GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Online scams have been on a stupendous rise, mainly because of the easy availability of smartphones and internet services. People are increasingly falling prey to unreal promises of big rewards and prizes offered by online scammers working 24x7 and trapping innocent people into their nets. They intend to make quick money by cheating them. Senior citizens are often more susceptible to such frauds as they are unsuspecting and trust people more easily.

Here are a few tips that senior citizens must be aware of to protect themselves from online scams.

1. Educate them:
Senior citizens are usually less proficient with modern technology. Hence, they are at higher risk of being targeted by online scammers for revealing their credit/debit card numbers, passwords, CVV and OTP, etc. The first step is educating senior citizens about the clever tactics and strategies of such online scammers.
They will then know not to trust messages with promises to get a handsome amount as a gift or prize, unreal discounts on products, or share personal information about their bank accounts, insurance policies, enter their personal information into forged or phishing pages, etc. They must be informed that they should never click on any suspicious link or respond to messages from unverified and unknown people.

2. Call blocking:
Several applications are available that help identify the caller and automatically block calls from spammers. Senior citizens should install such applications on their mobile phones so that they know beforehand that the incoming call is genuine or spam. Also, they can block spammers on their phones so they will not be able to call or harass them.

3. Use social media wisely:
Senior citizens should use social media wisely. They should refrain from posting photos and updates that reveal their daily schedule and activities. Scammers often use information you share on social media as a tool to pose as you, befriend your friends and known people and ask for financial help from them. They should lock their profile photo so that scammers cannot impersonate them on social media. Also, they should only accept friend requests from familiar people.
They should always double-check before helping any person financially through social media connections. If they get a message from their friend or relative asking for help, they should call him personally to ensure that the request for help is genuine.

4. Ask for help:
Senior citizens should never hesitate to ask for help from others if they feel that they are being targeted or have become a victim of an online scam. Scammers are talented and may ask them to act quickly to benefit from the limited-time deal. Also, they may threaten them with bank account blockage or closure if they do not share their important card and bank details.
Senior citizens should call their family members immediately and tell the situation correctly. Also, they may contact the respective call centre to verify the claims of the scammer before acting on them.

5. Reliable anti-virus:
Senior citizens should use strong anti-virus software so that their device is not affected by viruses, malware or spyware sent by scammers or hackers. They must configure their devices to download updates regularly and install them to keep them up-to-date.

Senior citizens should be thoughtful and proactive to protect themselves from the menace of online scams. They should be aware of scammers active in the field of insurance, telemarketing, and banking, etc.

Senior citizens should opt for a theft protection insurance to cover themselves from such thefts and fraud. It will protect them against all types of theft, including fraud and embezzlement.

Click HERE to buy a theft protection insurance to stay protected from online scams.

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.

Individuals nowadays may have multiple health insurance policies in the form of a corporate plan, a separate individual cover, a family floater cover, and a critical illness cover. The need for multiple policies arises because of rocketing hospitalisation and treatment prices in the present times. One policy may not provide adequate cover at the time of need. Also, when you leave your job, the corporate cover will end with it too.

It may confuse any individual to handle multiple health insurance policies, especially when raising a claim. Here are some tips for handling multiple health insurance policies.

1. Choice of policy:
When raising a claim, an insured has no compulsion to use any particular health insurance first from his multiple policies. You can choose any of your policies to raise a claim. Remember that you cannot file a claim for the same expense from two policies.
It is advisable to choose the insurance coverage provided by your office first. The claim settlement process will be quick without any waiting periods, and the chances of rejection of your claim will be very less. Also, your personal health insurance policy's NCB (No-claim bonus) will stay intact.

2. Room-rent limit:
Many health insurance policies come with a room-rent limit. Any extra room rent will have to be borne from our pocket. Hence, use the policy with a high room-rent limit first.

3. Co-payment or deductibles clause:
Many health insurance plans have a co-payment policy in which the insured has to take care of the claim amount. In deductibles, the insured must also bear a part of the claim amount, which the insurance company will reimburse. Hence, use the policy first, which comes without these clauses. This will not put any undue financial burden on your pocket.

4. Reimbursement limit:
Health insurance will cover your medical bills only up to the policy amount or the sum insured by you. If your medical bills are more than the sum insured, you can file a claim for the remaining medical bills with the second health insurance policy provider.
However, in this case, the hospital may not permit you to use the cashless mode to settle the remaining bill amount. You must clear the remaining bills and submit a reimbursement claim for your expenses with your second insurance provider. Also, you need to submit proof of the portion of the bill settled by the first insurance company along with the other relevant documents.

5. Raising claims with two insurers:
We cannot submit the same claims with two health insurance companies simultaneously. If the hospital bills are expected to go higher than the sum insured with the first insurer, then only you can ask for reimbursement for the remaining amount from the second insurer.

6. Disclosure:
We should always disclose our existing health insurance policy details to the insurance company while buying a second cover. Non-disclosure of previous policies with any health insurance service providers can lead to the rejection of our claim at the time of need. It will be considered a violation of the insurance contract.

Multiple health insurance policies are always beneficial for an individual. We usually get corporate cover as a part of our employee benefits, but it may not suffice. We should always go for additional health insurance coverage so that our existing coverage does not fall short in times of need. Also, specialised health insurance policies, such as critical illness policies, are always advisable and suitable for regular coverage.

Click HERE to buy the best health insurance 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.

Train journeys can be quite a daunting experience for inexperienced travellers. From bustling crowds on the train, the noisy co-passengers, and the hustle of vendors, it is an adventure all in itself.

The style of travel in the Indian railways greatly differs from other countries such as Spain and Japan since these trains cover longer distances with many stations to halt. Due to this slow nature, train journeys can sometimes get stressful and monotonous. This blog aims to change just that and show you how to make this journey exhilarating and cheerful.

1. Stunning views:
Going for a long journey across the country by railways gives you a glimpse of the best interiors of India. The extraordinary views of mountains, valleys, rivers, and deserts are all sceneries you might not get to see elsewhere. Even the stark differences between the noisy cities and the calm villages can be a mesmerising experience. Try to get a window seat to experience the countryside landscape.

2. Show off your photography skills:
If you're someone who loves to capture moments on camera, train rides are the perfect opportunity to take some swoon-worthy photos. With so many people around and several activities going on, train journeys have so much to offer. Make sure you keep the camera in an accessible range not to miss any memories.

3. Treats and snacks:
Flavourful food is part and parcel of India, and train rides should be no exception. Although the railways have their canteen, the food there might not be up to the mark in terms of taste. It's best to try out different snacks from each state you stop at. It is advisable to trust your instinct with the food, though, because having food while travelling doesn't suit all. Stomach problems are extremely uncomfortable during a train ride, so eat light and less oily. If you have a sensitive stomach, it's best to bring snacks from home to munch on.

4. Be prepared for friendly conversation:
Indians are some of the friendliest people on the planet. One of the most heart-warming experiences is to share life stories with varied people from all different cultures, states, and walks of life on the train. A quick game of cards or other fun activity can help you be friends with your co-passengers and pass your time cheerfully.

5. Books:
If you're not much of a conversationalist, it will be more enticing to take a book with you on the journey and read it as the train is hurtling down the tracks. Looking at the beautiful scenery outside and reading a book can be a meditative experience.

6. Carry your gadgets:
If talking to random strangers about their life does not sound like your idea of fun, you could plug in your earphones and get lost in that movie that you have been meaning to watch for a long time but couldn't get the time. Or you may close your eyes and listen to music that will keep you energetic and sane throughout the journey.

7. Catching up on sleep:
Sometimes, the one thing that gets ignored in the hustle of travel is a good night's rest. Get a comfy pillow and blanket with you and get your sleep. Better the sleep, the better you will be the next morning.

8. Have you thought about insurance:
Although train rides are safe to travel, emergencies and mishaps come uninvited. Investing in personal accident insurance plans is advisable to add a protection layer to your train travel.

Any traveller can attest to the fact that travel is an eye-opening experience. It allows you to broaden your mind and makes you privy to many new experiences. But safety should always be the topmost priority of any traveller. As the uncertainty can be stressful, rest assured by researching suitable personal accident insurance plans and travel without worries.

Click HERE to know more about personal accident 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.

A sound health insurance policy is paramount in the present world because health-related risks are constantly rising, and so are medical costs. You can buy a health insurance policy through the tried and tested method of using an agent's services or visiting an insurance company nearby your place of convenience.

However, did you know that we can benefit more from buying the best health insurance policy in India online?

Let us have a look at these benefits.

1. Multiple options:
This is one of the most important benefits of buying a health insurance policy online. You can browse a myriad of options a company offers and then compare it to similar policies of many other companies. Hence, you can shortlist the right policy meant for you based on the required coverage, benefits, and premium amount.

2. Convenience:
Imagine the hassle of visiting the offices of multiple insurance companies and going through the details of their policies sitting there! Buying a health insurance policy online saves you from this hassle and eliminates the involvement of intermediaries. You can conveniently go through various policy options online from the comfort of your home and with the convenience of completing the buying process in just a few clicks. It is easy, convenient, and accessible 24/7.

3. Cutting away middlemen commissions:
No middlemen or agents are involved when you buy a policy from online portals. Hence, online purchasing the best health insurance policy in India helps you save substantially on the premium amount.
Also, agents tend to put pressure on you to buy a particular company's policy to earn higher commissions on the same. Buying a health insurance policy online does away with this pressure. You can freely buy any policy of your choice after properly comparing available options.

4. Inexpensive:
Technology and automation help insurance companies operate online with less workforce and low administrative expenditure. Hence, they are in a position to save a lot of money on operation costs.
To encourage more customers opting online policies, a part of this saving is passed on to their consumers through lower premiums. Hence, the customers enjoy a lower premium than what offline channels offer. It is a win-win situation for both the insurance portal and the consumers.

5. Transparency:
Agents often hide facts and information about restrictive clauses in a policy, so you do not deviate from buying it. However, this is not possible when you buy a health insurance policy online.
Every policy has restrictive conditions about its coverage, claim settlement procedure, etc. You can go through the terms and conditions of the policy in detail on the portal before buying it. This will save you from a lot of trouble that may arise in the future due to incomplete information and hidden clauses.

6. No geographical barriers:
Buying a health insurance policy online helps to eliminate geographical barriers. You can select the best health insurance policy in India, even if you reside in any remote area or village, without the presence of the physical office of the insurance company. Hence, your choice is not restricted due to your location.

7. Time-saving:
Buying a health insurance policy online will help you save time. You do not have to take out time separately from your hectic schedules to meet an insurance agent or visit the offices of multiple insurance providers.

We can easily conclude that buying a health insurance policy online is better than buying it through offline channels. Buying insurance should look like an effortless activity with less stress about finding the right deal with multiple benefits. Be the decision-maker of your investment by opting for an online method of buying the best health insurance policy in India.

Click HERE to buy the best health insurance policy 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.