Outlook Money OLM December 2017 Issue | Page 18

Queries Anirudh Bhasin, Noida I want to know how the insurers calculate mortality charges. Do they hike the charges every year with increase in age or keep it fixed at the age at which the policy was taken? Mortality charges are a function of actuary calculation made by professional and experienced actuarial managers. It is important because sufficient experience and skill goes into calculation of mortality charges which form the basis of premiums paid for various age bands. Mortality charges calculation is based on a number of factors: • Gender costing—mortality charges differ for both women and men (women are said to have a higher mortality than men) • Inflation rates. • Future Growth rates . • Administration and policy handling charges. • Further, every premium paid is divided into cash value, which is the interest earned on the policy and pure risk cover charges. • The discounted rate of future lapsed policies is covered in the mortality charges calculation. For life insurance policies, premium rates are not hiked every year because the probability of losing a life in a pool of insured policy holders is lower. For health and general insurance policies, the premium rates are reset every year and increase by 10- 15 per cent per annum depending on profitability of the company and positive claim ratio the company has earned over the years. Dilshad Billimoria, CFP, Dilzer Consultants Sanjit Kumar, Delhi My cousin is a heavy drinker and is unlikely to survive any longer. Will his life insurer pay for the policy proceeds if his death is due to alcoholism? Life insurance claim depends on declarations. If a person has taken a policy 10 years back and has declared all relevant information correctly but started drinking Ritesh Pathak, Bhopal I have zeroed down on two flats which I wish to buy. Can I take two separate home loans at the same time for these two flats? Can I borrow from the same bank for these two loans? Multiple home loans are allowed for different properties with the same bank. Further, bank will evaluate your applicability which will include your income, current job, and credit score. However, banks can reject your application in case you have poor repayment capabilities with existing or past loans. So, before taking multiple loans, you need to evaluate all the above mentioned factors to avoid your credit score from getting impacted. Himali Patel, Senior Correspondent, Outlook Money How do life insurance companies deal with the claim of life assured if the life assured dies after the date of maturity of the policy but before receiving the maturity proceeds? What points should be kept in mind before deciding in favour of any particular insurance agent or a broker? 16 Puneet Oberoi, Founder, Finadwise Naveen Sarin, Gurugram Vikas Nagpal, Gurugram Choose an agent who is honest and puts the interest of his clients first. Your agent should be willing to give you advice on a financial product based on your need and not on the basis of the commission he earns out of the deal. Make sure that your agent has sufficient qualification and skills to advise you. A timely response to clients’ queries is agent’s responsibility. For efficient client servicing, an heavily after 4-5 years down the line, he will be paid his claim regardless of anything. It comes under self injury. In case of life insurance even suicide is covered after one year of the policy. agent must ensure that he has the required infrastructure and staff with sound general and technical knowledge to help you. You can do the reference check through existing clients before availing the services. Pankaj Mathpal, CEO, Optima Money Managers Outlook Money December 2017 www.outlookmoney.com If the policy has matured and the insured dies just after, the claim paid is the same as maturity proceeds, which may include bonus and other terminal benefits. In addition to this, the family of the life assured would have to submit the original policy documents in addition to the beneficiary documents title to receive the benefits from the insurance provider. Dilshad Billimoria, CFP, Dilzer Consultants