GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

One of the most serious problems in today’s date is pollution, whether it is air, water, noise or otherwise. Air pollution has led to an increase in health issues and has become an issue that needs to be resolved at the earliest. A major contributor to it is car pollution. There are thousands and thousands of cars on the streets at any given point of time, and they emit smoke and other harmful gases which have only added to the pollution, and the situation only gets worse when there is already smog in the atmosphere due to other air pollutants. As a responsible citizen, and more so as a human, here are some ways you can help reduce the car pollution levels during smog season:

• Try to Warm up Your Car in Advance: During the winters, when the smog is the worst, cars take slightly longer to start, especially if it is a few years old and runs on diesel, so it is advisable that you warm it up a few minutes before you actually have to leave. This way, the car does not consume too much fuel, does not emit high quantities of smoke or gas and thus, helps reduce the pollution a little.
• Turn Off the Engine When the Car Isn’t Moving: It is a very common tip, yet many people do not follow it. When you are at a red light or have pulled over to the side for a short period, make sure to turn off the engine or at least the air conditioning since it puts more pressure on the engine, which in turn burns more fuel. The more you save fuel, the less pollution you cause.
• Do Not Skip on Maintenance: A car is an investment, and you must take care of it. Irrespective of whether you experience a breakdown or not, make sure to take it to the workshop regularly to get the issues fixed. If you continue to drive your car despite there being something wrong with it, it will consume larger quantities of fuel and will thus cause more air pollution. Also, make sure that you do subscribe to private car insurance in india for protection against any losses caused to the car.
• Make Sure to Get A Pollution Check: Every couple of months, take your car to get a pollution check done, so you know its level of emissions and can understand if it does adhere to the pollution regulations. With an increase in the level of air pollution, the government has made is mandatory to get a Pollution Under Control Certificate which states that your car is not releasing a high amount of smoke or gas and is thus, allowed to be driven around.
• Choose to Travel Via Public Transport: One of the best options is to leave your car behind and to take a means of public transport instead, such as the bus or the metro/local train. Indeed, this option might not always be the most comfortable, but it goes a long way in reducing the level of pollution since there are fewer cars on the roads.
• With the way things have escalated in terms of the pollution, it is imperative that you keep certain habits in check to not contribute to it any further. The way people take private car insurance
   in India very seriously, they must also take environmental concerns equally seriously.

If you are someone that derives pleasure out of helping others, then there are a multitude of jobs out there for you in almost every field. You can choose to become a lawyer, a doctor, a psychologist, an animal rights activist, a teacher or professor, an insurance agent etc. The last profession has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many people becoming health or life insurance agents, to be specific. As a health/life insurance agent, the main aspect of your job is to help people figure out the best policy such as best health insurance in india for parents , one that suits their needs as well as situation the best. By doing this, you would be helping people secure their lives, finances as well as prepare well for the future. However, if you have just decided to become an agent, here are some ways you can actually begin your career in the health/life insurance industry: -

• Do Not Give Up: Perhaps the most important point of all is to not give up easily. The insurance industry is highly competitive and is constantly growing. There are numerous companies and agents out there that are trying to attract clients. When you begin working as a health/life insurance agent, it will not be the easiest to convince people to buy the policies you offer, but you must not quit just because of a few failures. It will take time to finally start getting multiple clients.
• Obtain Your License: A non-negotiable requirement when becoming an insurance agent is to obtain the license to begin working. The license is generally granted by the state where you reside, and to get it, you need to pay a certain amount of money, complete a training course and clear an examination. Without having earned the license, you will not be legally permitted to work as a health/life insurance agent.
• Educational Requirements: While becoming a health/life insurance does not require you to have a certain degree, it is necessary for you to have cleared high school and preferably done an undergraduate course (earned a Bachelor’s degree). It is not mandatory to have information regarding illnesses or medicine in general, but it is a bonus if you can explain certain medical conditions or terms to potential buyers. Once you have obtained your license, you will most probably have to go through training where you apply for a job.
• You Must Develop Your Marketing Skills: This does not necessarily mean that you need to undertake a marketing course, but you should be able to sell the policy to clients. A major part of your job as an insurance agent is to get people to buy the health/life insurance policy. You must be well aware of the details pertaining to the policy so you can explain everything properly to customers and convince them.

Health or life insurance is a necessity in life since it helps cover the costs for any unforeseen illnesses, injuries, or accidents, and so you must have one, not only for yourself but for your entire family. If you already have your own insurance, also make sure to choose the best health insurance in India for parents, so that you can be assured of the fact that everything will be covered when the need arises.

There are many people who decide against buying a car, especially since it can be quite expensive to purchase as well as maintain, and instead opt for a motorbike. Bikes are much easier to fit in smaller spaces and offer the possibility of going a bit faster, something which excites many. However, just like any other vehicle, you need to make sure to take good care of it, which includes buying bike insurance online in india . Here are some tips to help you maintain your bike better: -

• Keep the Tyres Inflated at All Times: Bikes do not offer the same kind of protection as cars, and thus it is much more important for you to take all the necessary safety measures, one of which is keeping your bike tyres inflated. In case they aren’t or start to lose air while you are driving it, it could lead to a serious accident and thus, you must check your tyres regularly and have them filled up if needed.
• Do Not Forget to Lubricate: Regularly, try and change the oil since that helps to prevent the engine as well as gears from getting extremely worn out, which could lead to them not working properly. Besides causing trouble in starting up, not oiling the said parts could lead to further damage and could make it nearly impossible to drive the bike. Therefore, buy the lubricant which is specific to your bike and oil any metal parts.
• Check to See if the Wheels are Fine: Quite often, an older bike can start having problems with its wheels, wherein they become slightly loose, and thus it becomes difficult to maintain proper direction and you also run the risk of the bike sliding. In case you see that your wheels are a bit loose, or not as sturdy and solid, immediately take the bike to the workshop to get fixed so you avoid accidents.
• Regular Servicing: Just like every other vehicle, your bike too needs to be taken regularly to the workshop to get serviced. Whether you are experiencing problems with it or not, taking it to get checked up is always a good option since it can help detect any possible issues as well, such as with the engine, tyres or the brakes. It is always better to have the problem taken care of at an earlier stage than to go and get it fixed once it becomes serious.
• Adjust the Clutch: You need to make sure that you adjust the clutch just right; tighten or loosen it such that it suits you the best. In case you tighten it too much, it might slip out of your hands and will also lead to an increase in fuel consumption.
• Owning a bike is comparatively easier than a car, especially in terms of finances, but that does not mean it does not need to be taken care of. It is still an investment and so, you need to follow a certain set of practices to ensure that your bike remains in the best condition possible. A great way to avoid having to spend a huge amount on repairing any damages is to insure the bike. Buying marine cargo insurance policy bike insurance online in India has become quite a simple process.

The health of you and your family is something that cannot be traded. You must make sure in all walks of life that it is well taken care of, and that if something falls stray, you have good health insurance to back things up.

If you are looking to buy health insurance in India for your parents, then you should put special effort into choosing a policy which caters to the need of growing age — a policy which has an extended cover period at reasonable rates.

Here is a checklist that you can follow to make sure that you make the best out of your health insurance.

Claim settlement rate

One of the deciding factors that you should look at while buying a health insurance policy is the claim settlement rate. The higher the claim settlement rate of a company, the quicker is the process of payout. A higher settlement rate also means that the insurance provider is doing a good job with administering the policy so that no hindrances come at bay when the insured individuals decide to make a claim.

Hospitalization expenses

Medical fees, especially the pre and post hospitalization expenses, can leave you sweating. It would be best if you opted for health insurance which covers your entire hospitalization cost for free. A good insurance policy should pay for your visit to the doctor, prescribed medicines, surgeries, hospitalization costs, and follow up investigations.

Network of hospitals

Accidents and ailments can happen anytime, anywhere. Thus, you should opt for a policy that has a wide network of partner hospitals, so that you or your family can be treated anytime, anywhere, without having to move to a different place. More importantly. All of this should be free of cost. Having accessibility to good hospitals can not only save you time but also save you much money which you might have to shell out with travelling.

Support for daycare

To claim your health insurance, you should be hospitalized for at least 24 hours. However, there are several cases that do not require hospitalization. All they need is daycare — someone to take care of you while you are bedridden, perhaps at home, or even going around with a disease such as cataracts and neurological problems where you are still quite functional, if not completely. To have this covered, opt for a policy that provides maximum daycare support.

If you are looking for good Health Insurance In India For Parents, or yourself, then Magma HDI could be your one-stop option. It has a wide range of insurance premiums to choose from and comes with features such as 24x7 claim assistance and cashless hospitalization across a network of more than 4,100 hospitals.

Health insurance plans are much needed as they provide you with a sense of protection against the various odds in life. If you are trying to get the Best Health Insurance In India For Parents, or other members in your family, then you should look at a plan which offers extended cover at low premium rates.

There are several ways through which you can save on your health insurance premiums as well, and one of such approaches is opting for the right deductibles.

Insurance deductibles are the money that you receive during the course of your insurance before the claim period. Having a better understanding of the deductibles can help you save quite a bit on your insurance policy.

Type of deductibles and what they mean

Health insurance policies in India come with two types of deductibles: voluntary and compulsory. However, in international markets, other deductibles come into force. Below are the various types of deductibles that are applied to health insurances.

Compulsory deductibles: : These types of deductibles are made mandatory by the Indian government for the benefit of the customer. These are fixed sums that an insurance company pays to the insured while they make a claim.

Voluntary deductible: Suggestive of the name, voluntary deductibles are opted by the insured at the time of purchasing insurance. This helps them bring down the cost of the insurance premium.

Comprehensive deductibles: Comprehensive deductibles come into play and are applied across covers. They keep on adding up until the time you have paid the total amount under the agreements of your policy.

Non-comprehensive deductibles: These deductibles are applicable to certain kinds of cover. It requires you only to pay a certain sum of money while you claim your policy.

Cumulative deductible: Cumulative deductibles are applicable in a family health insurance plan. They come into force when all the members included the insurance plan have made the payments to fulfil the net payable amount.

Choosing a deductible

While it may be tempting to choose a higher insurance deductible, it might not always be the safest bet. It would be best if you thought of long-term before choosing a deductible. If you feel that the cost of your premiums are too much to meet the insurance deductibles, then it is a wiser option to choose a plan which has a lower premium

It is also advisable that you read your policy documents carefully to understand how deductibles work in a context. However, if you still have trouble understand specific terms and how deductibles work, then you can always contact your insurance provider. They will give you a broader context of the deductibles that can be applied to your health insurance policy.

While opting for health insurance, you should always choose one which fits the needs of you and your family the best. Magma HDI is one of the best health insurance in India as it offers protection against critical illness and a 24x7 claim policy. It also comes with cashless hospitalization across more than 4,100 hospitals, which makes it an ideal choice for first-time insurance buyers.

If you are someone who loves riding bikes, then you would not mind spending hours end on trying to make the best out of it, modifying it so that it stands out and reflects your personality.

However, before you decide to start modifying your bike, it’s advisable to get it past your warranty period, so that you won’t be missing out on the factory servicing — something which can otherwise cost you quite a bit.

When you are ready to modify your bike, you need to make sure you have received all the legal permission from the respective local bodies, just to make sure that your modded engine fits well with the law.

Performance modification

A performance mod enhances your bike’s performance. However, insurers are quite wary of you doing it, as it may call for higher risk of accidents. For example, if the mod increases the top speed of your bike, it will go faster, thus increasing the chance of road accidents. To deal with these, insurance companies might increase your premium rates.

Visual modifications

Often, people like to decorate their beloved motorbikes in a way which reflects their personality. A large part of it includes paint jobs and additional frames that give the body a different and unique look. However, a good looking bike — one which particularly stands out — is more prone to theft. Knowing this, insurance companies tend to increase premium rates.

However, if you make some cosmetic changes to your bike — colour, mirrors, and such — then your insurance premiums might not increase. The increase in the premiums is directly proportional to the value of the bike — a basic rule of thumb.

Installing anti-theft devices

If you are particularly wary of your bike being stolen, then you can add an anti-theft device to it. Such gadgets are available easily in the market and work on a GPS system which helps you track your bike, in case it is stolen. It is a great security feature and can also be used to reduce the premium of your bike, as a good security measure in place ensures that there are reduced chances of your bike being stolen. This way, insurance companies have one less thing to worry about.

To make sure that your mod job is right, you must get in touch with a good mechanic and designer who can suggest you the best parts for your bike. It is also essential that you get two-wheeler insurance in India to make sure that your bike is protected from thefts and accidents. Magma HDI two-wheeler insurance comes with attractive premium rates and support for anti-theft devices, which makes sure that the future of your bike is safe.

Bikes have different components, and each of them has separate sets of functions that serve different needs. However, there is one particular component, the role of which cannot and should not be underplayed — brakes.

Brakes help you slow down your two-wheeler and help you prevent accidents. To ensure your safety, you should always check if your brakes are in good shape before you start riding.

Several factors affect the functionality of the brakes on your bike, such as quality, temperature usage pattern, et cetera. When your brake wears and tears, and starts performing poorly, you must make it a point to check what’s wrong with them so that you can fix them at once.

Here, we will look at a few common issues that two-wheeler brakes face and also learn how to fix them.

1. Wearing out

It is one of the most common issues that bikes face with brakes — they wear out with time. You will notice it as your brake pedal sinks further under your foot and hand (in case of the front brakes). When you feel that this is happening, get the brake pads changed and you will be good to go.

2. Bleeding of brakes

After you install a new brake, it needs to bleed some oil. Do not worry — this process ensures that there are no air gaps in between that could initiate a brake failure. If this process does not take place properly, then your brake will also stop functioning. An effective way to deal with this solution is to get the bleeding done thoroughly, ensuring that there are no air gaps left inside.

3. Leakage of brake fluid

Brake fluid leakage is something that you will see now and then as your bike gets older on the road. However, if you encounter this frequently, it is highly likely that something is wrong — the oil is leaking from a component that is not fitted correctly. To fix this issue, you need to tighten up the parts of the brake, making sure that there is no room for any leakage.

4. Less brake oil

If your bike has less brake oil, then it may lead to a complete brake failure — something that you might not want at all. Keep on topping up your brake oil (they come for a cheap price) to avoid this situation.

5. Misalignment of the master cylinder

The master cylinder happens to be one of the essential parts of the brake system. If this cylinder gets misaligned due to inappropriate pressure on your brakes, it may lead to some severe brake problems, and might even lead to oil leakage. To fix this, you have to fit the cylinder properly and to check on it from time to time, in case you are noticing a deterioration in the brake’s performance.

If your brake is right, then your ride will be safe. To ensure further ride safety, you must Buy Two-Wheeler Insurance Online, which can protect your bike from accidents. The Magma HDI two wheeler insurance also comes with personal accident cover, which means that your riding experience will be as safe as ever.

Simply put, general insurance includes all personal insurance plans except life insurance. All of these plans aim to provide coverage against different unforeseeable events in your life and thus, protect your finances. Read on to find out more about general insurance plans and what they can do for you.

1. Coverage

General insurance plans are created to cover every aspect of your life - from health and travel to motor and house. You can even insure your business and shop. With Magma HDI you can even get a public liability insurance with essentially covers you against legal liability arising from property damage of or bodily injury to a third party at your premises (school, office, restaurant etc.)

2. Customisability

We all have different needs, and general insurance plans take the initiative to help secure us against risks that are most pertinent to us. You could design your own insurance safety net depending on your personal needs and finances.

3. Covering multiple risks

Many General Insurance Plans offer comprehensive services that make it easier to get extensive coverage without having to scout for different insurers or having to deal with the hassle of paying multiple, hefty premiums. For example, a home insurance policy will protect you from various hazards such as fire, floods, theft, riots, etc. under a single plan.

4. Flexible benefits

Many general insurance plans offer all-encompassing benefits that are not restricted merely to a single individual. For example, a family floater health insurance plan provides coverage for your entire family in a single policy. Similarly, commercial insurance will cover multiple risks arising from theft, damage to goods/ stock, machinery breakdown and even risks arising from a vendor’s end. This is a great option to increase your savings and minimizing your work as you would only have to deal with a single company for all your policy benefits.

5. Tenure

While life insurance plans have longer validity, most general insurance plans offer protection based on a yearly renewal. Certain types of insurance, such as motor insurance may offer a longer tenure, say up to three years with a lucrative discount on the premium. However, this feature allows you to play a more significant role in deciding the period of your policy. You also have the option to switch insurance providers at the time of renewal if you feel dissatisfied with your current one.

6. Additional benefits

As an incentive to their customers, general insurance plans come with a host of benefits available to policyholders at a nominal fee. While some are in the form of value-added services such as the provision of rent for alternative accommodation in case your house is damaged, others may be personal accident covers for complete coverage in the event of a motor accident. You can pick and choose while buying/ renewing your policy.

The escalating costs in today's world have made general insurance plans a necessity for every individual and a vital part of any successful attempt at financial planning.