How Much Term Insurance Coverage Do I Need?

What is the Meaning of Term Insurance Coverage?

Term insurance coverage refers to the life cover (sum assured) which will be payable to the nominee in case of the policyholder’s unfortunate death during the policy term. In addition to this, it also includes additional rider benefits like accidental death benefit that can increase the payout provided to the family.
To purchase the best term insurance plan for yourself, you need to ensure the term insurance cover is enough to help your family maintain their current quality of life, pay off any loans, and are able to take care of their day-to-day expenses.

How Does Term Insurance Coverage Work for an Individual India?

Let’s understand this with the help of an example: 

For example, Karan is 20 years old, and his current annual income is Rs. 10 Lakhs. In order to ensure that his loved ones are taken care of in his absence, he should consider a sum assured that is around 20 times your annual salary, i.e., Rs. 2 Crore. In case of his unforeseen demise during the policy tenure, his family members will be provided with a death benefit of Rs. 2 Crore. This payout received will be exempted from tax, subject to conditions u/s 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

In case he has added a term rider along with the base sum assured of Rs. 2 Crores, such as accidental death benefit, his loved ones will also get an additional benefit with the sum assured.

What are the Points to Consider While Calculating “How Much Term Insurance Cover Do You Need”?

As we have understood ‘how much term insurance do I need? It should ideally be 10 to 20 times your current annual income. Now let’s learn about the points that you should take care while calculating your term insurance coverage:

1. Consider Family’s Needs and your monthly expenses

   You should tally up your family’s financial requirements to take care of their necessities, pay for housing, utility bills, groceries, transportation, and child’s fees along with other household needs.

2. Assess Your Liabilities (Debts/Loans)

   You should assess your overall loans and debts, like home, business, or student loans, and credit card debts, that may fall on your family’s shoulders in your absence.

3. Think about your Financial goals

   Before deciding on how much term insurance do I need, you should take into consideration any future goals and dreams you may have, like paying for your child’s higher education or their future wedding, funding their business endeavours or buying a home.

4. Secure Spouse’s Retirement

   Your spouse may be left financially vulnerable in your absence. Therefore, ensure that the term insurance coverage amount that you choose is enough for your spouse to lead a financially independent life.

5. Tenure of your insurance policy

   To understand how much term insurance do I need, you need to understand that the amount you should get depends on your age. Your dependents and thus the amount of term life cover you opt for may change throughout your life with changing life stages. You should always reassess your existing policies and ensure that the term cover amount is meeting your needs.

Methods to Calculate How Much Term Insurance Is Enough

To get a better understanding and calculation of how much term insurance do I need, the following are the four methods that can help you compute how much term life cover you need:

1. The Basic Method

   The easiest way to calculate the term insurance amount, is considering the suitable sum assured as about 10 to 12 times your current annual income.

2. Human Life Value (HLV)

   This method determines the Human Life Value (HLV) or the economic value of an individual to the family. In this, your annual income, monthly expenses, outstanding loans and liabilities, and age are taken into consideration. This helps you decide the term life insurance coverage amount that you should opt for.

3. Income Replacement

   This method assumes that life insurance should substitute for the lost savings of the sole earner. The easiest way to compute the income replacement value is Term Insurance cover = Existing yearly income X retirement years left.

4. Expense Replacement

   This method is suggested by financial advisors, in which an individual is required to compute their daily household expenditures, debts, and objectives such as a child’s education, and also providing financial help to dependant parents for their whole lives.. The number you reach is the whole amount of money that your loved ones need. The other step is deducting your investments' current value and the cover you already have.

5. Underwriter’s rule

   For computing the minimum term coverage, you require, you can go as per the common thumb rule of having a SA that is around 10X of your annualized income. Thus, if your present income is Rs. 10 lacs, you should opt for a life cover of at least 1 Crore.

Things to Consider Before Choosing Appropriate Term Life Cover

In case you are still wondering, “How much term insurance do I need,” here is a list of tips that can help you figure out the right sum assured for your term life insurance.

• Add Riders to the Base Plan

  Term riders are added to the base plan to enhance the term life cover. You can add any of these add-on riders by paying an extra amount along with the base premiums. There are several important term insurance riders available; Accidental Death Benefit Rider, Accidental Disability Benefit Rider, Critical Illness Rider, Hospicare Benefit Rider, and Waiver of Premium Benefit Rider.

• Using Term Life Insurance Calculators

  A Term insurance calculator can help you compute the required premium for your desired life cover amount. You can also calculate the variation in premiums with the change in policy duration, term life insurance coverage, and premium payment mode.

• Buying Term plans online

  Buying term plans online ensures you get the maximum discounts and lowest premium rates for your term life insurance. It is also easier to keep track of the plans online and pay your premiums timely from the comfort of your home.

How to Compare Term Insurance and Buy Cover in India 2026?

You can calculate the term insurance coverage and buy the best term insurance plan in India by following the below-mentioned steps:

• Step 1: Visit the term insurance calculator page

• Step 2: Select your ideal sum assured and policy term and click on the right gender, age, and smoking habits

• Step 3: The applicable premiums for your profile will be displayed on the side

• Step 4: Click on ‘Check the premium’ button to check the available term insurance plans

• Step 5: Choose the best term insurance plan and proceed to pay

*Note: You can easily know what is term insurance and then decide on how much term insurance you actually need to cover your loved ones.

How Much Term Insurance is Enough When Your Family Depends on One Income?

When your income depends on one income, term insurance is not an option but a necessity. In your absence, the term insurance cover will replace your income, and help your family take care of their financial needs like paying rent, taking care of outstanding loan, and paying for the child’s fees. Since this payout is the amount your family will rely on in your absence, the term life insurance coverage should be enough to fulfil your family’s future financial needs. You should not just consider multiples of your income, but also assess your needs, family's goals, and potential inflation.

Wrapping It Up!

To understand ‘How much term insurance do I need’, you need to assess your financial needs and obligations. Since this amount will be paid to your family in the event of your unfortunate death, the life cover amount should be enough to cover your family’s monthly expenses like loans and child’s fees. You should also consider adding the right riders, as they can provide extra coverage against a range of eventualities.

Note: You should also check the benefits of term life insurance if you are planning to purchase the term insurance plan.

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