GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

"I can't sit. I can't walk. I can't work."
"Ouch! My back hurts."
Is this you, rambling about back pain? Whether it is a one-day return or every two weeks, you need to know the reason behind your back pain and how quickly you can treat it before it's late!

Know the Cause
Strain
A strain occurs in your body due to over-activity like working for longer hours, incorrect lifting of heavy objects, and improper body movement. When this happens, you experience back pain.
Posture
Whether you are studying or sleeping, if your body posture is incorrect, it causes back pain. A bad posture can be identified when you are reading or studying while lying or bending at an extreme level than usual.
ArthritisArthritis is caused due to damage in the cartilage of joints in your lower back. If you have arthritis, you are already at risk of severe back pain.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is the thinning of bones and loss of bone density. It causes small fractures in your vertebrae, which can cause extreme pain.
Disc Degeneration Disorder
It occurs when the spinal disc between your vertebrae starts getting damaged. At times, you can face a spinal disc problem after an accident or because of aging.
Serious Back Pain Symptoms Usually, back pain is caused due to bad posture and strain which last for a few days or weeks. You might be suffering from chronic back pain if it lasts for more than three months.
If your back pain fails to improve within two weeks, you should see a doctor.
But before seeing a doctor, know a few severe back pain symptoms that are asking you to seek medical help:
● Weakness in one or both legs
● Continuous weight loss along with back pain
● Pain in the abdomen

Let’s Treat
Medications

The first thing that can heal your back pain is medications. Whether it is a painkiller or an anti-inflammatory ointment, the application can do wonders and reduce your pain. Some of the best painkillers that can help you get rid of back pain are:
● Ibuprofen
● naproxen
One of the most preferred ways of healing our back pain is using ointments. These ointments are much more useful than painkillers. These ointments are effective mostly when you have back pain due to strain or bad posture.
Yoga
You already know how effective yoga is in curing diseases, and back pain is no less. Incorporating some yoga postures into your routine daily can help reduce and improve your back pain.
Heat Therapy
Heat therapy is considered useful in treating pain, especially the one that is caused by inflammation. You can try using heat therapy with hot water filled in a hot water bag and applying on the inflammatory or swollen area. You can also consider taking a hot water bath as heat therapy, which can improve your aching muscles. With a hot water bath, you can also boost and improve the pain by adding Epsom salt into the hot water while taking a bath.
Massage
Massaging the effective area with essential oils relaxes the muscles, which in turn reduces the pain. Research proves that essential oils reduce pain. Consider using lavender essential oil for massaging the inflammatory area.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an effective traditional therapy that can spot the exact pain points in your back and puncture them. This therapy is effective when you are suffering from chronic back pain. Seek a medical professional for this therapy to get the right results.
Surgery
Surgery is the last option for severe back pain if it fails to respond to medicines and therapy treatments.caused due to medical ailments like Disc Degeneration Disorder, Arthritis, etc. With surgery, doctors remove and replace the disks partially to reduce your back pain. Spinal fusion surgery is one such surgery. This surgery helps in combining the painful vertebrae into a single bone. The painful movement of the spine gets eliminated, and you feel relieved. Such surgeries
The right treatment at the right time can transform your life. Take advantage of the best health insurance in India and stay healthy.

Having insurance is like having a safety deposit. That means if anything goes wrong, you would not be at a total loss. Insurance policies from the leading general insurance companies in India minimize loss and damage by reimbursing you for the expenses incurred during any unfortunate situations.

A wide range of insurance policies, ranging from life to non-life, are available in the market. Life insurance, as the name suggests, is about reimbursing your family members in case you lose your life due to specific reasons. Non-life insurance, on the other hand, is also known as general insurance, which is for automobiles, housing, commercial, travel and other similar purposes. If you suffer a loss from either of them, the insurance plan can help you in recovering from the same.

The process to check the claims online

While filing the claims correctly as per the terms and conditions of the insurance company is essential but it is equally essential that you track and check your claim online to know about the status of the claim and take corrective actions as and when necessary.

• When you file your claim with the insurance company or the TPA, they will provide you with the receipt number or file number along with an acknowledgement of filing of the claim.

• Usually, the insurance company or the TPA specify at the time of filing the claim as to how much time they will take in processing the claim. This is usually capped at 90 days but can vary according to the company policies.

• To track your health insurance or life insurance claim, you need to register your updated contact details with your health insurance company or the TPA. Once you have filed the claim, the TPA will send you the updates regularly on your mobile number or email.

• Alternatively, you can log-on to the website or mobile app of the TPA or the insurance company and track the status of your claim. To retrieve your claim details, you must have the following details with you: -

· Policy number

● Claim number

● Date of birth of the insured person

Once you enter all the details and submit them, you will be able to check the status of your claims online.

Different claim status and the steps to be taken

Depending on the status of your claim, either of the following status messages would be displayed on the screen. You must take the necessary steps according to the requirements.

Under process: -If your claim is under process, then you need to wait for a few more days and then check the status online again.

• Issues/Details required: - If there are any issues with the claim, then it will be mentioned on the status page. You must get in touch with the insurance company or the TPA. They will be able to explain the problem in the processing of the claim. If any documents are required or any further details are required, you must provide the same to them at the earliest.

• Approved: - If your claim has been approved, then you need not do anything else. The payment shall be credited into your account within a few working days.

• Rejected: - If the claim has been rejected, you need to get in touch with the insurance company or the TPA to enquire about more details. If required, you will need to file your claim again.

Life is precious, and so are your belongings. It is the best to secure each of them right after purchasing as many general insurance companies in India provide covers for such belongings, thereby preventing you from being in a huge loss.

While being involved in sports is a pleasure, it also helps you achieve your fitness goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Being an athlete or a player, you simply cannot keep away from your share of cuts and wounds. However, you can reduce the risk of severe injuries in a few ways.

One can never predict the severeness of an accident, and hence only staying cautious won't work. You further need to cover yourself with individual accident insurance to enjoy the sport stress-free. Let’s mitigate ways to tackle them and keep you from encountering any severe injury;

1. Stretch! Stretch! Stretch!
Regardless of the kind of sport you are up for, warming up with some stretches is vital in keeping your body elastic and relieving muscle tension. To perform stretching after the game is just as important as doing it before the game. Post-game stretches relax the muscles and eliminate the chances of muscle fatigue.

2. Maintain a healthy diet:
The ideal time to start maintaining a nutritious diet is at least two weeks before the big game or your practice sessions. Besides consuming a balanced diet every day, consult with a sports nutritionist for specific guidance. Since food plays an essential role in your overall strength formation, this is a crucial step to keep you healthy.

3. Make sure you stay hydrated:
Hydration is a must for every action you carry out in your day-to-day life; similarly, staying hydrated during the game is essential. Prevent cramps and tiredness by taking time to drink water in between and be sufficiently hydrated. Water will catalyze your metabolism, keep your brain and muscles alert and impart energy to you throughout your game. This will help lower your chances of injury since staying active will keep your focus.

4. Get ample sleep:
Inadequate sleep causes your reflexes to slow down, which might lead to disastrous mishaps. Getting adequate sleep is not only required for sports but also in our regular life. A clear mind is the ticket to attain focus. And that is only achieved by getting mental and physical rest.

5. It is obligatory to have protective gear:
Having the proper protective gear is just as crucial as anything else. You should wear appropriate gear for each sport you participate in. Also, the gear should be correctly fitted. Consult with your trainers to ensure that your equipment is properly-suited to you and meets industry standards.

6. Obey the guidelines:
Many sports-related injuries can be prevented if you follow the proper guidelines. Guidelines also make the sport more demanding and entertaining while ensuring that nobody gets hurt.

7. Consult Sports Physiotherapists before the big event:
Besides the above tips, a sport physiotherapist further helps you assess and treat injuries related to the sport. His recommendations help you to gain a perfect fitness level and, in the prevention of injuries.

Michael Jordan once rightly quoted – “Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” Our bodies have vulnerabilities that we do not always notice. But, what's more important than playing a sport is being a good sport while you are at it. Stay care-free and shield your dream of being a good sportsperson with individual accident insurance so that you focus on your training and not the injuries.

To browse individual accident insurance policies, click HERE .

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.

With almost everyone, a driving car these days, the chances of accidents have increased, and there is always the possibility of the vehicle needing repairs. Both of these cases require a lot of funds, which is why you need to get car insurance online in India immediately. Having car insurance means that you would be compensated if your car faces any damages if you get into accident or needs repairs. However, what determines how well you would be compensated is the sum insured, which is the maximum amount that the insurance company would pay you in such situations. It depends on the premium you pay.

Here are some determinants of choosing the right sum insured for car insurance: -

• Your age: Your age has a lot to do with the sum insured that you want for your car insurance policy. If you are younger, you can insure a low amount and then increase it gradually over the years. If you are older, it is best to have a higher sum insured just in case you need to take care of growing medical bills. Being in an accident may require you to either pay for the damages or hospital bills, and the amount for the latter could be higher if you are older and relatively weaker.
• The condition of your health: It may seem odd, thinking about your health when deciding the sum insured for your car insurance. But the status of your health largely determines the kind of treatment you would need if you are involved in an accident, and also the expenses. If you are healthy and free of ailments, you should choose a lower sum as opposed to you being older and less active and agile, which might complicate the treatment procedure and lead to higher expenses.
• Any ailments or severe health issues: If you suffer from a critical health condition, you might have to pay higher medical bills given the nature of complications. In such situations, it is best to opt for a higher sum insured so that you are protected from higher expenses.
• Your income: A very vital factor to consider is your level of income. Whether you want a higher sum insured or not, your income determines how much you can pay towards the insurance. If you just began earning or do not earn a lot, it makes sense to have a lower sum insured, since you would have other expenses to take care of. On the other hand, if you earn a decent living, opt for a higher sum insured for full coverage.
• Lifestyle and daily activities: The kind of area you live or work in, how you commute, at what hours, how much you drive the car, etc. determine the type of plan you would need, and thus would also determine the sum insured. If your lifestyle is such that there are more significant risks of getting into an accident or requiring frequent repairs, it is best to go with a higher sum insured so that you would be financially covered when the need arises.

It is not enough to buy car insurance online in India; you need to understand its terms and conditions and choose the sum insured that suits your needs and situations best.