Suicide cases are increasing with each passing year. There are several causes of suicide in India, and dealing with it is very stressful for the deceased’s family.
Life insurance was created specifically to safeguard the family members’ financial stability in the event of the policyholder’s untimely demise. A life insurance policy is the only option to lessen the financial impact of the policyholder’s death if they are the sole bread winners in the family.
Insurance companies have chosen these policies, nonetheless, to cover unforeseen deaths. In that case, does life insurance pay for suicidal death in India? If yes, which plans offer this feature? Does term insurance, in particular, cover suicide? For a better understanding, let’s examine the relevant policy restrictions.
Suicide is not included in a life insurance plan; hence, the family loses financial security, increasing financial troubles. However, suppose you want to find out that a life insurance clause covers suicide in India, you need to understand the life insurance suicide clause in policies issued before and after January 1, 2014.
Life Insurance Plans issued before January 1, 2014
According to the life insurance suicide clause, policies issued before January 1, 2014 states that if the insured commits suicide within 12 months from the start of the policy or the date of revival, the policy becomes void, and a claim will not be accepted. Hence, no claim will be entertained when an insured commits suicide before the policy completes one year. If the insured commits suicide after 12 months of the policy issue, the family will receive a death benefit.
Life Insurance Plans issued after January 1, 2014
In case of policies issued after January 1, 2014, there is a change in the suicide clause. For a market-linked life insurance suicide clause, if the insured commits suicide within one year from the issue of the plan, the nominees will receive the policy’s total value. For traditional life insurance plans, nominees will receive 80% of the premium paid for death due to suicide within one year from the start of the policy.
Third-party
When a policyholder undertakes a loan on the policy and dies due to suicide during the policy term, the interest of the lender, a bank or a financial institution will remain protected by repaying the loan. However, the insurer must acknowledge receiving the notice of this policy assignment 30 days before the death for it to be effective, so bear that in mind.
Group insurance policy
In the case of a group suicide clause in life insurance, the policyholder or the employer owns the policy and not the employees covered in it. Hence, a claim is not accepted in case of death because of suicide.
Points to remember
In case of any incorrect information provided to the company, the policy remains cancelled. In case of a claim due to suicide during the grace period, the sum assured will be paid post the deduction of the outstanding premium payable. In case of a lapsed policy renewal, the claim is rejected if the insured commits suicide within one year of the issue.
Now that your question does life insurance pay for suicidal death in India, is answered, you need to be aware that suicide will only put your loved ones into trouble. Getting an insurance company to pay for a claim in case of suicide is very tedious and challenging.
