This creates a financial responsibility that can be impacted by life’s uncertainties. To ensure that your family is not burdened with loan repayment in case something unfortunate happens, term insurance plays an important role in managing these risks.
Understanding Mortgage/Home Loan Risk
When you take a mortgage or a home loan, you’re committing to regular payments over many years. However, during this long repayment period, unforeseen events can occur. These might include job loss, accidents, or even the death of the main earner in the family. If the borrower is unable to repay the loan, the lender has the right to take possession of the property. This could mean your family losing their home.
This is why it is crucial to have a term or life insurance plan in place to manage such risks. One of the most effective ways to do this is through term insurance, which can act as a safety net in protecting both the loan and your family’s financial security.
How Term Insurance Protects Your Mortgage Loan?
Term insurance can protect your mortgage loan by providing a financial cushion for your family. If something happens to the borrower, the insurance policy will pay a lump sum to the nominee, usually the family. This payout can be used to pay off the outstanding loan amount, ensuring that the family doesn't lose the house.
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Loan Repayment in Case of Death
If the main income earner passes away, it can be very difficult for the family to continue making loan payments. In this case, the death benefit payout can be used to clear the mortgage, so the family can stay in the house without the added financial burden of repaying the loan.
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Secures Family from Financial Strain
Without insurance, the family may have to sell assets or borrow more money to repay the mortgage. With term insurance, the sum assured payout allows them to settle the loan, avoiding any financial stress during a difficult time.
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Affordable Protection
Home loans in India can be quite large, often in the range of lakhs or crores, depending on the property. Term insurance offers high coverage at lower premiums, making it a cost-effective way to secure your family’s future. For example, a policy that covers ₹50 lakhs to ₹1 crore in case of the borrower’s death can be relatively affordable and give complete protection for the loan amount.
How to Choose the Right Term Insurance for Your Home Loan?
When choosing a term insurance policy to protect your home loan, it’s important to make sure it provides affordable coverage for the loan amount and matches the duration of your loan.
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Match the Loan Amount
The coverage of your term insurance should be at least equal to the outstanding amount of your mortgage loan. This ensures that in case of an unfortunate event, the payout will be sufficient to clear the debt. For example, if your home loan is for ₹75 lakhs, your term insurance policy should cover at least ₹75 lakhs.
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Policy Tenure
Your term insurance policy term should be for the same period as your mortgage loan. If your loan tenure is 20 years, then the term insurance policy should also cover you for 20 years. This makes sure you are protected for the entire debt repayment period.
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Riders for Extra Protection
You can enhance your term insurance policy by adding riders, such as accidental cover riders, which provide extra coverage in case of an accident. These additional options can help ensure you and your family have broader financial protection.
What is the Difference Between Home Insurance and Term Insurance?
Many borrowers in India are confused between mortgage insurance and term insurance. Here is how both types of insurance differ:
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Home Insurance: This directly benefits the lender (bank or financial institution). In case of the borrower’s death, the payout goes to the bank to clear the loan, not to the family. The family does not have control over how the money is used.
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Term Insurance: With term insurance, the payout goes to the policyholder’s family or the nominee/beneficiary. They can use this money to pay off the mortgage or for other financial needs. It offers more flexibility as the family decides how to use the funds.
Wrapping it Up!
In India, where most families depend on a single income, term insurance can provide crucial financial protection when taking a mortgage loan. By covering the outstanding loan in case of an unexpected event, term insurance prevents the family from being burdened with debt or losing their home. It’s a simple, affordable way to ensure your family is financially secure and that your home remains protected.