Buy a Life Insurance Policy Under the MWP Act

Women have been a precious part of Indian culture and society since ancient times. Despite the progress, women still face some significant challenges, like gender discrimination, violence, and unequal pay. Therefore, in recent years, there have been some positive developments to empower women - the Married Women’s Property Act (MWP Act) is one of them.

But how does the MWP Act help in insurance? Let’s say you buy a term insurance policy and make your wife the nominee of it. Now, how can you be sure that the sum assured will not be taken away by anyone else like your relatives or creditors? Buying the term plan under the MWP Act ensures that. Once you buy your term life policy under the MWP Act, it cannot be entitled by anyone or directed by the jurisdiction to be utilized for repaying your debts.

What is the MWP Act?

The Married Women’s Property Act was issued in 1874 to help women protect their property or finances from lenders, creditors, and relatives.

It is a women’s welfare act and its section C states that when an individual buys a term insurance plan under this act and makes his wife the nominee, the death benefit shall be given and be entitled only by the nominee. No relatives or creditors can demand it by the law as well.

How Does the MWP Act Protect Women in Life Insurance?

As mentioned above, the Married Women’s Property (MWP) Act of 1874 stated that a married women’s property or earnings would be considered her separate property. In 1923, the MWP Act was added to life insurance.

Under this act, the insurance policy taken by the husband under the MWP act will be entitled to his wife only and no one else after his demise. The wife and children of policyholders will solely claim the maturity and death benefits.

Keep reading the pointers below to understand how the MWP Act protects your family:

1. While buying a life insurance plan, make sure to add your wife and children as beneficiaries with an MWP mandate that cannot be altered. It’ll ensure that only your wife and children are entitled to the benefits.
2. When you buy a policy under the MWP Act, you have the flexibility to divide life cover among your beneficiaries; you can only do it at the time of purchasing a policy.
3. The premiums of your term life insurance policy stay unaffected if you buy it under the MWP Act.

How Do You Buy Life Insurance Under the MWP Act?

Buying a life insurance plan under the MWP Act is simple and hassle-free, the same as buying a regular insurance policy.

• Firstly, select the life insurance plan of your choice.
• After that, fill out the insurance proposal form.
• Let your insurance provider know that you would like to buy a policy under the MWP Act.
• After that, provide the insurer with the necessary details like legal documents, beneficiary documents, personal information, Etc.
• Once you submit all the documents, pay through net banking, debit, or credit card, and the policy is bought under the MWP Act.

Conclusion

The main objective of buying a life insurance policy is to ensure our family’s well-being. What if your death claim does not reach your beneficiary? Therefore, you must buy a life insurance policy under the MWP Act to ensure that only your wife and kids are entitled to claim death benefits.