Wednesday 25 September 2013

IRDA Life Insurance Regulations 2013-Do you know these changes?




Recently IRDA revamped so many changes when it comes to Life Insurance. All these changes will be effective from 1st October 2013. It is very important for all Life Insurance buyers to understand these changes well before going ahead for any buying.

Non Linked Regulations-

1.       Non Linked products like traditional life insurance policies will be classified as “PARTICIPATING PRODUCTS OR “PAR PRODUCTS” and NON-PARTICIPATING PRODUCTS OR “NON-PAR PRODUCTS” .

2.       PAR PRODUCTS will be eligible for Bonus on annual basis + Interim Bonus + Final Additional Bonus.

3.       Minimum Death Benefit will be   A) For Single Premium it is 125% for age up to 45 years, 110% for others.  B) For Non Single Premium it is minimum 10 times of the annualized premium (for age up to 45 years), for the rest       it is 7 times of annualized premium.

4.       For Non Single Premium it is minimum 10 times of the annualized premium (for age up to 45 years), for the rest       it is 7 times of annualized premium.

5.       The minimum policy term will be 5 years and minimum premium paying term for non single premium policies will be more than 5 years.

6.       Guaranteed Surrender Value (for regular premium policies) will be as below.  A) 30% of premium paid less any survival benefit already paid, if surrendered within 2nd Or 3rd Year. B) 50% of premium paid less any survival benefit already paid, if surrendered within 4th To 7th Year. C) 90% of premium paid less any survival benefit already paid, if surrendered in the last 2 years of policy , if term of the policy is less than 7 years.

7.       Premiums will be equal throughout the period of the policy.

8.       One can pay their premium only 30 days before the date of premium due. This move has both negative and positive effects. Negative effects are like if your employer ask you submit investment proof before 31st January of FY and your Life Insurance premium is due by 1st March then you are unable to produce it buy paying advance. So you need to ask for the TDS done from your employer afterward. Earlier to this, there was a provision to pay the advance premium and avail discount on this. Agents used to woo policy holders to pay advance payment and have a discount on this. Reason is, they will get a handsome commission immediately.

9.       For monthly premium payment mode only during the start of policy insurance company may accept 3 months advance payment.

10.     Service tax will be collected over and above the contractual premium. Now there will be a clear idea about how much you are paying as tax and how much will go towards premium. So this move will actually bring transparency.

11.    Selling of same plan and same tenure by splitting plans will not be allowed henceforth. It means from now onward your agent will not be able to sell the one product with same tenure by splitting Sum Assured (which increases his number of policy count but cumbersome for policy holders to maintain the data.) Like Jeevan Anand with tenure of 20 years can not be split like 5 policies of  each SA Rs.5,00,000. Instead you have to buy only one Jeevan Anand for tenure of 20 years and SA Rs.25,00,000. But your agent can sell with different terms.

12.    Existing plans of insurance companies will be revamped to suit the new regulations. Hence plans of LIC’s Jeevan Anand or Jeevan Tarang may come out with new features.

13.    Policies sold during the transition period (from 20th Feb 2013 to 1st Oct 2013) will have the option either to have continued their policies with existing features or move to new features.

14.    Your premiums will come down drastically as from now onward new mortality table will be referred to fix insurance premium.  Especially LIC which is using the 1994-96 Ultimate Mortality Rates will move to IRDA’s Indian Assured Lives Mortality (2006-08).

15.    The agents commission structure was revamped.

16.    The product literature must indicate whether the policy is protection oriented or saving orientd.

17.    Benefit illustration like guaranteed and non guaranteed at gross investment returns of 4% and 8% respectively signed by both prospective policyholder and agent. It must form the part of the policy document.
                                          
Linked Regulations-

1.       Death Benefit will be either of below. A)  The Sum Assured as agreed in the policy plus the balance unit of fund. B)  Higher of Sum Assured or balance unit of a fund.

2.       But the minimum maturity value should be equal to the value of units available on maturity date.

3.       Minimum Death Benefit will be as below. A) For single premium 125% of premium paid (if age at entry is under 45 years) or 110% of premium paid (if age at  entry is above 45 years). B) For regular premiums 10 times of annualized premiums or 0.5 * Term of the Policy * annual premium whichever is higher (if age at entry is under 45 years). Else 7 times of annualized premiums or 0.5 * Term of the policy * annual premium whichever is higher (if age at entry is above 45 years). 

4.       Single premium health insurance products will not be available from now onward.

5.       In case of death within 12 months of the start of the policy or from the date of revival of the policy then nominee will be entitled for fund value available on the date of death.

6.       For policies issued for minors the date of commencement of policy and risk commencement will be same.

7.       At any point of time death benefit will not be less than 105% of total premiums paid including top up but excluding service tax.

8.       Minimum policy term will be 5 years and premium payment will be 5 years.

9.       Grace period will be 15 days  monthly premium paying and 30 days for in all other cases.

10.    Lock in period will be 5 years.

11.    If policies discontinued within 5 years then they can revive the policies within two years or complete withdrawal without any risk.

12.    Partial withdrawal will be available after 5 years only. But for child policies one can not withdraw until minor insured attained the age of 18 years.

13.    Benefit illustration like guaranteed and non guaranteed at gross investment returns of 4% and 8% respectively signed by both prospective policyholder and agent. It must form the part of the policy document.

14.    Loan will not be available under linked products.

15.    Heighest NAV Guaranteed Plans are not allowed to operate.

16.    Closed ended funds are not allowed to operate.

17.    One can pay their premium only 30 days before the date of premium due and 3 months for monthly premium payment schedule.

18.    Splitting of policies will not be allowed in the case of linked policies.

19.    Same day NAV will be applicable if the premium received or redemption request received within 3 P.M. Else next day NAV will be applicable.

20.    Yearly statement will be sent showing the charges and the current fund values.

These are the major points which one must know. The list is big to go by, but I mentioned the major changes one most know.Cancel reply

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