Understanding Term Insurance for 5-10 Lakhs Income Bracket

Term insurance plays a vital role in the financial planning of individuals within the ₹5 to ₹10 lakh income bracket. At that income level, people have specific financial liabilities and responsibilities. Term insurance offers a robust safety net, protecting your loved ones in case of your untimely demise. Thus, investing in term insurance is not just a financial decision; it's also a commitment to family security and future well-being.

Term insurance plays a vital role in the financial planning of individuals within the ₹5 to ₹10 lakh income bracket. At that income level, people have specific financial liabilities and responsibilities. Term insurance offers a robust...
Term insurance plays a vital role in the financial planning of individuals within...

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How Much Coverage is Appropriate for a 5 to 10 Lakh Salary?

For someone in the income bracket of ₹5 to ₹10 lakhs, a suitable term insurance sum assured is usually between 10 to 15 times their annual income. That is:

  • For a ₹5 lakh annual income, a sum assured of ₹50 to ₹75 lakh (10 to 15 times income) seems appropriate.
  • For a ₹10 lakh annual income, a sum assured of ₹1 crore to ₹1.5 crore (10 to 15 times income) is a practical range. 

This coverage helps ensure financial security for dependents, covering expenses like loans, education, and daily living costs. Nevertheless, individual needs vary, so it is wiser to consider personal factors, such as existing liabilities, family needs, and future financial goals, to determine the exact amount.

Key Factors That Impact Your Term Insurance Coverage Needs

Now that you know how to gauge the amount of term insurance for individuals within the income range of ₹5-10 lakhs is needed, you should know the factors that can influence how much sum assured you may require. 

Age

Age is an important factor. At a younger age, you may not need a higher sum assured, but at an older age, when your family is bigger, you need a higher sum assured. As premiums are more affordable at a younger age, opting for a term policy is wiser when you are young.  

Financial Liabilities 

Suppose you have multiple financial obligations, such as paying home and education loans. In that case, you should consider opting for a higher sum assured to protect your family from such liabilities in your absence. 

Monthly Expenses

Carefully considering your monthly expenses, such as fuel expenses, grocery bills, electricity bills, and so on, will help you choose the right term insurance plan.  

Future Goals 

Apart from your family's monthly expenses, you should assess their future goals. You can provide for your children's higher education, their marriage, or fixed income for your spouse by opting for a sizable sum assured. 

Term Insurance Premiums

Ensuring the premium for the plan suits your budget is super important, as it provides consistent payment without burning a hole in your pocket. 

Why is Term Insurance Important?

Term life insurance is perhaps the most basic kind of life insurance policy, where a cover term is established. Upon the insured person's death within this term, the insurance company will pay out a guaranteed amount to the nominees. 

Financial Security for Dependents

Term life insurance provides your dependents the sum assured in case of your untimely death. This money should support their lifestyle or pay the expenses they need.

Affordable Premiums

Term insurance generally offers much higher coverage at lower premiums than other life insurance products. This makes term insurance more accessible for people who want financial protection without harming their budgets.

Debt and Liability Coverage

In case you have loans or mortgages, term insurance would serve to pay off these debts so that your family is not burdened, which otherwise could dig a financial hole for them, affecting their stability in the long run.

Peace of Mind

 Term insurance gives you peace of mind by ensuring your family's security in case of your death. It allows you to focus on your career and personal life without worrying about financial hardships in the future.

Flexibility

There are always options; you can choose the coverage amount and duration that best suits your needs. This flexibility enables you to tailor your insurance to your specific financial situation.

Tax Benefits

The premium paid on the term insurance is tax deductible under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. Also, the death benefit is normally tax-free under Section 10(10D) to the beneficiaries.

Understanding Term Insurance Coverage with an Example: 

The term insurance coverage you can buy depends on several factors, such as income and financial liabilities. 

Suppose you are a 25-year-old individual, and your annual income is ₹6 lakh. As per this age range, you can multiply your yearly income by 15, so ₹90 lakh can be the coverage amount you can get to ensure your family is financially protected if something happens to you. For instance, should the unexpected happen during the policy term, your family would receive the sum assured. If you also add a rider like accidental death benefit, it will benefit your family in addition to the sum assured. 

6 Factors for Choosing the Right Term Insurance Coverage

When purchasing a term plan to protect your loved ones' financial future, choosing the right sum assured or coverage is key. In fact, it requires consideration of several factors, which include:

Assess Your Financial Needs

You must assess how much you need today and into the future to cover loans, mortgages, children's education, and daily living expenses. From such an assessment, the correct amount assured will be determined. 

Assess the Dependents Needs

Consider how many people depend on your income. A larger family may require higher coverage. 

Old Liabilities

Add all outstanding debts, such as personal loans, car loans, or mortgages. In an ideal scenario, the sum assured should cover those liabilities to reduce household stress.

Income Replacement Ratio

You should strive for coverage that can replace your income for a long period to sustain your family lifestyle. The sum assured should be 10-15 times your current annual income.

Riders and Add-Ons

There are additional benefits, such as the critical illness rider or accidental death benefits and more that you can add to your policy for extra protection. 

Affordability

The premium should be easily within your budget. Do not stretch your budget; keeping the policy within your budget is wise.

What are the Methods to Calculate How Much Term Insurance You Need?

Term plans for individuals with ₹5-10 lakhs annual income can use the following methods to calculate how much term insurance they should opt for: 

The Basic Method 

This is a basic method of counting how much term insurance one can opt for, and it is one of the most common methods. Under this method, you can calculate the insurance amount by multiplying your annual income, that is, ₹5-10 lakhs, by 10 to 12. 

Human Life Value (HLV)

Human Life Value (HLV) is another very common method to calculate the correct sum assured you can have. In this method, the value of life is estimated based on individual income. 

For example, suppose that an individual earns ₹7 lakh per year. This means that his/her family expects to have ₹7 lakh from him/her per year as long as the work continues. If this individual meets sudden demise, his/her family would lose this annual income of ₹7 lakh. Therefore, to continue earning income even in his/her absence, it is critical to make a provision accordingly. If the current risk-free rate of return is 7%, then a corpus of ₹1 crore can guarantee a ₹7 lakh annual income. 

Underwriter’s Thumb Rule  

The underwriter's thumb rule is a similar method, but it has a slight variation. It considers your age to determine the number by which you have to multiply your annual income. The younger you are, the larger the number, and the older you are, the lower it is. 

  • 20 to 30 years old - LPA x 15 
  • 31 to 40 years old - LPA x 14 
  • 41 to 45 years old - LPA x 12 
  • 46 to 50 years old - LPA x 10 
  • 51 to 55 years old - LPA x 8 
  • 56 years and above - LPA x 6 

In this list, LPA means lakhs per annum.  

Why Choose ACKO Life Flexi Term Plan?

ACKO Life Flexi Term Plan is a modern, highly flexible, and customer-centric solution for long-term financial protection from ACKO. This plan provides a unique level of policy flexibility unmatched by most traditional insurers. The convenience of managing the entire policy lifecycle digitally adds to its appeal, particularly for individuals who prioritise ease of use and adaptability.

This unique plan from ACKO stands out in the market due to several key differentiators.

No higher premiums for future changes

You won’t have to pay higher premiums that typically increase with age or inflation adjustments over time.

Customisable Coverage and Policy Duration 

It allows for seamless modifications to both the Coverage Amount (Sum Assured) and Policy Duration. This flexibility means that you can increase or decrease your coverage based on your evolving life circumstances, such as marriage, buying a house, or having children.

Comprehensive Digital Process 

A fully digital policy management system is offered. Policyholders can easily make any policy adjustments (endorsements) such as:

  • Changing personal details (address, phone number)
  • Adjusting the Sum Assured or Policy Term
  • Adding or modifying riders
  • Updating nominee details and payout modes
  • Raising claims—all via the mobile Acko App 

6 Common Myths About Term Life Insurance

Understanding the common misconceptions about term plans, you'll be armed to make more informed decisions to protect your loved ones. 

Term Life Insurance Is Only for Young Families

Many believe term life insurance is only relevant for young families with children. However, anyone with financial dependents can benefit from it regardless of age.

Premiums Are a Waste of Money

Some think term insurance is not worth it because if they outlive the policy, there's no return on investment. The primary purpose of a term plan is to provide financial security, which is invaluable today. 

Older Persons Can't Get Coverage

Another common myth is that older people cannot get term insurance. True, perhaps premiums might be steeper; however, most insurance providers allow older applicants to secure policies.

Only Healthy People Can Get Insured

Although health has a direct impact on premiums, even a person with health concerns can get an insurance policy. It may either be at a higher premium or by excluding certain conditions.

Term Insurance is Complicated

Many people consider term insurance complicated. In fact, it is probably one of the least complex forms of life insurance. It is the most straightforward life insurance primarily designed to provide a death benefit.

I Don't Need it if I Have Other Insurance

You may think that your existing insurance, be it health or group insurance, is enough. These policies replace nothing in case of death; term replaces income lost in case of your untimely demise. 

Conclusion

Term insurance is a long-term investment that provides essential financial protection for your loved ones. It offers an affordable and practical way to provide financial protection in case of unforeseen events. By carefully evaluating your needs, comparing insurance, and selecting the appropriate policy, you can ensure your family's financial security even if you aren't around. You can use a reliable term plan calculator to estimate the right sum assured and associated premiums to plan your budget effectively. 

FAQs

There is no specific income limit or bracket for term insurance eligibility. However, based on your income, age, occupation, and more, the insurer will decide whether to approve the sum assured you want. 

A longer-term policy ensures that you have life coverage for extended periods. This is especially critical if you have long-term financial obligations such as a mortgage, educational expenses for children, or other significant financial commitments.

The minimum sum assured varies by insurer but typically starts around 10 lakhs.

Yes, most insurers provide you with the flexibility to increase the cover once your needs change.

Yes, premiums paid are tax-deductible under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. 

Term insurance does not provide a payout if you outlive the term, but some plans offer the return of premium options.

Yes, most insurers let you purchase term insurance on their online platforms or apps for your comfort and usually with lower rates too.

Yes, most policies require underwriting, especially for larger sum assured or older applicants. 

Premiums may depend on age, health, lifestyle, coverage amount, and term (duration). 

For a 5 lakh salary, consider policies with a sum assured of around 50 lakh to 1 crore. Look for features such as critical illness riders.

The best approach is to compare different plans online to find the best rates. You can also use a term plan calculator to estimate the right sum assured and premiums in just a few clicks. 

Salary slips (at minimum for the last three months), Bank statements reflecting your income (for the last six months), and Income Tax Returns (ITR) (for the last three assessment years) are the documents that can qualify as income proof for a term plan. 

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