GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

In these difficult and devastating times, we all want to keep ourselves protected from this deadly pandemic. The entire human race is praying to be safe and establish a Covid-free atmosphere in the world. But how can we make this happen? What measures can truly safeguard us from getting infected by this highly contagious disease?

1. MASK- A dependable shield

Wearing a proper mask should be our utmost priority whenever we move out of our houses or go to crowded places. Mask is the first wall of defence against the Coronavirus. The majority of the chances of getting infected are narrowed down if we wear appropriate masks suggested by our government and health authorities. But just wearing the masks is not sufficient; the mask should cover your face and nose properly. Only good quality masks should be used, cloth masks should be regularly washed, and use-and-throw masks should not be used more than twice. Masks should be handled only by using elastic strands. Avoid using masks that have filters installed on them, but use masks that are comfortable and easy to breathe. Remember, Mask ON....Life ON!

2. Maintain a safe distance today to have a safer tomorrow

Another crucial and effective preventive measure is maintaining a social distance of at least six feet when you are around other people. Avoiding close contact with people can nullify the chances of getting infected to larger extents. Even when you are at home, it is recommended to avoid getting close to the sick person or with low immunity, especially aged members of your house. Today this physical distance is a necessity to ensure the safety of you and also the people around you.

3. Safety is in your HANDS. Literally!

Our hands touch many things and surfaces daily, which means they are massively exposed to the virus. Later these hands can act as a carrier and can make our bodies vulnerable to the infection. So, we must wash our hands regularly and properly. Hands should be either washed by using soap and water or using hand sanitizers with a minimum of 70% alcohol. Especially when you are in a public place, carry a sanitizer with you always and use it whenever you touch an unknown surface. Avoid touching your nose, eyes, face, and mouth with unclean hands. Also, maintain personal hygiene and even keep your surroundings disinfected.

4. Vaccine is a must

Responsibly participate in the vaccination drive and get yourself vaccinated with both the doses of the vaccine. Also, encourage others to get themselves vaccinated. The vaccine is a game-changer during these challenging times, so be responsible and take the shot whenever available.

5. Your Health, Your Priority

In this depressing environment, it is wise to understand that staying positive can flush all the negativity and restore happiness. Every human is a superhero during these crucial times. Together we all can do wonders, follow these guidelines, and realize the importance of Covid appropriate behaviour and be a life saviour.

Lastly, in this extreme situation, closely monitor your health for any unexpected changes in your body. Never underestimate any symptoms, stay alert and consult your doctor in case you feel something odd. It is suggested to have an appropriate 

health insurance 

policy that acts as a rescuer for immediate cashless hospitalization and huge Covid related hospital expenses. You can buy Health Insurance Online in a contactless manner from a trusted source to ensure your health cover.

Let's make this difficult period a little lighter, both emotionally and mentally, and win this battle.

Amidst this pandemic, the human race is praying desperately for the cure. After so many efforts, we are finally blessed to have a vaccine now. It is indeed significant that it could be made in such a short period; all credit to our advanced medical researchers.

Want to get the COVID-19 vaccine? Please check this step-wise procedure.

The first step to get vaccinated is to register yourself on the CoWin portal and get an appointment for the first dose of the vaccine. CoWin is a trusted platform designed by the government, which runs both independently and also on the Arogya Setu app. Avoid using any other portal or application for registering yourself as a lot of fraudulent portals are being run to fool people. Know exactly where the vaccine drives are rolling in your vicinity.

Also, it is important to know the difference between various doses, their side effects, and which one is suitable for you to take. Do this with the help of a physician or a doctor before taking your shot of vaccine.

Setting up your mind to get vaccinated without getting afraid is important. Vaccination is nothing but immunization!

What is to be done before getting vaccinated?

Register yourself on the government-suggested website and get an appointment for a particular day. As your day of vaccination is close, take adequate rest. Have enough sleep of 7-8 hours and avoid exhausting yourself. Also, if you are on some other medication or if you are on steroids or any immunosuppression, then consult your doctor.

For the safer side, if you feel any symptoms like cough, fever, cold, sore throat, etc. on or before the day of vaccination, then seek medical help. Consume a balanced diet to boost your immune system and to maintain your energy level. Stay hydrated, it is the key to stay calm inside out.

What to do when ‘it is the day’?

On the day of your shot, do a safety check. Ensure you are wearing a proper face mask and sanitize your hands properly. If possible, wear hand gloves too to maintain zero contact. Foremost, wear loose clothes when you are going to the vaccination centre because the vaccination spot is on the upper arm, giving easy access to the vaccinator.

The most important thing is to stay positive. Don't get anxious, take slow deep breaths. Think of a positive outcome – this shot is going to be a shield for you and others around you.

And, please carry your photo ID card mentioned in your appointment details for vaccination.

What are the steps taken after getting vaccinated?

The primary step is to monitor yourself. If there are any side effects, they will appear within 30 minutes after getting your vaccine shot. There are mild and common effects like swelling, redness on the arm, dizziness, headache, chills or mild fever, joint or muscle ache, etc. Remember that these side effects will subside within a few days.

If you feel severe symptoms like vomiting, fainting, allergic reactions, then seek medical help immediately. Avoid consuming painkillers or any other medication unless you consult a doctor about it.

The second dose is equally essential, so don't miss that. There should be a fair gap of 4-12 weeks between both the doses.

And most important of all is, even after getting vaccinated, don't stop taking precautions in day-to-day life. Continue wearing your masks, do sanitize properly and maintain social distancing.

Also, considering the risk pandemic brought, if you already don't have an existing health insurance, it is time to purchase a new 

health insurance plan

 .You can buy Health Insurance Online to get coverage to protect your family from sudden illnesses, hospitalization and medical expenses.

Let us be responsible, and let us all protect one another and help our community get through these pandemic hard times. Stay Safe, Get Vaccinated.

Disasters have many faces and can strike anytime, anywhere; they can be seen in the form of quakes, floods, gas leaks, explosions, etc. and one of the most commonly known faces of disaster is fire. Damage felt after a partial or full-blown fire mishap is quite painful and nearly unrecoverable. However, if you have your house insured with ironclad insurance from a well-reputed fire insurance company, then your hassles can be reduced to a minimum.

A fire insurance policy plays an essential role in dealing with the losses and damages incurred due to fire. It is highly recommended to purchase fire insurance to safeguard your homes from any future calamity that a sudden fire or smoke can cause.

Here are some of the tips you can follow if you face damage from fire or smoke in your homes.

• Ask for an advance against your claim: -  Right after the house has been gutted to fire, you might be forced to evacuate the house, considering the dangerous situation because of the smoke. In this case, you are eligible to get an advance from your insurance company so that you can buy your daily essentials. Inform your insurance company and ask it to issue a cheque and bring it to wherever you are staying. It will help you in this dire need and will be enough for your survival until your claim gets accepted.
• Checking for the extent of losses: - Once the fire tragedy is controlled, the first act of the homeowner is to calculate or check for the damage extent of personal belongings and property loss in the fire. Once the total loss is measured and counted, it will be easier for you to negotiate with officials handling the claim process.
• Having your receipts documented: - After facing a disastrous house fire, you may be forced to live in a temporary dwelling like a hotel or guesthouse close to your vicinity. It would be ideal to secure all the receipts, document all the costs and expenses carefully. Once you receive the claim for the house fire, you may also get a compensated amount you incurred on your living expenses.
• Check bank statements if you don’t have a receipt: - People tend to be careless when it comes to saving receipts for every new thing that they buy. While we might save receipts of the electronic items for warranty or claiming a refund, it’s not easy to keep those long bills every time you go for grocery shopping. However, your every online transaction would bring a huge relief; hence look for credit card statements and bank statements to prove the value of items.
• Back up your vocal claims with evidence: - After the fire tragedy, some items are destroyed or damaged to such an extent that for the insurer, it could be challenging to identify for assigning the claim. So, as a responsible party, you ought to click as many pictures and shoot videos as possible of the damaged, smoked rooms to show the physical evidence of the actual damage before it gets wiped by a restoration company.

Fire insurance is a contractual agreement between the policyholder and the insurer wherein the insurer in return for consideration or premium agrees to indemnify the policyholder or the insured person for the financial loss that he/she may suffer due to destruction of or damage to property or goods by fire during a specific period. You can buy as well as renew a fire insurance policy in India by online as well as offline ways.

The purchase of fire insurance helps to cover the cost of replacement, repair or reconstruction of the property, but fire insurance is generally not valid in case of war, nuclear risk or any such similar peril. Buying fire insurance is always a good idea because your property is your investment and buying a fire insurance policy will help you recover the damage and loss caused due to fire on your property.

Most of the policies offered by the different insurance providers cover the physical damage caused to your property by the following perils: -

• Fire
• Lightning
• Riot and Strike
• Earthquake, wind and storm
• Explosion
• Smoke damage
• Sprinkler Damage
• Damage due to aircraft
• Bush fire
• Subsidence, rockslides or landslides
• Impact damage which may occur due to the impact of road vehicles or animals or rails.

There are various types of fire insurance policies that are available in India, depending on the coverage requirement of the individual. The type of fire insurance policy in India you may choose also depends on whether the asset which is being insured is a fixed asset or a non-fixed asset. Depending on the type of asset being insured, insurance providers have different types of fire insurance policies available. The types of policies for fixed assets such as homes are: -

• Replacement Value Policy - The asset which has been insured is replaced if it is damaged by fire wherein the insurance company pays the replacement value of the damaged property.
• Reinstatement Value Policy - This is almost similar to the Replacement Value Policy but with an added clause that the insurance company will replace the damaged property to its original condition before the occurrence of the peril. This policy applies to fixed assets like buildings.

There are many different types of policies for non-fixed assets, such as: -

• Specific Policy - This policy covers the loss up to a specific amount which is less than the real value of the property.
• Comprehensive Policy - Also called ‘All in One’ policy, this policy covers loss due to fire, theft, burglary as well as other third-party damages.
• Valued Policy - Under this policy, the insured person can recover a fixed amount which was agreed to at the time the policy was bought.
• Floating Policy - This policy covers loss due to fire to property belonging to the same person but at different places.
• Valuable Policy - The sum insured is not decided at the time of buying the policy but instead, the claim amount is calculated at the time of loss.
• Consequential Loss Policy - This policy covers the loss in profit caused due to disruption of the business by damage due to fire.

Buying a fire insurance policy for your house or your goods is always a good decision, but you must buy a policy which covers the risk that you face and understand the nature of the asset that you want to insure and then buy an insurance policy accordingly.