GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Ageing is an inevitable part of life. Despite scientific advancements and multiple procedures that help reduce the visible effects of growing old, there is no way to prevent it. While making oneself appear younger is an option with costly and extensive surgeries, the internal effects of ageing cannot be reduced or eliminated. However, with the help of scientifically proven natural remedies, you can significantly slow the signs of ageing.

One such activity is sunshine exposure. Often taken for granted due to busy schedules consisting of being cooped up in dark rooms under artificial lighting, the benefits of getting some sunshine are unparalleled. Especially for senior citizens, who are susceptible to pain and diseases, getting sunlight daily is known to have immense benefits.

The pleasant environment and warmth of the sun make for the perfect conditions to go for a short morning walk. You cannot derive the physical and mental benefits of soaking in the sunshine from any other source.

If you are still sceptical about taking in your daily dose of sun, here are some of its benefits for your health.

1. Vitamin D:
Vitamin D is a unique vitamin not naturally produced by our bodies. It is vital in facilitating bone growth and strengthening the skeletal system. Therefore, we are dependent on external sources to get it. It can be sourced from sunlight exposure or consuming Vitamin D supplements prescribed by medical professionals in severe deficiency cases. However, to prevent such deficiency, it is necessary to expose yourself to sunlight daily for 10-15 minutes.

2. Serotonin release:
Sunlight triggers the release of serotonin, a hormone that boosts your mood. While serotonin is also released by engaging in activities you enjoy, a quick walk in the sunlight can provide the same results in a short duration and helps keep mental illnesses at bay and prevent mood swings. It also helps start the day with positivity.

3. Lower blood pressure:
Research conducted at the University of Edinburgh provided conclusive evidence that nitric oxide is released into the bloodstream when sunlight touches the skin. The oxide pushes blood vessels to widen and helps reduce blood pressure.

4. Improved brain functioning:
The cognitive function of the brain begins to reduce with age. A casual stroll in the sunshine can help your parents or elders in the family retain and improve their memory and reduce the risk of illnesses while ensuring physical activity. In such cases, it is also advisable to buy health insurance in India for parents.

5. Improved sleep quality:
The sun plays an essential role in signalling to your brain that it is time to rest at night by producing melatonin which induces sleep. This helps maintain your natural body clock and derive adequate rest, which ensures rejuvenation to take on the tasks for the next day.

6. Facilitates growth in children:
Applicable for infants and children, studies have shown that the amount of sunshine exposure directly impacts the child's height. It also helps boost the child's immune system and ensure physical and mental well-being.

While there are several benefits of daily walks in the sunshine, it is necessary to maintain a balance. It is highly beneficial for people of all ages, having particular benefits for the young and the elderly, as we discussed in the blog. However, you must always consider the risk of skin cancer, and exposure should not exceed 30 minutes a day under any circumstances (preferably in the morning).

We recommend purchasing insurance to protect you and your loved ones against unexpected health situations. Buy the best health insurance in India for parents, your spouse, children and direct dependents and keep yourself away from financial distress during emergencies.

Click HERE to buy the best health insurance in India for parents.

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.

Quality sleep immensely affects your daily life and good health. Your sleep cycle determines everything from your mind to your physical well-being. If you lack adequate sleep, you can experience stress, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, headaches, and even depression. Things can sometimes get out of hand for you.

Lack of sleep can affect your personal as well as professional life. In a fast-paced world, getting sound sleep has become challenging. Adhering to a sleep schedule that works for you is even more difficult. There are many ways to get your sleep cycle back. From playing serene music to meditation and reading, anything can work out for you.

One such method is: sleep syncing. It is a comparatively new concept that has come in. It has been derived from sleep experts who have studied sleep patterns for decades now. With sleep syncing, you regain your regular sleep cycle. Let's learn more about sleep syncing here:

What is sleep syncing?
Sleep syncing refers to keeping your circadian cycle in check. The circadian cycle is the sleep-wake cycle of your body that takes place across the span of 24 hours. It is affected by various factors, including hormones like melatonin and even sunlight.

With sleep syncing, you give your sleep-wake cycle a gentle nudge. This way, your body will sleep when it's meant to. It will ensure better sleep, more energy, a good mood, and a healthy body.

How to practice sleep syncing?
There are many ways and means by which you can practice sleep syncing. They are as follows:

1. Fix a schedule
Having a timetable is necessary. You must set a designated time for sleeping and waking up daily. You can then align all your activities around the same. You can use a sleep tracker to find out your sleep length initially. Once you are sure, work out a schedule and set your alarm accordingly. You can also set a bedtime routine. It can include skincare, reading, meditation, light yoga, or even journaling.

2. Get sunlight
Sunlight plays a pivotal role in establishing your circadian cycle. When you wake up, ensure you get enough sunlight for your body. You can gently walk or stand in the sunlight after waking up. Pulling off your curtains and waking up to sunlight can be effective too. It helps fix your sleep cycle and even boost productivity.

3. Consume less caffeine
Do not incorporate a lot of caffeine in your daily routine. Caffeine can throw you off your circadian cycle and cause immense harm. Although caffeine effectively boosts energy, it can keep you up at night. If you consume tea or coffee late in the evening, it will keep you awake till late. You need to switch to decaf if you are addicted to caffeine.

4. Avoid gadgets
If you use your phone or laptop excessively before bed, you can find it difficult to fall asleep. It can disturb the production of sleep hormones in your body. It is advised not to use phones an hour before your sleep time.

Sleep syncing is one of the most effective tools to fix your sleep cycle. It has been proven effective for many people across the globe. You can try the aforementioned pointers for yourself to get the desired results. Also, remember you should always have online health insurance to keep you covered.

Click HERE to buy online health insurance.

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.

The Indian healthcare industry is one of the biggest sectors of the Indian economy in terms of revenue and employment. Investment in the public, as well as the private healthcare sector, has shot up multiple times in recent years. This sector comprises hospitals, medical instruments, research and development, outsourcing, and health insurance.

Let us look at the possible future of the Indian healthcare system, industry growth, and the major challenges.

Opportunities
Let us first assess the opportunities in the Indian healthcare industry.

1. Excellent growth rate
The Indian healthcare industry is witnessing a buoyant growth rate in recent years because of the increase in consciousness of the Indians towards health upkeep, especially after Covid-19. Also, a rise in income levels, increasing health awareness, and growing government support in the healthcare sector contribute to a double-digit growth rate. Since 2016, the Indian healthcare industry has grown at a staggering CAGR of 22%.

2. Increase in health insurance
Health insurance in India has seen an increased penetration in recent years. After the advent of Covid -19, even the population living in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, as well as rural areas, are rushing to get health insurance policies. More youngsters are joining the workforce, boosting their disposable income and spending power. This has helped in increasing healthcare spending and is only set to grow at a higher pace.

This presents tremendous opportunities to existing health insurance companies and new entrants. They can develop new and unique policies to capture the untapped health insurance market.

3. Self-sufficiency and export
The Indian pharmaceuticals sector has also witnessed a tremendous pace in research and development and production of crucial medicines. India has accomplished administering over 170 crores of Covid-19 vaccine doses. Moreover, it also exported over 5 crore vaccine doses to around 70 countries.

India has made a mark for itself by achieving this feat in so little time. Vast opportunities lay ahead for Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers to take their production to global levels and cater to the world’s growing demand for medicines and healthcare equipment.

Make in India is becoming a reality. Indian companies have also started manufacturing CT scanners, ultrasound machines, ventilators, and MRI machines, which were fully imported until some time ago.

4. FDI and PPP model
India is inviting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to develop hospitals, healthcare centres, and medical equipment manufacturing. The foreign community is witnessing India as the next big investment destination because of the mix of skills and cost-efficiency of the Indian workforce.

To boost this sector, the government is also actively launching programs such as credit incentives, aggressive expansion through the PPP model (Public-Private partnership), setting up of new medical colleges, etc.

Challenges
Let us now look at some of the challenges in the Indian healthcare industry.

1. Doctor-patient ratio
A wide gap still exists in the doctor-patient ratio in India. Only 01 doctor is available for every 834 patients in India, which poses a huge challenge in providing medical services in a cost-effective manner.

2. Innovation and implementation of AI
The Indian healthcare industry is in a nascent stage. Innovating and producing high-quality medical equipment and medicines in India at low prices is a challenge. Also, AI-based software in various processes must be implemented as fast as possible as in other developed nations. Covering smaller cities and towns with such software can be a daunting task.

The future of the Indian healthcare industry is bright and shining, with more opportunities in view than challenges. Much is still needed to bring world-class medical services and products to India, especially in smaller cities and towns.

The Indian healthcare industry is growing rapidly, which is excellent news for health insurance as well. With increased awareness of health and fitness in the Indian population after the pandemic, health insurance in India is going through its golden phase. It is penetrating its reach across the length and breadth of the country at a rapid pace, providing ample opportunities for growth in the sector.

Click HERE to buy health insurance 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.

There is no denying that a good lifestyle depends on an individual's health. Especially after the post-Covid era, this situation has been more alarming, which has left us all forced to believe that there is no substitute for good health and mental well-being. Besides the periodic outburst of viral infections, ageing can significantly affect our health. With increasing age, our body becomes more fragile and vulnerable to health problems.

The body's ageing hampers the quality and functionality of internal organs, muscles, bones, and the immune system. This is when illnesses make their way into the lives of the elderly and compromise their health to a large extent. The upkeep of health can get challenging, and with inflation on the rise, health expenses for seniors can cost them a fortune. From diagnosis to treatment and aftercare, these activities can be costly, derailing your financial health.

What's the solution?

Investing in a comprehensive health insurance plan for seniors is the optimum solution to ensure their well-being while having less financial distress regarding expenses.

We at Magma HDI, worked hard to introduce the exclusive OneHealth Senior insurance policy to address seniors' health challenges and promise them a healthy retired life.

What are the base covers of this health insurance policy?

This health insurance policy covers the following medical treatment and activity expenses:

● Pre and post-hospitalisation expenses

● In-patient care, such as hospitalisation due to injury or illness

● Modern treatment procedures

● Annual health check-ups

● Wellness services like doctor on call, specialist’s e-opinion, nutritional e-counselling

● Coverage for ambulance, day-care treatment, shared daily room cash, organ donor, and domiciliary hospitalisation

What are the eligibility criteria for health insurance?

The minimum entry age for senior citizens is 56 years, and there is no maximum upper cap. However, proposer should be of age 18 or above. The renewal term for this health insurance is lifelong.

Types of plans available.

Magma HDI OneHealth Senior insurance policy offers various sum insured options. They are 3L, 4L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L, 15L, 20L and 25L. You can choose from two different plans viz. Gold and Platinum.

You can also customize your plans by adding optional covers like non-payable expense cover, decrease in co-payment, etc.

Benefits of buying health insurance.

● Tax-saving benefit:
You can claim a tax deduction under Section 80D on the premium paid toward this policy.

● Cashless facility:
The insurance policy deals with hospital bills, saving your time and additional paperwork.

● Better savings:
Health insurance reduces the financial pressure on you and your family during the stressful time of a medical emergency.

● Sum assured:
Health insurance provides money for paying a range of health-related expenses.

● Cumulative bonus:
You can get a bonus if you haven't claimed your health insurance in the past.

Let's look at the exclusions where you won't be able to claim your insurance:

• Substance abuse

• Hazardous or adventure sports

• External congenital anomaly

• Cosmetic treatment

• Treatment not supported by prescription

Key features of the OneHealth Senior Insurance:

● The waiting period for pre-existing diseases is just 1 year

● No co-pay application for accident-related claims

● 30% co-pay applicable for non-accident-related claims

How to claim OneHealth Insurance?

You can claim this health insurance using the following tips:

● Download the "Magma HDI" mobile app and track claims

● Avail wellness services

● Download forms

● Look for a hospital for a cashless facility

● Access policy facility features and health cards using the app

It's that simple!

Just as we say that childhood is the best phase of our lives, understand that old age is the phase to cherish all the armchair memories and give yourself extra time to do things you always wanted to. All this can be possible only if you stay fit. Investing in the right health insurance can help you plan for a financially and emotionally stable old age.

Magma HDI's OneHealth Senior insurance policy is your ticket to happiness. Click here to learn more about the policy. You may also contact us at magmahdi.com for the latest updates and information on different insurance policies..

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.