GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

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)

Given the current circumstances, social distancing is the need of the hour as all offices in most parts of the nation are opting for ‘Work From Home’ approach. We bring you a few guidelines that will make this happen with similar efficiency and harmony as you work in the office.

Refer to the below checklist for productive results.

Get ready

Create a regimen and follow it. Some of the most successful business leaders get ready daily for work, although they don’t need to. It gets you into the mood. Please remember that it is work from home and not relax from home.

Create a boundary between work and leisure.

Don’t work from your bed/sofa. Your sofa/bed is the place where you relax, watch Netflix, schmooze. The office cannot be operated out of bed. You will not be able to do justice to important discussions.

When you have to leave your bed and go to the office, you create a sort of distinction which is difficult to import back home. It’s especially difficult right now when you have schools closed and kids at home; Malls, Cinema and Gym closed.

Follow your daily work routine ( With some modification)

• Continue making your daily plan / Morning huddles / Morning meetings
• Share your plan with your supervisor and colleagues who require to see

• Keep your supervisor informed.

• What are you going to accomplish in the morning
• How are you going to take breaks
• When are you going to stop working
•  

  Create trust

  In the office, you are surrounded by people whereas when you are at home, you have less information about your colleagues. You cannot just walk across and close your dealings. You cannot gauge their reactions from non-verbal cues.

  People will evaluate by outcomes and not by the extent of your effort

• Set explicit goals and to-do list with your supervisor
• Discuss and agree with your supervisor and colleagues
• Commit timelines and honour them.
• Extra-communicate with your colleagues. If you’re getting up and going for a walk, let that person know. Activate “away from desk” notification if possible
•  

  Use Teleconference tools

• Set up zoom/skype/WhatsApp meetings.
• Prepare for the meetings and run professionally. Check The Link To Know More
•  

  Take breaks and build physical activity

  Utilize the time that you will save by not commuting. Go for a quick walk or do bodyweight exercises at home.

  You will not get enough movement by pacing between your desk, refrigerator and the kitchen.

  Please note that work cannot suffer because that is how we all get paid.

All of us are preparing for the rainy season with our umbrellas and raincoats in place. While we are getting ready for the heavy rains, let us not forget to prepare our cars for the same.

Wondering why your car needs a bit extra care? It’s because the heavy rains have a terrible effect on your vehicle’s body. The dirt, mud, waterlogging, and massive jams are all bad for your car’s health. The water during the rain sticks to your vehicle resulting in rusting and electrical issues and has a corrosive effect on the car in the long run.

Many car owners miss out on essential tips necessary to take care of their vehicles during the monsoon weather.

Here are some useful tips for maintaining the good health of your car during the monsoon.

Tip 1:

• Make sure that you have perfectly running tyres on the road to have a safe ride.
• The right amount of tread is crucial for your care during monsoon.
• Shallow tread in tyres during monsoon can be risky and can lead to road accidents. Get your car insured from the best car insurance company in India for your safety.
• Also, keep a check on the tyres’ inflation regularly as low pressure will make it difficult for you to drive your car.

Tip 2:

• Get the brakes of your vehicle checked.
• Their proper functioning during monsoon is much more essential due to slippery roads and waterlogged streets.
• To maintain the excellent condition of brakes, make sure you regularly clean and, if required, replace the brake pads.
• Make sure they have required friction material, especially during the rainy season.

Tip 3:

• Maintenance of wipers and washers during monsoon season is of prime importance.
• Check and make sure that the wiper blades of your car do not leave behind any lines or smudges.
• Wiper blades tend to wear out fast. Get them checked before the monsoon season sets in.
• The rubber blades tend to crack during the summer season, making them ineffective during the monsoon season.
• Check the washer’s reservoir level and top it when the level is low or as and when required.

Tip 4:

• Water and electricity don’t go together, and we all are well aware of this fact.
• Patch up any exposed wiring beforehand to ensure that your car’s electrical is in good working condition.
• The life of your car’s battery too tends to decline if you are living in an area that receives heavy or regular rains. Get the battery replaced if required so that all the electrical components like headlights, wipers, etc., function properly.

Tip 5:

• Working headlights, tail-lamps, and indicators or turn signals are vital regardless of the weather.
• During monsoon, visibility is hampered, which requires your car’s lights to function well, making it easier for you to notice other road users.
• Test your vehicle’s lights by running them together. If you notice that they are getting dimmer or are inconsistent, get them replaced with new bulbs.
• Make sure they have required friction material, especially during the rainy season.
• Note that flickering lights are also an indication of a weak battery.

Tip 6:

• Do not allow water to sit on the body of your car, as this can harm its paint.
• You can use a thin layer of wax polish to prevent the body of your car. Alternatively, you can also use anti-corrosion sprays.

Make sure to keep these tips in mind to have a safe ride. Chances of accidents during monsoon are high due to slippery roads and reduced visibility. Get car insurance from the Best Car Insurance Company In India at the best possible price and enjoy your ride with your loved ones.

Monsoon brings us particular delights, after the scorching summer season, rain is the only respite we look forward to. But they are not so delightful when they leave a trail of plight.

Some of the problems revolve around viral or water-borne diseases, floods, property damage, and vehicle corrosion. So, how can you possibly save yourself from such financial setbacks, especially during monsoon? A combination of the right insurance policy can help you from getting attacked by such flailing financial setbacks. Here's a curated list of insurance policies that you can buy to stop burning a hole in your wallet.

Choosing a comprehensive health insurance policy

• Some of the common ailments of this season are malaria, dengue, viral fever, typhoid, chikungunya, diarrhoea, and hepatitis.
• However, insurance companies provide a holistic range of health insurance plans covering almost all of these diseases.
• To meet the rising number of requirements for specific medical treatment claims, insurance companies provide policies specific to diseases at a marginal cost which provides insurance against particular incidence.
• These policies can be specific or add-ons. For instance, dengue can be quite fatal during this time, and companies are offering retail plans for that particular disease.
• However, a comprehensive health insurance policy plan can be lucrative since they cover all the seasonal ailments holistically to alleviate financial distress.
• They also provide pre and post-hospitalization expenses for 60 and 90 days, respectively.

Buying a personal incident policy

Buying a separate personal accident plan for the owners of vehicles can protect you against any uneven eventuality. Potholes and foggy roads can be quite fatal for those who commute on their cars. Personal Accident Insurance will cover injury, permanent disability, and death, for which the entire assured sum is paid.

Subscribing to add-ons for enhanced vehicle protection

• Although third-party motor insurance is a compulsory buy for every vehicle owner, a comprehensive policy can also offer a variety of extra coverages. However, comprehensive motor insurance also has certain limitations; for instance, if rainwater damages your car engine, they are not likely to be covered. But there are exceptions, water if it doesn't get sucked inside would cause further damage - that is not covered in regular comprehensive policy.
• Add-ons like engine and gearbox protector, Zero Depreciation, and Emergency roadside assistance are some of the most popular insurance add-ons during the monsoon season.
• You can choose and compare to buy car insurance online, and to have the best possible fit for you, be sure to go through the exclusion and inclusion document to have an overview of policies you are about to buy.

Buying home insurance

• Torrential downpour or floods can be detrimental to your house, and If you are a resident of a place that is frequently flooded every year, then this insurance would make sense.
• The average premium of insurance such as this ranges between 5000 to 10000 INR, this is meagre and affordable as opposed to losing out your house.
• The insurance would cover any structural damage or content damage in your home. Even if you live in an apartment that is one the higher floors, there are issues like electrical damage and seepage for which you have to pay a hefty amount if not insured.

Verdict

If you are well protected in the month of monsoon, you will find it easier to have a sustainable life during this season. And, for financial and medical protection, insurance policies are the only saving grace.

With the right combination of insurance coverage for you, monsoon can be approached safely by you without feeling inhibited.