Term insurance return of payment policies, also called TROP plans, are different from term plans as they provide maturity or survival benefits in addition to the death benefits. Let us look at these features a bit more in detail so you can make a proper decision when you are looking for an insurance cover for yourself. Sum Assured The sum assured in TROP plans refers to the life insurance cover that the insured person receives when signing up for the plan. The sum assured under these plans is generally higher than what is available for the same amount of premium under the traditional endowment policies. This is because endowment policies provide returns that are higher than the term plans and may also provide the payout over a considerably longer period. TROP policies, on the other hand, just return the premium paid by the insured person over the tenure of the plan. Survival Benefits or Maturity Benefits The survival or maturity benefits for a TROP plan is what makes it different from a traditional term policy. Under a term plan, the insured person does not receive any survival or maturity benefits. However, under a simple TROP plan, the insured gets back all the money they had invested as the premium for the plan less any taxes. In addition, in some cases, the insurance company may pay more than the premium paid provided certain conditions are met. For instance, Aviva Life Insurance Company offers a return of 110% or 10% return on the premiums paid in its Aviva i-Shield TROP plan. That means, assuming the person paid a premium of Rs. 39,000 per annum for 20 years, then he would get back Rs. 8,58,000 (Rs. 39,000 x 20 years x 110%) at the end of the 20 years. Death Benefits The term insurance return of payment policies offer the nominees the sum assured if the unfortunate comes to pass and the policyholder does not survive the tenure of the policy. Various insurance companies also offer a higher sum that may be calculated as the higher of the sum assured, the maturity benefit, or a certain percentage of the premium paid so far. The companies may offer more benefits depending on the plan or mode of premium payment or the type of cover opted. For instance, policies with regular premium payment options may also have the option to receive a death benefit that is certain times the annualised premium. Moreover, policies with optional riders may have certain additional benefits. Payment Options The insurance companies have launched various term insurance return of payment plans that offer flexible payment options. In most cases, the insured person can choose the payment option that suits them best. The standard payment periods are on a monthly basis, quarterly (i.e. every 3 months or 4 quarters in a year), half-yearly and yearly. Some insurers also provide a single premium payment option as well as giving the insured the choice to pay for only a few years (say 10 years) and get cover for a larger number of years (say 30 years). Each payment option has its own benefits. For instance, the monthly payments are smaller in size while the annual ones are obviously higher. The single premium or premium for only a part of the policy tenure are higher sums than the yearly payments but provide the assurance that once they are taken care of, the insured person will not have to worry again about the premium for the Term insurance return of payment plan. Surrender Value The surrender value of the TROP plans generally varies depending on the payment option. As a rule, the surrender value is generally more for single premium plans where the entire premium for the policy is paid at the beginning of the policy period. Insurers will have different ways of calculating the surrender value and people who are looking at TROP plans should make sure they know what they are getting as the amount they may receive will probably not be what they assume they will receive. Paid Up Value This is a benefit that may be provided under a TROP plan. Under this, as mentioned earlier, the plan continues if the policyholder is unable to pay the premium, though with a lower cover. Most companies require the policyholder to pay the premium for a minimum number of years before they offer this benefit. Riders Insurance companies offer various riders in addition to the principal cover. These generally include: Personal Accident or Disability Rider: This provides a certain benefit if the insured is involved in an accident that may cause injuries, disabilities or even death Critical Illness Rider: This rider covers certain illnesses such as heart attacks, stroke, cancer, certain cardiovascular surgeries and so on. The number of illnesses covered by different companies varies and people should ensure they take note of the ones the rider covers before they opt for it. Hospital Cash: This rider provides certain cash benefits in case of hospitalisation due to certain pre-defined reasons. The entry and maturity age varies according to the policies that insurers provide. People looking to invest in a TROP plan should make sure that they get the cover the need up to the age they need. For instance, opting for a 20-year TROP policy at 50 years of age when the maximum maturity age is 65 years does not make sense. The person should opt for 15-year tenure if they want the TROP policy. Tenure of Policy Unlike traditional insurance plans that may provide a cover that last for the lifetime, a TROP plan lasts for only a certain period such as 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years. Most of these plans have a maximum maturity age below 70 years though some insurers provide cover even beyond 70 years. Our insurance experts at have come up with handy tips to smoothen your insurance buying journey. Do not consider only the maturity benefit while selecting the insurer. The ones offering higher return might not be the most cost effective. Selection of Higher Sum assured has discount offers and thus a better proposition. Go for highest term available under these term plans on offer; the policy term is not extendable later. We are not only an insurance portal and dedicated towards offering low-cost premium quotes but we also pride ourselves on offering top notch customer services. Our well-versed licensed agents will be happy to supply the information you need so that you choose the best term plan. Aviva i-Shield Plan Aviva LifeShield Advantage AEGON iReturn Insurance Plan ICICI Prudential Life Guard – Return Of Premium LIC Jeevan Mangal Plan PNB MetLife Suraksha TROP Tata AIA Life Insurance iRaksha TROP Provides knowledge and information you need to make best financial decisions. Submit basic details like your name, annual income, coverage, etc, to compare and find lucrative plans and prepare for lifes unexpected twists. It is our business to secure your future!
