A Term insurance plan is one of the most significant financial commitments you can make. This product can give your family a good level of financial stability. For a relatively small term insurance premium, it offers a sizable sum assured.
One benefit of term insurance, owing to its low cost, is that you can purchase one even at the start of your profession when your income isn’t very high. This would ensure your family would be compensated if something unfortunate happens to you during the policy term. Your nominee can claim the compensation.
Who is a nominee?
A nominee is a person you formally designate as the beneficiary of your term insurance policy’s sum assured when you purchase the policy. Nomination is the action of appointing such a person.
Everything you need to know about nominees:
- They are the purpose of insurance policies: The primary purpose of life insurance is to provide someone with financial security in the case of your passing. This is accomplished through the process of nomination.
- The policyholder has the power to choose any one: Typically, policyholders designate a family member as the nominee for an insurance plan, such as their spouse, children, or another relative. You can nominate almost anyone, which is another benefit of a term plan. You may also suggest a close friend or an extended family member if you can demonstrate insurable interest.
- There can be multiple nominees: You may select more than one candidate for nomination. If the first nominee does not survive the insurance term, the benefit is paid to the second nominee.
- There is a possibility of shared benefit: You might arrange for the death benefit to be split among several nominees. In this instance, the term insurance benefits may be distributed among the nominated individuals according to your chosen allocation.
- Nominee cancellation: Another significant benefit of term plans is the ability to cancel and change your nominee whenever and however many times you wish.
What should you take into consideration when choosing a nominee?
Your term insurance nominee should be someone you have complete confidence in. Whether they are your spouse, your sibling, or a friend, they will need to be able to take care of your family following your passing.
What happens if the term plan nominee is not chosen?
This could happen in two scenarios: either no nominee was appointed, or the appointed nominee has passed away. In such cases:
- A Class I legal heir, such as a husband, son, father, or mother, receives the sum assured plus bonuses in the absence of a will.
- If there is a will, the death benefit is distributed to the heirs following the terms of the will. The Indian Succession Act of 1925 explains the procedure for this.
- An appointee must be named alongside if a minor is named as the term insurance nominee. He or she will act as the legal guardian of the person concerning the policy claims for the minor nominee, at least as long as the minor becomes an adult. This happens quite frequently. The appointed person will be paid on the kid’s behalf until the minor turns 18.
What is an assignment?
An assignment is issued through a separate deed. It holds more importance than nomination. The assignee need not be a member of the close family. It is impossible to revoke a policy once it has been assigned to someone.
What is a conditional assignment?
An alternative to an absolute assignment is a conditional assignment. Consider the scenario where the insured has pledged their insurance policy as collateral for a debt and expires before the loan is fully repaid. In this instance, the assignee will follow the correct steps to pay back the debt using the insurance policy. The assignment is finished once the loan has been fully returned.
What if there is a difference in the policy nomination and will?
Suppose the beneficiary named in the policyholder’s will differs from the nominee. In that case, the will takes precedence, and benefits are distributed following the terms of the will. Hence, confirming that the nominee named in the will matches the nominee listed in the insurance policies is crucial.
Only after thoroughly comprehending the process and implications should one designate a nominee for term insurance. With the majority of the information in hand, you ought to be able to make a better, informed choice.
Before all this comes the selection of a policy. A term insurance calculator can help you determine what suits you best. It considers the term insurance premium you are willing to pay, the amount your nominee will require to survive, and many other things. A good policy will protect your nominee.
Featured Life insurance by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free
