GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Kayaking is one of the most exhilarating water sports activities one can indulge in during the summer holidays. It is an exciting way to explore the natural beauty of lakes, rivers, and oceans while exercising and enjoying the fresh air. However, for those who are new to the sport, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. Therefore, we have compiled a list of the best beginner tips to help you enjoy kayaking this summer holiday.

While kayaking is a fun and exciting activity, it also involves some risks, and it's essential to take precautions to ensure your safety. In addition to learning the basics of kayaking, it's necessary to understand the importance of wearing protective gear and obtaining a personal accident insurance policy before you hit the water.

With these factors in mind, let's understand some detailed pointers to help you make the most of your summer kayaking experience.

1. Choose the right type of kayak
Before you start kayaking, you must choose the right type of kayak for your skill level and the water you'll be kayaking on. Sit-on-top kayaks are an excellent option for beginners as they are stable and easy to use. They are also less likely to tip over, making them safer.

2. Wear appropriate clothing and gear
Kayaking can be a wet and messy experience, so wearing appropriate clothing and gear is essential. Wear a life jacket, a helmet, and appropriate footwear. Choose quick-drying, lightweight clothes that will keep you cool and comfortable in the water.

3. Learn the proper paddling technique
The paddling technique is essential for an enjoyable kayaking experience. Learn the proper technique from a qualified instructor or watch online tutorials. Good technique will help you conserve energy and prevent injuries.

4. Choose calm waters
Choosing calm waters with minimal currents and waves is essential for a beginner. Avoid kayaking in open water or rough conditions until you're confident in your abilities.

5. Bring a friend
Kayaking alone can be dangerous, especially for beginners. Bring a friend along for safety and to make the experience more enjoyable and memorable.

6. Stay hydrated
Kayaking can be physically demanding, and you can quickly dehydrate in the sun. Bring plenty of water or sports drinks to stay hydrated throughout your kayaking trip.

7. Check weather conditions
Before heading out for your kayaking trip, check the weather conditions. Avoid kayaking in stormy or high wind conditions, as these can make the water choppy and difficult to navigate.

8. Know your endurance
As a beginner, it's essential to know your limits and not push yourself too hard. Take frequent breaks, and don't overestimate your abilities. It's better to have a shorter, enjoyable kayaking trip than to push yourself too hard and have an awful experience.

9. Get a personal accident insurance policy
Consider getting a personal accident insurance policy before embarking on your kayaking adventure. This will protect you from any accidents or injuries during your kayaking trip. This policy can provide financial assistance for medical expenses and lost income due to injuries.

Kayaking can be incredibly fun and rewarding for anyone looking to enjoy the great outdoors this summer. By following the beginner's tips outlined above, you'll be able to get started with kayaking in no time while ensuring your safety and minimising the risks. Always prioritise your safety by wearing personal protective gear, obtaining a personal accident insurance policy to safeguard yourself against all the risks and dangers of the sport, and checking weather conditions before you hit the water. So, grab your paddle, wear your life jacket, and get ready to have fun on the water!

Click HERE to learn more about the benefits of purchasing a personal accident 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.

Are you getting older and giving up on sports? This is a common phenomenon as the fear of injury increases with age and our fitness levels diminish. We hesitate to indulge in our favourite sport, badminton or cricket, with the fear of a muscle tear or a strained back.

But wait. Older adults should constantly engage in physical activities and sports to stay fit and active and enjoy a good social health score. Here are a few sports you should indulge in if you are an older adult and want to feel young again.

1. Golf
Golf is popular worldwide, and older adults can easily engage in it. It is a great stress reliever and improves your overall mental fitness. At the same time, it does not involve much running or physical effort, making it a great choice for older adults. Golf is known to improve blood circulation, which benefits your heart.

The older adults will also build a social circle while playing golf, which improves their emotional quotient. You should keep in mind that there is no pressure to perform well. Enjoy the time you spend outside in the sun in good company, and you will feel young again and light at heart.

2. Group exercises
Yes, group exercises are not just for the young ones but for older adults as well. Older adults can join group exercise classes, be it yoga, pilates, zumba, or some other dance form. They will start feeling young again even if they participate just a few times a week and not daily.

A group exercise will encourage older adults to match their pace with the group. It will keep them agile, fit, and active. These low-impact exercises can also benefit their respiratory system, muscle flexibility, and core balance. They are enjoyable and will also help them build a social circle.

3. Cycling
Cycling can be a great sport that can greatly benefit older adults. They don’t have to cycle at high speeds for long, as mild cycling can do the trick. Cycling improves cardiovascular functioning, immunity, and blood circulation and sharpens the mind. It can make you live longer and reduces the chances of hospital visits.

4. Doubles tennis/ badminton
Playing tennis or badminton in the singles format can be tough and draining for older adults. They can play doubles tennis or badminton to stay fit and agile at their own pace. These are fun sports, easy to play and practice. These sports will help strengthen their muscles, improve blood flow rate, and help them stay mentally fit. Older adults will feel young, active, and energetic once they start playing these sports in routine.

5. Billiards
Older adults can also engage in billiards as a sport. It is an indoor game; they need not sweat to play it. Also, it can be played with just 2-3 people. The sport requires moderate physical movement, sharpening the mind and improving concentration.

It is essential for older adults to engage in any of the above sports of their choice and feel young again. These sports will improve their muscle strength, blood circulation, balance, efficiency, and general mind and body fitness.

But sports also come with the risk of accidents. Hence, a personal accident policy is a must for everyone. It provides coverage and financial support for medical treatment due to an accident. You can easily browse several personal accident insurance online that the insurance companies offer, compare them, and choose the best among them conveniently at the click of a few buttons.

Click HERE to buy personal accident 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.

There are numerous general insurance companies in India offering multiple insurance products. However, most of the population is opposed to purchasing these insurance safety instruments despite the dire need for long-term stability. Recognising the slack in demand for purchasing specific policies, general insurance companies in India have developed a new way to make insurance products more accessible.

Embedded insurance, also known as bundling insurance, is the latest method of partnering with a third-party brand and offering consumers complimentary insurance or with a nominal fee over the transition cost. It helps make insurance accessible by bundling it for customers.

However, if you wonder how embedded insurance can expand opportunities and build strong customer journeys, read on.

What is embedded insurance?
Embedded insurance enables a third-party provider to introduce innovative insurance products for customers. It provides consumers with more affordable, personalised, and relevant insurance. It also allows general insurance companies in India to access underserved and untapped markets.

How embedded insurance helps increase insurance penetration in India? Insurance penetration is calculated as a percentage of total premiums collected relative to the country's GDP. According to the IRDAI, the country's general insurance penetration is about 1%. India's insurance penetration is lower than in developed countries.
However, we anticipate an increase in insurance penetration due to embedded insurance.

Here's how embedded insurance transforms the insurance sector and increases insurance penetration.

1. Charging the untapped markets
This insurance allows insurers to access a new market. With embedded insurance, general insurance companies in India can provide microfinance companies with policies like personal accident insurance and more to target a specific audience. Insurers and third parties can expand the insurance sector's reach in India's underdeveloped markets with the help of embedded insurance. It allows them to reach the untapped rural market, increasing insurance penetration deeper in the country.

2. Innovating product offerings
Insurers can construct personalised and more relevant insurance policies using consumer data that was not recorded or digitised. Customers can also change the insurance policy's features, coverage, cost, etc., and discontinue them if they are no longer reasonable.

3. Enhanced customer experience
Embedded insurance boosts customer satisfaction, resulting in greater opportunities for general insurance companies in India to market their services and products. It also provides more customised coverage, allowing customers to change plans and premiums according to their needs. This way, it offers more significant benefits and value to the customers.

4. Low client acquisition costs
General insurance companies in India spend roughly 20% of their income on advertising to new clients. Embedded insurance decreases the churn rate by engaging policyholders at the right time in their journey. Also, the effective cost of customer acquisition is lower than other insurance.

5. Streamlined onboarding
Many people consider insurance an inconvenient procedure requiring a series of steps. Embedded insurance gives customers a streamlined issuing process, making insurance simple and inexpensive. This applies to the claim procedure too. The smooth operations of embedded insurance is a boon for Indians to invest in insurance massively.

Embedded insurance has much potential, but businesses must balance the efficiency and speed of business operations, regulatory compliance, and customer protection for this model to succeed.

Many general insurance companies in India are now integrating the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data analytics, and other technologies to transform the insurance industry and deliver a hassle-free customer experience. While it will require time for adoption, it is a welcome move to increase penetration rates. Insurers must use the momentum and improve their dependability to gain consumer trust.

Click HERE to invest in a reliable general 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.

Insurance is a financial product like no other. Upon payment of a meagre premium amount, it protects the insured person or asset against a contingent event involving a risk to its present or future value. While general, health and life insurance are relatively common products with a higher penetration rate in India, personal accident insurance online lags far behind.

While this may be attributed to the lack of awareness, it is straightforward why the product is required. Accidents are uncertainties that can occur in any setting, whether travelling, commuting, or at work. Since you cannot eliminate the risk of accidents, purchasing personal accident insurance online is essential to protect yourself against hospitalisation costs and other expenses resulting from an accident.

The limited awareness regarding personal accident insurance is also only partially reliable due to the misconceptions surrounding the product. While its coverage to the extent of travel accidents is commonly known, there are several questions surrounding its scope of coverage for adventure sports.

Find out whether adventure sports are covered by personal accident insurance online.

Defining adventure sports.

Adventure sports are easy to define in lay terms but are described differently by every insurer. It includes sports that involve contact, extreme speed, technical gear, and extremely high levels of risk. As the name states, these sports have a considerably high-risk grade, making most insurers hesitant to cover them. Common extreme sports include skydiving, skiing, rappelling, mountaineering, etc.

Generally, irrespective of the type of insurance- general or non-general, most insurers do not offer coverage for adventure sports due to the intensity of the activities.

Why should you check for adventure sports inclusion before participating?

The thrill of adventure is second to none, and the addition of multiple uncontrollable factors only adds to the experience for those who seek an adrenaline rush. However, one must always ensure to protect themself from potential accidents before participating in such sports for the following reasons –

1. Hospitalisation coverage:
With medical inflation on the rise, covering any possible medical expenses, including those arising from adventure sports, is prudent. Considering the high-risk profile of these sports, it is always better to be ready for the worst and prepare a financial net that shoulders the burden of such costs.

2. Allied perks:
Personal accident insurance online offers related allowances such as a daily cash allowance, transportation, and more. This reduces the strain on your finances during your period of hospitalisation or any inactivity as an earning member.

3. Mental peace:
The most significant benefit of inclusion is the peace of mind to engage in activities of your choice. You don’t have to worry about the consequences due to the existence of a safety net for your finances.

Does personal accident insurance online cover extreme sports?

At face value, one may assume that personal accident insurance online would offer extreme sports coverage. Most insurers in India presently do not include accidents caused while engaging in such sports within the scope of the policy.

However, if you want coverage against such risks, some insurance companies offer comprehensive accidental coverage across all terrains and destinations. It may take additional effort to discover such insurers amid all those that exclude such accidents. Here are a few factors you should consider before purchasing a policy from such a provider:
1. The extent of sports covered- land, air, water, etc.
2. Provision of immediate medical assistance
3. Customisation of a plan as per your adventure needs
4. Active policy period

Despite the exclusion of extreme sports by most insurers, personal accident insurance online is an essential requirement that provides financial assistance when you are only partially covered by your term or health insurance policy alone. We encourage you to consider purchasing personal accident insurance online to cover the other form of accidents and your risk exposure.

Click HERE to buy personal accident 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.