GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Does your company rely on some huge equipment to generate revenue? Even one failure or breakdown will lead to costly repairs to the extent that a company can even be forced to shut down indefinitely. So, how would you possibly have operated, without these key pieces of machinery like heavy machinery or specialized manufacturing equipment?

Usually, considering other things, companies overlook the importance of manufacturing power. The machinery is the backbone that keeps the force running. They're also a major investment and if not insured, any damage can cause not only hindrance but could also stop workflow altogether and huge loss. Therefore, it's important to opt for a machinery breakdown insurance policy. It is a form of property insurance designed to transfer unexpected breakdown risks associated with a company's mechanical and electrical equipment.

This insurance will cover physical damage from the unanticipated breakdown of machinery. By repairing or replacing the additional costs, this insurance will keep your work going and ensure it doesn't halt in the light of such unforeseen events.

Unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances caused due to carelessness, short circuit, electric overpressure, failure of safety device operation, defects in assembly, structural or mechanical, loosening of parts or excessive speed, falling, impact, collision and entry of foreign goods in the machinery are covered. Under this policy, the sum insured includes the following:

• Replacement value of the equipment
• Erection costs
• Freight charges
• Duties paid
• Value of brickwork

These policies are usually flexible and help organizations recoup financial losses related to property damage, interruption and spoilage. The premium, however, is calculated once the type of equipment and factors like their capacity and price are taken into consideration. There is a different premium for different machinery used. The machines that can be insured are-

• All stationery machinery equipment
• Electrical equipment
• Mechanical plant equipment
• Process machinery in industries

The eligibility criteria are that the owner or lessor of the machinery can get the insurance.

Mechanical loss of engineering insurance policy includes compensation for the cost of repair and replacement arising from unforeseeable circumstances. The cover is effective even if the equipment is not in use. The machinery is also covered if the equipment has been dismissed for maintenance and overhauling or is moved to a different location.

Usually, with an additional premium, the machinery breakdown insurance policy also covers third party liability, additional customs duty, air freight, escalation, property surrounding machinery, overtime, holiday wages etc. This makes it an essential complete package.

Since machinery breakdown insurance policy is for electrical and mechanical equipment, electronic material such as computers are not protected or covered. Specific risks that are not included in this policy are wear and tear, war, fire, gross negligence, damage due to overload and known pre-existing defects.

Machinery breakdown insurance is now crucial for businesses of all kinds and provides protection. However, secure the right policy to ensure your business is covered before, during and after an equipment breakdown.

Every hospitalization insurance policy comes with a stipulated waiting period which signifies the number of days that must lapse before the policy coverage begins for specific health conditions. The exact duration of the waiting period varies according to insurance companies. Before you opt for any Health Insurance Policy For Family , the concept of this waiting period must be understood adequately as different coverage have different waiting periods and different rules. There are several cases where customers subscribe to insurance policies offering wrong details. To avoid losses caused by wrongful claims or misrepresented medical history, the concept of the waiting period was introduced by the insurance companies.

Types of waiting periods

• The first is the Initial waiting period, which means that if a person gets hospitalized in the first 30 days from the start of the policy, they won't receive any claim benefit from the insurance. Only after the said waiting period has lapsed would the policy cover the specified health conditions; otherwise, no claim will be entertained by the company. Also, note that this 30 days waiting period is for illnesses but not applicable for injuries.
• Second type of waiting period is the pre-existing waiting period. This waiting period id relevant only for specific health conditions that have been disclosed by the policyholder while subscribing to the policy. This waiting period is the type of waiting period that involves a condition within four years before signing up for health insurance. The length of this waiting period can, however, vary from 12-48 months. Thus, the pre-existing waiting period will be covered under the plan after the passing of the timeframe mentioned in the insurance policy.
• Please check the specific disease waiting period, while taking a policy which applies to specified illnesses as listed in your health policy. In critical illness policy, there is a lump sum amount paid if the ailment is covered under the critical illness section in your policy. However, COVID-19 is not covered under critical illness, except for specifically designed products that were introduced in the market recently.

There are various questions raised as to illnesses like H1N1, Ebola, and the latest one being the Coronavirus are included in the health insurance and whether or not they have a waiting period associated with it. However, many of the policy providers mentioned that COVID 19 could be covered in the health insurance policy, which will ensure that there is no dent on your savings. It is advisable to check with your insurer about the terms, conditions and exclusions.

Health crisis can occur to anyone at any point in time, so it is wise if you take up health insurance plans to keep yourself and your family financially secure. Several companies offer different critical illness plan with different hospitalization, and so before you choose the health insurance plans health insurance for family, you need to research thoroughly to make an informed decision.

So much deliberation goes into buying a car, but car insurances? Not so much. This is one of the most concerning problems as these trivial mistakes are overlooked and more importantly can even be done away with if one is cautious enough.

Car insurance is almost mandatory in times like now but keeping relevant information from your insurance provides is often misleading than not. Here are mistakes to avoid when you're buying a car insurance policy -

• Not comparing prices- Many people who instantly go for insurances provided by someone they know or the insurances their acquaintances have applied for. Although the reliability factor is higher here, you can't be sure that they'd have made the right decision or looked up the new car insurance rates and updated offers in the market. For this one reason at least, compare the prices of different insurance policies till you're totally convinced about a single policy over the other. This will also give you the additional satisfaction of having researched well enough and made a wise choice.
• Cheap insurance policies- Cheaper insurances come with the obvious hazard that there's something flawed or even shady the company is trying to keep from you. Sometimes, companies manage to go about selling these without some key features which you may happen to overlook. Most people usually opt for the cheapest or the insurance policy with the lowest premium, and that doesn't assure the same type of safety as good reliable insurance will offer. Do not make hasty and flippant choices, as it's obvious that a lower premium also means a lower cover is provided when necessary.
• Buying it offline- Even if you know someone who may provide insurance services from a reliable company, there are a lot of unnecessary hidden costs that you'd not know. Rather than going for a cheaper unreliable premium, you can just opt for a good and reliable premium from a reputable company that also gives cheaper options. This is usually overlooked because people still choose or prefer the offline modes of application and payment. However, it is always more beneficial to find the online versions as not only does it come with a greater variety of options and plans, but it will also remove all the hidden costs for the job.
• Low deductibles- This is like choosing for cheap premium except here, deductibles are the charges paid by a customer before receiving the claim. If you're going to focus on this factor, then you'd be missing out on a balanced plan with a good premium as well. Usually, lower deductible plans come with higher premiums. Either way, you'd have to pay that said amount so why not choose a more profitable variation. If you opt for a policy that requires a higher deductible, then you can also attain the no claims bonus. This 'No Claim Bonus' or NCB is when an insurance company pays you if you do not file a claim for a stipulated amount of time. This could be an additional profit you will not be able to enjoy if you pay a lower deductible and a higher insurance premium.
• Driver details and history- Usually, the factors considered for the insurance premium include the details of the driver, including the age and other details like safety equipment installed, driving style. These may increase or decrease your premium accordingly. But because of that, if you choose to hide certain details for a lower premium thinking you've made a smart choice, it's misleading and doesn't assure you the certainty of your insurance. If an insurance provider finds out about the hidden details, they hold the authority to dissolve your policy as an invalid one. So, don't make a mistake like this just to save a few hundred rupees.

Acquainting yourself with the new car insurance rates, terms and conditions, and other essential aspects of the insurance policy is essential to help you maximize the benefits on offer.

Health is a critical aspect of life. Hence the famous phrase health is wealth. With today’s pollution, changing and often unhealthy lifestyles, changing weather, an increase in diseases and mutation in the illnesses that already exist, etc. are extremely hazardous to health and, in turn, life. Not to mention the unknown health hazards that could come out of nowhere; for example, an accident is not something you expect or know off. Also, the medical costs of all these health hazards can be huge and can make a massive hole in your pocket. Some of these diseases could be a long term meaning your investment in the treatment will also be long term. The bills of these treatments go very high and can end up making huge holes in your pocket. To avoid that, you can choose any of the available, AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS in the market. Following are five benefits of a health insurance policy that make it an absolute necessity: -

• The main reason why most people or families choose to go for health insurance is to have medical coverage. As mentioned above, health insurance plans offer coverage for high medical bills and can be extremely helpful. A health insurance plan covers hospitalization expenses, in-home hospitalization expenses, and many other such expenses too.
• Nowadays, insurance providers also offer critical illness cover. This cover can be stand-alone or can be a part of your health insurance plan. A critical illness cover assists in medical costs of critical illnesses related to kidney, bone marrow transplant, a stroke, loss of limbs, etc. and many other such illnesses. If you are diagnosed with any critical disease, you receive a lump-sum amount as part of the cover.
• Cashless claim benefit is also quite a popular part of affordable health insurance plans. In this plan, you don’t have to make any out of your pocket payments. If and when assistance is required, you can settle the hospital bill with consideration from your insurance provider, the hospital, and you. Keep in mind if any such situation arises, you must get admitted into a hospital that is included in the list provided by your insurance company.
• Many companies or organizations cover health insurance for their employees. You must remember that this type of insurance, however, is not custom made for every individual but is instead the same. Also, you could lose insurance if you are not working at the company. Apart from the above specifications, the health insurance provided by your company is also q good. Make sure to go over the terms.
• Almost all health insurance policies have tax benefits. Under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act 1961, part of the premium that you pay towards your health insurance plan is eligible for tax deductions. Of course, there are a few terms and conditions that apply to this based on age, insurance plan, etc.

These are five benefits of a health insurance plan that show how beneficial it can be for you. Keep in mind all your needs and requirements and choose the best health care plan. You will find different types of affordable health insurance plans from which you can choose as per your convenience.