GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

In recent years, the necessity of health insurance has become unavoidable. We have found a cure to many of the earlier incurable diseases with the advancement of medical technology.

However, most of the major surgeries in India cost several lakhs. This is where a health insurance policy shows its magic. Investing in reliable health insurance can give you the confidence and strength to focus on your health without worrying about expenses. But there are several misconceptions about health insurance policies that discourage people who are forced to have a second thought before buying them.

But, what's the reality? Let us look at six major myths about health insurance and debunk them.

1. Health insurance is expensive:
No, it is not! Many think paying a few thousand rupees as a premium every year for a health insurance policy makes it expensive. Have you ever imagined how much major medical treatments cost in India? The average cost of cancer treatment has shot up to INR 10 lakhs. The cost of angioplasty or bypass surgery in case of heart diseases ranges between 2-4 lakh rupees. Similarly, other major surgeries such as hip replacement, knee replacement, or kidney transplant also cost over 4 lakh rupees. Hence, it is wise to pay a few thousand rupees as a premium every year and get a health insurance policy that will cover all your above medical costs than to pay such hefty amounts upfront in one go.

2. Rejection of claims:
Often, the insured does not read the complete terms and conditions of the policy and faces rejection. They may omit necessary information or fill incomplete information in the application form. Some hide information about their pre-existing diseases. Also, a few claims before the waiting period is over and therefore face rejection. You need to understand that claims do not get rejected on baseless grounds. But, it is crucial to investigate the true reasons for rejecting your claim.

3. Processing of claims is time-taking:
The processing of claims does not take much time if a proper system is followed. Cashless settlement is very fast. The bill is settled right at the authorised hospitals at the time of discharge as per the terms and conditions of the insurance provider. Even the reimbursement facility does not take much time for repayment nowadays. The insured must submit proper bills and support documents, and the claims are processed in a few days.

4. Health insurance does not cover pregnancy or day procedures:
A myth is that health insurance policies do not cover pregnancies, maternity care, or day procedures such as chemotherapy. There are specific policies with some terms and conditions to cover such medical treatments. There may be a waiting period before the policy provides cover. Some policies allow the patient to avail the policy benefits even if they are not hospitalised for 24 hours or more.

5. People with pre-existing diseases or senior citizens cannot get a health insurance policy:
Insurers nowadays cover most diseases after some waiting period, usually four years. The insured should tailor specific policies for their situation in such cases. Also, insurers offer health insurance coverage even to senior citizens over 65 years of age. As per IRDAI, health insurance policies can be renewed lifelong. Insurers cannot deny renewing the policy on the grounds of the policyholder's age if the premium is paid in time.

6. Health insurance policies are not "portable":
It is possible for an insured to "port" or change his insurance service provider in case he is dissatisfied with it. Also, he can change from one plan to another with the same insurance provider if he meets the required terms and conditions.

A health insurance policy is necessary for individuals in fast, modern life. If you have a family, you can get a cover for all of your family members under one policy. There are many more myths associated with health insurance policies. But like the above myths we just debunked above, we need to debunk them rather than outrightly shunning these policies. After all, it's your life, and you must take care of it, right? Make health insurance policy a part of it.

Click HERE to buy health insurance to secure your health with the best protection.

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 insurance is not uncommon, one wants to secure the money involved in an asset and thus he gets it insured. But here is the funny part: people have insured things which are weird if not downright hilarious! So, without further ado, let’s jump on to 5 Most Strangest Insurance Policies Ever.

• Body Parts
  Insuring body parts has become a trend among celebrities. It started quite a while back and once the trend began, there was no turning back, Heidi Klum’s legs were insured for a whopping $2.2 million.
• Absconding Spouse
  Getting cold feet right before the wedding is a common occurrence. So, what happens to all the hard-earned money spent by your parents for the fancy wedding you wanted? To your relief, you can buy an Insurance Policy to recover the money spent if your partner decides to take off!
• Cigar
  Skansen museum in Stockholm exhibits a record-breaking cigar which is fully insured, for all the right reasons!
• Death By Laughter
  In the 1900’s, people were overly confident of their sense of humor. So much so that an insurer, Lloyd’s of London, had issued a $1m policy for film-goers, just in case they lose their life by laughing so hard.
• Alien Abduction
  Apparently, a lot of people have a huge fear of getting abducted by aliens. If you are one of those people, you can get an insurance from Lloyd’s of London,More than 20,000 Alien Abduction Policies have been sold till date.

Last but definitely not the least, if you planned for one child and got a surprise of multiple, you can get an insurance to pay for the expenses.

Motorcycle fires are horrific sites to bear. With the recent rise in the usage of electric vehicles, there is a greater possibility of fires leading to vehicle damage and burn injuries. Electric vehicles use renewable energy sources, making them sustainable, but they come with the drawback of being more flammable.

Electric vehicles use a lightweight lithium battery that has a longer lifespan than regular lead-acid batteries. However, a lithium battery consists of two electrodes and an electrolytic fluid running between them. The electrolytic fluid is highly flammable and causes fires when the battery is overheated or damaged.

Even combustion motorcycles are at risk of catching fire if something goes wrong in the bike's engine or fuel tank, or there is a sudden short circuit.

Bikes are the love of their owners' lives. Although it might be horrific to think of even a situation when this happens, it's always better to keep knowledge handy when you need it.

This blog aims to give you an insight into what to do to protect yourself and your loved ones in the unfortunate case of your bike catching fire.

1. Turn off the ignition and get away from your bike:
Imagine that you're cruising down the highway at a comfortable speed when your bike suddenly shows signs that it might catch on fire. If you notice a spark or a fire, immediately kill the ignition and park at the side of the road. Avoid places with many people and other vehicles, electric poles, etc.
Dismount and get away from the bike as quickly as possible using the stop-drop-roll method. If you've left something vital on the bike, avoid going near it unless it is worth dying for. This is to ensure you're least affected if your motorcycle explodes.

2. If it's a small fire or just smoke, try to extinguish it:
If you absolutely have to go and try to save the vehicle and your items with it, do it smartly. If there's a fire extinguisher around you, or you can arrange it, try putting out the fire yourself. Also, you can use drinking water you might have bought along with you on the ride or soil you pick up off the side of the road to stop the fire from spreading immediately after you first sense it. Ensure a safe distance between you and the vehicle to protect yourself.

3. Contact emergency services:
If it's a busy road, ask for help from experienced people in the traffic. If you're stuck in an isolated place, immediately call fire control and tell them about your situation. Your instinct might tell you that you can put out the fire on your own, but it's best to leave it to the professionals to avoid risking your own life.

4. Alert people in advance:
This is not a scene from a movie where you'll barely escape a fire without a scratch. So if the fire seems big, steer clear of it. Raise an alert to help other vehicles and pedestrians get out of the way.
Be sure to put a device named an Emergency Warning Device (EWD). This puts out an alarm that helps inform other pedestrians or vehicle owners to get out of the way in case of a fire. If the fire becomes too overwhelming, all you can do is get out of the way and wait for emergency services.

A motorcycle fire is a traumatic experience to go through. But as long as you are safe, there's no harm done. Having the basic knowledge of fire safety and about the different parts of the bike can be helpful for you during such emergencies.

In such unfortunate incidents, you are responsible for protecting yourself and others, but for protecting your bike, you need special coverage. Here's when insurance comes into the picture. Buy motor insurance online and avail various benefits if your bike faces severe damage due to fire. All the repair and maintenance of the bike will be covered under your insurance cover, and you won't have to worry about the finances.

Click HERE to buy motor 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.

Tattoos and piercings are one of the most common forms of art of self-expression. While some people do it for religious purposes, others do it as a gesture or just as part of a trend. Especially with the new designs and technologies, more youngsters are getting fascinated towards them.

While you may be shortlisting new tattoo designs for your body, it is essential to understand that tattoos and piercings come with various health effects. You may flaunt your new tattoo, but the side effects that it develops can be challenging to overcome sometimes.

In this space, we will discuss the potential health risks of tattoos and piercings so that you can make your decision wisely. With that, let us dive into the details!

Risks of tattoos:

A tattoo artist will usually use a machine with a needle attached to make the tattoo. The needle injects the ink into the second layer of your skin, the dermis (below the epidermis). While tattoos are popular for expressing your feelings and yourself through art, there can be various complications. Some include:

1. Skin allergic reaction: Tattoo dyes like yellow, blue, green, and red can cause various skin reactions, including itching, rashes, more near the inked region. Even after years of getting the tattoo, a person may experience skin reactions that get troublesome with time.

2. Burn or swelling: Everybody reacts differently to tattoos. It is observed that many people experience a burning sensation and swelling around the tattoo area that can even last for longer durations if you don’t receive proper treatment.

3. Bloodborne diseases: If the needle is contaminated through infected blood, a person may get different bloodborne diseases, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tetanus, even AIDS. So, be careful regarding the sanitization of the needle and other equipment.

4. Inflamed tissues: A person can also experience nodules of inflamed tissue and may experience an overgrowth of scar around the tattooed area.

5. MRI test complications: Sometimes, a permanent tattoo on your body may interfere with the MRI test, disrupting the image's quality. In addition, burning or swelling can occur during MRI. However, this is rare but a possibility.

The long-term side effects of permanent tattoos are yet to be known. Although hundreds of ink are approved for cosmetic purposes, their side effects for injecting the skin are still not apparent. If you experience skin problems or allergic reactions after getting a tattoo, contact a doctor immediately.

Risks of piercings:

In certain parts of the world, piercings are a part of the culture. However, what most people do not understand is that piercings can cause various bacterial infections, development of an abscess. When it is left untreated, this puss-filled mass can develop a risk of blood poisoning and sepsis.

Since the nose and mouth area contain higher bacteria, the chances of infections are higher in these areas after a piercing. Additional risks include:

1. Keloid formation around the piercing area.

2. Swelling near the piercing site.

3. Bleeding due to damaged blood vessels.

4. Tongue piercing may cause damage to the teeth and gums in a few cases leading to difficulty in speech.

5. Swelling in the tongue after the piercing can cause blockage of the airway leading to difficulty in breathing.

Going with the tattoo and piercings trends can be a new experience that one does not want to miss out. However, it is essential to do extensive research on all the possible side effects and risks involved to ensure that these experiments do not affect your health negatively. Compromising health safety against excitement is not a wise thing to do. Therefore, guard yourself with health insurance before getting your favourite design inked on your body. Also, if needed, consult your family doctor, preferably a dermatologist, to get proper advice.

Click HERE to know more about health insurance plans for you.

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.