What Is Open Book Closed Book

The terms “open book” and “closed book” are terms used to describe different methods of managing insurance policies and the associated financial transactions. Insurance options in India include both closed-book and open-book policies. Closed book insurance, such as endowment and term plans, involves insurers managing investments and assuring specific benefits. In contrast, open book insurance, exemplified by ULIPs, allows policyholders to invest in diverse funds and offers transparency in premium allocation, enabling them to align policies with their financial goals and risk preferences. The meaning of these terms and related details are explained hereunder.

What is Open Book Insurance?

Open book insurance, also known as “unit-linked insurance,” is a type of insurance where policyholders have transparency and control over the investment component of their policy.

Understanding Open Book in Detail

Open book insurance provides policyholders with complete transparency by disclosing detailed information about how their premiums are distributed among various investment options. Policyholders have the flexibility to customize their open book insurance policies by choosing from a variety of investment options, aligning the policy with their risk tolerance and financial objectives. The performance of an open book insurance policy is directly tied to the performance of the selected investments, meaning that policy values and potential payouts can rise or fall based on market performance. Open book insurance policies come with both higher potential rewards and higher risks compared to traditional policies, offering policyholders the chance for greater returns but also exposing them to investment-related risk.

What is Closed Book Insurance?

Closed book insurance, on the other hand, represents traditional insurance policies where policyholders have limited visibility and control over the investment component.