GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

An important choice to make is whether to lease or buy a car. Before making a purchase, consumers should explore the options available in various models. The level of safety in a car is paramount. According to a study, sixty-five percent of buyers said safety is essential when purchasing a car, truck, or sport utility vehicle. Modern cars have more safety features than ever before, but not all are created equal when protecting their owners in an accident. Consumers now have easy access to reliable information through car safety ratings.

What factors influence car safety ratings?

Various government safety agencies and car crash test organizations publish their safety ratings based on controlled safety trials each year. They are mainly categorised as:

● The ability of a car to avoid a collision, in general, is known as accident avoidance. The effectiveness of several individual components is reflected in an accident-avoidance rating.

● Cars equipped with airbags are pre-programmed to deploy the airbags automatically in the case of a collision. They act as a buffer between the rider or passenger and the car itself, reducing the likelihood of catastrophic harm. Typically, front, knee and side airbags are standard in top-tier safety-rated cars.

● Anti-lock braking systems save lives by preventing the wheel from locking up when the brakes are applied. The car's traction is improved, and skidding is prevented. In areas of the country that get a lot of snow and ice, anti-lock brakes come in especially handy.

● A driver equipped with electronic stability control can quickly swerve the car without losing control to avoid an obstacle.

● Protecting your head, neck, and back from the painful consequences of a rear-end crash. Rear-end crashes aren't usually fatal but can cause serious harm. During rear-end collision testing, head restraints play a significant role. Safety professionals simulate these impacts to determine how well head restraints prevent whiplash and other neck and spinal cord injuries.

● Anti-rollover protection: Pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs are more likely to roll over than shorter cars because of their greater centre of gravity. Safety agencies also examine the anti-rollover protection capacity of a vehicle in their safety trials.

Buying decisions influenced by crash-safety ratings.

Crash-safety ratings show the typical outcomes from accident data and inform drivers about their and other cars' safety. Customers who are not car experts should read up on buyers' guidelines and all the specifics regarding the car they are considering, such as its crash test ratings, safety features, tools, and accessories. As the car is a long-term investment, every prospective buyer should pay close attention to crash test results.

Be a responsible buyer and never settle for less. Prioritise safety and consider it to be the most significant advantage as a driver. To sum up, crash safety concerns the danger of death or severe harm to the driver and passengers of the car in the case of a crash. Therefore, it is essential to have car insurance.

Overall, modern cars are safer for their buyers. Still, several aspects, such as the state of the vehicle, the surrounding terrain, and the driver's actions, have a role. Regardless of the safety features of the cars, whether you're shopping for a new or used car, buy car insurance online should be your top priority to ensure an extra layer of protection.

Click HERE to buy car insurance online.

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 health insurance plan is an effective investment instrument to protect your finances against severe illness or an unfortunate accident. But did you know that your health insurance covers pre-existing ailments such as hypertension or diabetes too? Yes, it does! However, this insurance plan has a higher premium and different waiting periods.

You need to ask your insurer about all the available insurance plans and tell them about your pre-existing conditions. However, if you fail to inform your insurance provider about your health condition at the policy purchase, you should learn what will happen at the time of claim.

What are the pre-existing diseases?
A pre-existing disease is a person's health condition or illness before the purchase of a health insurance policy. To simplify, a pre-existing disease is an illness that physicians diagnose within 48 months of buying the policy. Some of these diseases include cancer, asthma, diabetes, cardiac conditions, and hypertension.

Ask your insurance agent about all the pre-existing diseases they cover in their policy. Policies that cover pre-existing diseases have a waiting period depending on your age and plan. Remember that the policy will not cover your medical expenses if you fall sick due to your existing medical condition during the waiting period.

How can non-disclosure of pre-existing conditions lead to trouble?
Non-disclosure of pre-existing medical conditions can be one of the primary reasons for claim rejection. Suppose the insurance company finds out that the policyholder has been suffering from health conditions like sleep apnea over the past seven years. In that case, the company will reject the insurance policy even though they have never made any claim in the past 05 years of buying it.

If another family member is part of the insurance policy, they will also experience rejection or cancellation of it due to non-disclosure of your pre-existing medical condition. So, you need to be careful and transparent regarding sharing essential information with your insurance provider to avoid missing out on crucial benefits.

The insurer has a robust finding-out mechanism that helps them know about their customers' health conditions. A policy buyer may forget what they disclosed in the insurance plan, but understand that the insurer never forgets.

What to do if you fail to disclose your medical condition?
If you fail to provide information about your medical condition when buying the policy, you can rectify your error during the 15-day free-look period. However, suppose you miss this opportunity to correct your mistake. In that case, the company will treat your policy as void at the time of claim, and you will not get any compensation for medical expenses.

*Note
According to the moratorium rule of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, the insurance company will not cancel your insurance policy if you have paid premiums for eight or more years.

Suppose you are unaware of your pre-existing medical condition when purchasing a health insurance plan. In that case, the plan will cover your illness and hospitalisation expenses by default. However, the insurance company will consider any illness contracted within 03 months of taking the policy as a pre-existing disease.

So now you understand why disclosing all the health conditions clearly when buying a health insurance policy is necessary. Opt for insurance that has a short waiting period. It helps cover your pre-existing illness at an early stage. And we advise you to purchase a health insurance plan at a younger age to avail of coverage in case a disease occurs.

Click HERE to buy the best health insurance for you and loved ones.

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.

Convenience is the need of the hour during the age of rapid growth. It is common to see newly developed inventions being phased out shortly after a better discovery is made that serves the purpose and facilitates the fast pace of human life. One exception to this general rule is the case of two-wheelers in the Indian automotive market.

Two-wheelers are inexpensive compared to cars, making them an obvious choice for the economically impoverished. On the other hand, with the increasing demand for convenience, vehicles on the road keep increasing every year, inevitably increasing traffic. The easiest way to navigate through traffic is by travelling on a two-wheeler, which makes switching lanes and parking relatively easier.

Even if you do not own a two-wheeler, it is an exciting product yet to reach its maturity and full potential. Until then, we can expect extensive developments to reform it into a futuristic commuting option. Simultaneously, as two wheeler insurance online gains popularity, enhanced safety of the riders can be ensured to minimise accidents and their financial burden.

If this is not enough to excite you about two wheelers, here are some interesting facts that will surely do the trick!

1. Rural areas drive demand:
Usually, urban demand for a product is expected to be greater than that from rural and semi-urban areas. However, while two-wheelers enjoy demand across the country, rural and semi-urban regions have continuous demand. About 50-60% of the 2-wheeler market is catered to rural areas. This demand is quite volatile as their income is comparatively low and susceptible to changes in prices of commodities like vehicles themselves or fuel rates.

2. Expected YoY growth:
Before the pandemic, the market for 2-wheelers was expected to grow at least by a prudent 10% each year. However, when comparing the sales of September 2019 and 2022, an evident exponential jump in sales has been noticed, proving its utility.

3. Hike in prices:
Since the pandemic, supply shortages have led to increases in raw materials prices, which have ultimately been passed on to the customers in the case of most consumer products. In addition, the consistently increasing production costs and the rising inflation rates have left two wheeler makers with no choice but to hike up vehicle prices.
This has been a significant factor that has made buyers hesitant to purchase two wheelers, as current prices are up by almost 15-20% compared to the pre-pandemic rates.

4. Gearless scooters see equivalent demand:
The ease of maintenance, relative inexpensiveness, and convenient usage make gearless two wheelers a popular option in India. It is common to see more and more gearless scooters on the roads, which speaks for its popularity.

5. Growth of electric scooters:
While the market is presently dominated by vehicles that run on fuel, a slow transition to electric vehicles has been noticed in cars and scooters. The total share of electric two-wheelers in the Indian market was around 3.5% as of July 2022, and the government has a vision of achieving 100% penetration by 2027. Although the numbers are minimal now, it shows the interest of the Indian consumer and the possibilities of the future.

The Indian two wheeler sector continues to grow despite all odds, some years at a slower pace than usual. While the vehicle provides convenience, it is essential to emphasise one’s security when riding a two wheeler and follow all necessary safety precautions. It is critical to purchase two wheeler insurance to prevent the financial strain any mishap may cause.

Two wheeler insurance online is a trending option that simplifies the process without having to leave the comfort of your home and provides an easy comparison between alternatives. With two wheeler insurance online, you get the advantages of affordable premiums, great deals, continuous customer support, and a seamless experience.

Click HERE to buy two wheeler insurance online.

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.

Fire in a house can be devastating and bring the entire house down to ashes in just a few moments. You need to be very cautious with the flammable items in your home as they can threaten your life, including your family and valuable assets.

A fire outbreak can be due to several reasons, most of which are beyond our control. Still, we can control the spread of fire, douse it with the help of fire safety equipment, and recover the damages with the benefits of buying fire insurance online.

Let’s first go through a few flammable items in our house that we must be careful about.

1. Hand sanitiser:
Hand sanitisers have become very popular in every household after the onset of Covid-19. People have started using it extensively at home and even advise their children to use it frequently.
However, very few people know sanitisers are highly flammable because they contain alcohol. You should never use sanitisers near a gas stove. Also, you should not carry a lighter with a sanitiser bottle in your bag as it can be dangerous and can catch fire.

2. Nail polish and nail polish remover:
We can find nail polish and its remover in almost every household in India. They are easily available in the market, and even children can access them. However, we must know that they consist of acetone, a highly flammable substance.
Even the vapour that they produce is highly flammable. Hence, we should keep both of them away from any source of flames, such as a candle or a matchstick at home.

3. Flour:
Surprised? Yes, the flour we use daily in our kitchen is flammable, especially flour dust in the air. Flour can burn easily from all sides. It allows flames to pass through it quickly because of its large and flat surface area. Hence, we should be careful when we use flour near the gas stove in the kitchen.

4. Grooming products:
Many beauty products we use frequently are flammable and can cause a fire in our house. Products like hair mousse and hair spray can ignite fire very quickly. Moreover, the fancy deodorants and air fresheners we use daily come in aerosol cans. Avoid exposing such cans to a naked flame, as they can quickly catch fire. You should also avoid keeping these cans at high temperatures as they can combust because of temperature and pressure.

5. Ghee and cooking oil:
Cooking oil has a low flash point, making it highly flammable. Similarly, ghee can catch fire easily, too, if overheated. You must be careful while using both in the kitchen.

6. Oranges:
Our favourite fruit, “Orange,” consists of an extremely flammable chemical called limonene. It is used as a fire starter for campfires and fireplaces. Hence, it can cause a big fire if exposed to an open flame.

7. Home mattresses:
We often light a candle on our bedside or even on the mattress. Smoking a cigarette while sitting on our bed is also very common. You should be aware that mattresses are highly flammable. They can result in the fast spreading of fire in a room because of their flat nature and big size.

We have seen that many items of our daily use are flammable and can spread fire in the house if exposed to even a small flame. The loss of property and lives can be irreversible and completely shatter our world. Fire insurance protects us against losses and damages to property caused by a fire at our house.

The cause of the fire can be electrical short circuits, gas leakage, or other reasons such as those mentioned above. Most policies will provide coverage even if the fire originates outside your house. Hence, think no further. Protect your house and property by buying fire insurance online today and enjoy complete peace of mind.

Click HERE to buy the best fire insurance online.

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.