GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

While driving on the Indian roads, the possibility of an accident can never be ruled out. Whether due to a momentary lapse on your part or due to oversight on the part of someone else, accidents can take place anytime and anywhere. But the damages/losses incurred due to it can be mitigated with the help of personal accident insurance in India.

What is Personal Accident Insurance

Personal accident insurance is offered in combination with Third-party policy. Insurance companies charge a nominal fee for offering this coverage. Under this policy, you will be reimbursed by the insurance company for injuries suffered while driving your vehicle.

Is it mandatory to get personal accident insurance in India?

As per the latest insurance regulations introduced by the government, it is mandatory to get personal accident insurance in India for a vehicle owner. The current regulations by IRDAI state that the car owners, as well as bike owners, will now get a mandatory personal accident cover of Rs. 15 Lacs as per their motor insurance policies. Previously, this cover was capped at Rs. 2 Lacs for car owners and Rs. 1 Lac for two-wheeler owners against a premium of Rs. 100 and Rs. 50 respectively.

Now the premium has been increased to Rs. 750 for a cover of Rs 15 Lacs. This premium is payable over and above the mandatory third party insurance cover. If the insured person wants a higher cover, then the same can be availed by paying a higher premium, which is to be decided by the insurance company. The coverage of the policy extends to the owners of the vehicle as well as the drivers of the vehicle, provided the availability of a valid driving license.

This improvement in the personal accident insurance in India was introduced after a judgement by the Madras High Court in the year 2017. While passing the judgement, the court noted that enhancing the personal accident cover will act as some kind of solace to the victim as well as survivors of the accident.

Though there are some exceptions applicable wherein the owner can opt-out of this mandatory personal accident cover i.e.

• If the vehicle owner already has a valid personal accident cover policy with a sum insured of more than Rs. 15 Lacs.
• If the owner already has a motor insurance policy with a compulsory personal accident cover with a sum insured of more than Rs. 15 Lacs for another vehicle owned by him/her.
• If the vehicle owner already has a separate compulsory personal accident policy.

Benefits of Personal Accident Insurance

Some of the standout benefits of subscribing to personal accident insurance in India have been listed here: -

• The policy covers in the case of the unfortunate death of the insured. The nominee is entitled to the entire sum.
• The cover is even provided for total permanent disability, permanent total disability, permanent partial disability and temporary total disablement.
• Some policies even cover hospitalization due to an accident and the cost of transportation for mortal remains in case of death.
• The dismemberment of any kind is also covered in some policies. Certain companies have also given said ratio and benefits for certain kinds of injuries that will then be paid to the policyholders
• Very few companies also provide optional coverage in case of burns. This can also be considered before personal accident insurance is taken into action.
• The treatment for the burns is also covered by some insurance companies.

With such extensive benefits on offer, availing personal accident insurance in India is a necessity for the vehicle owners.

Work-related stress is a significant public health issue affecting a massive population of people doing desk jobs. And, yoga has proved to be an effective way to manage this stress. Even the simplest forms of yoga and meditation can help you melt away the majority of your stress.

To raise awareness for well-being, International Yoga Day on the 21 June has become very popular in recent years. More and more people now understand the benefits of this three-thousand-year-old practice. Both meditation and yoga are increasingly finding their way into the corporate world as these small healthy practices performed on the desk can be a lifesaver. The rising demand for workplace health has created a greater priority for corporates to focus on the art of living, yoga, and other mindful activities in offices.

But why do companies care about employee well-being?
Good physical and mental health can result in efficiency and greater job satisfaction at the workplace. Also, studies have pointed out that poor employee healthcare is costing a massive loss to the companies. Hence, companies are adopting wellness programs to cut down medical leaves, paid health insurance policies, and other expenses related to health services. When employees are healthy, they can perform better and contribute more to the organization.

One might even think, why not just buy everyone a stress-relieving toy? It would save company's time and money, right? Well, that is not the complete solution. Here, yoga and meditation stand out from everything else; it has multiple benefits that make it a good choice as a stress reliever. A few of the benefits of yoga are listed below.

Improved concentration: Often a busy schedule including endless meetings, deadlines, unlimited calls and emails to answer can create chaos in your mind, which affects your focus on tasks and prevents you from making intelligent decisions. Yoga and meditation can effectively help you stop these unnecessary noises in your brain meddling with your productivity and freeing the mind clutter.

It is not always necessary to physically visit your 'silent corner or happy place'; just a quick mental trip can do the job for you. For example, many yoga practices increase the blood circulation in our body, which improves the brain function for a sharp and focused mind.

Prevents burnouts: Working round the clock is bound to create a feeling of tiredness, which lowers energy levels and burnouts in the long run. We recommend doing any sort of physical activity like stretching or even standing every 30 minutes because it significantly increases your blood circulation and oxygenation rate, which are both highly crucial to energy production. Yoga stretches help to get your heart pumping and blood flowing.

Taking deep breaths and filling your lungs with fresh air can help your anxious mind find some peace and comfort.

Do you think everyone needs yoga? If only a few people are stressed out, will it affect others too? To answer your question, yes! Stressed employees are more likely to be agitated and irritated, which disrupts the peace in the office and negatively affects the work environment causing everyone to be less motivated. A harmonious workplace is necessary to achieve excellence as productivity increases when employees are collaborative and willing to help.

Companies are driving health campaigns in their premises to promote a healthy work environment by encouraging everyone to do yoga and meditation. The corporate sector also makes investments in online health insurance for employees to secure their finances during a health crisis.

Encouraging employees to take ten minutes out of their work hours to practice a few stretches and breathing exercises can help create an active, less stressed, and supportive system that is far more productive and cost-efficient for organizations. So follow this mantra and see the magic happen!

Are you looking for good and cost-effective online health insurance plans for all your employees? 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.

Dancing is one of the most beautiful art forms and has a unique method of storytelling. Dancers go through hours of rigorous practice and rehearsals to present a story or perform meticulously. This demands a massive amount of strength and stamina to present flawless performances. The demanding nature of dancing can cause injuries and severe health implications for the performers.

If you are a dancer or are undertaking lessons to become a dancer, there are a few things to keep in mind. In this article, we will be discussing some of the most common dance injuries and how to heal them faster.

1. Sprains:

Sprains are one of the most common dance injuries. They require 8-10 days to heal completely. Using a bandage to support the muscles can help them heal faster.
However, if somebody is prone to constant straining, it is best to show the affected area to the doctor. Unattended sprains can lead to severe ligament tears, which can be extremely painful and might also require surgery for proper recovery.

2. Slip discs and back pain:

As dancers, you are expected to position yourself in various postures constantly. Improper techniques or exerting your body for long hours can severely affect your spine and neck.
Misaligned backbones or slipped discs can cause severe pain and might need surgery for proper healing. However, going to a chiropractor every month to ensure proper bones and muscular structure alignment will ensure that your body stays strong and flexible.

3. Snapping hip:

Experiencing a popping sound near the hip joint indicates snapped hips. Repeated bending leads to tightness in muscles around the hip. Snapping hips can become painful over time and affect the dancer's performance.
The best way to avoid snapped hips is by applying ice to the area and reducing movement. Stretching and strengthening exercises under the supervision of a trainer also help significantly reduce the pain.

4. Knee injuries and ligament tears:

The knee is probably the most exerted part of a dancer's body. The constant bending can severely stress the knees and impact the knee caps. Overly exercising the knee can have serious complications such as the kneecap eroding, a painful tear in the ligament, muscle pulls, etc.
To avoid this, wearing knee covers is an intelligent way to cushion the blow from hard surfaces. Using heat therapy can also ensure faster healing of minor tears in muscles or ligaments.

The injuries and their severity can vary depending on the kind of dance and the number of hours one puts in. Taking proper care and allowing rest for your body is one way to ensure that you go through lesser injuries. However, if you face severe pain throughout the day or during practice, it is best to go to a doctor to fix the problem.

Using ice packs can ensure that your muscles and bones are well-rested after an intense practice session. If you are someone who wears shoes while dancing, you must wear good shoes with proper cushioning. Sometimes, these injuries can be completely unprecedented and even happen to experts. It is best to invest in a personal accident insurance policy to safeguard yourself in such situations.

If dancing is your passion, then enjoy it thoroughly! Keep these tips in mind and ensure your personal accident insurance policy to reap the best benefits and positive results even if you accidentally injure yourself while dancing.

Click HERE to know more about an individual personal accident 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.

With the rise of internet-based e-commerce websites, online shopping trends are in the spotlight. A significant portion of consumers is choosing to buy goods online rather than in in-person retail stores.

The majority of retailers have established online platforms for their customers to shop from home. These sellers range from high-end fashion and luxury brands to thrift stores. The internet is an excellent method for suppliers to display their items with detailed descriptions to their customers, all with minimum communication. Elimination of costs such as of sales assistants and showroom maintenance is a perk. As a result, there has been a massive surge in stores shifting to online platforms.

But what about customer’s interests and opinions? Will the idea of Internet shopping still sound sweet to the ears of customers? And more importantly, is it agreeable to their budgeting? Although there are chances of getting tempted by heavy discounts, online shopping has many benefits if you are smart enough to make the best choices.

In this article, we talk about three aspects of Internet shopping for a customer; Convenience, Deals (about finance), and (the possibility of) a Few scams.

1. Let’s talk about Convenience:
The main reason for switching to an online platform is mainly the ease and comfort. What’s better than saving time by shopping even while travelling? And isn’t it wonderful how you can order something fresh cooked to eat from the comfort of your bed while enjoying the heavy rains outside? 24/7 (around the clock) – The ability of e-commerce websites to allow everyone to shop anytime proves most convenient for working adults. You no longer have to wait for the weekends to rush after the office to buy things. There are still restrictions on human resource-based services such as live chats and instant delivery in some cases, but for the most part, e-commerce sites are available 24/7 for you.

2. Great deals to surprise you:
Is online shopping always the cheapest? It is true in most cases, with seasonal discounts, sales and savings coupons, deal of the day, free shipping offers, etc. Managing a physical store is costlier than maintaining a website that meets the customers’ needs with less operational expense. So, retailers switch to online platforms to offer tempting offers and grow their businesses.

3. Scams can come your way:
As People hunt for the best deals and discounts, many fake websites and ads are there to lure unsuspecting shoppers. Unfortunately, these shoppers unknowingly expose themselves to risk by providing their personal information to malicious websites. However, if you are cautious about a few things while making a purchase, the chances of you falling into a trap are almost zero. So, mind the scam next time!

For instance, if you are looking for online car insurance, visit the official websites only. Have a habit of gathering receipts when making payments. Also, IRDAI has made QR codes mandatory on every insurance policy to verify its authenticity.

Due to the recent lockdown restrictions, e-commerce sales have skyrocketed. There is no going back from here, especially when social media is becoming a solid platform for shopping too.
The Internet has entirely transformed the buying experience. People can easily purchase things from all over the world. Payments are instant, and websites recommend products based on your browsing and shopping habits. So, follow the above tips to use the spell of an online purchase smartly.

Are you looking for online car insurance? Check out the best deals 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.