What is Insurance and 8 Types of Insurance?

Table of Content

What is Insurance?
Classification of insurance plans in India
How to buy insurance?
Things to keep in mind when buying insurance
FAQs

What is Insurance?

Insurance is a risk management tool that promises compensation for the economic loss suffered by an individual in case of specific events. Insurance policies cover different types of risks and if such risks occur and cause a financial loss, the policies pay for the loss suffered. Insurance plans, therefore, provide financial security and should be an important part of your financial portfolio.

Nowadays, individuals have become increasingly aware of the importance of having an insurance plan to cover their financial risks. As such, they are investing in different types of insurance policies for their needs. Whether it is mandatory motor insurance plans or the essential term insurance or health insurance plans, the penetration of insurance is increasing in India. Before you also invest in a suitable insurance plan, you should first understand the different types of policies available and which policy covers which risks.

So, here is a brief overview of different types of insurance plans available in India –

Classification of insurance plans in India

Broadly, the classification of insurance plans can be done under two divisions – life insurance and general insurance. Life insurance covers human lives while general insurance covers financial assets and risky events. Both life and general insurance categories have different types of plans under them. Let’s understand these variants of life and general insurance policies in brief –

Life insurance:

Here is a table containing the brief details of different types of life insurance plans –

Name of the plan	Term Plan
Meaning	These plans cover the risk of premature death. If the insured dies during the term of the plan, the sum assured is paid. Term plans, usually have no maturity benefit. However, in return of premium plans, the premiums paid are refunded if the insured survives till maturity
Salient Features	Allows you to opt for a high sum assured for maximum financial security The coverage can be enhanced by adding riders Premiums are extremely low
Benefits Payable	The sum assured is paid on death of the insured.
Variants available	There are four types of term plans – Level term plans where the coverage remains the same forever, Increasing term plans where the sum assured increases every year, Decreasing term plans where the sum assured decreases every year, TROP or Term Plan with the return of premium option which returns the premiums on maturity

Name of the plan	Whole life plan
Meaning	The plan usually matures when the insured attains 100 years of age. It, therefore, covers the individual for his whole life If the insured dies during the plan tenure, the death benefit is paid.
Salient Features	The plan runs for the lifetime of the insured Premiums, however, are paid up to a limited period
Benefits Payable	The sum assured is paid on the death of the insured any time before attaining 100 years of age.

Name of the plan	Endowment Plan
Meaning	This plan is a savings-oriented insurance plan which not only provides coverage against premature death, it also creates a corpus for the policyholder at the end of the plan term.
Salient Features	Guaranteed benefits are paid under the plan These plans might or might not earn bonuses Guaranteed additions, loyalty additions, etc. are added to the plan benefit to enhance it
Benefits Payable	The sum assured is paid on the death of the insured during the policy tenure If the policy matures, a maturity benefit is paid.
Variants available	Pure Endowment, Money Back Plan, Child Plan, etc.

Name of the plan	Money-Back Plan
Meaning	This plan creates guaranteed returns over the policy tenure, provides insurance coverage and also allows liquidity. The sum assured is paid in parts over the term of the policy at regular intervals.
Salient Features	Money-back benefits, called survival benefits, are paid at regular intervals during the policy term The plan earns a bonus which is paid on maturity or death The sum assured is paid in full irrespective of the money-back benefits paid.
Benefits Payable	Survival benefits are paid over the policy tenure If the insured dies, the sum assured and bonus are paid. If the policy matures, the remaining sum assured and bonus are paid.

Name of the plan	Child Plan
Meaning	These plans are designed to secure the financial future of the child even if the parent dies during the term of the policy. Either the parent’s or the child’s life is insured in this plan.
Salient Features	The plan usually has an inbuilt premium waiver rider. This rider waives the premiums if the parent dies during the policy tenure. The premiums are then paid by the insurer on behalf of the parent. The plan runs till maturity whereupon the promised maturity benefit is paid. The plan can be a traditional plan or offered as a unit-linked plan.
Benefits Payable	If the parent dies during the policy term, a death benefit is paid but the plan continues as per schedule. If the plan is a money-back plan, survival benefits would be paid as and when they are due. When the plan matures, the maturity benefit is paid.

Name of the plan	Unit Linked Insurance Plan
Meaning	These are market-linked plans where the premium is invested in market-linked funds. The returns, therefore, depend on market performance.
Salient Features	ULIPs promise investment returns and insurance coverage The returns are not guaranteed Partial withdrawals allow liquidity from the 5th policy year The plan is flexible as you can switch between funds, pay additional premiums through top-ups and also opt for riders.
Benefits Payable	In case of death, the higher of the sum assured or the fund value is paid. If the plan matures, the fund value is paid.

Name of the plan	Pension Plan
Meaning	These are retirement-oriented plans which create a regular income in the form of annuities. Annuities are paid throughout the insured’s lifetime thereby providing funds even in the older years.
Salient Features	There are two types of pension plans – deferred pension plans and immediate annuity plans The amount of annuity is chosen as per the annuity option available Under deferred pension plans premiums can be paid over the policy tenure to accumulate a corpus
Benefits Payable	Under deferred annuity plans, If the insured dies during the policy tenure, a death benefit is paid. After the plan matures, 1/3rd of the accumulated corpus can be withdrawn tax-free. The remaining corpus is used to avail annuity payments. Under immediate annuity plans, an annuity is paid immediately after the plan is bought, depending on the annuity option available.
Variants available	Immediate Annuity and Deferred Annuity.
Annuity Options	There are 7 different possible annuity options and multiple variants of the same. Different annuity providers have different annuity options like: Life Annuity Joint Life Annuity Increasing Annuity Annuity Certain for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 years Life Annuity with 50% or 100% annuity to the spouse after the annuitant’s death Life Annuity with Return of Purchase Price Joint Life Annuity with the Return of the Purchase Price

Name of the plan	Health Plans
Meaning	These plans cover specific illnesses and help the policyholder with financial assistance if the insured suffers from the covered medical illness. The health plans offered by Life Insurance companies are usually fixed benefit health insurance plans which cover a specific illness.
Salient Features	Health plans can cover critical illnesses, heart-related illnesses or cancer. The premiums are low and affordable.
Benefits Payable	The sum insured is paid in a lump sum if the illness covered under the plan occurs.

Coverage and exclusions in life insurance plans

Here are the inclusions and exclusions of life insurance policies

Inclusions	Exclusions
Death during the policy tenure due to accidental or natural causes	Death due to suicide within one year of policy inception or revival
Health plans cover specific illnesses	Death due to criminal activities, adventure sports, etc.
Death after the policy has been terminated

Calculation of premium

Premiums of life insurance plans are calculated based on the following factors –

Age of the insured – the older the insured the higher would be the premium
Sum assured chosen – higher the sum assured, higher would be the premium
Term of the plan – higher the term, lower would be the premium
Medical history – if the medical history is adverse, the premiums are loaded and are, therefore, higher. If there is no history of medical complications, the premiums would be charged at the standard rate
Gender – premium rates for females are lower than males
Occupation – if the insured is engaged in a dangerous occupation, the premium is loaded. The premiums charged are, therefore, higher.

General insurance:

There are multiple variants in the general insurance category. However, some of the most popular types of plans include the following –

Each of the above-mentioned types of general insurance plans is further sub-divided into different variants to suit the different coverage needs of individuals. So, let’s understand each type of general insurance plan in brief along with its sub-variants –

Health insurance:

Health insurance plans are those which cover the medical costs if you face a medical contingency. Health insurance plans cover hospitalisation related expenses incurred when the insured is hospitalised.

The different types of health insurance plans include the following –

Name of the plan	Individual Health Insurance Plan
Meaning	Health insurance plans which cover a single individual
Coverage Details	Hospitalisation expenses like room rent, doctor’s fees, nurse’s fee, cost of surgery, blood, etc., daycare treatments, organ donor expenses, free health check-ups, ambulance costs, etc. on an indemnity basis

Name of the plan	Family floater health insurance plans
Meaning	Health insurance policy covers the entire family under a single umbrella plan. Covers self, spouse, dependent children and dependent parents/in-laws can be covered under a single sum insured.
Coverage Details	Expenses incurred before and after hospitalisation, hospitalisation expenses like room rent, doctor’s fees, nurse’s fee, cost of surgery, blood, etc., daycare treatments, organ donor expenses, free health check-ups, ambulance costs, etc. on an indemnity basis.

Name of the plan	Senior citizen health insurance plans
Meaning	Health plans cover individuals aged 60 years and above. This could be on an individual basis or a family floater basis.
Coverage Details	Coverage for hospitalisation expenses, ambulance charges, daycare treatments, cataracts, joint replacement treatments, etc. on an indemnity basis

Name of the plan	Critical illness insurance plans
Meaning	Health plans which cover major illnesses and surgical procedures.
Coverage Details	The sum insured is paid in a lump sum if the insured suffers from any covered illness or undergoes a covered treatment. Illnesses like cancer, paralysis, open heart surgeries, organ transplants, etc. are covered.

Name of the plan	Hospital cash plans
Meaning	Health plans pay a fixed benefit if the insured is hospitalised for a period of 24 hours or more.
Coverage Details	A daily cash allowance is paid on hospitalisation. The amount of allowance would be fixed and independent of the actual medical costs incurred.

Name of the plan	Top-up health insurance plans.
Meaning	Health plans come with a deductible limit. Claims exceeding the deductible are paid under the plans.
Coverage Details	Hospitalisation expenses, pre and post hospitalisation expenses. ambulance costs, etc. are covered on an indemnity basis.

Name of the plan	Super top-up health insurance plans.
Meaning	Health plans with deductibles. If the aggregate claims exceed the deductible limit, the plan would cover the excess cost.
Coverage Details	Coverage is allowed for hospitalisation expenses, ambulance charges, daycare treatments, organ donor expenses, etc. on an indemnity basis.

Name of the plan	Disease-specific health insurance plans.
Meaning	Health plans cover specific illnesses like diabetes, cardiac ailments, dengue, etc.
Coverage Details	Hospitalisation expenses incurred due to the illnesses covered by the plan are paid on an indemnity basis.

Exclusions in health insurance plans

Here are some common instances of exclusion in almost all health insurance plans –

Pre-existing illnesses are covered after a waiting period of 2-4 years.
Specific illnesses and their treatments, like hernia, appendicitis, piles, joint replacement surgeries, etc. are covered after 1-2 policy years.
No claim is paid for illnesses within the first 60-90 days of buying the policy.
Illnesses due to nuclear or radioactive contamination, war, mutiny, participation in adventure sports, etc. are not paid.
Maternity expenses are not included in the coverage unless specifically stated otherwise.
HIV/AIDS
Alcohol or substance abuse
Cosmetic treatments
Psychiatric treatments, etc.

Calculation of health insurance premiums

Premiums of a health insurance policy is calculated taking into consideration the following factors –

Age of the insured – the higher the age the higher would be the premium
Existing medical conditions – if the insured suffers from any existing medical illnesses, the premiums would be increased
Gender – females are charged a lower premium than males
The term selected – if a longer-term is selected, premium discounts are allowed which reduce the premium
Premium discounts – if there are premium discounts offered by the company, the premium would reduce
Sum insured selected – higher the coverage amount, higher would be the premium
A number of members covered – if family members are also added to the coverage, the premium would increase.

Motor insurance:

Motor insurance is taken on vehicles. A motor insurance policy that covers damages caused to third parties is mandatory as per law. Every vehicle on Indian roads is supposed to have a valid insurance cover to be able to run legally.

Motor insurance plans are separately designed for cars, bikes and commercial vehicles. Moreover, there are two types of policies which are as follows –

Third-party liability-only policy	Comprehensive policy
This policy covers the financial liability which incurs if the owner/driver of the vehicle causes bodily injury or death of any individual. Moreover, if any property belonging to a third party is damaged by the vehicle, the financial liability faced for such damage is also covered by the policy.	This policy combines coverage for third party liability and damages suffered by the vehicle itself. Third-party liability due to bodily injury or property damage is covered under the policy. Moreover, if the vehicle itself suffers any damage due to theft, natural causes or man-made causes, the loss suffered is also covered.

There is also a personal accident cover under both these plans. Under the personal accident cover, accidental death and disablement suffered by the owner/driver of the vehicle are covered for up to INR 15 lakhs. In case of accidental death or disablement, a lump sum benefit is paid.

Exclusions of Motor Insurance Policies

Motor insurance policies do not cover damages incurred due to the following instances –

War or war-like perils
Nuclear contamination
Driving without a valid license
Driving under the influence of alcohol
Using the vehicle in violation of its limitations
Deliberate accidents
Driving outside India
Electrical or mechanical breakdown, etc.

A premium of motor insurance plans

Premiums for a motor insurance policy depends on the following factors –

Make, model and variant of the vehicle
Insured Declared Value (which is like the sum insured of the policy and represents the value of the vehicle after depreciation )
Fuel type
Year of registration
Age of the vehicle
Third-party premium
Modifications that were done to the vehicle if any
Type of coverage required
Add-ons selected if any
Location of the vehicle
No claim bonus discount if any
Any other discount offered by the policy

Travel insurance:

Travel insurance policies cover the financial losses suffered due to emergencies when you are travelling to another place. The trip might be for leisure, business or education and there is a travel insurance plan to cover the losses faced in any of these trips.

Travel insurance plans are further subdivided into the following categories –

Types of travel insurance plans	Meaning
International travel insurance	Covers losses suffered on international trips
Domestic travel insurance	Covers losses suffered on trips within India
Senior citizen travel insurance	Covers individuals aged 60 years and above going on a trip
Single trip travel insurance	Covers a single trip taken for a specified duration
Annual multi-trip travel insurance	Covers unlimited trips taken within a year
Student travel insurance	Covers students going abroad for education

Coverage and exclusions in travel insurance plans

Inclusions	Exclusions
Medical treatments taken in an emergency when travelling	Pre-existing illnesses and their complications
Medical evacuation and repatriation	Travelling against the advice of a medical professional
Accidental death and disablement	Participation in hazardous activities
Personal liability	War and related perils
Emergency cash advance	Nuclear contamination
Loss of checked-in-baggage	Pregnancy and related complications
Delay of checked-in-baggage	Criminal acts, etc.
Loss of passport
Trip cancellation or curtailment, etc.

Calculation of travel insurance premiums

Premiums of travel insurance plans are calculated based on the following parameters –

Number of members travelling together
Age of the insured members
Destination of travel
Duration of the trip
Additional covers, if opted
Sum insured selected
Coverage features

Home insurance:

Home insurance policies are those which cover the financial loss suffered if the home and/or its contents are damaged. Home insurance policies prove to be beneficial in covering the losses suffered by your home due to natural or man-made calamities.

There are three types of home insurance policies which include the following –

Type of policy	Meaning
Structure insurance	This policy covers the structure of the home against damage or destruction
Contents insurance	This policy covers the contents of the home like electronic appliances, furniture and fittings, jewellery, work of art, personal belongings, etc. against theft or damage
Comprehensive insurance	This policy covers both the structure of the home as well as its contents

Coverage and exclusions in home insurance plans

Home insurance policies have the following coverage and exclusions:

Inclusions	Exclusions
Damage to the structure due to natural or man-made causes	Loss due to war or war-like conditions
Theft of contents of the home	Wilful negligence
Third-party liability	Consequential loss
Cost of alternate accommodation when the house is being repaired or rebuilt	Nuclear contamination
Depreciation

A premium of home insurance policies

The premium of a home insurance policy depends on the following factors –

The type of policy selected
The cost of the property
Cost of contents to be insured
Policy extensions, if selected
Location of the property
Basis of insurance – reinstatement or market value
Size of the property

Fire Insurance:

Fire insurance policies are those which cover the financial loss suffered if an asset is destroyed or damaged by fire and allied perils.

Fire insurance policies can be of the following types –

Type of policy	Meaning
Valued policy	The policy covers a specific value and pays the value in case of loss
Specific policy	The policy covers up to a specified sum insured limit. In case of a claim, lower of the sum insured or the loss suffered is paid
Floating policy	The policy covers assets at multiple locations under a single policy
Reinstatement value policy	Under this policy, the cost of reinstating the asset which is damaged in a fire or related perils is paid
Consequential loss policy	This policy pays for the loss of profit due to the interruption of activities after a fire
Comprehensive policy	This policy covers all types of loss suffered by the asset

Coverage and exclusions under fire insurance plans

Fire insurance plans have the following coverage and exclusions –

Inclusions	Exclusions
Fire	War or nuclear contamination
Lightning	Underground fire
Riots, strikes or malicious damage	Theft after fire
Cyclone, tempest, hurricanes, etc.	Intentional damages
Flood	Pollution
Impact damage	Damage in cold storage due to power changes
Aircraft damage	Loss in earnings due to damage suffered
Rockslide or landslide	Removal of debris
Leakage from a sprinkler system
Implosion or explosion
Bush fire, etc.

A premium of fire insurance policies

Nature of usage of the insured property
Location of the property
Value of the assets being insured
Add-on covers opted
Size of the property
Type of policy opted

Marine insurance:

Marine insurance plans cover the damages incurred when goods are being transported from one place to another. These plans, therefore, are very beneficial for businesses as they allow them to avoid a financial loss in case of loss of goods in transit.

Marine insurance policies come in various types the popular of which are as follows –

Type of policy	Meaning
Cargo policy	This policy covers the goods being transported
Hull insurance	This policy covers the vessel which is transporting the goods
Freight insurance	If the vessel operator loses the freight payable on the goods which have been damaged in transit, the policy would cover such loss
Time policy	This policy provides covers a specific time period
Voyage policy	This policy covers a single voyage
Mixed policy	This policy combines time policy and voyage policy and covers trips taken between specific locations within a given period of time
Port risk policy	The policy covers any type of loss suffered by the vessel when it is anchored at a port
Block policy	This policy covers the land and sea voyages

Inclusions and exclusions of marine insurance

The coverage benefits and exclusions in a marine insurance policy include the following –

Inclusions	Exclusions
Sinking or stranding of the ship	Deliberate loss or misconduct
Fire or explosion	Riots, war or strikes
Earthquake	Insufficient packaging of the goods
Jettison or washing overboard	Loss due to delays
Damage to the vessel due to the collision, piracy, etc.	Wear and tear of the cargo
Natural calamities	Leakage of packaged goods
Wreckage removal

Premiums of marine insurance policies

The premiums of a marine insurance plan depend on the following factors –

Value and the nature of the goods that are being transported from one place to another
Amount of freight payable for the transportation
An inherent risk of the goods
The route of transportation
The type of vessel used for transportation and its value
A destination where the goods are being taken
Underlying risks of piracy, political instability, etc.
Possible natural calamities that would incur

Commercial insurance:

Commercial insurance plans are those which are bought by organisations to cover the different types of financial risks that they face. The most popular types of commercial insurance plans include the following –

Type of policy	Meaning
Group Mediclaim policy	A group health insurance policy taken by employers for covering their employees
Workmen’s Compensation policy	A policy designed as per the Workmen’s Compensation Act requires organisations to compensate their employees if the employees fall ill or are injured due to the nature of their employment
Commercial General Liability insurance	A policy that covers the multiple types of liabilities faced by businesses in their everyday operations
Directors and Officers insurance	A policy that covers the directors and officers of an organisation against the liability faced due to their mistakes and errors
Doctors Professional Indemnity policy	A policy that covers the liability faced by doctors due to negligence or error in their practice
Cyber insurance	A policy that covers the cyber risks faced by organisations and indemnifies them in case of cyberattacks.

How to buy insurance?

Here are the ways in which you should go about buying a suitable insurance policy for yourself from the different kinds of insurance plans–

Offline
You can buy insurance policies offline through any of the following modes –
- By visiting the branch office of the insurance company and applying for the desired policy physically
- By getting in touch with an insurance agent or a broker and buying the policy sold by him/her
- By contacting an executive of the insurance company to visit you and help you buy the insurance policy
Online
The online mode is easier as it allows you to buy a suitable insurance policy conveniently, from your own home or office. Moreover, many insurance plans are issued instantly when you buy them online which helps in saving time and effort.Many insurance companies, online aggregator websites and online brokers sell insurance plans online. You can choose any online marketplace and find the best policy that you want.

You can also choose Turtlemint which offers you some of the best benefits. Turtlemint is tied up with leading insurance companies, both life and general insurers, allowing you to select the best plans available in the market. You can compare the main types of insurance plans on Turtlemint’s website and then buy the best. You can also get personalised assistance for any queries that you have during the purchase process. Turtlemint’s personalised service helps you find the best insurance plan. Just visit Turtlemint’s website at www.turtlemint.com, compare and buy the plan that you need.

Things to keep in mind when buying insurance:

Now you know how many types of insurance plans are available in the insurance segment. However, when you are choosing an insurance policy, the following things should be kept in mind –
The different forms of insurance are relevant given the different types of financial risks faced by individuals as well as businesses. So, choose suitable insurance plans based on your risks and enjoy financial security. Also, compare the available insurance policies online to find a policy that offers the best coverage benefits at the most affordable premium rates.

FAQs:

What are the tax benefits of insurance?
Life insurance and health insurance plans allow tax benefits. The premium paid for life insurance policies qualifies as a deduction up to INR 1.5 lakhs under Section 80C. Premiums paid for health insurance policies or riders offered by life insurance companies qualify for deduction under Section 80D. The limit of deduction is INR 25,000 which increases to INR 50,000 for senior citizens. Buying a separate health plan for senior citizen parents and paying premiums for them would also allow an additional deduction of up to INR 50,000. Besides tax benefits on premiums, the benefits received from a life insurance policy are also completely tax-free under Section 10 (10D).
What is the duration of health insurance plans?
Health insurance plans are offered for one year. However, you can buy coverage for two or three continuous years too by paying the aggregate premium at once.
What is group insurance?
Group insurance plans are those which offer coverage to a group of individuals under a single plan. For instance, group insurance plans can be bought by the employer for their employees, banks for their account holder, etc.
Can I buy a life insurance policy for my child?
Yes, you can buy a life insurance policy for your child. In that case, the child would be the life insured and you would be the policyholder.
What is the meaning of the nominee?
A nominee is an individual who is authorised to collect the death benefit if the insured dies.