Axis Max Life Insurance
Term Insurance
Investment Plans
Healthcare Plans
NRI Plans
Calculators
Join as Advisor
Profile picture of the Kriti Arora

Written by

Kriti Arora
Profile picture of the Kriti Arora

Kriti Arora

Insurance Writer

Kriti is a content marketing and branding expert with more than 13 years of rich experience across BFSI and Telecom industries. She is currently leading Digital Creative Strategy for Axis Max Life Insurance.

:

Reviewed by

Vaibhav Kumar
Profile picture of the Vaibhav Kumar

Vaibhav Kumar

Insurance Expert

With over 15 years in life insurance, Vaibhav is a recognized products and digital leader for driving innovation at Axis Max Life. He's played a pivotal role in developing new business lines and implementing successful D2C strategies.

What is Term Insurance with Return of Premium?

what_is_trop_07e7ccb823.webp

Essentially, a term insurance with return of premium is similar to a standard term plan. It works as a life cover and provides a death benefit to the beneficiaries of the policy.

The key element that sets it apart is the maturity benefit applicable on a term plan with return of premium.

Policyholders can benefit from a term insurance with return of premium by paying an additional premium.

You can choose the required sum assured and policy period and pay the premiums, accordingly. When the policy matures, the insurance provider will return the premiums paid to the policyholder.

Usually, there are two kinds of policy buyers:

  • One who is looking for medium of savings along with life coverage
  • One who is only in need of life cover to provide financial support to their family in their absence.

Depending on your financial requirements, you can choose a suitable plan for your family.

What are the differences between Term Insurance Plan and Term Insurance with Return of Premium?

Term insurance and term insurance with return of premium (TROP) are two types of life insurance policies currently available in India. While term plans are relatively well known, TROP is a relatively lesser known variant that offers some key benefits that are not available in a basic term plan. The below table highlights the key differences between a term plan and a term plan with return of premium.

Pure Term Insurance PlanTerm Plan with Return of Premium (TROP)
A pure term insurance plan is the simplest type of life insurance with the sole goal of providing protection to the nominee/beneficiary of the life insured.Term plan with return of premium is a type of term insurance plan that provides protection to the nominee/beneficiary of the life insured, but also features an option to get a refund on the premiums already paid.
It is the most affordable of all life insurance plans offered in India.TROP usually features a higher premium cost as compared to a pure term insurance plan.
The only benefit offered in a pure term plan is the death benefit.In a TROP, along with the death benefit, there is the provision under which the insurer returns all the paid premiums provided the policy is surrendered within a pre-determined period of time.
Pure term plan is suitable for those who want basic life insurance with no extra frills, at affordable premium.A term plan with return of premium typically features a higher premium due to the additional return of premium benefit available with the plan.
Computation of the sum assured in a pure term plan is as per the life cover and any other payout as per the policy document at policy inception.In TROP policies, life cover payout and related payouts are as per the policy documents, while the return of premium is calculated based on the applicable special exit value calculation that varies from one insurer to another.
Note: The above list of differences is illustrative and subject to periodic change.

How Does Term Insurance with Return of Premium Work?

It is in your best interest to map the objective of an investment carefully before buying a plan.

Understanding how a term insurance with return of premium works will give you a clearer vision for your financial plans.

Let’s take the case of Mr. Patel, a 30-year-old man looking to secure coverage for himself. He is a healthy man, without any smoking habits or history of medical problems. He opts for a term plan with return of premium and selects a sum assured of Rs. 50 lakhs.

The annual premium payable for his plan is Rs. 12,718 for a tenure of 40 years, i.e. till the maturity of the policy. If Mr. Patel passes away within the policy tenure, the person assigned as the nominee will receive the sum assured of Rs. 50 lakhs.

But, if Mr. Patel survives the policy term, he will be eligible for a maturity benefit under the term plan with return of premium. He will receive Rs. 5,08,720 (12718 x 40) upon maturity of the policy.

One can also calculate their premium payable using online premium calculator

Term Plan Calculator

Secure your future in just 5 minutes

35yrs
18yrs
25yrs
35yrs
45yrs
55yrs
60yrs
65yrs

Premium starting at
Inclusive of GST
₹ /month*6

Return of Premium Option with Limited Pay

image tick_4c1dee0521

Single Pay

You pay the entire premium amount payable as a lump sum in one go
image tick_4c1dee0521

Regular Pay

You pay the premium amount throughout the term plan tenure either annually, half-yearly, quarterly or monthly
image tick_4c1dee0521

Pay Till 60

You pay the premium till the age of 60 years while the plan coverage extends up to 85 years of age
image tick_4c1dee0521

Limited Pay

You pay the premium for a fixed number of instalments, i.e., 5 Pay, 10 Pay, 12 Pay or 15 Pay

Who Can Buy Term Insurance with Return of Premium (TROP)?

When it comes to important financial commitments such as buying term insurance with return of premium (TROP) plan, each person may have different objectives. This is significantly dependent on a number of personal factors such as your age, income source, lifestyle habits and medical conditions. Analyzing your financial profile based on these key parameters can help you find the right policy.

So, if you plan to purchase a term plan with return of premium, you have to examine the benefits offered against such factors.

Largely, TROP can be a preferable choice for people who fall under the following categories:

  • Unmarried

    As an unmarried individual, you may have the financial responsibilities of your parents, especially if they are retired. If you have a term plan with return of premium, the maturity benefit ensures they receive a large sum of money either way.

    In the unfortunate case of your demise, their expenses will be taken care of with the death benefit. You will have the peace of mind that they will be financially independent even when you are not around. In the case of surviving the policy, you can have the satisfaction of receiving back the premiums paid throughout the TROP tenure.

  • Married with No Children

    If you are a married person, you may also want to consider a term plan with return of premium. In case your spouse is solely dependent on your income source, TROP may work for you. You can create a financial support system for them to secure their future against any eventualities. The maturity benefit offered at the end of the policy term will be a bonus.

  • Married with Children

    A parent has a broad set of financial responsibilities to undertake for the well-being of their children. Saving up for their marriage, higher education and other life goals is a crucial aspect of your investment plans. In case you are the only earning member of the family, your spouse’s and children’s well-being is also to be considered.

    It can be heavy on your pocket to manage the current expenses and put a large sum aside for the future. Therefore, the assurance of a maturity benefit with a term plan with return of premium can be helpful.

Benefits of Term Plan with Return of Premium

benefits_of_rop_3a0b6db07c.webp

Let's take a closer look at the benefits of a term plan with return of premium:

ROP Benefit

Many policy buyers are discouraged from buying a term plan because there is no maturity benefit. Introducing Axis Max LifeSmart Secure Plus Plan (A Non Linked Non Participating Individual Pure Risk Premium Life Insurance Plan | UIN104N118V11). a policy that offers option of a term plan with return of premium available as an alternative. The ROP (term insurance with return of premium benefit) allows policyholders to stay reassured.

Death Benefit

When a person buys a standard insurance plan or term plan with return of premium, the primary purpose is life cover. They wish to create a financial shield over their family against unpredictable circumstances.

The death benefit offered with TROP helps the policyholder's family to manage their expenses during a crisis.

Tax Benefits

Purchasing a term plan with return of premium means makes a person eligible for tax benefits. You can avail of the benefits as per the prevailing tax laws. Under Section 80C and 10 (10D), the premium paid towards the term plan and the benefit amount are tax-free.

You can get a tax deduction of up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs on the premiums paid for a term plan with return of premium.

As awareness of various benefits of life insurance plans rises among Indians concepts such as return of premium are being understood better as witnessed in the recent Axis Max Life Insurance India Protection Quotient (IPQ 6.0) survey conducted jointly by Kantar. The survey recorded that knowledge quotient of Indians with respect to life insurance products had increased to 61 in IPQ 6.0 as compared to 57 that was recorded in the earlier survey, IPQ 5.0.

Why Should You Choose A Term Insurance with Return Of Premium Option?

Given the increasing cost of living and responsibilities in life, each one of us is looking for ways to manage money efficiently. The financial instruments that offer an opportunity to build wealth and get life security can be an excellent choice to achieve that.

Term Insurance with return of premium option also provides additional benefits such as waiver of premium, accidental death benefit, disability benefit, and protection against critical illnesses. Investing in TROP can bring a sense of overall protection for policyholders.

A policy buyer may find it difficult to choose between the several insurance products available. Choosing on the basis of one deciding factor, whether it is cost or policy period may not be favourable. Hence, make sure to consider the comprehensive benefits of a term plan with return of premium to be satisfied with the investment.

Term Plan with Return of Premium Features

1. Affordability


Term plan with return of premium may be slightly more expensive than a regular term plan. However, the premiums paid for TROP are returned as maturity benefit and are exempted from taxation.

2. Premium Payment Options

As the policyholder, you can choose the suitable sum assured under term plan with return of premium. Furthermore, you can also select the best-suited premium payment option from among these:

One-Time Payment

The entire premium for TROP is payable as a lump sum amount in one go, instead of distributing it over extended duration.

Regular Pay

Under this premium payment option for TROP, you pay premiums at regular intervals throughout the policy tenure. You can choose to pay them on an annual, half-yearly, quarterly or monthly basis.

Pay Till 60

This option under term plan with return of premium allows you to pay off the premiums till the age of 60 years, while the plan extends till 85 years of age.

Limited Pay

You can pay the premiums for a fixed number of instalments under the limited pay option for TROP. Please read sales brochure before proceeding for purchase.

3. Surrender Value

After purchasing the term plan with return of premium, if you discontinue premium payments or surrender the plan, you will receive a surrender value. The surrender value of TROP is subject to the following conditions, depending on the premium payment option:

  • For TROP with Single Premium variant, the surrender value is applicable after payment of a single premium.
  • For TROP with Limited Pay variant and Regular Pay variant, it is applicable on payment of premiums for two full years.

The surrender value is the higher of Guaranteed Surrender Value (GSV) or Special Surrender Value (SSV)

4. Rider Options

There are various types of riders or add-on features offered by the insurers with a term plan with return of premium. The popular ones include:

  • Critical illness and disability rider that provides coverage against critical illnesses like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, kidney failure, paralysis and diabetes
  • Accidental death and dismemberment rider that protects against income loss due to accidental injury and dismemberment.
  • Waiver of Premium rider that when activated led to future premiums being waived off if the life insured loses the ability to earn their income due to an accident or illness.
  • Terminal Illness rider provides a lump sum payout in case the life insured is diagnosed with a terminal illness during the policy term. 

    • Depending upon your need, you should consider choosing one or more of these riders in order to enhance the protection of your TROP policy. However, do keep in mind that availing these riders and add-ons typically requires payment of an additional premium. 

    How to Choose a Suitable Term Insurance Policy with Return of Premium?

    Take the following pointers into consideration when choosing a term insurance with return of premium feature that suits your unique needs:

    Assess Your Needs

    The first and foremost step is assessing your needs. You need to know what is the problem before finding a solution, similarly, to find the best suited TROP plan, you must identify your needs and then match those against available options. Calculate the life cover you require by considering your current income and evaluate that with your current liabilities and expected future liabilities. Then, decide the length of your policy term. Decide whether the policy term should match your retirement age or should it extend till your children complete their higher education and/or get married.

    Another very important factor to consider when assessing your needs is your premium budget. You should be well aware of the fact that a term plan with return of premium feature may cost you a higher premium as compared to a basic term plan. So opt for a TROP policy only if you are certain that the premium amount payable will not negatively impact your budget.

    Compare Features of the Available TROP Plans

    Just like you compare various features before buying a mobile phone, it is imperative that you pay equal or more attention to the different TROP plan options available and their features too. A thorough comparative analysis will help you find the which policy works best for you in terms of life cover offered, policy tenure options, premium payment term/frequency, the structure of premiums to be returned (some offer 100% return while some might offer less than that), riders or add-on benefit available as well as key exclusions of the policy. It is only after this analysis will you be able to find a type of policy suited to your needs.

    Evaluate the Insurer

    The next step in choosing the best term plan with return of premium is evaluating the insurer. It is equally important to pay close attention to the insurance company you’re choosing. You may choose a plan in line with your budget and requirements but it may all go in vain if the insurer chosen doesn’t match the standards. It is important to check key features of the insurer such as claim settlement ratio, solvency ratio, etc. Another important point to consider is the insurance company’s customer services as these will play a major role at the time of making claims.

    Compare Premium Costs

    Premiums payable for a TROP policy are usually higher than a basic term insurance plan. This should be very clear in your mind. But even with this, you must draw a comparative analysis of the premiums offered by different insurance companies. Do take into account the premium payment frequencies offered by the insurer along with the discounts offered on the online purchases etc. It is only after such analysis will you be able to finalize a cost-effective term plan with return of premium.

    Review Policy Terms

    Once you’ve chosen the insurance company and the policy, do not miss out of reviewing the policy terms. Take the benefit if the free-look period and carefully read through the various terms and conditions along with the exclusions mentioned in the policy to reduce the possibility of unpleasant surprises in the future. Knowing such details beforehand can be extremely helpful at the time of making claims. Additionally, it is advised to consult a life advisor if you are new to the insurance and unable to finalize the best term insurance plan with return of premium.

    Why Choose Axis Max Life Term Plan?

    image solvency_ratio_one_bbd7247402

    Solvency Ratio
    172%

    (Source: Axis Max Life Public Disclosure, FY 2023-24)

    image percentage-icon

    Claims Paid Percentage
    99.65%

    (Source: Individual Death Claim Paid Ratio as per audited financials for FY 2023-2024)

    image award-icon

    Sum Assured
    ₹1,779,409 Cr.

    In force (individual) (Source: Axis Max Life Public Disclosure, FY 2023-24)

    image aim_icon_0360c7590c

    Assets Managed
    ₹150,836 Cr

    (Source: Axis Max Life Public Disclosure, FY 2023-24)

    Choosing the Adequate Sum Assured for Your Term Insurance

    Choosing the right sum assured depends on various factors. Know more  on how to select the correct sum assured for your term insurance. Below are some of the sum assured options you can avail. Click on the preferred option and check on further details.

    Term Insurance

    ₹50 Lakhs

    Starting from  ₹16/ day%*

    Check Plan

    Term Insurance

    ₹75 Lakhs

    Starting from  ₹24/day%*

    Check Plan

    BESTSELLER

    Term Insurance

    ₹1 Crore

    Starting from  ₹26/day%*

    Check Plan

    Term Insurance

    ₹1.5 Crore

    Starting from  ₹39/day%*

    Check Plan

    Term Insurance

    ₹2 Crore

    Starting from  ₹39/day%*

    Check Plan

    Term Insurance

    ₹5 Crore

    Starting from  ₹92/day%*

    Check Plan

     Disclaimer:%*Standard daily premium for 24-year old healthy male, non-smoker, 25 years policy term, 25 year premium payment term (exclusive of GST) for Axis Max Life Smart Total Elite Protection Term Plan (UIN: 104N125V07). ARN: C/SA/280125

    Key Takeaways

  • Nowadays, most people look for insurance plans that can provide a higher life cover at the lowest possible cost of the premium. Term plans fulfil this criterion. However, given the fact that there are no maturity benefits on the policy, many are discouraged from purchasing a term insurance plan.
  • This made life insurance companies introduce term insurance plans with return of premium (or ROP) additional benefits in them. In other words, a ROP (term insurance with return of premium optional benefit) is a variant of term insurance plans that provides both a death benefit (in case of an eventuality) and a maturity benefit by returning the premium invested

    • FAQs

    search

    Are the term plans with return of premium option worth it?

    What is the return of premium in term life insurance?

    Which companies offer a term insurance plan with return of premium option?

    Which is the best term plan with return of premium?

    What major benefits are provided by term insurance plans with Return of Premium option?

    Is there any term insurance plan offered by Axis Max Life which provides return of premium option?

    What is the catch with the Term insurance plans with return of premium option?

    Should I buy a Term insurance plans with return of premium option?

    Can you get your money back from term insurance on maturity?

    What does return of premium mean?

    What is death benefit under return of premium term insurance plan?

    Is the Term insurance plans with return of premium option a good deal?

    Are There Any Riders Available With TROP?

    What Is The Eligibility Criteria For Term Plan With Return Of Premium?

    How Does Smoking Habit Affect The Term Plan With Return Of Premium?

    Should I Buy A Regular Term Plan Or TROP?

    What Is The Grace Period In Term Plan With Return Of Premium?

    ARN NO: PCP/TROP/070624

    Sources:

    www.nsiindia.gov.in/InternalPage.aspx?Id_Pk=89

    www.nsiindia.gov.in/InternalPage.aspx?Id_Pk=55

    www.indiapost.gov.in/Financial/pages/content/post-office-saving-schemes.aspx

    www.nsiindia.gov.in/InternalPage.aspx?Id_Pk=134

    www.incometaxindia.gov.in/Pages/tools/deduction-under-section-80c.aspx

    www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=11865&Mode=0

    www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/FAQView.aspx?Id=79

    Share your Valuable Feedback

    Rating Icon

    4.3

    Rated by 8002 customers

    Was the Information Helpful?

    Rate this product

    Very Good

    We would like to hear from you

    Let us know about your experience or any feedback that might help us serve you better in future.

    Image for the icon

    More plans for you

    • Image for IPQ carousel
      2 Crore
      Term Plan

      Affordable financial security of your loved ones

      Terminal illness cover at zero additional cost

      Tax deduction u/s 80C of Income Tax Act, 1961

      Multiple payout options - Monthly income and lump sum

      Read More
      Check Plan
    • Image for IPQ carousel
      Guaranteed
      Income Plan

      Guaranteed maturity benefit to help achieve future goals

      Multiple plan variants to choose from

      Tax deduction u/s 80C of Income Tax Act, 1961

      Death benefit on policyholder's demise's during policy term

      Read More
      Check Plan
    • Image for IPQ carousel
      Axis Max Life Smart Fixed-return Digital Plan

      Built-in life cover

      Tax deduction u/s 80C of Income Tax Act, 1961

      Tax-free## fixed returns up to 7.5%** u/s 10(10D)

      Facility to avail a loan in case of a financial emergency

      Read More
      Check Plan
    • Image for IPQ carousel
      NRI
      Life Insurance

      Hassle-free worldwide$+ claim processing

      Flexible premium payment options

      GST waiver4 of up to 18% for eligible customers

      Video medical test at your own ease

      Read More
      Check Plan
    Online Sales Helpline
    • Whatsapp: 7428396005Send ‘Quick Help’ from your registered mobile number
    • Phone: 0124 648 890009:30 AM to 06:30 PM
      (Monday to Sunday except National Holidays)
    • service.helpdesk@axismaxlife.comPlease write to us incase of any escalation/feedback/queries.
    Customer Service
    • Whatsapp: 7428396005Send ‘Hi’ from your registered mobile number
    • 1860 120 55779:00 AM to 6:00 PM
      (Monday to Saturday)
    • service.helpdesk@axismaxlife.comPlease write to us incase of any escalation/feedback/queries.
    NRI Helpdesk
    • +91 11 71025900, +91 11 61329950 (Available 24X7 Monday to Sunday)
    • nri.helpdesk@axismaxlife.comPlease write to us incase of any escalation/feedback/queries.