Difference of Insurance and Assurance

by Rosie Esplana

September 17, 2021

The first thing to remember about life insurance is that it has nothing to do with death. It has evolved into an important tool for wealth management. A life assurance contract is a vehicle of choice for wealthy customers, with favorable tax treatment and mobility, and is a useful instrument for inheritance and succession planning, as well as asset management, tax optimization, and more.

Until it comes to High Net Worth asset management, 65 percent of wealthy clients own a life assurance contract, and over a third of them have it as their primary asset stored abroad. While nearly half (45%) recognize the importance of a wealth transfer strategy (mostly for tax optimization) and 25% have prepared a will, just a minority (30%) have a proper plan in place.

However, there is a subtle and narrow line that separates insurance from assurance. Let’s look at the fundamental differences between insurance and assurance in this post so that we can make an informed decision.

What Is Insurance?

Insurance is a contract between a corporation (licensed to sell insurance) and the individual purchasing the policy (policyholder), in which the company agrees to compensate the policyholder in the event of a certain loss in exchange for a premium. The compensation will be roughly equal to the loss’s monetary value. Insurance policies often have a set validity period during which the firm is obligated to pay compensation according to the policy’s terms and conditions. This is the time for policy. All of the general insurance plans are policies that protect you against an unforeseen event. For instance, health insurance, fire insurance, marine insurance, and vehicle insurance are all examples of insurance.

Example:

Mr. A purchased a vehicle. Mr A purchased a third-party policy to protect himself against third-party risks, since it is required by law to purchase a minimum automobile insurance policy. Compensation for injuries to others, property/vehicle damage, and loss of life while driving are all covered under this policy.

He also added the Own Damage component to his car insurance policy to acquire more coverage. He can use this to make a claim for damage to his own vehicle. Damage from fire, accidents, theft, natural and man-made tragedies, and other causes are covered.

What Is Assurance?

Assurance is a term that is often used in the insurance industry and is associated with life insurance plans. The insured is informed that if a specific incident occurs, he or she would receive compensation. For instance, death or incapacity. In comparison to General Insurance policies, these policies are normally good for a longer period of time.

Example:

Mr. B invested in an Endowment Plan. This form of life insurance coverage provides both life and death benefits. When the policy expires, Mr B can collect the maturity benefit under this plan. When the policy matures, the insurance company will pay Mr B a lump sum payment. The sum promised will be paid to the policy’s nominee in the event of his death.

The difference between Insurance and Assurance

Insurance is most commonly associated with general insurance, such as automobile and motorcycle insurance, which covers accidents and damages to the vehicle, whereas assurance is associated with life insurance contracts, which covers the policyholder’s death benefit.

Here’s a table that breaks down the distinctions between insurance and assurance in more detail:

Parameter	Insurance	Assurance
Category	General Insurance	Life Insurance
Objective	To make up for the loss. For instance, losses suffered as a result of an accident, fire, theft, flood, and so on.	To provide financial assistance in a certain situation. A major sickness, death, or disability, for example.
Types of Policies	Fire Insurance, Home Insurance, Engineering Insurance, and etc.	Life insurance, Term insurance, Endowment plans, ULIP, etc.
Claim Payment	Nearly equal to the loss amount. For instance, the expense of repairing/replacing auto parts, medical bills, and so on.	Amount set aside in advance to cover a specific incident. For instance, a major disease such as cancer, the policyholder’s death, and so on.
Number of Claim Allowed	Multiple	One
Renewability	Usually once a year or when the policy expires.	N/A
Coverage	Medical insurance, home insurance, property insurance, motor insurance, etc.	Coverage for life and incapacity.
Number of Insured	Depending on the type of the insurance policy, there may be one or more.	One
Nature of Risks	Unpredictable hazards such as theft, burglary, natural disasters, fire, and accidents	Death, for example, is a risk that is usually unpredictable yet predictable.
What is Insured	Individuals and/or property	People

To summarize, while insurance and assurance are related, the services provided by each product differ. Understanding the difference between insurance and assurance can help you better grasp all of the products that the insurance and financial services industries have to offer. Insurance firms provide both insurance and assurance services. You must purchase the appropriate plan based on your requirements and ambitions.

Why is insurance so important?

In certain circumstances, both life and general insurance coverage can be beneficial. Insurance gives financial assistance that is critical in bearing the costs of an unexpected incident.

Consider health insurance. The expense of treating a disease is proportional to the severity of the illness. This can be a concern if the person does not have a financial safety net, such as insurance. If a patient does not receive quality care in a timely manner, his or her condition may deteriorate. In this situation, having an insurance plan in place protects against unknown liabilities and allows for prompt treatment. As a result, having insurance is critical.

The Final Word

Assurance and insurance are phrases used in insurance contracts to describe how much the policy will pay out. Understanding the meaning of these terms can assist you in comprehending the insurance plan’s benefits.

The terms sum insured and sum assured are similar. Typically, a policy’s sum insured is paid in full to the policyholder or his or her next of kin. The sum insured, on the other hand, is frequently a reimbursement for a specific loss. The sum is nearly equivalent to the amount lost. Parts of the sum insured in health insurance policies can be utilized for treatment.

In many ways, assurance and insurance are comparable. However, they are distinguished by the fact that they are employed in various insurance products.

Read also: Unusual and Totally Interesting Insurance Coverage