# Term Insurance Buying Checklist

> A step-by-step checklist for buying term insurance in India, covering cover amount, term, disclosure, riders, and claim-safety checks.
- **Published**: 2026-08-16
- **Modified**: 2026-08-16
- **Category**: term-life-insurance
- **URL**: https://www.tldr.money/articles/term-life-insurance/term-insurance-buying-checklist

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Use this alongside the full [term life insurance in India](/term-life-insurance) guide. Once you clear the checklist, shortlist from the [best term insurance plans](/articles/term-life-insurance/best-term-insurance-plans-india).

## The checklist

1. **Enough cover.** Size the sum assured to replace your income and clear liabilities; a common baseline is 10 to 15 times annual income. See [how much cover you need](/articles/term-life-insurance/how-much-term-cover-do-you-need).
2. **The right policy term.** Cover your working years and your largest loans. A term that ends before your liabilities do leaves a gap.
3. **Pure term, not bundled.** Choose a pure protection plan, not a savings-linked one. See [term vs ULIP vs endowment](/articles/term-life-insurance/term-vs-ulip-vs-endowment).
4. **Honest disclosure.** Declare smoking, alcohol, income, occupation, medical history, and risky hobbies. Non-disclosure is the top cause of rejected claims.
5. **Claim settlement record.** Shortlist insurers with a high, stable claim settlement ratio and check complaint trends. See the [claim settlement guide](/articles/term-life-insurance/term-insurance-claim-settlement-process).
6. **Only the riders you need.** Add a rider when it fixes a real gap, not by default. See [riders to add or skip](/articles/term-life-insurance/term-insurance-riders-add-or-skip).
7. **Premium payment term and mode.** Decide regular versus limited pay, and set up auto-pay so the policy never lapses.
8. **Nominee details.** Name the right nominee and keep their details current, and make sure they know the policy exists.
9. **Compare the final quote.** Compare premiums after medical underwriting, not just the first online estimate.
10. **Read the wording.** Check exclusions, payout options, and how claims are supported before you sign.

## After the checklist

Shortlist insurers on the [all term life insurers](/term-life-insurance/insurers) page, and if you are self-employed, see the extra income-proof steps in [best term plans for the self-employed](/articles/term-life-insurance/best-term-plans-self-employed). Premiums may qualify for deduction under your [tax planning](/tax-planning).
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