Premiums in Increasing Term Life Insurance: What You Should Know & How They Work

When buying life insurance, many people focus on level term plans because of their predictable costs. However, a type of term insurance, increasing term life insurance, is gaining popularity, especially among individuals aiming to maintain financial protection in line with inflationary trends. A key aspect of these plans is the concept of increasing term life insurance premiums. For those asking, “Can I increase my term life insurance policy?”, this article explains the structure and implications of increasing term insurance. Let’s understand how increasing term plan premiums work, when and why they rise, and what you should know before choosing an increasing term policy.

When buying life insurance, many people focus on level term plans because of their predictable costs. However, a type of term insurance, increasing term life insurance, is gaining popularity, especially among individuals aiming to maintain financial...
When buying life insurance, many people focus on level term plans because of...
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What is Increasing Term Life Insurance?

Increasing term insurance is a type of term insurance plan that increases the base sum assured by a certain amount (percentage) once a year. This is structured to gradually increase the sum assured over time, often in response to inflation or future liabilities. Typically, the premium for an increasing term plan will be higher than that of a standard term plan (non-increasing). However, it gives the policyholder the ability to increase the coverage without the need to apply for a new policy or undergo additional underwriting, depending on policy terms. An increasing term plan is a good option for anyone wanting to ensure their insurance coverage is keeping pace with their changing financial needs.

How Does an Increasing Term Insurance Plan Work?

When buying a policy, the first coverage amount is set. The sum assured generally increases annually at a fixed percentage, usually between 5% and 10%,  depending on policy terms. This is a unique feature of increasing term insurance; in turn, these increments typically result in higher premiums, aligned with increased coverage.
 

Why Choose an Increasing Term Plan?

Before diving into premiums, let’s look at why an individual might choose this type of term insurance:

  • Protection against inflation: Due to inflation, a fixed sum assured may offer reduced financial protection over time.
  • Growing responsibilities: As you age, you may take on more responsibilities, such as home loans or children’s education expenses.

How Increasing Term Life Insurance Premiums Work

Let’s break down how increasing term life insurance premiums generally function.
 

1. Fixed Premium with Growing Cover

In this model, you pay the same premium every year, but your coverage increases.

  • Advantage: Easy budgeting
  • Disadvantage: Higher premium at the beginning

Keep in mind that some insurers may offer variants where premiums also increase over time, though this is less common. That’s why it’s important to go through the policy details carefully, so you know exactly how your premiums are structured and what to expect down the line.

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2. Customised Increase

Some policies allow you to choose how much the sum assured grows, e.g., by 5%, 10% etc., annually. Premium increases will vary based on that choice. So if you’re wondering, “How much does term life insurance increase?”, it depends on the chosen increment.
 

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Is Increasing Term Life Insurance Right for You?

This type of plan suits young professionals with extended income-generating years, individuals expecting major life changes such as marriage, children, or home loans, and anyone concerned about inflation and maintaining the value of their death benefit over time.

Tips for Managing Increasing Premiums

If you decide to go with an increasing term policy, here are a few tips to manage the premium structure effectively:

  • Check whether the premium remains level or increases along with the coverage.
  • Understand the increase type. Is the sum assured rising by a fixed percentage (simple) or by another factor?
  • Understand when premium jumps occur (every year, 5 years, etc.).
  • Use insurer-provided premium calculators or consult with licensed advisors to evaluate projected costs.
  • Plan for rising costs in your budget, especially after 10–15 years.

Conclusion

An increasing term insurance plan is a type of term life insurance where the sum assured (life cover) increases automatically over time, typically by a fixed percentage each year. Selecting the appropriate plan at the outset can help address future protection needs. Such plans may be suitable where protection needs are expected to rise over time.

FAQ

Since the payout increases each year, the insurer takes on more risk. Therefore, increasing term policies typically have a slightly higher premium than level policies.

Yes, an increasing term insurance plan is designed to automatically increase your term insurance coverage over time.

Term insurance premiums rise mainly because a person's risk of death increases with age, certain diseases or unhealthy habits. By depending on mortality data, insurers charge higher premiums for older individuals or those with medical conditions.

Increasing term life insurance allows you to increase your sum assured each year without any extra application process or tests.

After your term life policy ends, the coverage expires, and you are no longer required to pay premiums.

In most cases, term insurance policies offer limited flexibility after purchase, but some modifications are possible depending on the insurer and policy type.

In most traditional term insurance plans, premiums are fixed once the policy is issued, based on your age, health, and coverage at the time of purchase. However, you might pay a higher premium in cases, such as if you opt to increase your sum assured (in plans that allow it) or add riders for extra protection.

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Written by Neviya Laishram

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Reviewed by Vaibhav Kumar Kaushik Author info Icon

A senior editor with years of expertise, she fine-tunes content that connects, converts, and builds trust. She transforms heavy life insurance concepts into clear, aha-moment reads. Writing is her passion, and thinking ahead is second nature. When not wrangling words, she’s crushing game levels because every challenge is a puzzle waiting to be solved.

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