GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Headaches are the most common but often ignored problem that people face. Having a headache can dampen your mood and affect your concentration levels. They can be different and range anywhere from moderate to excruciatingly painful. The treatments for headaches can differ depending on the type and intensity of the pain. Although most headaches can be cured with rest and over-the-counter medicines, it is best to consult a doctor if the pain persists.

If you suffer from headaches frequently, this article will be a complete guide to discussing the different types of headaches and their treatments.

1. Cluster headaches:
A cluster of short yet excruciating headaches is called cluster headaches. They tend to happen periodically over years or months, or days. These headaches occur due to an affected trigeminal nerve, responsible for sensations of pain and heat in the face. The pain is concentrated on one side of the face starting from the head and branching out to the eyes and jaws.
These headaches last only a couple of hours and can be treated with painkillers and other preventative medicines. If you tend to have these headaches often, it is best to talk to your doctor and get a prescription for preventive medications that you can always keep on you in case of emergencies.

2. Migraine headaches:
Migraine headaches can show symptoms differently for different people. Sensitivity to smell, light, and sound accompanied by nausea is one of the most common symptoms of migraine attacks. These headaches stem from the nervous system and can sometimes affect your eyesight for a temporary duration of time.
Other symptoms include blurred vision, tingling sensations, and numbness on one side of your body. Aspirin, caffeine, and ibuprofen are some of the common over-the-counter drugs that can help in the faster recovery of migraines. Some home remedies include resting in a dark, quiet room, an ice pack on the forehead, and ample fluid intake.

3. Tension headaches:
As the name suggests, tension headaches or stress headaches are caused by persistent stress. The symptoms are less complex as compared to migraine or cluster headaches. Uneasiness, mild pain in the temple, sleep deprivation, and fatigue are some of the common symptoms of tension headaches. Poor posture, overexertion, and emotional stress trigger this kind of headache. Painkillers and sufficient rest can help you cure the pain instantly. However, if you face the problem often, it is best to seek medical attention and get any tests done if the doctor recommends.

4. Thunderclap headaches:
This is one of those headaches that might need immediate medical attention and can cause fatalities if not taken care of. These shooting headaches, nausea, and vomiting can often result from internal bleeding in your brain. The pain develops rather suddenly and lasts for about five minutes. Suppose you experience severe shooting pains or experience a new kind of pain. In that case, it is best to talk to the doctor immediately, as these are often indications of an underlying fatal problem.

These are some of the most common kinds of headaches that you might come across. Remember that no matter what, if the pain lasts longer and you experience bouts of shooting pain, do not wait for the pain to worsen. Contact a doctor immediately and get the required medical attention. After a preliminary round of tests and diagnosis, the doctor might suggest surgeries as a solution.

Under these circumstances, the cost of treatment can be very expensive. To safeguard yourself against these expenses, you can opt for an affordable health insurance plan for yourself and your family. A quick search on the internet shows many affordable health insurance plans that you can choose from. Take ample rest, have your food on time, drink plenty of water, and do 10 minutes of exercise daily to avoid the majority of headaches.

Click HERE to know more about affordable health insurance plans.

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.

Recent studies indicate that over 50% of vehicles on Indian roads are uninsured, of which two-wheelers make the majority. This is alarming considering the lack of safety features in two-wheelers and poorly maintained Indian roads, which lead to the ever-increasing number of road fatalities.

Despite making two wheeler insurance India mandatory, a vast majority continue to undermine its importance. This may be attributed to the financial product's complexity and uncertainties concerning the claim settlement process. While two wheeler insurance India protects against financial losses and damages from riding accidents, it is contingent on the claim's approval. Insurance providers have recognised the fear of potential policy buyers and have further simplified the process of raising a claim to increase penetration rates in the country.

Follow these tips to ensure the successful two wheeler insurance claim settlement.

How to raise successful claims?

This may come as no surprise, but the best way to raise a successful claim is to follow the insurance company's claim settlement process correctly. It is ideal for complying with the settlement procedure stated on the insurer's website to ensure favourable results. Most insurers have similar processes, which are reasonably straightforward to follow.

However, here are some tips to make sure that your claims are viewed favourably and settled at the earliest.

1. Early reporting:
Inform your insurer immediately after the accident. If you delay the process, you may forget the essential details required to validate your claim. Visit the insurer's website or call their toll-free number to raise a claim. If not possible, initiate the process within a week of the accident.

2. Proper surveying:
It is understood that an accident is a traumatic event to witness or be a victim of, irrespective of its scale. However, to successfully receive a complete settlement, you need valid and comprehensive proof to support your account. While details like the number plate of the other vehicle, pictures showing the damage, etc., are essential, any minute details can help solidify your stance.

3. Maintain precise post-accident records:
The most commonly accepted record by insurance companies is an FIR filed at the nearest police station to the accident site. Any medical expenses or bike servicing costs should also be recorded and submitted to the insurer for compensation.

4. Gather proof of following standard driving protocol:
An accident is an unfortunate event that cannot be entirely blamed on either party. While insurance companies look at the overall picture before passing a judgement on the case, you must ensure that you followed appropriate driving guidelines at the time of the accident. Here are a few reasons that can get your claim rejected:

● Riding without a valid driver's licence

● Riding with a lapsed two-wheeler insurance policy

● Riding under the influence of substances

● Reckless riding

● Use of two-wheeler for commercial or unauthorised use

5. Check your policy's inclusions:
Raising a claim requires knowing your policy's coverage to avoid rejection. You must know essential details like the authorised geographical region, active policy period, etc. Before raising the claim, ensure that you do not fall under any exclusions. Do not make false claims that you cannot support with evidence, as it automatically leads to rejection.

6. Provide all the requisite documents:
In case of incomplete submission of documents, you will have to duplicate efforts and submit the records until you satisfy the insurer's requirement. Usually, the list includes

● Copy of valid two wheeler insurance India

● Contact details of the policyholder

● Copy of FIR filed with the nearest police station

● Claim settlement form

● Copy of driver's licence and registration documents

● Original bills as proof of medical expenses and repairs

Two wheeler insurance India is a prudent mechanism to ensure protection against financial losses and damages to third parties due to your two-wheeler. Despite the general notion of the tedious nature of the claim settlement process, you can raise claims successfully by following above tips and simply complying with the insurer's requirements!

Click HERE to purchase hassle-free two wheeler insurance India policy.

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.

Health insurance policies now come with the portability feature in which you can transfer your current health insurance policy to a new service provider, subject to certain terms and conditions. You may look to port your policy for several reasons, such as poor service quality, a slow claim settlement process, higher premiums, and room rent restrictions.

Your NCB (No-claim bonus) amount accrued to date is also transferred along with the policy. Moreover, the waiting period served to date with the existing insurance provider is also considered and adjusted with the new company.

Here’s a complete guide to making the portability of health insurance policies clearer.

1. Eligibility and charges:
Individuals with an active indemnity-based health insurance policy are eligible for the portability process. But the porting can be done only with a similar health insurance policy.
For example, we can port a top-up insurance plan to another similar plan only. There are no additional charges for the portability feature in a health insurance policy.

2. Portability time:
The option of portability of your health insurance policy is only available at the time of the renewal. The policy must be running continuously over time, without any break-in period.
Moreover, any insured should apply for portability of his policy at least 45 days before the premium gets due for renewal. Also, he cannot apply earlier than 60 days from the renewal date of the premium of his existing health insurance policy.

3. Portability benefits:
Portability of time-bound exclusions and the waiting period already served with the current insurance service provider gets transferred to the new policy. Other benefits, such as accrued NCB (No-claim Bonus), also get ported.

4. Pending acceptance:
Suppose the health insurance portability acceptance is pending with the new insurance service provider, and your policy expires with the current insurance provider. In that case, the new insurer can request the previous one to renew the policy for a few days. They will charge a pro-rata premium for that period to extend the policy validity.
Your current insurer cannot cancel your policy until the new service provider confirms the issuance of the new policy or a specific request to your current insurer is made to cancel your policy.
If you raise a claim in this extended period, your existing health insurance company can agree to settle the claim after you pay the balance premium for that full year. Also, you will have to continue with that insurer for that year.

5. Higher SI (Sum Insured):
Opting for a higher SI or sum insured is permitted when porting your health insurance. However, the existing benefits, such as the NCB, will be the same as per the terms of the existing service provider when porting the policy.

6. Waiting period:
You need to be careful with the waiting periods offered by the new insurance company. All the terms and conditions of the new insurance company are applicable to the policy after you make the shift, including additional waiting periods, if any. However, the waiting period served under the current insurance policy will count and be adjusted with the new insurance company.

7. Group health insurance policy:
Suppose you are a part of a group policy and intend to change the service provider. In that case, you can do it by migrating to an individual health insurance policy with the same insurance company. You can then start the porting of your policy to another insurance company.

The portability of health insurance policies is a favourable option provided by the IRDAI. Being a valued customer, you have the right to receive the best services from your insurance provider. You can always port your health insurance to a better insurer if your current insurance company fails to provide adequate services.

Browse through all the available options and substitutes for your existing policy. It is preferred to opt for online health insurance, understand the terms and conditions of different options, and choose the best one for you!

Click HERE to buy online health insurance.

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.

Covid-19 has taught us the importance of having a strong immune system that takes care of our health adversities. Many people have been severely infected, hospitalised, landed in emergency rooms, or have faced the unfortunate loss of their dear ones. The pandemic hasn’t been contained. But people have gotten a lot more immune to the virus.

Plus, the vaccine has been proving extremely helpful in such dire times and aid in developing a shield in your body against the virus. And many of these patients have had the privilege of holding medical insurance, which helped them and their family members cover the cost of the treatment without focusing on financial matters.

There have been multiple occasions where we all have been confused between health and medical insurance. While these terms are closely related, the benefits and coverage of these insurance policies differ. Are you someone who is confused between the two? This blog discusses all such significant pointers which will help you understand and differentiate between the two. So, let’s get started.

What does health insurance entail?
Health insurance covers all hospital costs alongside the pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation expenses. This expenditure includes costs of ambulances, treatments, etc. It is considered a comprehensive insurance policy that acts as a massive benefit for the policyholders and caters to their needs in a customised manner.

What does medical insurance entail?
Medical insurance has restricted privileges one can avail of. It is directed towards specific ailments and accidents which have been specified earlier. There is an absence of options that can provide add-on coverages like health insurance. Medical insurance depends on the amount insured. You can claim the medical insurance policies in two ways: cashless and reimbursement.

1. Cashless insurance Policy: Health insurance defines a set of hospitals under its policy. Upon getting treatment in that hospital under proper supervision, the policyholders do not have to pay a single penny. The patient can avail the cashless treatment option of their health insurance against their policy number, and the hospital works things out with the insurance company directly.

2. Reimbursement: A properly planned comprehensive health insurance policy covers pre-hospitalisation charges, including ambulance costs, tests from the specified hospital, etc. This pre-hospitalisation coverage lasts anywhere from thirty to sixty days, based on the type of health insurance plans you have opted for.

Key differences between health insurance and medical insurance:

1. Medical insurance plans are pretty tunnelled and work only regarding the specified ailments. There is no pre or post-hospitalisation coverage benefit in medical insurance plans. The patient is supposed to bear the transportation charges and other expenses.

2. Health insurance policies give you several add-on coverage options like critical illness, disabilities due to accidents, etc. At the same time, no such choices are available when purchasing medical insurance plans. The critical condition includes diseases like cancer, heart attacks, etc., which carry a grave danger to your health, and their treatments can burn through your bank accounts.

3. Health insurance plans are pretty flexible compared to medical insurance policies. They provide you with the scope of reduction of the policy period, insurance premium amount after a specific duration, etc.

We hope this information gives you a basic understanding of the two types of insurance and the benefits you can avail yourself of. Given the current climatic conditions, lifestyle, sleeping patterns, environmental changes, and several other factors, health issues come without warning.

As the world progresses for the better in terms of technology, humans have backtracked when it comes to healthy living. To avoid any financial distress during such hectic and unfortunate circumstances, you must browse through various health insurance plans in India and choose the one which would suit your needs in the best ways. Health is wealth, and there is no second opinion about this.

Click HERE to learn more about the benefits of different health insurance plans in India.

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.