GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Car insurance is all about cutting your losses in case of an accident or theft. You will pay the premium annually or more frequently as per the guidelines of your policy. You need to pay the premium regularly to keep the policy active. Car accidents do not happen that frequently, but they do occur quite a lot. This makes having a proper car insurance policy extremely important. Though at the time of purchasing a car insurance policy, it is important to look up new car insurance rates, so you do not end up shelling an unnecessary amount of money. You will also be rewarded for driving safely and responsibly by No Claim Bonus.

No Claim Bonus is essentially a discount over the own damage premium component. It means that you would have to pay less in the forthcoming premium if you do not raise any claim in the entire year. You generally start with zero NCB (except in the case of NCB transfer) and accumulate discounts over the years. It is often misinterpreted, so here are few features you need to be mindful of: -

• NCB is available only on policy renewal. It is a reward for not making any claims during the entire year. It is earned by keeping a claim-free record. It starts at 20 percent after one claim-free year and accumulates steadily with each subsequent claim-free year and can reach up to a maximum of 50 percent.
• NCB belongs to you and not the car. It is essentially a reward to the driver. If you decide to change the car and get an insurance policy for it, you will retain your NCB discount from the first premium on your new insurance policy. So, in essence, NCB is transferrable between cars. However, NCB is not transferrable between two people.
• Transferring NCB is a simple procedure. After the purchase of a new vehicle, you have to submit Form 29 and Form 30 along with a letter requesting your insurer for NCB transfer. Your insurer will issue an NCB certificate which will be valid for three years after the date of the issue. You have to submit this certificate to your new insurer to retain your NCB benefits.
• NCB is only valid over the own damage component of the premium. This means NCB is not valid over the third-party liability component of the premium.
• NCB must be kept in mind before making small claims. NCB is reset to zero, no matter the magnitude of the claim. It is therefore important to make calculations before making any small claims. You can end up losing more than you gain. In addition to NCB be set to zero you will also lose any accumulated discount and will have to start over to reach a 50% discount earmark.
• You can purchase an NCB add-on cover that will allow you to make a limited number of claims without affecting your NCB. This can help you if you are stuck in the decision to make a small or moderate claim.
• Maximum NCB discount is 50% though some insurers allow higher discounts in their policies for driver's clean records.

Insurance is nothing but risk management. You buy insurance just so you do not fall into a financial burden in emergencies. Insurance is all about saving money. At the time of purchasing a new policy, you must always check up new car insurance rates, so you don't end up paying more. NCB too is a step towards saving money, you must always drive safely, and NCB ensures you will be rewarded for it.

A lot of people become victim to unfortunate road accidents. Merely witnessing an accident can leave a huge impact on the mind of an individual. Imagine the situation of those who have to go through such misfortune. That is why the Indian government always insists on following road safety rules.

It is very important to have car insurance for your vehicle to reimburse you for the losses suffered due to an accident. But as someone has wisely said, prevention is better than cure. Therefore, following road safety rules should be the topmost priority of every single person driving a vehicle. Road safety rules are made by the government for the safety of those on the road - be it people driving vehicles or pedestrians.

The given road safety rules are for the safety of Indian citizens and must be understood as well as followed by everyone: -

●Use of indicators - While changing directions or taking a turn on either side of the road, using an indicator is very important. If you wish to turn left, keep left with your indicator light on and turn when there is no vehicle following too closely to avoid a collision. Similar is the case while turning right.

●Overtaking - A lot of people are in a hurry to reach somewhere, that's why they keep on driving past the other vehicles. If you are in such a situation, always remember that if you want to overtake the vehicle driving ahead of you, it needs to be done from the right side. Never overtake in a curve as it might lead to obstruction of the view of the other driver. Also, if the vehicle ahead does not slow down, overtaking might end up in an accident.

●Helmets and seat belts - You all must be familiar with this rule! The government lays special emphasis on the use of seat belts in cars and wearing helmets while driving two-wheelers. If any accident happens, the damage to your car can be covered through policies issued from the best car insurance company in India, but your safety is not guaranteed by any means. That is why you should make sure that you undertake all safety measures like wearing helmets and seat belts while driving.

●Noise- Unnecessary honking can be very irritating to other drivers as well as pedestrians. Thus, you must use the horn only when required. Avoid using it in prohibited places like hospital areas, school areas and others. Also, ensure that the horn in your vehicle does not make a loud and blaring noise.

●Following distance - Maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you is also a very important thing. In case the driver applies his brakes all of a sudden, you might not be able to engage your brakes at the same time, and this might end up in a collision.

●Documents - All required documents ranging from RC book of your vehicle to the car insurance papers, your driving license, PUC (Pollution Under Control) license and others, should be kept inside the vehicle so that you can access them whenever required.

●Traffic signals - Traffic lights are present at junctions or intersections of four roads. If not, there might be traffic police officers or authorized persons giving directions to the vehicles that must be followed. At such crossings, move carefully so that no inconvenience is caused to any other vehicle. You should always allow vehicles to turn right and avoid blocking the right side of the road.

●Emergency vehicles - Certain vehicles like ambulances and firetrucks work for saving the lives of people and it is your duty as a responsible citizen to give way to them.

If you have purchased a new vehicle, make sure that before everything else, you contact the best car insurance company in India to reap the benefits of their policies and also enjoy superior protection against possible incidents.

Anyone who has seen a person close to them in the hospital will agree that it is the most stressful time in their life. A medical emergency disturbs the lives of everyone around the affected person. The person who is battling a disease or any other medical condition goes through a lot of pain and suffers a lot. Along with that person, the people close to him also go through an equally stressful time. There is too much to look after. During those times, the financial burden can make everything worse. Medical expenses are rising continuously for many years. For many, it has become almost impossible to provide quality treatment to their family members out of their pockets. If the affected person has health insurance, it will lighten the burden on the people close to him, and everyone can pay attention to more important things in life.

Health insurance will provide you with coverage for a lot of medical conditions that you are likely to suffer from. The policy will cover most of the expenses that you will incur in the treatment. It will take the financial burden off the shoulders of your family members. This will, in return, help you as they will not be worrying about finances and can take proper care of you. If you do not have health insurance yet, you can quickly obtain one from one of the many online health insurance companies in India. Contact various health insurance companies to get health insurance quotes in India. Here are five explanations on why health insurance quote is essential:-

• It is the first step in getting health insurance. If you are looking forward to getting health insurance, you need to contact various health insurance providers and receive their quotations. The more you delay this step, the longer it will take you to finally sign the contract and get health insurance.
• Once you obtain various health insurance quotes, you can check which quote fits your budget best. You must not necessarily choose the cheapest quote. You should instead research coverage provided by the companies against their quotes and see which company gives you the best quote with all-round coverage.
• Health insurance quotes will help you be prepared on how you have to modify your monthly budget to accommodate the premiums. It might not be feasible to change your lifestyle overnight. Health insurance quotes will give you time to make small changes in life so you can better adjust to paying for health insurance.
• You can also contact the companies and check if you are getting all the available discounts. Many insurance companies offer various discounts on certain conditions. You must contact the insurance company after receiving health insurance quotes in India to talk in more detail and obtain a better quote.
• You can weigh the pros and cons of the policy financially after receiving the quote. The complete coverage policies might be too expensive for you. So, you might prefer opting for a policy with less coverage. Receiving the quotes will help you make a more informed decision.

It is crucial to have health insurance nowadays. If you do not have one, your family might fall into tough times, as they would have to go through their savings to provide you with healthcare. Health insurance benefits you as well as everyone around you.

'The more, the merrier'. A lot of you must be familiar with this phrase. It states that the more the number of people, the more fun they are likely to have. But that is not the only situation where this phrase is applicable. The same thing applies while buying a health insurance plan.

If you are thinking of getting insurance for yourself, you might want to get more than just one.

Many online health insurance companies offer insurance plans that offer you comprehensive protection against a wide range of ailments and allow you to avail cashless treatment in the network hospitals.

The following points elaborate on the benefits of getting insurance policies from 3 different companies: -

●Less premium - If you purchase an insurance policy which offers comprehensive protection against a wide range of conditions, it might require a greater premium amount as well. However, if you spread this amount within multiple policies, you are likely to pay a much lesser amount for each cover. Such small sums add up to a large amount with different companies and turn out to be less expensive.

● Better coverage of diseases - Usually, general health insurance plans include only a selected handful number of diseases. Such diseases are not critical, which might pose to be a huge threat in the future as you would not be able to avail the claim amount. Therefore, buying multiple plans from different companies can result in the coverage of a wide range of diseases - right from the basic ones to the high expense ones.

● Protection against price rise - With the rise in inflation, there is an increase in the price of medical treatment. Not just medicines, but the doctor's fees, hospital charges and other expenses can drill a hole in your pocket. That's why if you wish to save yourself from the given additional expenditure, you can invest in insurances from various online health insurance companies to claim the amount whenever required.

● No stress from claim rejection - There might be times when insurance companies do not find the claimed reason to be strong enough. Therefore, they might deny the claim, and you might end up with no amount of money. In such conditions, when you desperately require claims for paying medical expenses, your family might have to bear the burden of paying expenses at their own cost. To avoid this, insurance should be purchased from more than one company. That is how you can ensure that even if one company rejects your claim, you still have the hope of availing it from the secondary companies.

●Quick grant - Health insurance is like an amount of deposit which can be claimed in times of medical emergency. If you have insurance in three or more different companies, you can get the claim amount from at least one of them which can prove to be sufficient for your requirements.

●Diversified benefits - If you purchase insurance from a single provider, their policy might not benefit you as much due to the rules and regulations of premiums, cover, duration or claim on maturity and so on. However, if you purchase health insurance from different companies, you can get the best of each of their policies. Selection can be made based on each of your specific requirements, and you can avail the claim as per your convenience.

Life is not certain, and that's why insurance is something every individual should rely on. Buying it from various companies only results in a larger amount of benefits, so why not read them!

The large competition in the market between different companies leads to the launch of several new bikes and scooters by the major brands almost every month throughout the year. All the major companies of India such as Hero Motocorp, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Bajaj, Honda release at least one to two two-wheelers in the Indian market in a single year. When you buy a new bike, you also need to buy insurance for the vehicle. Nowadays, the procedure for getting insurance is quite simplified and direct. Moreover, you can easily renew the bike insurance online without much hassle. Some of the major bikes launched in recent times and about to launch in the coming months in India are mentioned here:

● Recently Royal Enfield trademarked a new name Meteor for its new bike in India which is scheduled to be launched at the beginning of 2020. This bike has a 648cc engine and is supposed to be a derivative of the Interceptor 650 bike. Priced in the range of over Rs. 2 lakhs, this bike has a powerful engine that provides high torque for hill climbing. This bike is being marketed by Royal Enfield as a more affordable Interceptor 650.

● Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR is a high range model of Kawasaki priced at nearly Rs. 17 lakhs for the new age sports bike lovers. It has a 998cc engine and is scheduled to be launched in January 2020. The 203 PS powerful petrol engine can provide a torque of up to 114.9 Nm.

● With unofficial bookings already started, KTM’s new bike KTM 390 Adventure priced at around Rs. 3 lakhs scheduled to be launched at the beginning of 2020 is one of the most awaited bikes of 2020. This bike has a 373 cc engine and has ergonomics that support stand-up biking as well.

● Honda is also set to launch its new bike Honda CB650R in January 2020 to start the new year with a bang. This bike priced in the range of around Rs. to 8 lakhs features a 95.1 PS 649cc powerful engine has no direct competitors in the market at present. Only another bike that comes close to it in features is the Kawasaki Ninja 650 which is currently priced at 5.49 lakhs ex-showroom price.

● While other companies are slated to launch high-end models at the beginning of the next year, TVS is one company which is more focused towards the lower end of the price range. The TVS Radeon BS6 is a BS6 engine model of TVS set to launch in January with a competitive price tag of Rs. 58,000 in the segment.

● Norton Atlas 650 is another high-end model set to be launched at the beginning of 2020 with a price tag that is no less than Rs. 16 lakhs. This bike has a 650cc petrol engine that provides a power of 84 PS.

● Husqvarna is also launching two new variants which go by the names Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 and HusqvarnaVitpilen 401 in the first month of 2020. Both of these bikes are priced in the range of Rs. 2.8 lakhs to 3 lakhs. Both of these bikes have the same 373.2cc engine and are available in different coloured variants.

India is currently a very hot market for new automobiles, and the launch of new bikes is going to interest new buyers who want something different from the manufacturers. Bikes are launching in a wide range starting from TVS Radeon priced at Rs. 58,000 to high-end bikes such as Kawasaki Ninja models which are priced at over 17 lakhs. Whichever of these bikes you have chosen for yourself, make sure that you get new insurance as well as renew the bike insurance online before the due date for continued protection.

Monsoon arrives with new promises and provides a route to escape from the scorching summer heat. It comes as a respite to many but has its consequences.

Different types of bacteria thrive during this period due to the warm and humid climate. People often suffer from the likes of cold, flu, typhoid, malaria and other such diseases caused by various viruses or micro-organisms.

It is essential to take adequate measures to guard against such diseases and stay healthy, although there are some affordable health insurance plans to take care in case of any ailment. Some such measures for a disease-free monsoon are:

1. Keeping house clean

• Your house should be kept clean and pest-free.
• One should be aware of leakages and water clogging, especially around electronic devices, like coolers, ACs and washing machines.
• Rusty or broken pipes should be replaced as they can become the breeding place for pests.
• Pest control should be called once a week to check.

1. Taking showers

• Getting caught in the monsoon rain is one of the most serene experiences. But a lot of micro-organisms or germs might have entered the body.
• A shower with a few drops of disinfectants prevents any such infection.
• One should not enter an AC-room in wet clothes as possibilities of catching a cold increases manifold.

1. Keeping hydrated

• It is vital to stay properly hydrated and drink water at regular intervals to fight against diseases, like typhoid and cholera.
• One should avoid having unfiltered water from the streets.
• Water purifier should be working properly.

1. Checking ventilation

• Cross-ventilation should be allowed as infectious organisms can leave the room.
• The room should be open to sunlight, and fresh air as damp may creep in otherwise.

1. Keeping hands clean

• Harmful germs may reside on the surface. So, it is essential to wash your hands at regular intervals.
• One can carry hand sanitizers in the pockets. Hands should be cleaned before having food.

1. Vitamin-rich diet

• Vitamin C-enriched food is vital to make your body immune to such harmful organisms.
• One should have lemon juices and fresh vegetables regularly.
• One should stay away from street food as much as possible. Potholes in the streets are often home to microbes causing diseases, like typhoid and cholera.

1. Using Mosquito repellents

• Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Stored water should be appropriately covered inside houses.
• Use of mosquito tents, coils and repellents are a must to guard against diseases, like malaria and dengue.
• There are several affordable health insurance plans. One should take their help in case of emergencies to protect their family.

1. Strengthening immunity

• Strongly immune persons are not much affected by such diseases.
• The likes of tulsi, cardamom, turmeric and lemongrass are vital in boosting the immunity against the monsoon diseases.

1. Taking influenza and pneumonia shots

• These are vital in case of those who have asthma. These help in creating strong immunity against these harmful germs.
• Hepatitis A and B vaccine shots help guard against diseases, like jaundice.
• Many affordable health insurance plans can cover the cost for such vaccines.
• One should also be careful in the medications he/she takes.
• If unwell, one should remain back at home and prevent spreading the virus to others.

1. Having warm food

• Warm saline gargles help in fighting against the irritation caused in throats due to the infection.
• Warm fluids help to soothe. So one can have warm water or milk often.
• Soups and broths are a welcome change to the diet.

By keeping these few precautionary steps in mind, one can stay away from these diseases. However, if one faces any symptoms of such diseases, he/she should immediately consult a doctor. There are some affordable health insurance plans to take the help of, if necessary.

People are becoming more and more aware of physical fitness and activities that keep them healthy. Fitness has become a priority, and they are resorting to various measures like joining gyms, purchasing health insurance, joining yoga classes and engaging in other fitness routines to maintain their health.

One such outdoor activity that has garnered extreme popularity among the youngsters nowadays is cycling.

But before listing the advantages, you should know the required gear that is essential to enjoy cycling: -

● A good bike - The type of cycle you select to ride has a major effect on your experience. Therefore, do not compromise on the quality of the cycle.

●Cycling gear - A helmet, knee and elbow supports are important while riding a cycle as you never know when something unfortunate might happen. In such case, such gear can save you from major injuries.

●Insurance– A health insurance policy and bike insurance policy, both are necessary when you go out on your journey of fitness.

Cycling has countless benefits, and the following points advocate why taking up exercises like cycling can be helpful to you: -

●Weight loss - In order to lose weight, the number of calories you burn should be greater than the number you consume. This can be done through exercises. And just like any other exercise, cycling burns calories. Depending on the intensity, speed and weight of the rider, cycling can burn calories ranging anywhere from four hundred to one thousand calories.

●Reduced cancer risk - Cancer or other heart-related diseases can pose to be a very serious threat to any person. It doesn't matter if you have health insurance or renew health insurance online; nothing guarantees safety from diseases. But exercising does! And especially, cycling. As a result, the risk of diseases is reduced to a great extent.

● Improved health - Cycling improves the circulation of blood all around your body. You burn calories, thus the chances of being overweight and suffering from diseases due to obesity decrease to a significant level. Studies suggest that due to involvement in any sort of physical activity, a person's mental health also improves. You can free yourself from the psychological burdens as well.

●Saves time - This might sound a bit contradictory, but when you choose to travel to your work or any other place using your cycle, you actually save time. If you drive your car to work, you might get stuck in traffic and would have to wait for a long time before getting a way out of the crowd of vehicles. But if you ride on a cycle, you can easily filter through the traffic and reach your destination before time. There are no major parking hassles involved which only adds to the benefits.

●Better sleep - Cycling is a physical activity after all. If done for a long duration of time, it can tire you out, which eventually leads to a good night's sleep. Indirectly, exercise can also be done as a form of an outlet that relieves you of stress and reduces anxiety levels, thereby improving the quality of sleep.

●Muscle gain - The muscles of and around your thighs, hamstrings, glutes and calves are engaged intensively while cycling. Therefore, not only losing weight but gaining such muscles is also a plus point of taking up cycling. As muscle is leaner than fat, you can burn an even higher number of calories while cycling and develop a strong physique.

You should always have a comprehensive health insurance policy and make sure that you renew health insurance online before it expires so that you can enjoy continued protection

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared novel Coronavirus (nCoV) as a Global Health Emergency. Here’s a quick guide to knowing all about the deadly virus.

Let’s begin with the obvious, what is Coronavirus?

The coronavirus is a family of viruses that are known to cause illnesses like the common cold to more critical diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new force of coronavirus that has not been identified before in humans. This particular virus is called ‘2019-nCoV’.

Now that we understood what Coronavirus is, so let us understand the Symptoms:

While it depends on the kind of virus, common symptoms are respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), kidney failure and even death. Some coronaviruses can be carried from person to person. This normally happens after close contact with an infected patient.

Now that we have a better idea about the Coronavirus and the symptoms. Let's discuss the dos and don’ts for keeping the disease at bay.

• Observe good personal hygiene.
• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness.
• Frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment.
• People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette, which includes maintaining one's distance while coughing, covering coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and washing one's hands after coughing and sneezing.
• Avoiding unprotected contact with farm or wild animals.
• Avoid contact with live animals and consumption of raw or undercooked meat.
• Avoid travel to farms, live animal markets or where animals are slaughtered.
• Indian government has advised citizens to avoid all "non-essential travel to China".

(Based on World Health Organization’s situation report)