Overview of DigiShield Plan
The Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI) DigiShield Plan is a highly customisable term insurance policy built to suit diverse protection needs and life goals. With 10 distinct variants, including Level Cover, Increasing Cover, Sum Assured Reduction, Whole Life (coverage up to age 100), Income Benefit, and Return of Premium. It accommodates both traditional lump-sum protection and more flexible income-based structures. Policyholders can choose from multiple payout modes (lump sum, monthly income, or a combination), opt for critical illness protection, and benefit from inbuilt features like the Terminal Illness Benefit. The plan also supports joint life coverage, making it suitable for salaried professionals, families, and those focused on legacy planning.
Experts' Review of DigiShield Plan
Written by Monish Vora
Chief Editor
The ABSLI DigiShield Plan is a versatile term insurance product with 10 plan variants, including Level Cover, Increasing Cover, Sum Assured Reduction, Whole Life (coverage up to age 100), Income Benefit, and Return of Premium. Payouts can be structured as a lump sum, monthly income, or a mix, with income benefits offered as level or increasing payments for steady financial support.
The policy includes an inbuilt Terminal Illness Benefit, an optional Accelerated Critical Illness rider covering 42 illnesses (with payouts deducted from the base cover), and joint life coverage with premium discounts. It also offers ABSLI’s standard suite of non-linked riders—Accidental Death benefit, Waiver of Premium, Surgical Care, and Accidental Total and Permanent Disability (ATPD).
Potential drawbacks include the overwhelming number of variants and Ditto’s advice is to stick with Level or Increasing Cover for simplicity. Once a variant is chosen, it cannot be changed mid-policy. Premiums for Whole Life and Return of Premium are notably higher, and certain riders are limited to specific variants. Additionally, ABSLI’s digital experience still trails leaders like HDFC Life.
Pros
It is a feature-rich plan with a critical illness rider and waiver of premium rider.
Aditya Birla Sun Life has a decent track record with good claim and service metrics.
Offers ten variants with income, survival, and hospitalization benefits, including Hospicare and Surgicare.
Provides terminal illness coverage and allows premium enhancement later through the life stage benefit .
Cons
Premiums are relatively high compared to other term plans.
The plan lacks cover continuance and instant claim payout benefits commonly available with other insurers.
Aditya Birla Sun Life
Key Insights
Founded
2000
Aditya Birla Sun Life was established 26 years ago and has built strong credibility over time, backed by its long-standing presence in the market.
Claims Experience
98.45% CSR, calculated as a 3-year average
Aditya Birla Sun Life settles 98.45% of all claims it receives demonstrating strong credibility.
Complaints
2.3 complaints per 10,000 claims registered
Aditya Birla Sun Life maintains a low volume of complaints, reflecting strong customer satisfaction and effective service.
Amount Settled
94.34% of total claim amount settled
Aditya Birla Sun Life shows a reasonable claim payout record, with around 94.34% of the total claim amount settled, indicating moderate settlement efficiency.
The aforementioned ratios have been averaged over three years (FY23-FY25)
Features of DigiShield Plan
Surgical Care
Standout
Provides lump sum benefit in case of hospitalization for a minimum period of 24 hours for undergoing medically necessary surgery in India.
Hospital Care
Standout
Provides lump sum benefit in case of hospitalization for a minimum period of 24 hours for undergoing medically necessary surgery in India.
Critical Illness
If you're ever diagnosed with a critical illness, you would want your insurance policy to pay a fixed sum that can help you deal with any monetary obligations and financially support your needs during treatment. DigiShield Plan extends critical illness benefit without too many restrictions and pays up to 50 lakhs so long as you are diagnosed with one of the 42 illnesses listed in the policy brochure.
Terminal Illness
Certain policies will disburse the entire cover amount the moment you are diagnosed with a terminal illness. So you can still get the money when alive and use it any way you wish. DigiShield Plan gives you the option to receive the entire or a percentage of sum assured upon diagnosis of a terminal illness.
Accidental Death Benefit
Some policies offer you the option of adding extra protection for accidental deaths. And while we recommend customers choose a comprehensive cover without worrying about the specifics of death, DigiShield Plan offers accidental death benefit nonetheless.
Add-ons of DigiShield Plan
Accidental death and disability rider
This Rider pays out benefit in case of accidental total and permanent disability or death due to an accident.
Critical Illness Rider
In case of diagnosis of any of the mentioned critical illness, lump sum rider benefit is paid to the policyholder.
Waiver of Premium Rider
Waives all future premiums in case of critical illness or disability, while keeping the policy benefits active.
Accidental Death Benefit
Provides an additional payout in case of death due to an accident during the policy term.
Surgical Care
Provides lump sum benefit in case of hospitalization for a minimum period of 24 hours for undergoing medically necessary surgery in India.
HospitalCare
Provides lump sum benefit in case of hospitalization for a minimum period of 24 hours for undergoing medically necessary surgery in India.
Waiver of Premium
Some policies waive all future premium payments if you are ever disabled (due to accident) or diagnosed with a critical illness. DigiShield Plan extends the waiver-of-premium option in both cases.
Exclusions in DigiShield Plan
Conditions or treatments that the policy clearly says it will not cover.
Death by suicide within the first policy year is not covered.
Deaths arising from participation in criminal or unlawful activities are excluded.
If the nominee is found responsible for the insured’s death, the claim will not be payable.
If a death claim is proven to be fraudulent, the insurer will not pay out the benefit.
Disclaimer: For illustration purposes only - exact terms are in the policy wording.
Variants of DigiShield Plan
Level Cover Option
Under this option, if the Life Insured passes away during the policy term, the chosen Sum Assured on Death is paid, provided all premiums are paid.
Increasing Cover Option
On death during the policy term, the nominee receives a lump sum equal to the increased Sum Assured, provided all premiums are paid. The Sum Assured rises annually by 5% or 10% (simple interest), as chosen at policy inception.
Sum Assured Reduction Option
On death during the policy term, a lump sum is paid to the nominee based on the applicable Sum Assured. After the chosen Retirement Age, the Sum Assured reduces annually by a fixed percentage.
Whole Life Option(Level Cover)
Under this option, on death of the Life Insured anytime up to age 100, a lump sum equal to the Sum Assured is paid to the nominee, provided all premiums are paid.
Whole Life Option (Sum Assured Reduction Cover)
Under this option, if the Life Insured passes away anytime up to age 100, a lump sum is paid to the nominee, as long as all premiums are paid. After the chosen Retirement Age, the Sum Assured gradually reduces each year by a fixed percentage.
Income Benefit
Under this option, on the Life Insured’s death during the policy term, the nominee will receive monthly income for a chosen period, if all premiums are paid. You can choose between level income (1.25% of Sum Assured monthly) or increasing income (rising 5% p.a.).
Level Cover plus Income Benefit
On death during the policy term, the nominee receives a lump sum equal to the Sum Assured. Additionally, a monthly income of 0.5% of the Sum Assured is paid for 10 years.
Low Cover Option
Under this option, if the Life Insured passes away during the policy term, the chosen Sum Assured on Death is paid, provided all premiums are paid.
Level Cover with Survival Benefit
This option combines protection with savings by offering monthly Survival Benefits of 0.12% of the Sum Assured after age 60, if the Life Insured survives. In case of death during the policy term, the nominee receives a lump sum equal to the Sum Assured minus any survival benefits already paid.
Return Of Premium
In case of death during the policy term, the chosen death benefit equal to the Sum Assured is paid. On survival till the end of the term, 100% of total premiums paid are returned to the policyholder.
What's missing in DigiShield Plan
No Zero Cost Option
No Special Exit Value
No Cover Continuance Benefit
No Insta Payout Benefit
Reviews for DigiShield Plan
S
Sanjana C. Jain
Opted for DigiShield online process super smooth zyada calls nahi and income payout option se ghar ka cashflow set Good value No stress value
N
Niraj Malhotra
Signed up for this plan terminal illness cover adds real peace of mind and payout choice lump sum or income feels practical Feels reliable simple
N
Namrata Singh
Chose this plan rider options are solid for CI and disability and discounts for salaried non smoker made it cheaper Feels reliable No stress
D
Devansh Khanna
Opted for DigiShield rider options are solid for CI and disability but coverage age limit feels slightly low Still fine In short Works well helps
A
Ashish W. Das
Went with this plan terminal illness cover adds real peace of mind and rider options are solid for CI and disability Feels reliable In short
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Aditya Birla Sun Life DigiShield Plan?
What are the benefits of the DigiShield Plan?
What riders can customers opt for with the DigiShield Plan?
TALK TO OUR ADVISORS
Get real help from advisors who listen, guide and go the extra mile for you.