GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

So, you have got a promotion and decided to upgrade your car. When you choose to upgrade your vehicle, the first thing you feel is nothing but complete excitement. However, in reality, it takes more than just excitement to upgrade a car. You might like to consider many other reasons before selling your current vehicle and getting a new one.

You have to introspect on the very first factor: how necessary is it to upgrade your car? Because with upgrades, the cost of maintenance and CAR INSURANCE changes too. Let us help you to decide if upgrading is a rewarding decision for you or not.

1. Budgeting: Car is an expensive and fast depreciating commodity. If you think you have got enough money to upgrade the car, you must decide on a precise budget you can spend on the new car. Another point is the type of car you want to upgrade. See the model, features, and warranty policies of the car and check if it justifies your requirements. Rather than only visual choices like the colour and design of the car, you must also focus on its features and comfort.

2. Monthly maintenance cost: Make sure you can pay the EMIs, maintenance, and other hidden costs with ease without stressing your budget. Car is like a perpetual drain on your pocket. So pay attention to hidden fees like fuel, repairing, servicing, registration, or car insurance policy.

3. Usage of the car: A small to a medium car (preferably electric) would be fuel-efficient and easy to use if you live in a metro city. It is convenient for driving, and you can park it easily. Be mindful that bigger cars require more parking space and can be an everyday hassle if you live in a crowded area with no dedicated parking.
If your family size increases, you need to choose the car with the ideal cabin space to accommodate all your family members and enough boot space for luggage.

4. Higher annual insurance: While the upgradation will enhance your comfort level, it's necessary to consider the impact on your car insurance premium. The higher the cost of the car, the more you have to pay to insure it. Usually, expensive vehicles have very high premiums. Therefore, it's better to estimate the annual car insurance cost than to put sudden stress on your pockets.

5. Smart features: If you are an auto-enthusiast, have a passion for cars, and can afford a luxury vehicle, you should go for a premium car. Try to get some smarter and better features when you upgrade your car. It includes light bars, a GPS, reverse-parking assist cameras, cruise control, auto-pilot, keyless entry, and a better sound system. Safety features like airbags should be the top priority. High-budget cars also bring other safety features like anti-theft alarm technology, anti-lock braking system (ABS), and traction control.
And a final thought before you decide on a model, changing your old vehicle is the best occasion to refresh your lifestyle, but you need to stick to your budget and surf for multiple options. Research thoroughly and find the best deal for the vehicle. By considering the above points, you will not regret the thought of upgrading your car.

Are you looking for a Car Insurance policy? To know more about it, click HERE.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Starting a new job or getting transferred to another city is stressful already. What adds more to it is the requirement to move away from your current city. The transition is exciting, but at the same time, when you imagine the severity of the relocation process, you feel daunted. Naturally, it will be a bit on the tougher side to figure everything out by yourself.

Shifting to a new city means finding a place to live, adapting to the type of weather, language, people, food, lifestyle, and culture. While some like to experience the newness of a place, others find it challenging to accommodate themselves. Either way relocating is nerve-wracking.

Here's a quick guide to making relocating easy for you.

1. Logistics: The very first thing you must plan is shifting your belongings. Whether it is your personal valuables or simply your furniture, these are the things that cannot be left unattended by just anyone. Therefore, choose a trustworthy packers and movers company with a good reputation for helping you migrate your stuff. To search for the best packers and movers in your vicinity, customer reviews or company ratings available on the internet can be of great help!

2. Prepare a budget and checklist: Keeping your expenses in check isn't simple at all in such hurried times. Hence, preparing a budget for every payment caused will help you save some bucks and refrain from spending on redundant things. It will also aid you in attending transactional details. Similarly, creating a checklist will ensure not leaving anything behind for the last moment hassle.

3. Acquaint the location: It is better to have some knowledge about the city you are planning to move to. Find a good home broker or take your network group's help for some references already living there. Making contact with the locals beforehand, such as your colleagues and people in your society (if you have found an apartment), will prove helpful when settling in the new city.

4. Traveling arrangements: After checking out all the boxes mentioned above, the last thing that remains is how you will get there. If you plan to take a flight or train, ensure you book it before time and not at the eleventh hour. This will not only secure travelling but also get your money and time saved.

5. Insurance for your goods: It is highly recommended to secure your goods and chattels with transit insurance before having them packed and moved. No one can guarantee zero damage to the goods that are to be shifted, but you might be able to cover the loss by getting paid for it. The transit insurance policy covers all possible perils to the items. Whereas for things like your vehicle, get CAR INSURANCE to prevent damage cost.

On a conclusive note, migrating to a new city is not the same trouble as it used to be decades ago. With all these services and networking through various platforms, it has become convenient to plan out relocation. However, everything seems to fall short when you are actually at it.

Hence, we came up with a list of things to assist you in your new start hoping that it will help. Wish you a Happy Moving!

To get the best car insurance Motor Insurance, click HERE.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Roughly around six million people are flying somewhere every day. Air travel has become a necessity for most of us for multiple purposes; study, work, holiday, and different other reasons.

Air travel brings in a different excitement of seeing the world from a bird-eye view. But some of us are still terrified of travelling on an aeroplane. Air travel is not an easy game for all. These are all signs of aviophobia, from feeling groggy to having a panic attack during or before a flight. And this fear and anxiety can hold you back in your life. With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you overcome the fear of flying before and during your flight.

1. Recognize your fear: Extreme avoidance of planes or anything in association with flying like airports is considered the fear of flight. According to psychologists, people with severe aerophobia organize their life around avoiding flying. When stepping onto a plane, you may be afraid of a single or a range of things like noises and sensations during takeoff and landing or sudden or prolonged turbulence. Therefore, it is crucial to figure out what triggers your flight-related anxiety so you can take steps to anticipate or avoid it.

There can also be underlying reasons for aerophobia such as claustrophobia – fear of enclosed spaces, agoraphobia – fear of crowds, acrophobia – fear of heights, or simply uneasiness of not being in control. It is necessary to treat these baseline anxieties. You can try taking small steps to deal with them; for instance, choosing the aisle seat will make you feel less restrained by giving you the freedom of movement. It will also help you avoid looking out of the window if you are uncomfortable with heights.

There can also be underlying reasons for aerophobia such as claustrophobia – fear of enclosed spaces, agoraphobia – fear of crowds, acrophobia – fear of heights, or simply uneasiness of not being in control. It is necessary to treat these baseline anxieties. You can try taking small steps to deal with them; for instance, choosing the aisle seat will make you feel less restrained by giving you the freedom of movement. It will also help you avoid looking out of the window if you are uncomfortable with heights.

2. Distractions can be saviours: Keep your mind off it. Many people can sleep the moment they are on a plane, but typically, people with aerophobia find it difficult to relax, let alone sleep. Therefore, to keep your mind occupied, we suggest you pack many distractions. Of course, it is sometimes impossible to concentrate on something when you have high levels of anxiety. But stuff like music, movies, books, magazines helps you pass the time and refrain from overthinking.

3. Educate yourself: If your aerophobia has got nothing to do with other phobias, then you are probably paranoid thinking anything, and everything is going wrong with your aircraft mid-flight. Instead of indulging in scary, unrealistic fantasies, educate yourself on some other interesting stuff, such as the reasons behind the switched-on seat belt sign. There are multiple resources offline, and online that educate you on what happens during different flying conditions. YouTube videos are always a great help. Many airline employees like pilots and air hostesses have their channels to explain how turbulence is uncomfortable and what safety measures are taken from their side that you might not know.

Of course, worrying about a person's well-being while flying is digestible, but it would be best if you did not fuss over the possible financial loss as there is online GENERAL INSURANCE available to secure your valuables.

So, are you ready to work on your fears to enjoy a good flight this year? For sure, it won't be easy at first, but eventually, you will overcome your fear. Some techniques may be helpful to you, and some downright not effective. So, you might want to experiment a little to find a strategy that works best for you.

Click HERE to know about health insurance policies that are the best for you!

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

A two-wheeler insurance policy covers the cost of repair and replacement for your bike or scooter. It includes theft of the two-wheeler and damages to the bike that involves paid repairing. The insurance can also provide personal accident coverage, including accidental death and partial or total disability due to the accident. You can also opt for personal accident coverage of the pillion rider if you often ride with a pillion rider. Personal accident coverage can also include paid riders if the bikes are used for commercial purposes.

Here we talk about what all is insured if your bike encounters an accident, if you have existing two-wheeler insurance for your bike:

• Accidental death –

Accidental death coverage takes care of the financial difficulties that the surviving family faces in the event of the policyholder’s demise. This coverage is extremely beneficial for families where the policyholder is the sole bread-winner, and the family is financially dependent on him/her. The accidental death coverage acts as a supplement to the term insurance policy that the policyholder may have purchased.

• Disability compensation –

A disability to the policyholder also affects the financial position of the policyholder and his or her family. The earning capacity of the policyholder may get compromised in case of a partial or total disability. This part of the two-wheeler insurance coverage addresses these concerns by earmarking a sum assured for disability.

• Hospitalization Expenses –

Many two-wheeler insurances provide a cash allowance to meet hospitalization costs in case of a two-wheeler accident. This cash allowance can also be claimed if the policyholder is required to stay at the hospital to recuperate from injuries sustained in the accident. Most insurance companies offer cash allowance for a specific number of days that is stipulated in the policy.

• Own damage coverage –

A basic third party coverage will not cover the damage to your bike. However, comprehensive two-wheeler insurance covers any type of damage that can happen to the policyholder’s bike in the event of an accident or a natural calamity. This policy covers all man-made and natural damages to the bike, along with third-party coverage. Insurance companies also provide cashless repairs facility and maintain a network of garages where you can avail of this facility. If the bike has been in a road accident, the policyholder can make the claim through traditional paper mode or opt for a video claim facility if provided by the insurer. The policyholder can make reimbursement claims even if repairs are carried out in a non-network garage.

• Third-party insurance –

Two-wheeler accidents can damage not just your own vehicle but also damage or injure a third party. This is why insurers provide coverage of a specific amount in case of damage to a third party. Besides, the disability and death of a third party are also covered in most third party insurance.

Do note that personal accident coverage is compulsory for all Two-Wheeler Insurance policies. Therefore, any harm to self in case of a motorcycle accident is sure to be covered under your existing policy. On the other hand, not all types of two-wheeler accidents are covered by a typical motorcycle insurance policy. These are unusual causes such as self-inflicted injuries, riding without a driver’s license, riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol, riding as a part of hazardous or criminal activities, riding outside geographical limits of the policy, and so on. In other words, a comprehensive two-wheeler insurance with a reliable insurer covers all the possible damage and harm resulting from an accident.

As large scale infections sweep the nation, there is a massive demand for COVID-19 related medicines and vaccines, apart from the surge in demand for Health Insurance Online . Strong immunity is vital for keeping COVID-19 successfully at bay. Luckily, apart from Zinc supplements and Vitamin C tablets, there are several readily available food items with which you can build immunity.

Here are some foods that will help strengthen your immunity to fight everything from a common cold to more concerning ailments:

1. Tulsi – Also known as holy basil, Tulsi is a highly regarded herb in Ayurveda. It is a rejuvenating herb that enhances your respiratory system and has expectorant properties that help keep your lungs clean. You can chew a few Tulsi leaves every morning or mix them with your cup of morning tea.

2. Garlic – The spice trinity of the Indian kitchen - garlic, ginger and turmeric - all find a place in our list of immunity boosters. Garlic has been used to fight infections for ages. It is known to prevent artery blockages and helps prevent cold. Garlic contains the compound allicin, which in turn contains Sulphur that is an effective immunity booster.

3. Ginger – Ginger is commonly used for inflammatory conditions, nausea and sore throat and is a well-known antioxidant. Apart from its popularity as a spice, ginger is also popular as an additive in tea.

4. Turmeric – The presence of curcumin makes turmeric a great candidate for antiviral immunity boosters. Turmeric has been used through the ages for muscle damage and inflammations from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Luckily for Indians, we consume sufficient turmeric in the form of a powdery additive in our curries, vegetables and gravies.

5. Citrus fruits – An umbrella term for oranges, tangerines, limes, lemons, grapefruits and pomelos that we are so fond of, citrus fruits are a rich source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C increases the production of white blood cells, which help the human body fight infections. Vitamin C is not produced by the body, nor can it be stored. Regular consumption of rich sources of Vitamin C (or citrus fruits) can also speed up recovery from cold and flu.

6. Broccoli – Most children would not be happy about this, but broccoli is a rich source of Vitamins A, C and E, folic acid, fibre, minerals like iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and antioxidants like sulforaphane. Easy to consume and digest, broccoli is one of those versatile vegetables that help build immunity, reduce the risk of heart disease, promote stronger bones, and better eyesight.

7. Spinach – Spinach is an excellent source of beta carotene, which helps our body fight infections. It contains Vitamins C and E which help strengthen immunity. It contains flavonoids which are known to be effective in fighting the common cold.

8. Green tea – Flavonoids are also found in green tea and black tea. Additionally, green tea contains the powerful antioxidant Epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, which is highly effective in boosting immunity. Green tea helps in the production of germ-fighting compounds due to the presence of amino acid L-theanine in it.

9. Ghee – This is one of the most easily available items in the list. Ghee can be spread generously on chappatis or added to rice and curries. Although many people think of it as fattening, ghee is actually a good source of healthy fats, aids digestion, and is excellent for skin and hair. It contains Vitamins A, E and K, and omega-3 and omega-9 essential fatty acids.

10. Indian gooseberry (Amla) – Amla is a powerhouse of nutrients and is loaded with health benefits. It contains 20 times more Vitamin C than oranges and is an excellent aid for digestion and colon cleansing.

Our health insurance takes care of us when we fall sick (check for health insurance online today). But our food habits can ensure that we rarely fall ill. Luckily, our world is filled with fruits, vegetables and natural foods rich in nutrients, which offer an organic way of strengthening our body. In these tough times, let us embrace nature and enrich ourselves with its goodness.

COVID-19 has upended the lives of billions of people around the globe. People have been restricted to their houses for months on end, and personal and professional habits have changed considerably. It is only over the past few weeks that things might have started getting back to normal with the vaccination drives ramping up, but certain habits are here to stay. Some of these habits are related to driving. Since most people who own a personal vehicle are bound to use it for their daily commute once workplaces are reopened, it would be prudent to understand how you can protect your car from the COVID-19 virus.

Sanitizing:

The most obvious way to protect your car from COVID-19 is by sanitizing all possible surfaces in your car. It is essential that you make a note of all the surfaces that you are likely to touch inside your car while driving. This includes the steering wheel, manual gear, belt buckle, glovebox, and dashboard. Make sure that you use a medically certified alcohol-based sanitizer to clean these surfaces before you start driving. Sanitizing surfaces is the most important step that you must regularly take whenever you take your vehicle out.

Cleaning Fabrics:

Apart from regularly cleaning polymer and leather-based surfaces on the interior of your car, make sure to clean the seats and other fabric-based surfaces from time to time. There are currently no recommendations on the kind of liquid to use when cleaning these fabrics. There are several soaps and liquids that claim to purge viruses from fabrics, but these are seldom medically certified. It is sufficient to use regular soap and water to clean your fabrics for now since these also help wash away any external elements from the fabric of your seats. It is prudent to recall that when you buy Online Car Insurance , it often includes periodic servicing, which is a great feature to take advantage of for cleaning your car.

Using a Microfiber Cloth:

While it is good to clean your seat fabric and other interior surfaces of your car, it might not be practical to do this often, for example, every time you step into your car. It might be much more practical to use a microfiber cloth for cleaning. This may be a dry microfiber cloth or a damp cloth that cleans surfaces thoroughly. Non-microfiber cloths often leave scratches and marks on surfaces when they’re used for cleaning. Microfiber cloths contain minute loops that trap dirt particles in them and prevent them from causing scratches.

Wash Your Hands:

Perhaps the most important part of keeping your car and other surroundings safe from COVID-19 is to keep your hands clean. Wash your hands before you step into the car and sanitize them after getting in. This is very important to ensure that you don’t inadvertently end up acting as a vector for COVID-19 for your car or the people around you.

COVID-19 is a once-in-a-century pandemic, and it is essential that we all stay safe from getting infected and keep our surroundings hygienic enough to reduce the risk of infection. The above steps will go a long way in ensuring that your car does not become a carrier of the coronavirus. Alongside these steps, do not forget to follow the personal sanitization steps to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

It is known that COVID-19 infections spread faster in places where people come in proximity to one another. Therefore, one would need to be cautious about the threat of infection, especially in offices and other closed workplace settings. There are many commonly used areas in the office like canteens, conference halls, meeting rooms, elevators, parking lots etc., where the chances of infection are much higher. That is why every office-goer needs to consider these risks and exercise utmost precaution while in office.

While health insurance (check for health insurance online today) stands out as a basic personal precaution, there are many precautions one can keep in mind to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in office spaces. It includes general precautions like:

● Maintaining a minimum distance of 2 yards or 6 feet from others.

● Wearing a face mask or cover at all times to cover your nose and mouth. Also, remember to avoid touching these areas of your face with your fingers.

● Washing your hands with soap or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer regularly, particularly after touching foreign objects and common surfaces.

● Covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing. Spitting should be avoided altogether.

● Monitoring health and reporting it timely whenever required.

● Using the Aarogya Setu app for timely medical response and COVID-19 awareness.

Here are some precautions that can help prevent infection in office premises:

● Mandatory hand hygiene and thermal screening should be installed at entrances. Employees or visitors with suspected medical conditions should be barred from entry.

● Work-from-home should be permitted for people living in containment zones.

● Service providers such as transport and housekeeping should maintain similar rules regarding containment zones.

● Office vehicles should be disinfected at least twice a day with a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution or spray.

● Aged and pregnant employees and employees with medical conditions should not be exposed to front line work.

● Officers, staff, visitors, valet parking personnel and all other support staff should be wearing masks at all times. Valet parking personnel must also wear gloves.

● Keys, steering wheels, door handles etc. of all office vehicles should be disinfected.

● Proper permission and screening of visitors must be made compulsory.

● Meetings must be conducted over video conferencing as far as possible.

● Awareness of COVID-19 should be promoted through standees, posters and audio-visual presentations

● Crowd management within and outside office premises should be ensured, with adequate physical distancing norms.

● In case of queues, physical distancing norms and marking signs should be put in place.

● Washrooms must have an adequate supply of sanitizers, soaps and running water.

● Restrictions on the number of people using elevators at the same time must be adhered to.

● A temperature of 24-30 ℃ and relative humidity of 40-70% should be ensured in office air conditioning.

● There should be adequate cross-ventilation within the office.

● Large physical gatherings should be avoided.

● Sanitation should be maintained in washrooms, drinking water stations, and hand wash points.

● Commonly used places like doorknobs, elevator buttons, benches, handrails, and bathroom fixtures must be regularly disinfected with a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution or spray.

● Cafeterias and canteens should have their staff checked for temperature and respiratory wellness. Crowd and queue management should be ensured with adequate social distancing, including seating arrangement.

In case health issues or signs of infection become apparent, the office should:

● Facilitate isolation for the unwell person till medical attention is available.

● Inform the nearest medical facility, and confirm availability of cashless Health Insurance Online , if possible.

● Disinfect the places used / visited by the infected person in the last 48 hours, in case of one or two cases of infection.

● Disinfect the entire building or block in case of a large number of infections.

While making efforts to control the possibility of infection, offices should also work to dispel social stigma and show consideration towards the mental health impact of isolation and infection on their employees.

As millions of people have learned over the past year, time spent in quarantine can be an absolutely harrowing experience. While your physical health may not be impacted if you’ve not been infected or had a mild version of it, it can have a tangible and perceivable impact on your mental health. Human beings are inherently social animals. We love talking to each other and being in each other’s presence. Our survival depends on the cooperation between other humans and ourselves. So, when we are suddenly reduced to being in the company of nobody but ourselves, surely the effects would be felt.

If you and your family are in quarantine or any of your family members are isolated, here are some ways to support them and take care of their mental health:

Stick to a Timetable –

Even though we know the benefits of having a timetable, we are not used to adhering to these timings. Although many aspects of our lives depend on these routines, it is easy to allow mundane, every day things to get in the way of these schedules. However, the importance of a timetable cannot be understated when you are in quarantine. Having a timetable gives you something to look forward to for the entire period of your isolation. Try to pack your timetable with many fun activities to keep you engaged every day, such as reading, painting, playing an instrument, etc.

Inculcate Physical Activity –

Your physical health has a definite and perceivable impact on your mental health.

 This is why when you build a timetable, it is a good idea to include some kind of physical activity into it. Since you would mostly be confined to a room, make time for some light exercise once or twice a day. This does not need to be high-intensity exercise; just enough to keep your blood circulating and limbs moving. Exercise helps release endorphins, a very important hormone that keeps your mood up throughout the day.

Communicate Frequently –

Being in quarantine means you cannot step out of the house. Kids cannot go out to play, and you cannot go out for work or even to meet your friends and relatives. However, not being able to meet others in person doesn’t mean you cannot communicate with them. Make sure to call your loved ones frequently over video calls as well as phone calls. Quarantine can often make one feel like the distances between people are increasing. Relationships can be brought closer together simply through regular online interactions.

Limit Consumption of News –

News today is full of distressing stories of people getting infected, suffering, and losing the battle with the pandemic. Following the news closely for extended periods, especially if there are kids in the house, can be a bad idea. Negative news tends to make one feel morose and drastically reduces productivity. It is important to have an atmosphere of positivity in the house, especially during these days. One simple step is to reduce the amount of time spent watching or reading the news, and only follow it on your personal device. Let communal devices such as the television be for entertainment with the family.

Along with the above steps, to maintain your mental health, it is important to guard yourself against the virus. It would be wise to buy Health Insurance Online to ensure that you have additional cover in case the virus enters your bubble.