GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

If you are a car owner, it is mandatory to have valid car insurance before driving on roads. Purchasing a one-time car insurance policy is insufficient since the annual renewal is equally important. As a responsible car owner and a policyholder, you are accountable to keep track of your car insurance's renewal.

To save money on premiums, many car owners choose the basic insurance plan with minimum benefits. This, in fact, during an unfortunate incident, gives more trouble than any advantage to them. However, there are better ways to reduce the cost of insurance without sacrificing good coverage and features.

To help you with that, we've put down some tips for you to save money on your next car insurance renewal:

1. Always compare:

There are more than a dozen companies out there that offer car insurance. Compare them and understand the clauses of each. Doing full-proof research work is essential to draw maximum benefits from your car insurance plan. You may also do an online evaluation of insurance companies to assist you in selecting the most economical coverage.

2. Opt for online mode:

Purchasing and renewing car insurance online is more economical than the traditional offline method. A vehicle insurance company's overall operational costs reduce when it operates online as it eliminates the funds that go into a mediator agent, paperwork, and other factors. Moreover, car insurance companies believe that online customers are more aware and offer some discounts.

3. Look out for deductibles:

Almost all automobile insurance policies include deductibles. It is the percentage of the claim amount that the automobile owner agrees to pay if a claim is filed due to damage to their car. By agreeing to pay a portion of the claim amount, you lessen your motor insurer's liabilities, and hence you get the car insurance at a more economical rate.

4. Save using your No-Claim Bonus (NCB):

You are eligible to earn a No-Claim Bonus if you do not file any claims during the policy year. The discount rises after each subsequent policy year (for a total of five years). At the time of renewing your car insurance, keep the NCB bonus offer in your mind. You may utilise this to get a reduction on your renewal premium.

5. Always renew your policy before it lapses:

Always ensure you renew car insurance annually on time. If you let the claim expire, it will make the insurance company consider you as an irresponsible person. In addition, the company has the authority to deny you any discounts or additional advantages at the time of renewal. It may even cost you the No-Claim Bonus.

6. Go for long-term insurance policies:

Various insurance companies provide attractive discounts, particularly on long-term vehicle insurance policies. Long-term vehicle insurance plans lower administrative expenses, and these savings are passed on to policyholders in the form of incentives and discounts.

On a conclusive note, insurance renewal is an important exercise that no policyholder can give a miss. So getting preliminary information about renewal tips will be beneficial to maintain a positive track record. So follow the above tips and save some amount on your next car insurance renewal.

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People suffer from obesity disorder worldwide because of their hectic lifestyle and inactive fitness routine. Obesity is nothing but the accumulation of excess fats in the body that negatively impacts a person's health. Factors like genetics, overeating, no physical movement, psychological factors, and side effects lead to the cause of obesity.

Being obese puts you at a greater risk of developing potentially severe health problems, including – diabetes, heart disease, stroke, breathing disorders, fatty liver disease, and lot more.

You might be aware that obese people are more likely to pay a higher insurance premium than other healthy policyholders. This is because obese people are prone to illness and are likely to make more claims than normal policyholders.

But obesity can be brought under control with the help of dieting, daily exercise, weight loss, and many other disciplines in our everyday routine.

In this article, we give you some handy tips that are useful to control obesity.

How to know if you are obese? If your Body Mass Index (BMI), which is commonly used to determine obesity, turns out to be higher than or equal to 30, it classifies you as an obese person.

There is a thin line between being overweight and obese; if your BMI measures between 25 to 29, you are overweight and not obese. Therefore, the formula to calculate Body Mass Index is the weight (kg) divided by Sq. of height (m).

Practical health tips to control obesity.

Here are five tips weight-loss experts recommend to assist in keeping obesity under control.

1. Personalized diet plans:

You must have read a lot that a few minutes of daily exercise are the key to controlling your weight. But, cutting calories and reducing junk food intake is better than increasing your exercise time to achieve weight loss. Overeating and consumption of more calories than needed is one of the primary reasons that cause obesity. Customize your diet plan to ensure calorie intake and the proper nutrients that your body demands.

2. Exercise can help you to stay fit:

Daily exercise and fitness schedule is vital for controlling your weight, and physically inactive people are more likely to gain extra kilos. If you are already maintaining a healthy diet, plan a perfect workout routine or join a gym. Regular exercising helps you burn calories and lose fats.

3. Set up a strong will for an active routine:

You have to work harder than many other people – possibly for a long time if you are overweight. For instance, taking the stairs instead of the elevator will make a significant difference. By changing your detrimental habits, you will cultivate an active and fit lifestyle. Remember, losing weight requires patience and discipline, which does not occur overnight.

4. Eat more healthy snacks between main meals:

You read it right, eat more – just not at your mealtimes. Diet experts recommend keeping many healthy snacks like sunflower seeds, almonds, whole wheat crackers, sliced apples, and other fruits and eating small portions every couple of hours. If you wait until you're starving, you generally tend to eat more.

5. Maintaining a sleep hygiene:

The importance of good sleep in overall well-being cannot be ignored. It works wonders for your goal of preventing obesity, too. There are studies confirming that people who get too little sleep have a greater risk of weight gain and obesity than people who practice seven to eight hours of sleep per day. Sleep hygiene includes a proper sleep schedule and a bedtime routine like reading or listening to some good music.

Obesity, if it gets serious, can take a toll on your pocket. Although there are no policies especially for obesity yet, insurance companies protect obesity in exchange for higher premiums. Therefore, it is always advisable to secure your health insurance at an early stage of life to save you from that extra premium.

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We all can debate if mental health is as crucial as physical health. Because of our stressful lifestyles, it is necessary to stay both mentally and physically fit. Nowadays, doctors, fitness and wellness experts recommend equal attention to a person's mental health, which seems reasonable.

Is mental illness covered in health insurance? Any person who is buying health insurance would have this query in mind. The answer is "yes". The IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) has also made it mandatory for insurance companies to have policies with mental illness coverage. Every insurance company has to keep coverage for treating a mental illness in the same way they cover physical ailments.

We explain in this article how a health insurance policy can take care of financial emergencies arising out of any mental illness.

What are mental health and mental illness?

Characteristics such as psychological wellbeing, behaviour, emotions, cognition, and socialising make up a person's mental health. Each of these influences how we act, think, respond and feel. It also plays a role in our decision-making, interactions, and other functional activities. Mental illness refers to the situation when at least one of the characteristics mentioned above falls short in performing their role, and an imbalance occurs in a person's mind. It affects their thinking ability, decisions, behaviour, grasping, responses, memory, and the like.

Facts to know about mental illness coverage in health insurance.

Here are some factors you should know about mental illness and how it is covered in a health insurance policy:

- Just like any physical health insurance, mental health insurance covers your expenses of treatments, hospitalisation, medications, etc.

- Any person suffering from overthinking, moodiness, anxiousness, depression, loss of memory, coordination inability, and the rest is considered mentally ill and can opt for a mental health insurance policy

- Mental health insurance also gives you cashless services like comprehensive insurances

- Unfortunately, mental health insurance does not cover retardation

- The benefits and claim process may differ from one patient to another

- Illnesses resulting from the consumption of drugs or alcohol are excluded from the coverage

- It is more advisable to include mental health insurance in the initial stage with health insurance

Final thoughts:

As we lead a stressful lifestyle, investing in mental health insurance is undoubtedly a wise decision for every health insurance policyholder. We spend a lot of time discussing our physical wellness and weight loss plans, but not nearly enough about our mental wellbeing. Every third person you come across may be suffering from some kind of mental issue. Although there is still a taboo of mental illness being inferior and shameful, it is remarkable how IRDAI acknowledges this concern and makes it compulsory for insurance companies to cover mental disorders.

Though the policies have some exclusions and restrictions, it is only equitable for the insurance companies to provide you with the best available facilities even in emergency.

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With all types of car insurance available out there, which one should you go for? Many vehicle owners get confused by unfamiliar terms and calculations. Buying car insurance is undoubtedly necessary as it protects you from financial trouble. However, selecting it based on lower premiums and skipping other important features about car insurance may not be a good option; if you don't know some lesser-known yet important facts.

So to help you with decision-making for the best car insurance or car insurance renewal, here are seven things you should know about car insurance.

1. Factors that determine your premium:

Although every insurance company applies its own formula for calculating premiums, there are some basic factors used by all of them. The list includes the model, engine, type of your car, current condition of the vehicle, Insured Declared Value (IDV), your age and marital status, etc. This information helps the insurer to evaluate risk and computing the premium for your car insurance.

2. You can save on your insurance premium:

Yes! You heard it right. And this might get you a considerable discount on the insurance premium that you have to pay. You may be eligible for discounts if you have anti-theft devices installed, buying insurance online, or applying for multi-year coverage, among others. There are several ways to lower your insurance premium. Double check with the insurance company on discounts available to you or when to use your no claim bonus.

3. Zero depreciation on damage:

When you make a claim, your car insurance company subtracts the depreciation costs from the cost of the components even before the determination of the claim amount. If your policy includes a zero depreciation cover, your insurer reimburses you for the cost of the components, including depreciation. Purchasing a zero-depreciation policy would raise your premium slightly, but the added coverage is well worth it.

4. Get rewarded in the form of No-Claim Bonus:

Did you know that you are eligible for rewards in the form of bonuses for not using your insurance? For example, insurance companies will offer you a No-Claim Bonus if you do not file a claim during the policy period. It's a premium discount that works as an incentive for improved driving and prevents individuals from claiming tiny amounts.

5. Insurance is transferable:

If you're the second owner of a car and the vehicle's insurance is in the first owner's name, you need not buy a new one. All insurance companies offer car insurance renewal and transfer of insurance to the second owner. All you need to do is to provide the transfer forms with the relevant document to the insurance company, and it's done.

6. The insurer can cancel your insurance:

If you break one or more of your policy's rules during the policy period, your insurance provider has the right to cancel your coverage at any time. The same is true for non-renewal. Failure to pay your premium on time, losing your driver's license due to suspension or revocation, filing too many at-fault claims, or lying about your driving history or prior insurance claims might be grounds for cancellation or non-renewal.

7. All insurers have different premiums:

While the insurance regulation sets the prices for third-party liability insurance, the premiums for all other types of coverage vary between insurers. Therefore, before settling on a vehicle insurance cover, always compare among the available options.

Always make an informed choice about where to cut corners on your insurance features and where no to. Also, remember to choose an insurance company with a good rating and high claim settlement record.

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