GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Waking up with a sore throat can be worse than waking up from a nightmare. Every time you gulp your food or cough feels like sheer torture. On most days, the sore throat may vanish if you drink enough warm liquids, but sometimes it can take days to heal.

The pain and itch in the throat can be troublesome enough to distract you from your day’s routine and cause constant discomfort. There can be several causes for a sore throat like viral and bacterial infections, acid reflux, etc. While taking medicine for these illnesses is an effective way of getting rid of soreness, it may still take time to give you some comfort.

Antibiotics can take days to help, and if you have an important meeting to attend, you may be in for some trouble. Worry not; here are a few helpful natural remedies that can give you instant relief from a prolonged sore throat!

1. Saltwater gargles:
Gargling with salt mixed in warm water is one of the best and quickest remedies to relieve a sore throat. If an infection or inflammation causes your sore throat, warm salt water can help kill the bacteria present in the throat and reduce any inflammation.
Mix half a spoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle for at least 10 minutes. This will instantly kill any germs present, soothe irritation and calm swelling or inflammation.

2. Honey and Lemon:
Honey has antibacterial properties, which significantly reduces inflammation and soothes your throat. Lemon juice contains vitamin C to boost your immunity, break down the mucus and help you fight your infection. Add one spoon of lemon juice and two spoons of honey to warm water or tea and sip on it as a soothing concoction to get pain relief in a matter of minutes.

3. Chamomile or herbal tea:
Our ancestors have used herbal teas for ages knowing their medicinal properties. Chamomile or herbal tea has antioxidant properties that instantly calm inflammation and kill germs. Drink a cup of hot chamomile tea to soothe your throat from itching. You can add ingredients like turmeric to the tea to boost your immune system.

4. Steam inhalation
Steam inhalation is the best way to relieve your blocked sinuses, kill germs present in your nasal and throat cavity and clear the throat. It also helps you expel all the phlegm that may be causing congestion or soreness in your throat. Boil a pot of water and inhale through your nose and mouth to instantly relieve your sinuses. Continue this for a good 15 minutes to calm your irritable throat.

5. Cough syrup and lozenges:
While doctors usually prescribe cough syrups to fight infections, you can also use them to soothe your throat. Cough syrups have soothing anti-inflammatory properties that act not only on the infection but also on the inflammation in the throat.

You can also chew on lozenges containing ingredients like gingers, honey, lemon and peppermint to produce enough saliva that prevents your throat from drying out. This ultimately soothes your sore throat.

While you can simply buy online health insurance and ensure a safe future for you and your family, dealing with constant health ailments can be vexing. These few quick home remedies can give you rapid relief from a common cold or sore throat to make your daily life simpler! Try practising mindful activities like yoga, meditation, and pranayam to keep your body in the best shape possible and promote a healthy lifestyle.

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.

Cycling has seen an increased number of enthusiasts over the past couple of years. Fitness lovers found a new way to keep themselves fit by cycling to the public parks as an alternative to the gyms. Cycling is an activity that does not require a lot of skill and techniques. Still, if you want to learn more about cycling as a sport or wish to venture into various terrains on your bicycle, there are a few things that you should keep in mind to make the process easier and more enjoyable.

One of the most challenging parts of cycling is traversing uphill roads. It is both exhausting and time taking. But with the proper techniques, you can easily manoeuvre this route.

Today we will discuss a few ways to make your uphill journey on the bicycle easier.

1. Do not start fast:
Many riders make the mistake of starting fast, right at the bottom of the uphill journey. This can be the first mistake that you make while riding uphill. Depending on the ascend and the steepness of the slope, it is best to distribute your energy and utilise it on the last leg of the peak. The final portion of the rise requires the maximum energy as it is the steepest part of the ascend.

2. Alternate between sitting and standing position:
Alternating between these two positions can help you significantly in manoeuvring the climb. Cover the distance while being seated and as you reach the final climb, stand up to increase the energy and to acquire the desired push. Activate your muscles, lift your body, and apply pressure using your legs to pedal heavily.

3. Finding a rhythm:
For longer climbs, it is best to set a riding pattern. As mentioned above, switching between speeds, positions etc., can help you form a rhythm and help you focus your energy more on riding instead of ascending.
Find a rhythm that works for you. Gasping is a sign of wrong techniques and wasted energy. For more extended periods of time on the ascend, your breathing should be deep constant.

4. Set small milestones:
Conquering the peak in one go can be a daunting task. Instead of looking at it as a mammoth assignment, it is best to set smaller goals instead. While making the climb, take note of the small details on the road. Like a post box, garbage bin or a tree. Setting these small goals can be an incentive for you.
You can associate these goals with rewards, such as after you reach a goal, you can change your pace, try a new method or just stop for a bit. This way, the road becomes a journey and not a task.

5. Don’t fight the wind:
Fighting the wind is probably the worst thing a rider can do. Your overall speed and energy levels are massively affected by the wind and its direction. Fighting against the wind always means using up all your energy which you can use later for your ascend. Instead, go slow if the wind is against your riding direction.

Sparing sometime of your day for such physical activities can help you in the long run. However, excessive cycling can lead to injuries and a weaker immune system. Uphill riding is never an easy venture, and acing it requires fitness and determination.

In the process, you might even face injuries and mishaps. This is why it is essential to strike a balance. In case of an injury, doctors suggest various physiotherapy sessions and other medications. These treatments can burn a hole in your pocket; hence you should consider buying an individual personal accident insurance policy. Individual personal accident insurance policy safeguards you in case of accidents and injuries, and the cost incurred during your treatment.

So, keep your passion for cycling alive, and ride your way to fitness!

Click HERE to know more about 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.

Bringing home your newborn from the hospital is a wonderful yet challenging experience as a parent. The fear of the infant getting sick is a big worry. It takes time to understand typical infant behaviour and gauge abnormalities, which can be challenging.

Detecting initial signs of illness is crucial as it gets difficult for infants to fight off diseases that spread swiftly due to weak immune systems. Comparing family floater plans offered by online health insurance companies is an equally important step to consider to protect your baby.

Additionally, here are some symptoms of newborn illnesses to be aware of.

1. Consistent crying or irritability:
A baby can only communicate its needs by crying, be it hunger, tiredness, loneliness, a change of diaper, or discomfort. At first, you might not understand your baby's cries, but cancel out reasons to identify the cause. Consistent irritability and cries are signs of sickness.

2. Fever:
Bacterial and viral infections, including pneumonia, ear infections, stomach bugs, and urine infections, can cause a fever. Use a digital or mercury-free glass rectal thermometer to take your child's temperature. A temperature of up to 100 degrees is considered normal. For children younger than three months, a temperature of 100 degrees or more, and 101 degrees for children between 3 and 6 months is the threshold, after which you must immediately contact the doctor.

3. Apathy or laziness:
Being tired, dizzy, listless, or excessively sleepy without responding to sounds and sights or reduced appetite are gradual changes you may notice. Lethargy may be a symptom of an infection or other illnesses, like low blood sugar. If your infant shows fatigue or isn't as active as before, consult the doctor.

4. Little appetite:
Most babies eat every three to four hours after the first day, and they will typically express their hunger by sucking on their hands or fingers, screaming, or making yelling gestures with their hands or fingers. Contact your paediatrician if your infant refuses to eat and skips multiple feedings.

5. Vomiting and diarrhoea:
Intestinal, bacterial, or viral infections and obstructions can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Regular examination of your baby's poop can help the doctor identify bacterial infections. The symptoms of viral infections generally go away after about a week without medication.

6. Inconsistent stools:
Your infant may lose excess fluids due to a fever, illness, or heat and have extremely dry stools. Once your baby begins eating solids, excessive consumption may cause constipation and the formation of firm stools due to difficulty in digestion.

7. Urination:
Typically, babies soil a minimum of four diapers daily. Excessive urination could be due to an infection or other urinary tract issues, such as distress while peeing. A pinkish stain on your baby's diaper indicates concentrated urine and is not worrisome—however, blood in its diaper or persisting discomfort requires a doctor's intervention.

Immediate steps of actions:

Caring for an infant is a significant responsibility that requires prior planning. We encourage to-be and new parents to compare infant insurance offered by online health insurance companies and prioritise their child's health.

Once you notice any symptoms persisting for long periods and deviations from typical behaviour, rush to the doctor. Ensure you follow the doctor's advice to nursing your child back to health. Additional preventive measures include:

● Introducing easy-to-digest foods

● Keeping a constant watch on your newborn

● Maintaining a clean environment

Dealing with kids is always a challenging task, especially when it comes to infants. Since they have weaker immune systems and cannot do things for themselves, it is the parent’s responsibility to make prior arrangements to provide the best possible environment for the infant to thrive in. You can start by including your infant in your family insurance plan after carefully considering the alternatives online health insurance companies offer.

Click HERE to buy insurance for infants from online health insurance companies.

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.

Cosmetics have become an integral part of our daily lifestyle. Facial makeup, perfumes, nail polishes, eye makeup, hair colours, etc., all enhance our physical attributes and appearances. The cosmetics market has developed various products for different cultures, skin tones, types, and seasons.

While these products may accentuate your physical features and give you a sense of confidence, they can be harmful in the long run. The high chemical contents present in cosmetics can be toxic to your skin. Often, the side effects of these chemical ingredients are not mentioned on the packaging.

The harsh chemicals in cosmetic products can affect the functioning of your skin's protective barrier, making it significantly easier for pathogens to enter your skin. Regular usage of makeup can hurt your skin's glow.

This article will discuss the long-term side effects of using cosmetics. You need to be aware of these consequences to be vigilant about the ingredients and the usage of cosmetic products.

1. Ageing:
One of the worst things you can do to your skin is to apply makeup without sunscreen. When you expose your skin to the sun, it damages your skin and leads to premature ageing signs like wrinkles, age spots, and fine lines. Also, make sure that you remove your makeup before calling it a night; otherwise, it can get into your pores and break the elastin, thus causing wrinkles.

2. Cancer:
Many cosmetic products like waterproof mascaras, foundations and long-lasting liquid lipsticks contain polyfluoroalkyl substances. These toxic chemicals are proven to cause cancer. When added, they change the properties of surfaces to make them resistant. PFAS are usually not mentioned on the packaging and labels of cosmetic products, making it difficult for consumers to detect their presence.

3. Allergy issues:
Cosmetic products are made with different ingredients. Some are formulated with mild components that don't affect your skin's health. However, products with strong and harsh elements like parabens and SLS-Sodium Laureth Sulfates can trigger your allergies, severely damaging your skin.

4. Acute risks:
Several cosmetic products have ingredients that pose the risk of burns and infections. Hair-straightening products (keratin treatments) contain formaldehyde. Frequent usage of such products can cause blisters, extreme hair fall, rashes, etc.

5. Behavioural issues:
Makeup products consist of eyeliners and lipsticks. Lead (heavy metal) is a component of these makeup essentials. If ingested in small amounts over time, it can have severe consequences like behaviour and cognitive problems, which can be concerning and can disturb your everyday lifestyle.

Now that we have discussed the long-term side effects of using cosmetics, it would be wise of you to consider safeguarding your health in case of unforeseeable circumstances.

Health emergencies bring in a lot of monetary pressure, causing additional stress. You can buy health insurance online to save yourself and your family from the financial load of unprecedented situations. Lastly, act wise, never overuse cosmetics, and use natural products free from harmful chemicals.

Click HERE to know more about how you can buy health 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 home is so much more than just a shelter. It is where you create memories, watch your family thrive, and compound your wealth. Considering the constantly increasing prices of homes, buying one is a dream that not many accomplish easily. Recognising the monetary and perceived value associated with the asset, it becomes essential to protect your home and personal belongings from unforeseen circumstances like burglary and vandalism by buying home insurance India.

While home insurance India is a periodic investment that satisfies your safety requirements for a specified tenure, the interiors of your house do not fall into the same category. With changing trends, tastes, and preferences, it is inevitable to wish to renovate and alter the aesthetic appeal of your home. However, you may not have the finances to avail the services of professional designers to bring your vision to reality and design your ideal space.

In such a case, fret not! Here are some inexpensive and easy DIY tasks you can take on the weekends to give your home a new look!

1. Entryway systemiser:
The area that greets a visitor upon opening the main door is the easiest way to build a great impression and set the tone for the decor used in the rest of the house. While you may customise it as per your tastes, it is essential to keep it organised to give your home a put-together look. Revamp your entryway with a compact organiser that stores all your keys, sunglasses, and bags. While you may purchase separate hooks, boxes, or frames for this area, consider arranging existing sturdy holders to create a sustainable assorted organiser.

2. Foyer frames:
The room that the entryway leads into, often known as the hall or living room, is the most used space in all houses. It is also the best place to display valuable memories such as photographs, achievements, and sample works of your hobbies and interests. The possibilities for this idea are endless, ranging from minimalistic matching frames to vibrant and funky options in different sizes and shapes.

3. Create an accent:
Often, homeowners feel the need to refresh their homes to complete renovations. However, if you wish to see immediate results and are working on a tight budget or with limited time, an accent wall or furniture may be your ideal solution. Identify a complementary colour to the current colour palette of your home’s interiors and consider options ranging from artwork, accessories, upholstery, furniture, or a wall.

4. Refresh your accessories:
Sometimes, small changes go a long way in creating the desired results. Consider changing minute details in a themed manner to achieve a cohesive effect. This may be by changing your lights to similar-toned ones to set the mood or switching your furniture’s hardware.

5. Switch things up with contact paper:
Contact paper is your rescue if you’re looking for a quick fix to alter your furnishing and flat surfaces’ visual appeal. You can achieve this without fundamentally altering their surface by using contact papers. These decorative materials come in several trending prints and are available in the length you require per your project’s needs.
Simply peel away the backing and stick it to the desired surface. It makes changing the look of your home effortless since it is easy to remove and reuse, making it perfect for renters who wish to personalise their rented homes without going against the rules laid by the homeowner.

When facing time and budget constraints, hanging lights and getting plants are only some of the makeover options available. With creativity and consideration of functionality, you can efficiently use your time, resources, and space to create beautiful additions to your home’s appeal. As you invest your time and energy in home renovation projects, we encourage you to consider purchasing home insurance India, which is an investment in securing your home from external contingencies and protecting your finances.

Click HERE to buy home 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.

Buying a home is a dream for most Indians. Considering the ever-increasing inflation, sky-rocketing real estate prices and constantly changing economic conditions, it requires extensive planning and budgeting. After putting in such efforts, a home becomes more than just a roof over one’s head- it is an investment, a sign of wealth, and probably the most important asset of your net worth.

Protecting an asset on which you have spent a fortune is essential. Buying the best home insurance policy in India is important to secure your home from multiple mishaps. While the best home insurance policy in India may offer you broad coverage from several risks, is the increasing threat of malicious mischief and vandalism included?

Read on to learn all about the specific coverage under home insurance.

What are acts of malicious mischief and vandalism?

To understand what the best home insurance policy in India covers, we must understand the meaning of the terms malicious mischief and vandalism.

Malicious mischief refers to the acts of destruction with the intent to damage or destroy property. It is usually acted out as a sign of resentment towards the property owner. Criminal mischief is recognised as a legal offence as per the Indian Penal Code, which prescribes an imprisonment term of 3 months, or fine, or both for perpetrators.

Vandalism is commonly used to describe the destruction of property without malicious intent targeting the owner. It is often seen as a mindless activity done to achieve the satisfaction of destruction rather than being fueled by ill intent. Vandalism is a punishable offence in India.

The need for malicious mischief and vandalism insurance.

While the terms may seem unfamiliar, malicious mischief and vandalism are rampant in the country. Irrespective of intent, such acts result in minor to massive losses for the property owner, depending on the scale.

In such situations, the prudent purchase of the best home insurance policy in India covering such acts pays off. Since one cannot immediately pinpoint the instigators of such acts of destruction, legal cases don't suffice as an instant relief. By comparing alternatives and purchasing the best home insurance policy in India, you can ensure the immediate raising of a claim and quick settlement of financial losses arising from vandalism and malicious mischief.

Exclusions from vandalism and malicious mischief:

1. If your property has been vacant for over 60 days consecutively, you cannot raise a claim even as a victim of vandalism or malicious mischief.

2. Suppose multiple people are listed as home insurance policyholders. If one of them intentionally indulges in destructive acts to damage the property, the other policyholders cannot raise a successful claim against the perpetrator.

General inclusions under vandalism insurance.

When comparing home insurance policies offered by multiple insurers to find the best home insurance policy in India, you may notice that each insurer offers a varying reimbursement limit and the extent of property covered under the policy. While minute details can differ, most vandalism and malicious mischief covers extend to the following.

1. Fixed structures:
The most apparent inclusions are the fixed structures on your property. This includes the house or flat's external frame, additional safety door, and exterior add-ons like mailboxes or shoe racks.

2. Personal property:
The best home insurance policy in India offers coverage for all your home appliances, furniture and fittings. Refrain from raising a claim for the destruction of commercial holdings since they are not covered by such plans.

In the backdrop of uncertainties, it is always ideal to have a security net that protects homeowners from the risk of vandalism and malicious mischief. If you are considering purchasing a house, ensure that you do due research to identify the best home insurance policy in India to safeguard your home and your finances!

Click HERE to invest in the best home 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.

Detecting faults in your home's electric circuit can be simple if you know exactly where the fault is or which appliance has malfunctioned. Proper knowledge is the prerequisite to easily detecting faults in the home electrical circuit. It can be in any room, hallway, verandah, bathroom, bedroom, or kitchen.

The power supply may get disrupted in the entire house or only some portion of it. Safety is paramount when it comes to detecting faults in electric circuits. Even a small mistake can cause loss of life and massive property damage.

Are you someone trying to detect electrical faults for the first time? Let us understand how you can proceed with it conveniently.

1. Get the right gear:
The right equipment and tools are necessary before repairing a fault in your home's electric circuit. Get the right tools that ensure your safety while checking for the fault. Use a socket tester and voltage meter to check the running current.

2. Switch off the main power supply:
Make sure you switch off the main power supply of your house before trying to touch any open wire or faulty appliance. You can also remove the circuit fuse of the particular room or area where you plan the repair. Failure to do so can result in an electric shock.
If there was smoke or crackling noise from any wire or switchboard, wear rubber boots or slippers and rubber gloves before touching any wire or board. They will provide some electrical insulation if they are made of 100% pure rubber without any holes or tears.

3. Testing a faulty appliance:
If any of your appliances are not working, you should try to plug them into another socket to ensure it is working properly. If the appliance works there, you have a problem with the circuit of that particular room. If the appliance still does not work, it means that your house's electric circuit is okay and not at fault. You will have to get the appliance repaired from the electrician.

4. Checking the Fuse / MCB:
Our homes have fuses or MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) for every room and separate portions of our house. To prevent overloading, there are separate MCBs for heavy appliances, such as an air-conditioner. When a circuit or appliance malfunctions, the fuse will break, or the MCB will trip automatically, which will shut down power to that circuit.
Whenever you face a power problem in any particular house area, you should first check the respective fuse/MCB. A faulty appliance can also result in tripping off an MCB or blowing a fuse. You can repair the fuse by fixing the live wire if the fuse is blown. If the MCB is down, you should switch it on again and check for the fault in that particular room or appliance. If the problem is still there, the MCB will trip or shut off again. In such instances, you should call a qualified electrician rather than fixing it yourself.

5. Faulty power line:
If all the MCBs are also fine and there is still no power in your entire house, the problem can be bigger from the main line or the transformer. Please do not try to rectify faults from the main line because of the high voltage running through them. Call a qualified technician who is capable of repairing such faults.

You do not have to run for a qualified technician whenever you have a minor electrical fault at your house. You can also detect and repair the fault if it is not that severe and manageable. However, you should be careful while checking or repairing faults in your home electric circuits.

Faulty electric circuits and malfunctions can result in fire and heavy loss at your house. Fret not! Home insurance provides you with safety and security from any such unfortunate events. It covers the house structure and its contents and assists in rebuilding the damaged property. Get complete peace of mind by opting for a good home insurance policy.

Click HERE to purchase a comprehensive home 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.

In recent times, technological advancements have been table-turners for corporates in the insurance industry. They aim to bring a noteworthy revolution to the conventional business management approach. The reorientation of the entire business using these futuristic technologies can be a great advantage in bridging the gap between service and convenience, which are major pain points for insurance providers.

Talking about the insurance sector, "efficient customer handling" is the need of the hour that demands the maximum technological support. If you think on a broader level, customer handling encompasses every aspect of the service provided by the insurers.

Customers are seeking higher expectations from their insurance providers to enjoy services conveniently. Insurance companies have been analysing and implementing every strategy placing customers as their top priority. With automation establishing itself diversely in every field, insurance industries are now ready to upgrade their business model to consolidate their position in the market and be more liable to their customers.

Moving into 2023, the insurance world will be riding this wave of technological advancement. It will be interesting to watch how technology-aided services help the insurance sector build a solid customer-centric approach.

Automation: Where imagination shapes into reality!

Who had imagined that getting tasks done automatically would be a practical thing? The introduction of automation is significantly impacting behind-the-scenes operations, making them more hassle-free. The involvement of automation technologies is a boon to the insurance industry that works as the brain behind all data handling tasks and achieves all desired objectives.

Companies can now supervise various processes and real-time monitoring and delivery of the services with the help of automation. This allows the organisations to lower their servicing costs, keep an eye on the operations and maintain transparency, which helps ensure faith and trust in their employees and customers.

There is a lot of sensitive information shared by the customers during their interactions with the insurers, be it purchasing, renewing, claims, etc. And this information needs to be carefully stored and safeguarded to avoid any data breach.

The technology like blockchain will help companies keep track of customers' vital information and help consistently revamp the data, along with developing robust and resilient networks to mitigate the risks of cyber-attacks and identity theft.

What other aspects of insurance are influenced by incorporating technology-aided services?

Technology-aided services enable insurance companies to track customer demands and preferences, current industry trends, and product innovation. Adopting artificial intelligence and similar technologies will help analyse a pattern and eventually create more applicable and prevalent algorithms, transforming how an insurance company handles its customers and curates an unmatched customer experience.

These technologies will humanise the process, thus increasing productivity and providing better touchpoints for the customers to interact with. There will be efficient data storage and analysis, thus helping the professionals gain insights from past interactions and offer reliable solutions to all problems to keep up with the frequent change in consumer demands and buying patterns.

A new era of storage and computation:

The businesses are future-ready and opportunistic about the evolution of cloud technology and believe that it will advent the massive shift of insurance companies and their infrastructure. This switch of all the core systems to the cloud will make it significantly more accessible for the insurance sector to launch new products and services. Once this transformation to the cloud completes, the large data sets will be easier to analyse and draw patterns.

Cloud technology aims to create an entirely different ecosystem that balances customers' expectations and insurance companies' aspirations.

The services are being reshaped with the involvement of automation and other prominent technologies. This global adoption in the insurance sector will help reform the life, health, asset management, and other fields of customer handling. Technology is the backbone of the insurance framework, from instant applications to faster claims and customised purchases to hassle-free settlements. These smart services will be a massive bonus for the customers to interact with their insurers, mention their grievances, and provide their feedback.

With the global advent of technology-aided insurance services, you need to be proactive to keep up with the pace of advancement and the changes in the expectations of the customers. The world of insurance is observing a digital shift, and you need to welcome it to see what it offers.