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Paste any clause or upload your policy PDF and get a plain-English explanation, with exclusions, red flags, and free-look period highlighted. No email required.
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The Policy Decoder is a free AI-powered tool that translates insurance policy language into plain English. If you have ever received a term insurance policy document and felt overwhelmed by the dense legal clauses, exclusion lists, and fine-print conditions, this tool is built for you. Simply paste any clause or section from your policy, and the decoder breaks it down into a clear, colour-coded summary: what is covered, what is excluded, important deadlines, and any red flags you should know about.
No sign-up or email is needed. The tool does not store your policy text after analysis. It is designed for the moment you first receive your policy document (especially during the IRDAI-mandated free-look period) so you can make an informed decision about whether to keep the policy or return it.
Think of it as having a knowledgeable friend who has read hundreds of insurance policies sit beside you and explain each section in everyday language. The decoder highlights the parts that matter most, particularly exclusions and waiting periods that insurers are required to disclose but often bury in complex phrasing.
The free-look period is an IRDAI-mandated window during which you can review your newly purchased life insurance policy and return it for a full refund (minus stamp duty and medical examination charges) if you are not satisfied with the terms. For policies sold through agents or bank branches, this window is 15 days from the date you receive the policy document. For policies sold online or through distance marketing (phone, email), it is 30 days.
This is the single most important consumer protection in Indian insurance regulation, and most policyholders do not use it. According to IRDAI data, fewer than 2% of life insurance policies are returned during the free-look window. The primary reason? People do not read or understand their policy documents in time.
The Policy Decoder is specifically designed around this moment. If you enter your purchase date, it calculates exactly how many days remain in your free-look window. If the pasted text contains a free-look clause, the decoder highlights it prominently. If it does not, the tool reminds you where to find it in your policy schedule.
The free-look period is your right as a policyholder. Use it wisely, and use this tool to understand what you signed before the window closes. For a complete guide, read our article on the free-look period in term insurance.
The decoder works best with specific clauses or sections from your policy document. Here are the types of text that produce the most useful results:
Every term insurance policy lists situations where the death benefit will not be paid. These typically include suicide within the first year, death due to participation in hazardous activities, and deaths related to undisclosed pre-existing conditions. Pasting the exclusion section helps you understand exactly what is not covered.
IRDAI mandates that if the policyholder dies by suicide within 12 months of policy inception, only a refund of premiums paid (minus expenses) is payable, not the full sum assured. Some policies extend this to 24 months. The decoder explains the specific terms in your policy.
This section details your right to return the policy. The decoder identifies the duration, conditions for return, and any deductions that apply. If your pasted text includes a free-look clause, the decoder highlights it with a prominent green card.
Some policies have waiting periods for specific conditions or rider benefits. For example, a critical illness rider may have a 90-day waiting period from the policy start date. The decoder flags these deadlines clearly.
Term policies may offer lump-sum payouts, monthly income options, or a combination. The conditions under which each applies (and the documentation your nominee needs to file a claim) are critical to understand. The decoder simplifies these into actionable points.
These sections govern who receives the benefit and whether the policy can be transferred. Understanding assignment is especially important if you have taken a home loan where the lender requires policy assignment as collateral.
Below are clauses you will find in nearly every term insurance policy in India, with the typical policy language followed by a plain-English explanation. Use the decoder above to analyse your specific wording, or refer to these explanations as a starting point.
“No policy of life insurance shall be called in question on any ground whatsoever after the expiry of a period of three years from the date of the policy.”
Typical policy language (paraphrased)
For the first 3 years, the insurer can investigate and reject a claim if the policyholder concealed or misrepresented material facts. After 3 years, the policy cannot be contested on any ground, including fraud. This is one of the strongest consumer protections in Indian insurance law.
“In case of death due to suicide within 12 months from the date of commencement of risk, the nominee shall be entitled to at least 80% of the total premiums paid till the date of death.”
Typical policy language (paraphrased)
If the policyholder dies by suicide within the first 12 months, the full sum assured is not paid. Instead, the nominee receives a refund of at least 80% of premiums paid. After 12 months, the full death benefit is payable regardless of cause of death.
“If you disagree with any of the terms or conditions of this policy, you may return it within 15 days of receiving the policy document for cancellation.”
Typical policy language (paraphrased)
You have 15 days (30 days for online/distance purchases) from the date you receive the policy document to review and return it for a full refund, minus stamp duty and medical exam costs. This is mandated by IRDAI and cannot be waived by the insurer.
“A grace period of 30 days for annual/half-yearly/quarterly premiums and 15 days for monthly premiums shall be allowed from the premium due date.”
Typical policy language (paraphrased)
If you miss a premium payment, you have a grace period (typically 30 days for annual/quarterly, 15 days for monthly) during which the policy remains active. If you die during the grace period, the claim is payable after deducting the overdue premium. If you still have not paid after the grace period, the policy lapses.
“The Company shall not be liable to pay the death benefit if the life assured dies as a direct consequence of participation in any hazardous sport or activity including but not limited to motor racing, mountaineering, skydiving, scuba diving...”
Typical policy language (paraphrased)
Deaths during listed hazardous activities are not covered. The specific activities vary by insurer; some exclude only professional participation, others exclude recreational participation too. If you regularly engage in adventure sports, check your policy's exact list and consider a policy without this exclusion.
“If any misstatement or suppression of a material fact is found within the period of three years from the date of commencement of the policy, the Company reserves the right to repudiate the claim.”
Typical policy language (paraphrased)
If you did not disclose a material fact (pre-existing condition, smoking habit, occupation risk) and this is discovered within 3 years, the insurer can reject your claim. After 3 years, this clause no longer applies. Always disclose everything truthfully in the proposal form.
“Assignment of this policy may be made to any person subject to the provisions of Section 38 of the Insurance Act, 1938.”
Typical policy language (paraphrased)
You can transfer (assign) your policy to another person or entity. This is common when taking a home loan; the lender may require you to assign the policy as collateral. If you die, the assignee (lender) gets paid first, and the remaining sum goes to your nominee.
“A lapsed policy may be revived within a period of 5 years from the date of the first unpaid premium, subject to payment of all overdue premiums with interest and evidence of insurability satisfactory to the Company.”
Typical policy language (paraphrased)
If your policy lapsed due to non-payment, you can revive it within 5 years by paying all overdue premiums with interest and providing updated health information. The insurer may require a fresh medical examination. Revival is not guaranteed; the insurer can reject it based on changed health status.
Every insurer phrases these clauses differently. Paste your specific clause into the decoder above for a tailored explanation of your policy's exact terms.
The decoder organises its analysis into colour-coded sections so you can quickly identify what matters most. Here is what each section means:
A green card appears if the decoder detects a free-look period clause in your text, showing the duration and a countdown if you entered a purchase date. An amber card appears if no free-look terms were found. This does not mean your policy lacks a free-look period, only that it was not in the specific text you pasted. Check your policy schedule page.
Lists what is covered by the clause you pasted. This helps confirm the benefits and protections your policy provides.
Lists what is not covered. Pay close attention here; exclusions are the most common source of claim rejections. If an exclusion surprises you, discuss it with your insurer or agent before the free-look period ends.
Waiting periods, renewal dates, grace periods, and other time-sensitive information. Missing a deadline (especially a premium payment grace period) can result in policy lapse.
Unusual, restrictive, or potentially unfair clauses that you should review carefully. A red flag does not necessarily mean the clause is illegal; it means it deserves extra scrutiny. If you see red flags, consider consulting the insurer for clarification or seeking independent advice before your free-look window closes.
Important: The Policy Decoder provides educational analysis only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Always verify critical terms directly with your insurer, especially before making decisions about keeping or returning a policy.
Yes. The Policy Decoder is free to use with no sign-up, email gate, or hidden charges. You can decode up to 5 clauses every 10 minutes. We built this tool because we believe every policyholder deserves to understand what they signed.
No. The tool requires only the policy text you paste and an optional purchase date. We do not ask for your name, email, phone number, policy number, or any personally identifiable information.
Your text is not stored on our servers after the analysis is complete. During analysis, it is sent to Anthropic's Claude AI for processing. Anthropic does not use API inputs to train its models. No part of your input is shared with advertisers or insurers.
The decoder uses a specialised AI model trained on insurance terminology. It is highly accurate at identifying standard policy clauses, exclusions, and terms. However, it is not a substitute for professional legal advice. For critical decisions (especially about returning a policy during the free-look period), we recommend verifying the decoder's output with your insurer or a qualified insurance advisor.
The tool accepts up to 3,000 characters per analysis (roughly 1-2 pages of text). For best results, paste one specific section at a time, such as the exclusion clause, the free-look period section, or the payout conditions. You can run multiple analyses by clicking "Decode Another Clause" after each result.
Yes. Switch to the "Upload PDF" tab and select your policy document (PDF format, up to 4MB). The tool extracts all text from the PDF and analyses the full document, giving you a comprehensive breakdown of coverage, exclusions, important dates, and red flags. This works best with digitally-generated PDFs (the kind most insurers email you). Scanned or image-based PDFs may not extract properly; in that case, paste the text manually instead. Your PDF is not stored after analysis.
Red flags highlight clauses that deserve extra attention. They may be unusual restrictions, ambiguous terms, or conditions that could affect a future claim. If a red flag surprises you, take these steps: (1) note the specific clause and page number from your policy, (2) call your insurer's customer service and ask them to explain the clause in plain language, and (3) if the explanation is unsatisfactory and you are within your free-look period, consider returning the policy for a full refund.