New Term Plan of LIC
MUMBAI: Life Insurance Corporation will sell its policy through the internet for the first time soon with the launch of a pure term plan.
“We are in the process of designing a pure term product which would be sold through both online and through agents,” LIC’s ED- marketing S Roy Chowdhury. “The rates will be lower than what is charged at the moment,” he added.
LIC currently charges higher premium for its term plans than private competitors. For example, a 30-year-old non-smoker has to pay an annual premium of 7,300 for a 25-lakh policy under LIC’s term plan Amulya Jeevan, while she can buy online policies such as ICICI Prudential’s iProtect for 3,350 and Kotak Life’s e-term plan for 2,750.
LIC plans to reduce this gap with the launch of its online term policy, where it can save on agent commission. Its move is expected to make private insurers reduce their rates further. The state-owned insurer is also betting big on Bancassurance, or selling policies through bank branches.
LIC’s ED Vipin Anand said the insurer has set a target to double its income from Bancassurance this financial year to 5% of its total new business income. The insurer is targeting new business income of 54,000 crore this year. At present, 20 banks, including United Bank, UCO Bank, Central Bank, Corporation Bank, BoM and PNB, sell LIC policies.
LIC has announced a bonus of 21,580 crore for its policyholders for 2010-11, which is 95% of its net surplus of 22,716 crore. The rest 5% has gone to the government.
It has announced a higher bonus rate under seven with-profit plans, namely Jeevan Anand, Jeevan Tarang, Jeevan Madhur, Child Future Plan, Jeevan Shree I, Jeevan Bharti I and Jeevan Pramukh. It also announced loyalty additions for the first time in other seven plans.
LIC Bonus Rate
Final (Additional) Bonus: (Assurances)
The results of valuation as at 31.03.2009 have been announced. The results show that the Corporation has 25.78 crores of in force policies in its books. The Reversionary Bonus level has been maintained at the last year’s level. However, the Final Additional Bonus has been increased ranging from 3% to 24% for terms more than 25 years. The amount distributed to the Policyholders by way of bonuses is Rs. 17621.71 crores as against Rs. 15730.72 crores of last year showing an increase of 12.02%. The dividend paid to the Government this year is Rs. 927.46 crores as against Rs. 827.93 in the previous year. The Corporation has provided for 153.77% of the prescribed Solvency margin as against the stipulated 150%.