Archive · 9 Jun 2025
Mis-selling and High Lapse Rates Plague Indian Life Insurance
Imagine you buy life insurance, but many people stop paying after a few years.
A study shows almost half of people do this, which means they might lose money.
Banks are making lots of money by selling these insurance plans.
They often push these products without fully explaining them, like selling you something you don't really need.
Some banks even sell policies from their own companies, which might not always be the best deal for you.
This report suggests the system needs to be changed so that people aren't losing money and can get better advice, not just sales pitches.
Nearly half of life insurance policies are discontinued within five years.
Banks earn billions in commissions from selling insurance products.
A significant portion of insurance payouts goes towards surrendered, withdrawn, discontinued, or lapsed policies.
Banks may earn up to 100% of life insurance commissions from their own group companies.
The report calls for regulatory scrutiny and reform in the insurance sector.
- Who
- Life insurance policyholders, banks, insurance companies and 1 Finance Magazine.
- What
- A report reveals high rates of life insurance policy discontinuation and potential consumer financial losses.
- When
- Data is from FY24 and a recent report.
- Where
- India
- Why
- Due to mis-selling of products, aggressive marketing, and conflicts of interest.
- Policy Discontinuation Rate (5 years)
- 49%
- Average Persistency Ratio (61st month)
- 51%
- Commissions earned by top 15 banks (FY24)
- Rs 21,773 crore
- Benefits paid towards lapsed policies
- 43.3%