Understanding the Free Look Period in Insurance: Everything You Need to Know

At a Glance

1. Introduction

1.1. What is the Free Look Period in Insurance

1.2. Key Features of the Free Look Period

2. Duration of the Free Look Period
    
3. Why is the Free Look Period Important?
    
4. Steps to Cancel a Policy During the Free Look Period
    
5. What Deductions Apply to the Refund?
    
6. Common Misconceptions About the Free Look Period
    
7. Conclusion

Buying an insurance policy is a heavy financial investment, providing protection to you and your family. Yet, comprehending all the clauses and conditions in an insurance policy is overwhelming. For the protection of consumers, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) brought about the "free look period" in insurance policies. This provision provides policyholders a certain time frame to check the terms of the policy and choose to exit if the policy does not fit them.

What is the Free Look Period in Insurance?

The free look period is a customer-friendly aspect regulated by the IRDAI that provides policyholders with a time to study their insurance policy in detail. You can cancel the policy if you discover any discrepancies or are not satisfied with the policy conditions during this time without paying excessive penalties. This time starts from the date on which the policy document has been issued to you.

Key Features of the Free Look Period:

Duration of the Free Look Period

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has outlined a particular clause dealing with the longevity of the free look duration on life insurance policies and health policies. During the free look term, policyholders can view policy conditions and cancel or extend policy coverage by deciding whether they continue or relinquish their policy coverage.

• 15-Day Free Look Period

This is for policies bought via conventional offline means, such as agents, brokers, or direct. Policyholders are given 15 days from the time of receiving the policy document to read and cancel if not satisfied. In case the policyholder wishes to cancel, the insurer will make a refund after charging relevant fees like medical examination charges and stamp duty. 

This time gives way for customers who buy policies through face-to-face interactions to also have a fair opportunity to evaluate their policy information.

• 30-Day Free Look Period

In case of policies purchased through distance marketing channels like websites, telemarketing, or other online means, the free look period is increased to 30 days. As the policies are bought without direct face-to-face interaction, the increased time period provides customers with sufficient time to realize the policy terms. 

The extra time prevents miscommunication and provides buyers with ample time to seek clarifications or cancel the purchase if necessary. You can compare the free look period for different insurance companies on OneAssure to choose the one best suited for you.

Also Read: Difference Between General Insurance and Life Insurance

Why is the Free Look Period Important?

The free look period in life insurance is a customer protection mechanism that allows policyholders to peruse the conditions and make an informed decision regarding the insurance policy. There are several advantages arising from free look provisions on policies, giving the customers an insight into the policy, fair treatment, and safety in financial security.

• Facilitates Informed Decision-Making

When you get your policy, you can go through the terms, conditions, and details of the coverage to ensure that they match your expectations and needs. In case you find any differences or misinformation that contradicts what was promised while making the purchase, you are free to cancel without losing a large amount of money.

• Protect Against Mis-Selling

Most policyholders understand after purchasing the policy that the policy they acquired is not as described by the agent or salesperson. The Life insurance free look period provides them with an opportunity to correct such a state by reading the policy document and requesting clarification of any deceptive terms. If they discover that any of the benefits, exclusions, or coverage are not as perceived by them, they are able to cancel the policy and obtain a different one more suited to their requirements.

• Ensures Financial Security

By canceling the policy within the free look period, the policyholders prevent themselves from getting locked into a long-term monetary obligation that they are not pleased with. The benefit is particularly significant for individuals who might have been in haste in making the decision without a careful examination of the cost-benefit factors involved in the policy. 

Steps to Cancel a Policy During the Free Look Period

If you wish to cancel your policy during the life insurance free look period, then these are the steps you should take to guarantee a hassle-free cancellation and refund. 

Step 1: Carefully Read the Policy Document

Carefully go through the policy terms and conditions to look for any inconsistencies in coverage, exclusions, benefits, or conditions. Verify that the policy is consistent with what was first promised by the agent or insurer. In case you detect any inconsistencies or conditions not as agreed, you can proceed with cancellation.

Step 2: Contact the Insurance Provider

Communicate your decision to cancel your insurance policy to the company. You can do this through emails, helplines of customer service, or even visiting the insurer during their office hours. Some insurance companies may also provide an online portal where initiation of process for cancellation can be easily done. The best would be to check the procedure along with the specific requirements of the insurer.

Step 3: Make a Cancellation Request

A written application is necessary for the cancellation process. This application must specify the reason for the cancellation and is to be accompanied by documents like:

• The policy document copy
   
• Identity document (like an Aadhaar card, PAN card, or passport)
   
• Bank details to process the refund
   
• The receipt of original premium payment
   
• Few insurers can ask for other documents depending upon internal policies.

Step 4: Get the Refund

After the cancellation has been reviewed and accepted by the insurer, the amount to be refunded will be processed. There will be deductions made first as the refund is processed. These will be stamp duty fees, medical examination fees (where applicable), and pro-rata risk premium for the duration of the cover. The refund will usually be credited to the bank account given at the time of the request for cancellation within a specified duration.

What Deductions Apply to the Refund?

If a policyholder decides to cancel the insurance policy within the life insurance free look period, he/she can get a refund. But before issuing the final refund amount, the insurer makes some deductions. These include administrative charges, risk coverage for the brief period during which the policy was in effect, and regulatory fees. Following are the main deductions that might be made:

• Filling in Pro-rata Risk Premium

The insurance company deducts a pro-rata risk premium based on the number of days the policy was effective before it was canceled. Since the policyholder had temporary coverage during this period, this is taken into account while calculating the refund amount. The longer the policy was in force before cancellation, the higher the deduction under this heading.

• Medical Examination Charges 

The examination costs will be deducted from the refund in case the insurer requires medical examination needed for underwriting purposes before issuing a policy. Medical tests are tools to gauge the health risk of the applicant before approving insurance coverage. After the policy's issuance, if the policyholder cancels, then the insurer shall not absorb this cost, which, therefore, will be deducted from the amount to be refunded.

• Stamp Duty Charges

The stamp duty fees are paid to the government by them to process and give out the policy document. Being non-refundable, compulsory charges, these fees are deducted from the entire refundable amount by the insurer. Stamp duty differs with policy type and amount of sum assured.

Such deductions make sure the insurers are remunerated for the vital expenses borne while underwriting the policy. The deduction amount might vary for different companies and plans, visit oneassure.in today to compare the plans. 

Common Misconceptions About the Free Look Period

There are a few misconceptions regarding the free look period in insurance. Understanding the facts will enable policyholders to make more informed choices and prevent unrealistic expectations.

• The Policy is Cancelled Right Away After Request

Several believe that as soon as they present a cancellation claim, the insurance policy is closed immediately. Actually, the procedure of cancellation takes a couple of working days as the insurer ought to check the documents, consider deductions, and refund.

• The Entire Premium Amount is Refunded

Some of the policyholders expect to get a complete refund on cancellation, but the same is not always possible. Refunds are made after deducting charges that are compulsory in nature, including medical examination fee (if any), stamp duty, and pro-rata risk premium during the time the policy was in force.

• The Free Look Period Lasts More than 30 Days

One of the common myths is that policyholders have the right to cancel the policy at their will within a couple of months. Presently, the typical free look duration is 15 days for off-line policies and 30 days for online policies or policies sold through distance marketing. 

Conclusion

The free look period in insurance is a very important clause that safeguards insurance policyholders from mis-selling and ensures they make informed choices. Whether you are buying a new life insurance policy or are going through the process of re-evaluating an ongoing one, knowledge about the free look period of life insurance can prevent you from incurring financial losses.

Insurance policies can be confusing, but you don't have to go it alone. OneAssure provides professional advice and objective recommendations specific to your situation. If you're thinking about buying life insurance or need information about your policy, call OneAssure today for a convenient consultation.