GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Insurance policies, including non-general and general insurance plans, have gained popularity among Indians. While the increased penetration rate is a welcome change, protecting policyholders against potential fraud becomes essential. Insurance companies are taking adequate measures to spread awareness and educate potential policy buyers about possible crimes that involve fake policies, fraudulent insurance agents, mis-sold policies, etc.

This blog informs you about insurance traps you might be prone to and helps you elude them.

1. False alerts: reviving expired policies –
One of the many ways scammers trap innocent people is by calling them about policies that lapsed a while back due to payment failure. These dormant policies are then illegally accessed by telemarketers, who call up policyholders, informing them of good news. According to them, policyholders can now get a bonus on their policy, but you can only access it with a fee. They may also try to sell new policies. You can easily avoid this trap by being vigilant and reading the fine print of your policy.
To prevent scams and fraud, IRDAI is also regulating the insurance sector by digitalising it. An e-Insurance Account is a digital portfolio of all your non-general and general insurance plans, which helps keep track of policy tenures, switch, or buy policies at a single click without any hassle.

2. A guaranteed return providing investment sans market volatility –
The lack of financial literacy is mainly to blame for this misconception. As the uninformed public continues to hear of the short-term successes of a small section of well-informed investors who do due diligence before making their financial decisions, they crave similar results without putting in as much effort.
Taking advantage of the situation, insurance agents often pitch general insurance plans as alternatives to conservative investments like a fixed deposit and promise high returns. While the money put towards any insurance policy is a better investment than letting it sit idle, such claims are not backed by proof and must be avoided.

3. Getting pitched insurance policies as a tax-saving investment –
Tax planning is usually seen as a dreadful task that most individuals undertake only when essential. Therefore, some folks jump at it when the most effective sales pitch comes in, saying that an additional insurance policy would give you tax cuts (because of 80C) and would be a suitable investment. The tax-saving months before March are when these fraudulent pitches are made, and people need to determine whether the investment is necessary in the first place.

As the insurance sector evolves, insurers must make policyholders aware of the role of general insurance plans as a protective cover rather than a mode of investment to minimise your tax burden.

Your overall financial and tax planning for the following period should be done at the beginning of the current financial year. It is crucial to consider all factors, including your current investments, non-general and general insurance plans you might have taken, your kid’s school fees, and other expenses. Start early, and you won’t be in a hurry to reach the deadline, so you can read the fine print on all the documents and do apt research before signing on anything.

Click HERE to learn more about general insurance plans.

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.

A car has the capacity for durable and comfortable rides, ensures safety, and is a significant investment. All this has given cars an upper hand over all the other vehicles.

Although buying a car can be easy if you have enough money, it is not always the only thing. With a car, there are a ton of other responsibilities. One is getting your vehicle covered and ensuring the car insurance renewal is done on time.

There are multiple options available for car insurance online and offline. This can leave you to require more clarifications. One such option lies in the comprehensive car insurance that covers almost every damage that might trouble your car. From man-made problems to natural disasters, you'll get compensation for all the damages. However, this insurance might cost you more money than usual. Is it worth to have comprehensive car insurance, or is it just exhaustive? Let's find out!

What is comprehensive car insurance?

Comprehensive car insurance is not mandatory insurance by law, but most people prefer to buy it. It is because it comes with many benefits that set it apart from the other options.

Comprehensive car insurance will cover own damage (OD) as well as third-party damages. It covers all damages due to natural calamities, accidents, theft, man-made issues, and even fire. Natural calamities like floods, cyclones, and earthquakes are covered. Acts like vandalism and riots are listed under man-made issues.

What are the benefits of comprehensive car insurance in India?

1. Complete coverage:
This insurance type is the only one that offers complete coverage to a car, including its total or partial loss due to own damage and third-party damages. It also compensates for the death or disability of the owner-driver, third party, or property damage.

2. Best returns on investment:
Comprehensive insurance eliminates the need to buy separate policies to cover own damage and third-party damages. All the benefits can be obtained from a single policy, including the personal accident cover. This helps in saving money and offers the best ROI.

3. Liberty to add optional covers:
You can purchase additional covers like zero-depreciation, no-claim bonus, tyre protection, engine protection, breakdown assistance cover, etc. This makes your base policy stronger.

4. Cashless benefits:
Yes! You may enjoy cashless benefits while claiming your comprehensive car insurance when you get your car repaired or serviced in a network garage. You don't have to pay even a single penny for the damages!

You may have understood what comprehensive car insurance is all about. But, did you imagine to whom this insurance type would benefit the most?

1. The city drivers:
Cities signify constant traffic jams, chaos on roads, and persistent risks of accidents due to overcrowded roads and indiscipline traffic situations. Metropolitan residents must buy this policy to provide all-round protection to their cars.

2. The adventurers:
If you love to plan road trips and explore places frequently, this insurance can do wonders for you during emergencies with its road assistance cover.

3. New owners:
If you have bought a new car, the first step should be buying comprehensive coverage to improve the longevity of your new asset.

4. Premium and luxury car owners:
If you own premium and expensive car, having this insurance in your investment portfolio can be fruitful.

5. Obsessed with your car:
Even a small dent or scratch on the car panics you. Then you must opt for comprehensive coverage to calm your nerves and stay stress-free regarding compensation for any damage to your car.

You should keep various pointers in mind while buying comprehensive car insurance in India. Owning an asset is a crucial responsibility and ensuring its safety is paramount. Comprehensive car insurance has seamless benefits that make it a reliable investment option and less exhaustive compared to its counterparts. Regardless of the policy you buy, get the car insurance renewal done on time to avoid your policy from lapsing.

Click HERE to get your car insurance renewal done on time.

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.

We have all heard the famous proverb, "a sound mind lives in a sound body". Both are integral parts that should be taken care of to lead a healthy life. In this blog, we will discuss some methods to sharpen your brain and polish your cognitive skills.

You can call your brain the control centre of your system since it processes all you see, hear, touch and think. Your brain perceives different sensations, sounds, images, etc., and conveys the signal to your whole body, signalling it to respond accordingly. Incredibly, this process happens within a matter of seconds.

It is crucial to take extra care of your brain's health and mental wellbeing. Dietary and lifestyle changes help combat cognitive-related issues such as mental health problems, anxiety and depression and help in enhancing creativity.

Here's how you can sharpen your cognitive abilities.

1. Relieve stress:
Develop a habit of taking walks daily and breathing in the fresh air. Other relaxing activities can include getting a massage, reading, meditation, etc. These activities help release the tension and stress from your body and lower your cortisol levels which tend to affect the memory sections of your brain.

2. Sleep well:
Sleeping at least eight hours a day is crucial to maintaining a sound mind. Quality sleep helps your mind commit things to memory and improve your brain's retention capacity.

3. Play:
Include games like crossword, sudoku, and puzzles in your daily schedule. These games intensify the usage of brain functions, thus helping in improving your reasoning and retention abilities.

4. Doodling:
Recent research has proven that doodling and colouring activate your brain's reasoning and problem-solving region. These activities enhance the blood supply to the prefrontal cortex and strengthen your mind's analytical and attention capabilities.

5. Dark chocolate:
Dark chocolate has been proven good for your physical and mental health. Studies have found that it contains flavanol, a substance that boosts your brain's memory retention, functioning, and processing abilities.

6. Reduce sugar consumption:
Consumption of carbohydrates and a sugar-rich diet can slow down your brain as your body takes time and energy to break down these substances. Consuming too much sugar also leads to depression and heart diseases, thus risking your physical and mental health.

7. Exercise:
Research has shown that lifting weights help in improving cognitive abilities. People who lift weights tend to increase their spatial memory. It helps in memorising the environments one is in at any given moment. Spatial memory enables you to remember layouts of a room or how you arrange things in your space. People who achieve their physical goals by walking strengthen their verbal memory.

These are some techniques that can help improve your cognitive skills. Apart from the above tips, you may even practise mindfulness by indulging yourself in daily yoga and meditation sessions. Yoga and meditation These healthy practices can keep your brain active and impact your productivity.

A wise option would be to protect your and your loved ones' health against unprecedented circumstances. To stay monetarily stress-free in health emergencies, explore multiple options and purchase the best health insurance policy in India.

Click HERE to know more about how you can buy the best health insurance policy in India.

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.

Helmets are protective headgear that can save your life in case you fall from a running two-wheeler or collide with another vehicle. Also, wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler is compulsory under Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Imagine if a helmet can detect drunk driving, location tracking, navigation, a hands-free device, and several other functions other than just protecting your head during a ride. Yes, this is all possible with the advent of intelligent helmets.

This article tells how smart helmets are set to change your riding experience.

1. Detecting a helmet:
Many two-wheeler riders do not wear a helmet intentionally. Also, some may forget to wear it while leaving home or the office. This can be dangerous to their lives in case they meet with an accident on their way. Smart helmets are equipped with Force Sensing Sensor (FSR) that detects whether the rider is wearing a helmet. It senses actual human touch. If it does not detect it, you will not be able to turn on the ignition of your two-wheeler.

2. Alcohol sensor:
Smart helmets can also be fitted with a gas sensor that can identify the alcohol content from your breath. It can be placed right in front of your mouth, detect if you are drunk, and prevent your vehicle from starting. This can be very helpful in avoiding an accident due to drunken driving.

3. Accident detection:
Smart helmets can detect accidents and alert a phone number by sending a message. It makes use of accelerometers and vibration sensors for this purpose. A free-fall sensing unit can detect when the two-wheeler falls freely and is not in control. Similarly, a vibration sensor senses signals and pressure and sends a message to the registered mobile number. This can be life-saving in times of an accident as the receiver of the message can instantly rush to the accident spot or alert friends, police, and an ambulance to reach the spot.

4. Over-speeding and rash driving alert:
Smart helmets can also alert you if you are riding above the speed limit fed into it or are driving rashly. Such alerts warn you to reduce your speed and drive carefully.

5. Bluetooth connectivity:
Smart helmets can be connected to your bike and mobile phone via Bluetooth. This can allow you to make calls or answer them safely while riding your two-wheeler.

6. Navigation, location tracking, and recording:
Smart helmets come equipped with a GPS device that can accurately tell the rider’s location. This can be useful in times of emergency or theft of your two-wheeler. Also, they can help in navigation while you are riding your two-wheeler.

You can also install hi-tech cameras on your smart helmets. They can record and store all the details of your rides, such as speed, distance covered, time taken, etc. This can be very helpful for bikers and racers.

Smart helmets are a world in itself, with numerous options for adding or removing applications and additional devices per rider needs. They can completely change how you have been riding your two-wheelers. They help to make your rides much safer and technologically advanced than a regular conventional helmet.

Why just rely upon a smart helmet to alert and protect you in case of an accident? Choose from a wide variety of 2 wheeler insurance online after comparing them thoroughly. Protect yourself from any sort of financial losses that you may suffer due to an accident or theft of your two-wheeler.

Click HERE to buy 2 wheeler 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.