Life insurance plans allow you to choose the coverage level, the coverage tenure and the premium payment term and frequency. You pay the life insurance premium over the chosen term. In the case of premature demise of the life assured during the tenure of the insurance policy, the death benefit is paid.
Alternatively, if the life assured survives the policy tenure and the plan matures, a maturity benefit is paid if applicable under the policy. Many life insurance plans offer a maturity benefit which gives you a financial corpus if you survive the policy term.
Life insurance plans might also offer optional riders. These riders are additional coverage benefits which enhance the scope of the insurance policy. You can choose one or more riders based on your coverage needs at the payment of an additional premium. If you suffer any contingency which is covered by the chosen rider, you get an additional benefit.