GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

The Covid-19 pandemic shook the world's medical infrastructure from the ground. As a result, the cost of medical services and its subsequent operations is now more than ever. With the huge inflation in the expenses of medical bills, investing in health insurance coverage is no longer an option but a necessity.

To live carefree in these uncertain times without worrying about medical expenses, a trustworthy health insurance cover for every family is a must. And, if you're someone who is already holding a health insurance policy, you should be familiar with the claim settlement process as well.

In this space, we help you to understand steps to claim your health insurance policy so that in the future, if need be, you're prepared beforehand.

There are mainly two types of claim settlements.

1. Cashless settlement:

The cashless claim facility relieves you of concern during a medical emergency when receiving treatment at any of the networked hospitals. According to the policy features, the health insurance company will pay the hospital bills directly. Therefore, it frees you of the burden of making direct financial payments to the hospital.

Steps to claim a cashless facility:

• Select a hospital from the list of network hospitals provided by the insurance company

• Then, notify the third-party administrator (TPA) and provide them with your membership number

• At the hospital, fill out a cashless request form. However, remember that a valid certification by a doctor with proper stamps and signatures is a must

• Next, mail the form along with the medical records physically or digitally to TPA

• TPA will then inspect all the documents submitted by you, and if the settlement is approved, the charges will be paid by the insurance company directly to the hospital

If in case of disapproval, you should apply for reimbursement. We cover this in the following category of claim settling.

2. Reimbursement settlement:

If you choose a non-network hospital for treatment, you must first pay the medical expenditures out of pocket. Then, following the submission of relevant papers, the health insurance company will reimburse the charges according to the terms and conditions of the policy.

Steps to claim the reimbursement facility:

• Contact your health insurance provider using the toll-free number and give them your membership number

• Settle all your medical bills with the hospital

• Then, download and complete the reimbursement form that is available on the health insurance company's website

• When requesting reimbursement, attach the downloaded form, include the invoices, medical bills along with reports, discharge summary, and any other relevant papers

• Then, submit everything to the claim office in your vicinity. You can even digitally mail the documents to the insurance company

• After the approval of your claim, a cheque will be sent to your registered bank account by the insurance company. The whole procedure takes 20-30 working days from the day all papers are presented

Additional tips to speed up your claim settlements:

• Fill the reimbursement form correctly. Make sure all of the medical records and subsequent documents have stamps and signatures of the concerned authority

• Register for a claim as soon as possible after admission to the hospital

• Take regular updates from the insurance company after the submission of all the documents

• Always go for cashless claims whenever possible

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Does the depreciation value of your car scare you? Do you feel that you will have to empty your pockets for your car's damages once it gets old? Now, there is a one-stop solution for these queries – a zero depreciation policy. In a zero depreciation policy, the insurance company covers the expenses of physical damage caused to the vehicle in the unfortunate event of an accident without considering any kind of depreciation.

Vehicles are naturally depreciating assets, meaning, with every new car, there will only be a devaluation in the price over time. The parts like mirrors, metal, rubber, plastic and other car accessories are subjected to depreciation.

Zero depreciation car insurance vs regular car insurance:

Let us quickly compare the benefits of zero depreciation insurance to regular insurance.

Premium: The premium cost payable for zero depreciation insurance is slightly higher than that of regular car insurance. The depreciation policy premium varies with attributes like your address, the model, and your car's age.

Claim settlement value: In zero depreciation cover, the claim settlement amount is higher since the calculation of depreciation is not done, whereas, in regular car insurance, the claim settlement amount is received with a deduction of depreciation.

Repairing amount: In zero depreciation insurance, the repairing cost of parts like rubber, glass, plastic is paid by the insurance company, whereas these costs are borne by the insurance holder in regular car insurance.

Usage duration of the car: This factor does not make a difference in zero depreciation insurance because any depreciation is considered nil. However, in regular insurance, the depreciation rate of your vehicle keeps increasing day-to-day.

Benefits of a zero depreciation insurance: Let us now understand the benefits of zero depreciation insurance.

Easy claim: It ensures the timely and straightforward settlement of all expenses providing the insured with easy claim settlement.

Covers all expenses: The insurance company gives you total coverage of the costs that are heavy on your pocket, as well as any other miscellaneous charges during the time of settlement.

Profit while claiming: Zero depreciation policy adds more value to the basic coverage at the time of claim, making your expenses amount almost nil, hence leaving you with a profit.

Assurance: Since the vehicle has a zero depreciation insurance cover, so you have the satisfaction of being safe under a protective layer of the insurance policy.

What is not a part of a zero depreciation policy? Following are the factors that will restrict your complete claim on the advantages of a zero depreciation car insurance policy.

No driver's license: If the driver or owner of the vehicle does not have a valid driver's license, they are not eligible to claim the benefits of this policy.

Drunk driving: Immediate rejection of claim benefits happens if the driver happens to be under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxication.

Maintenance of engine oil: Unfortunately, this policy does not cover your regular maintenance such as engine oil, coolants, etc.

Compulsory deductibles: Compulsory deductible is a mandatory amount set by the IRDAI depending on the engine capacity of a vehicle. This amount is not a part of the zero depreciation policy.

For cars more than five years old: If the insured vehicle is aged more than five years, it cannot opt for a zero depreciation policy.

Mechanical expenses: Occasional breakdowns and arbitrary wear and tear of the vehicle will not be covered in the policy.

To sum it up, zero depreciation benefits a wide array of car owners considering the cost-effective claim settlement and boosting their regular insurance plans in the form of a worthy add-on.

GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE BEST CAR INSURANCE PLANS ONLINE BY CLICKING HERE…

Did you know that you only need the unique registration number of your vehicle to get the details of your bike insurance online? In this article, we'll provide you with all the information on the registration number.

When you buy a bike insurance policy, details of it get linked with your bike's registration number. Therefore, you can quickly check the information of your bike insurance through your bike's registration number.

As per the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), it is mandatory to carry insurance documents of the bike whenever you are on the road. If one fails to do so, there is a possibility that the claim settlement may be invalid in case of any mishap. Even though policy documents are essential papers, misplacing them is a pretty common occurrence among policyholders.

However, fret not! It is pretty simple to find the details of your insurance with the help of the registration number. Let's understand this here:

What is a Registration Number?

A bike registration number is a unique number issued by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) of your district. Every vehicle owner must obtain a registration number within 30 days of purchase of the vehicle.

The registration number is helpful to identify the owner of the vehicle in multiple scenarios. Apart from identification, the registration number is a must for a bike insurance policy, renewal of it, or insurance claim.

Your vehicle's registration number is displayed on a metal number plate and affixed at the front and back of the two-wheeler. The registration number has an accredited structure for different types of vehicles. Let's understand this further here.
Consider this, your vehicle is registered in Delhi and is granted the number DL 0X BX XXXX. The first two alphabets indicate the state code, and the next two digits are the unique district code. The following two alphabets are the current series of the RTO and the classification of vehicles. And, the last four digits are your vehicle's unique number.

How to derive two-wheeler insurance details by your vehicle's registration number?

When buying bike insurance online, the details of your policy are automatically synced with the registration number. RTO, Central, or State Government can use details for official purposes. You can enter your registration number on any of the following websites to get details on your bike insurance online:

● Official website of the Regional Transport Office RTO where the bike is registered

● Website of the state transport department

● Website of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (parivahan.gov.in)

● Website of the Insurance Information Bureau (ibb.gov.in) of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)

Further, you can even renew your existing insurance policy using your two-wheeler's registration number. There is a facility for tracking the details of your policy online and renewing it before it expires.

The registration number links your vehicle directly to RTO's and Government's databases, so this stands out to be an advantage to maintain a record of your two-wheeler's insurance.

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE BEST BIKE INSURANCE ONLINE POLICY FOR YOUR VEHICLE? CLICK HERE…

Routine oil change ensures that your vehicle’s engine is in good shape. Moreover, it guarantees that the machine operates on high-quality motor oil thus improving its performance and the engine’s life. But which oil is suitable for vehicles - regular or synthetic?

Most people believe that oil does not make a significant difference in the performance of your car, but that isn’t the case. The type of oil used for your motor impacts its well-being and durability. So, to secure your car’s engine, be attentive to the requirements regarding its oil.

Let's quickly look at the aspects that differentiate these two types of oils before you pick a side.

What exactly is Regular oil?
Regular oil or conventional oil is a blend of crude oils and additives that meets the minimum requirements for engines and is commonly used in older or low-mileage vehicles. Depending on the manufacturer and pricing, these oils can range from mediocre to excellent grade.

What is Synthetic oil?
Synthetic motor oil combines high-quality additives that provide the finest engine protection. It can help with engine cleanliness, heat prevention, and engine endurance. It is usually suggested for all current and new-age automobiles due to its benefits of providing the highest engine protection.

How to determine which oil is better for your vehicle?
The ultimate way to choose which oil to go for is by reading your vehicle’s user manual, which states the correct oil for your motor. However, other minor factors contribute to decision-making, such as the age of the vehicle, usage, way of driving, and so on.

Advantages of Regular vs. Synthetic oil

1. Regular (Conventional) oil:
• The most obvious advantage of choosing conventional oil is that it won’t burn a hole in your pocket.
• It is readily available and a good choice for drivers and mechanics to get their hands on.
• Well suited for older motors.
• Many motor companies and mechanics advise using traditional oil for older vehicles and low-mileage vehicles.

2. Synthetic oil:
• Synthetic oil is composed of homogeneous molecules that reduce friction in the engine.
• Synthetic oil is also more refined, resulting in fewer deposits in the engine. It is purer and has fewer contaminants.
• It is improbable to break down and hence has higher durability.
• It lasts longer; thus, your motor won’t need frequent trips to the mechanic for an oil change.

The decision between conventional and synthetic motor oil depends on where and how your vehicle is used. Consult the owner’s handbook to ensure you’re using the recommended oil for your car. It will also inform you of the proper distance periods between oil changes.

You should timely replace your motor oil, whether you use regular or synthetic motor oil. Like the oil for your engine, investing in good motor insurance is always the right thing for your vehicle. Using motor insurance with limited features will not provide you complete protection to your car against financial emergencies during any breakdown. Therefore, make sure to browse through the options before purchasing the best one for your vehicle.

Are you looking for a suitable motor insurance? Click HERE .

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.