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.

Running a business involves many uncertainties and risks, making it a venture challenging for every business person. While it provides multifold rewards for the resources invested into it, it also requires a lot of effort and time to scale your business. Until then, you must consider multiple factors at all times whose fluctuations may adversely impact the business operations.

The risk of mishaps outside the control of the management is a constant source of worry since the loss caused by such incidents is enormous. A business's most common threats are natural disasters, fires, and explosions, especially in manufacturing entities. While there is no way to eliminate such threats directly, a comprehensive and adequate policy purchased from a fire insurance company goes a long way in insuring your business premises and assets from the damage caused by such events.

Here is a detailed understanding of why you should purchase a fire insurance policy for your business and the advantages it provides.

What is covered under a fire insurance policy?

A fire insurance cover protects your insurable assets against more than just fires. It covers damages due to fires, natural calamities, lightning, fire explosions, aircraft damages, landslides, and bushfires. A closer inspection of your insurance will provide greater insight into the events from which your business is secured.

While the cover has several inclusions, it also has notable exclusions that you must know. Some excluded events are wilful fires, electricity leaks, fires caused by short-circuiting, war, etc. It is essential to check the fine print of your contract before signing it.

Who can purchase a fire insurance policy?

A fire insurance company offers insurance covers against fire to businesses of any size and scale, asset holders like buildings or furniture, holders of inventory stock like retailers, godown owners, manufacturing entities, hotels and lodgings, and any other service-providing institutions. This is an inclusive list covering any person, company, or business holding assets that require protection against fires.

Advantages of fire insurance.

Now that we know who can purchase fire insurance coverage and which assets it can protect, here are the advantages it offers business owners.

1. Loss against damage:
The effect of a fire is unimaginable. While it is a contingent misfortune, it is best to be secured against such an event, as the loss is far too significant for a business to bear. A fire policy covers the loss caused by fire to any movable or immovable property of the business, reducing the financial loss incurred by the enterprise.

2. Wide range of inclusions & add-ons:
Besides fires, most fire insurances cover other events to make it a comprehensive policy. They provide options to include add-ons to increase the coverage at an added cost.
The list of additional events as add-ons comprises earthquakes, forest fires, consequential loss of profits, rent, etc. At the payment of a nominal price, you can ensure that your business is completely secured against any event related to fires.

3. Ease of restarting business:
In the event of a fire, it is challenging for a business to cover the losses and continue its operations at its original scale. With adequate fire insurance, it is easier to cope with the aftereffects as the business only has to focus on its operations instead of worrying about replacing the losses.

Therefore, it is fair to conclude that purchasing insurance coverage from a fire insurance company protects a business in the event of a contingent fire, as the advantages outweigh its cost. You must also ensure that you install and regularly keep the fire safety equipment up-to-date at your workplace.

Click HERE to buy insurance from the best fire insurance company.

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.

Yoga is considered one of the oldest forms of physical exercise in the history of the world. While its origins seem Indian, yoga is practiced globally by people of different ethnicities and cultures. It helps you keep your body flexible, develop a more robust immune system, and bring a certain sense of discipline to your life. The various asanas and forms in yoga ensure that your body and mind work synchronously. It also regulates low-stress levels, induces better sleep quality, decreases blood pressure, heals current ailments, and benefits mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and much more.

There are many advantages of inculcating the habit of practicing yoga daily in your lifestyle. But everything comes with its risks. You must strictly adhere to the methodologies and procedures while performing various asanas to avoid unwanted accidents. Lack of proper understanding and implementation of the instructions can cause more harm to your body than expected.

Here are some common yoga injuries and the ways to fix them.

1. Be careful about your shoulders and knees:
Some of the most frequent yoga injuries include repetitive stress in the shoulders resulting in strain, chronic pain, or dislocation (ball and socket joint issues). Although the latter happens in extreme cases, strain and chronic pain can cause massive discomfort in your day-to-day activities. The muscle injuries in the shoulder area can be caused by overstretching too.

2. Neck pain can be frustrating:
Yoga postures like headstands and shoulder stands can cause severe neck injuries if not performed carefully or under supervision. Such poses can even put your vertebrae under extreme pressure, eventually leading to excruciating pain, compression, and flexibility issues. You might also face joint issues and muscle spasms, which can cause soreness and problems with your neck movement.

3. Save yourself from back problems:
When done incorrectly, yoga can cause discomfort in your lower back. You might stress your back even more while performing your daily chores. This might substantially elevate your back issues, leading to pain, spinal cord problems, movement restrictions, hip issues, disc problems in worse situations, etc.
Since your lower back is connected to significant movements in your upper or lower body, even the slightest task, such as stretching, can become a huge pain point in case of lower back troubles due to yoga injuries.

Now that we have discussed some common injuries, let’s discuss how we can fix them. Avoid putting excessive pressure on your body to perform a particular yoga posture. While it is essential to push your body to its limits, you need to draw a line and understand when it’s time to pull back. Use blankets or a yoga mat to significantly reduce the pressure from your lower back during seated yoga positions.

Perform the yoga postures in stages, so you don’t end up overstretching your shoulders. Avoid pulling too hard and take a breather whenever required. You can wear kneecaps to support your knees while performing the asanas. Again, perform such postures in stages. Make your body familiar with the pressure you might experience. Always ensure to let your body a little loose once you are done with your yoga session. You should include warm-down exercises to relax your body after heavy yoga/workout.

We all understand the importance of yoga and how it helps us stay fit and healthy, thus paving the path for a smoother life. But certain situations are out of your control and can endanger your or your loved ones’ health. Purchasing health insurance is crucial to safeguard yourself against such circumstances and face the problem instead of worrying about financial distress. You can explore all your options available in the market from the comfort of your home with an array of digital options. You can buy health insurance online India to cater to your needs in the best way possible.

Click HERE to know more about how you can buy health insurance online 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.

Organ transplant is a process where we replace a malfunctioning organ with a healthy one from a fit donor. With the advancement of medical science and the introduction of state-of-art technologies, we can go for transplants of vital organs such as the liver, kidney, heart, etc. But these life-saving transplants come with heavy costs ranging between 1-2 lakhs to 30-35 lakhs of rupees!

Health insurance providers have started offering policies covering organ transplants to meet such heavy expenditures. You read it right! Let us look into such policies in detail.

1. Coverage:
Two parties are involved in organ transplants: the organ receiver and its donor. Health insurance companies will cover the cost of various tests, hospitalisation expenditure, cost of surgery, and other related procedures vital for an organ transplant of the receiver. However, there are restrictions on coverage with regard to donor expenses.
The insurance policy will cover the in-patient hospitalisation charges of the donor. But it does not cover expenses regarding medical screening, storage or transportation of the organ, and pre and post-hospitalisation charges that the donor may incur in the process. Coverage for the above costs is subject to the sum insured and cannot exceed that.

2. Types of costs:
You should be aware of the types of costs that you will incur during an organ transplant. The first cost to bear is organ screening. The hospital will check the condition of the donor's organ.
The donor will incur pre-hospitalisation costs for medicines and different tests. Then hospitalisation expenses, including room charges, doctor fees, nursing expenditures, etc., will be considered. Post all these initial formalities and screenings; the actual surgery can be performed.
Post-surgery complications often arise, and there might be a need to bear additional hospital and doctor fees, medical expenditures, etc. The donor's post-surgery expenses, such as doctor follow-up, medication, etc., are also to be considered.

3. Waiting and survival period:
A health insurance policyholder with organ transplant coverage cannot raise a claim for the initial few days after buying the policy. Such policies usually come with a waiting period of 90 days to even 2-3 years from the policy's inception, after which a claim for an organ transplant can be raised. This waiting time may vary from one policy to another as per their respective terms and conditions.

4. Guiding Act:
The "Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA) 1994" is the guiding act for all organ transplants in India. It guides the removal, storage, and transplantation process of human organs. Any health insurance service provider will not cover your organ transplant claim if it violates any of the provisions of this law. Also, your claim will be rejected if the organ transplant is done for commercial dealings or smuggling activities of human organs.

Saving a life by donating or receiving an organ is a fortunate incident, and having the right insurance plan can make the experience less daunting. We recommend that online health insurance is the best way to invest in organ transplantation coverage. Buying the policy online will allow you to study and compare various policies that provide such coverage per our convenience and requirements.

Organ transplantation is an expensive process, and making haste decisions can land you in unwanted trouble. Go through each policy's terms and conditions in detail before making your final decision.

You should also ask for a detailed break-up of the recipient and donor expenses from the hospital before going for an organ transplant. This will give you a fair idea of what expenditure will be excluded from your insurance policy coverage and what will be its financial implication.

Click HERE to buy an online 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.

AI has evolved tremendously over recent years, and its impact can be seen in every sector of the economy. The car insurance sector is also touched by AI and is all set to revolutionise it. Data modelling and machine learning applications are changing the insurance process and customer experience. Its role is increasing in car inspection, claim processing, and car insurance renewal.

Let us see how AI is set to revolutionise the car insurance sector in detail.

1. Car Insurance renewal:
Policyholders must upload photos and videos of their cars from all angles on a cloud-based app. No human assistance is required in this process on the insurance company's end because of AI. Computers evaluate the condition of the car, quote the premium amount accordingly and process the renewal.
AI is helping companies to save millions of rupees as their manpower requirement for the insurance renewal process has gone down drastically. Also, it is helping to save a lot of valuable time for companies and customers by making the renewal process swift and streamlined.

2. Claim processing:
AI is also set to revolutionise the processing of claims in the car insurance sector. Currently, claim management and processing are primarily manual. It takes a lot of time and is prone to errors and inefficiencies. This process is known to eat up around 50%-80% of the revenues generated by premiums.
Machines and computers need sufficient learning data and algorithms to master claims processing. AI can be used for initial claims routing, thorough inspection, and assessing the nature of damage and time for repairs. It can save several hours in processing every individual claim.
More importantly, AI can detect fraudulent claims, a major revenue drainer for every insurance company. AI can help to detect out-of-the-ordinary behaviour and claims coming for processing, which sometimes normal eyes can fail to detect. Some AI-based applications are capable of running background checks on customers coming for insurance claims. The insurance company can assess the risks associated with a respective customer or business.

3. Telematics-based insurance plans:
AI has enabled car insurance companies to offer telematics-based insurance plans to their customers. A "Pay-as-you-drive" plan can be used to charge premiums for insurance plans according to the number of kilometres a customer drives over time. AI can also assess driving style and behaviour of the drivers and charge premiums accordingly.
Thus, AI can be a revolutionising tool for "Pay-how-you-drive" plans and help companies to offer sophisticated and need-based plans to their customers. Such plans can help an insurance company to increase its clientele and profitability.

4. Competitive premiums:
AI can be very helpful in tracking the premiums charged by competitors for their car insurance plans in real time. A car insurance provider can accordingly charge a lower premium or offer a better car insurance price in India to the customers and ensure that the do not go away to the competitors.

The adoption of AI by insurers will be an essential criterion for companies to bring down their car insurance price in India. The insurance companies will pass on the savings due to AI to their customers, who will eventually benefit. Companies that do not adopt AI in the near future will be laggards, and competition will take over them.

Click HERE to get the best car insurance price in India for all your needs.

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.