

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