GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

People are becoming more and more aware of physical fitness and activities that keep them healthy. Fitness has become a priority, and they are resorting to various measures like joining gyms, purchasing health insurance, joining yoga classes and engaging in other fitness routines to maintain their health.

One such outdoor activity that has garnered extreme popularity among the youngsters nowadays is cycling.

But before listing the advantages, you should know the required gear that is essential to enjoy cycling: -

● A good bike - The type of cycle you select to ride has a major effect on your experience. Therefore, do not compromise on the quality of the cycle.

●Cycling gear - A helmet, knee and elbow supports are important while riding a cycle as you never know when something unfortunate might happen. In such case, such gear can save you from major injuries.

●Insurance– A health insurance policy and bike insurance policy, both are necessary when you go out on your journey of fitness.

Cycling has countless benefits, and the following points advocate why taking up exercises like cycling can be helpful to you: -

●Weight loss - In order to lose weight, the number of calories you burn should be greater than the number you consume. This can be done through exercises. And just like any other exercise, cycling burns calories. Depending on the intensity, speed and weight of the rider, cycling can burn calories ranging anywhere from four hundred to one thousand calories.

●Reduced cancer risk - Cancer or other heart-related diseases can pose to be a very serious threat to any person. It doesn't matter if you have health insurance or renew health insurance online; nothing guarantees safety from diseases. But exercising does! And especially, cycling. As a result, the risk of diseases is reduced to a great extent.

● Improved health - Cycling improves the circulation of blood all around your body. You burn calories, thus the chances of being overweight and suffering from diseases due to obesity decrease to a significant level. Studies suggest that due to involvement in any sort of physical activity, a person's mental health also improves. You can free yourself from the psychological burdens as well.

●Saves time - This might sound a bit contradictory, but when you choose to travel to your work or any other place using your cycle, you actually save time. If you drive your car to work, you might get stuck in traffic and would have to wait for a long time before getting a way out of the crowd of vehicles. But if you ride on a cycle, you can easily filter through the traffic and reach your destination before time. There are no major parking hassles involved which only adds to the benefits.

●Better sleep - Cycling is a physical activity after all. If done for a long duration of time, it can tire you out, which eventually leads to a good night's sleep. Indirectly, exercise can also be done as a form of an outlet that relieves you of stress and reduces anxiety levels, thereby improving the quality of sleep.

●Muscle gain - The muscles of and around your thighs, hamstrings, glutes and calves are engaged intensively while cycling. Therefore, not only losing weight but gaining such muscles is also a plus point of taking up cycling. As muscle is leaner than fat, you can burn an even higher number of calories while cycling and develop a strong physique.

You should always have a comprehensive health insurance policy and make sure that you renew health insurance online before it expires so that you can enjoy continued protection

For a lot of us, learning how to ride a two-wheeler involved tripping and falling, messing up the gears, and what not! Initially, it required someone to sit behind us to make sure that we do not accelerate much and that the bike does not go astray. The day you realized that you learned to ride was the day when you kissed freedom. The feeling was new, enthralling. A single, gentle twist at the accelerator could send you roaring. Learning how to ride can be challenging. However, before you begin your learning endeavors, it is essential to make sure that you have got your bike insurance in place. Having two-wheeler insurance online in India can save you much trouble as you maneuver your way with your first bike, trying to master its control. Here, we will look at a few hacks for new two-wheeler learners so that their learning curve is smooth and hassle-free.

Don’t put weight on the handle

It is easy to assume that a tight grip on the handle will make riding more comfortable, but it is not quite so. When you have a tight grip on the handle, it becomes hard to steer the bike. The trick here is to have a loose grip on the bike’s handle. Most of the time, you don’t even have to turn the handle. When you are cruising at a moderate speed, a little bit of weight-leaning through the handle does the job of steering.

Watch out on your brake technique

There is one rule which goes with putting on the brakes: when you brake your bike, do not brake all of a sudden, unless of course there’s a bovine in front of you, which could be highly likely while driving around Indian towns. Make it a point to practice braking on both the front and rear wheel together — this will make the bike slow down more smoothly.Also, remember that you should avoid using the clutch while braking, as the chances are that your bike might skid and fall. Holding on to the clutch while putting on the breaks can have disastrous consequences on slippery roads.

Accelerate gently

Do not accelerate your bike all of a sudden. It will just waste fuel and work up your engine for no good. Besides, a sudden increase in speed could make the bike go out of hand. The ideal way around it is accelerating slowly, gently. Moreover, it will also help you maintain that balance as the bike slowly gains speed.

Before you set out on the road, it is essential to make sure that you have good insurance at hand. Magma HDI two-wheeler insurance online in India comes with long-term insurance plans that can help you stay away from any legal trouble while you master your riding skills. A Magma HDI bike insurance stands out as it has support for anti-theft devices and. Among other features, you also get access to personal accident cover, which ensures your financial safety as well.

While choosing an insurance policy, the claim settlement ratio of the insurer is a major factor to consider. An insurance claim is filed to get coverage for the losses or damages you sustain due to the occurrence of an event as specified in the policy. Hence, proper claim settlement is an essential pre-requisite in your risk management system. When selecting an insurance company, you must check if it provides timely and easy settlement of valid claims.

Process to file claims

Step 1: Reporting the incident

When an event occurs, the claimant should submit a written intimation to the insurer for initiating the claim process. The faster you set the ball rolling; the sooner will be the settlement. Here, you should also make sure that your policy covers the event for which you’re filing the claim.

Step 2: Complete the documentation

For a smooth claims process, you need to submit the right documents within the stipulated timelines. Most of the insurance companies have online claim filing system where you can send the forms and upload images for ratification.

Step 3: Evaluation process

Before settlement of the claim, the insurance company will evaluate the veracity of your claim through an external investigation. Hence, you should be clear about the facts when filing the claim.

Step 4: Settlement of claim

As per the regulations of IRDA, the insurer has to settle a claim within 30 days after receiving documents and verification or pay interest. If any claim requires further investigation, the process should be completed within 6 months from the date of the written filing of the claim.

Technicalities that may occur when filing a claim

When filing your claim, you should be aware of common problems and technicalities that may impede the process. That includes:

If there’s any pre-existing ailment

Any ailments that a policyholder had before the issuance of the first policy are called pre-existing ailments. These conditions and diseases must be declared when buying the policy. If the company discovers them during claim settlement, it can restrict the entire process.

If nominee details aren’t updated

The legal battle between the nominee and an heir can be prolonged due to incorrect nominee details. You should update the nominee information as it changes over the term of your policy.

If the policy lapses

When you fail to pay premiums on time, the policy will lapse automatically. Some insurance companies give a grace period for payment of premiums beyond the due dates but your vehicle is not covered for that period of time. So, you should adhere to your payment schedule, or else it can lead to repudiation of your claim later on.

The right insurer

An insurance policy is an excellent financial product, and claim settlement is the main component of this product. Hence, you should select the right insurer after checking their claim settlement ratio.

Remember, the claim settlement ratio represents the total number of claims made by the customers against the total claims settled by the company. Compare the top insurers on this factor to make so you can pick the best car insurance in India.

Thus, you can use claims as an effective tool to determine the performance and reliability of an insurer.

Packing up and moving out can be a real chore. Uprooting your life from a place you call home and trying to fit into a new environment is also quite emotionally draining. Sometimes we do it for love, sometimes for a better future. Whatever the reason, relocating is always a challenge. Among the million things that have you at your wit's end, managing car insurance in India generally takes a backseat. However, just as you would tend to any other asset, taking care of your car insurance needs will hold you in good stead. Here are some tips to consider before you hit the road!

Notify your insurer about the move

We live in a digitally connected world. All it takes is a couple of minutes for you to shoot an email, drop a text or even call the insurer’s helpline number and give the details of your new address. It also makes it easier for your insurer to communicate with you regarding things such as renewal, processing a claim and most importantly, providing the service you’ve paid for!

Re-register your car

If you are moving across state lines, you must get your vehicle re-registered with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) of your new domiciliary residence. However, prior to your relocation, remember to get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the RTO of your previous residence for a smooth transition. Once you get your new registration number, intimate your insurance company immediately so that the records are updated.

Re-evaluate your insurance needs

Depending on where you are moving, you may face a change in your insurance needs. If you’re moving to a metropolis like Delhi, brace yourself for never-ending traffic and possible nicks and bumps. In such a scenario, you may want to enhance your coverage. Similarly, if you are moving to a city like Mumbai, floods during monsoons are almost inevitable, where opting for add-on coverage like engine protection becomes a necessity. Consider all variables such as traffic, average drive time, safety, natural calamities, etc. and see if you need better coverage.

Implications of the move

Your relocation in all probability will affect the terms of endearment with your insurer. For example, ‘zonal risk’ is a variable insurance companies consider for premium calculations, and your move will have a direct impact on your annual premium. At the same time, the service quality may differ too. Do all the previous benefits carry over? Does your insurer have a strong presence at the new location? Do they have a robust network of garages? Get answers to all your questions before the move.

Look at your best interest

Insurance is all about your financial security and peace of mind. So if you have even the slightest doubt, don’t hesitate to look for another option. If you’re worried about losing out on your No Claim Bonus, fret not. You could easily carry over your NCB to an insurer like Magma HDI and continue to avail of all the benefits you previously enjoyed and more. A policy like Magma HDI's car insurance also provides safety against third party liability, damage, theft and natural calamities, making it a reliable choice wherever you go.