Himalayan Life Insurance was built from a three-way merger of Union Life, Prime Life, and Gurans Life – one of the larger consolidations in Nepal’s insurance sector. On our derived measure it ranks #4 of 14 with a 98.09% claim settlement figure for FY 2081/82, improving year on year, and it includes a Critical Illness rider in its range. This review covers its plans, how reliably it pays, and who it suits.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Himalayan Life Insurance Company Limited |
| NEPSE symbol | HLI |
| Type | Private, Nepali-owned (merger of Union, Prime + Gurans Life) |
| Regulator | Nepal Beema Pradhikaran (NIA) |
| Market share (premium) | 9.73% (one of the largest) |
| Life fund | NPR 76.94 arba (one of the largest) |
| Claim ratio FY 2081/82 (derived) | 98.09% (rank #4 of 14) |
| Claim ratio FY 2080/81 (derived) | 97.94% (improving) |
| Total claims paid FY 2081/82 | NPR 7.34 billion (Rs. 733.85 crore) |
| Entry age | 18 – 65 years (adult plans) |
| Policy terms | 5 – 30 years |
Claim Settlement Ratio: A Strong, Improving #4
An honest note on the number first. The NIA does not publish a per-company “claim settlement ratio.” It publishes claims paid and claims outstanding for each insurer, and the 98.09% here is a ratio we derive from those (claims paid divided by claims paid plus outstanding). It is amount-based and excludes rejected claims.
Himalayan Life’s record is notably strong given its size. In FY 2081/82 it paid Rs. 733.85 crore (about NPR 7.34 billion) in claims – among the higher payouts in the market – while still settling 98.09% of claim value and improving on the prior year. Large insurers usually carry bigger outstanding queues that weigh the ratio down, so a top-four result at this scale is a genuine strength. As always, an amount-based ratio cannot show settlement speed, so it is still fair to ask about timelines.
Plans Available (FY 2081/82)
Endowment: Himalayan Endowment Plan (flagship)
Himalayan’s main savings-plus-protection plan, and one of a broad menu of plans it sells (others include Jeevan Adhar, Jeevan Sampanna, Jeevan Utthan, and the Anmol Ratna child plan). It pays the sum assured plus accumulated bonus at maturity, or the full sum assured to your nominee on death during the term. See the full list on Himalayan Life’s own site.
- Endowment bonus (FY 2081/82): Rs. 32 to Rs. 63 per 1,000 sum assured per year
- Riders available: Accident, Critical Illness, Disability
- Policy loan: Yes, after 3 years | Surrender: Yes
Term: Himalayan New Term Assurance (flagship)
Pure life protection – the highest cover for the lowest premium. Himalayan also offers a group term assurance plan.
Whole Life: Endowment-cum-Whole-Life plans
Himalayan offers lifelong cover through its endowment-cum-whole-life plans (including a limited-payment version and a money-back-cum-whole-life plan) – lasting protection combined with a savings benefit.
Don't buy based on reviews alone. Compare claim ratios and IRR instantly.
Compare All PlansMoney Back: Himalayan Barshik Nagad Firta (flagship)
An anticipated-endowment plan that returns a fixed share of the sum assured as cash at regular intervals through the term, with full life cover maintained throughout. Himalayan also offers a Sulav money-back plan and a money-back-cum-whole-life variant.
A Note on Bonus Rates and Critical Illness
Himalayan’s declared endowment bonus for FY 2081/82 is Rs. 32 to Rs. 63 per 1,000 sum assured (dual-sourced from Beemapost and Insurance Khabar) – a modest-to-mid range. Rates differ by plan type and policy term, so confirm the bonus for the specific plan you are buying. Himalayan is also one of the Nepali insurers that include a Critical Illness rider across its portfolio, which is a genuine plus if that cover matters to you. To weigh insurers side by side, see our comparison of all 14 companies.
Who Should Choose Himalayan Life?
Choose Himalayan Life if:
- You want a strong, improving claim record (#4, 98.09%) from a large, well-funded insurer
- You want a Critical Illness rider alongside accident and disability cover
- You need entry up to age 65, a 30-year term, or a broad menu of savings, whole-life, and money-back plans
Consider alternatives if:
- You want the very highest claim record – Asian Life (98.85%), Sun Nepal (98.71%), and Prabhu Mahalaxmi (98.33%) all rank above Himalayan
- You want the highest bonus – National Life (up to Rs. 85) declares more than Himalayan’s endowment range
See Your Own Numbers
Premiums depend on your age, sum assured, and term, so a single sample figure can mislead. Use the Premium Calculator to compare Himalayan Life’s estimated premium against all 13 other insurers for your exact inputs.
Data source: NIA Annual Report FY 2081/82 (Schedules 14 and 15) for financials and claim amounts; plan names from Himalayan Life’s own website; bonus rates from Beemapost and Insurance Khabar. The claim “ratio” is our amount-based derivation (claims paid over paid plus outstanding, in NPR crore); the NIA does not publish a per-company settlement ratio. Any premium shown by our calculator is an estimate, not a quote. Full disclaimer.