GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Humans have the most precious gift from God in the name of health, and we ought to do our utmost to sustain the benefits of that gift for a healthy and happy life. Eating healthy, choosing your living habits are all counted measures, which you take on a personal level daily. However, there is one more step taken for the long-term benefit of your healthy life, and it is getting health insurance.

Take a step back and think about it, you plan to have a house, baby, manage school fees, bank accounts, and even design your dream wedding before finding the right match. Similarly, covering your health via a good insurance company should be a well-thought priority. Many insurance companies in India have tailored essential health plans, which meet your needs adequately with reasonable premiums and added benefits.

Finding the best healthcare insurance company for you, your parents and kids in India is not easy. It takes good hours of discussions, debates, and comparisons to come up with the best possible choice. Here are a few relevant pointers for you to consider while choosing your health insurance firm;

• Listing the available reputed Insurer – Selecting the right Insurance Company is as important as the policy itself. Out of those available options, you have to shortlist and select the ones with good brand value or reputation along with plentitudes of customer satisfaction.
• Comparison Among the top Contenders Is Must – A significant step before you buy your houses or smartphones is comparing the prices, quality, long term returns, etc. Similarly, before investing your hard-earned money in a health insurance policy from an insurance company, you must compare certain aspects like premium rates, coverage values, and optional benefits.
• Coverage, Premium Benefits are Best Bidders - The dominating factors of deciding any insurance plan is that of coverage and premiums. So, it is highly suggestive for you to go through the insurance documents carefully and make a decision, which gives you maximum benefits and coverage as an insured party.
• Claim Settlement Ratio - This goes without saying that if a health insurance company has an excellent claim settlement ratio, then you have a bright chance of getting your medical claims on time. Your job is to understand in-depth how the company conducts and manages the claim settlements to avoid any delays or refusals, when in need.
• Having a Well Maintained Hospital Network - Many healthcare companies maintain a pool of top private and public hospitals for cashless medical treatments, so that their customers would not worry about spending their own money and focus on getting their health back on track.
• 24x7 Customer Support System – It is imperative to know if the insurer provides excellent 24x7 customer support. Many health companies claim to provide seamless and trouble-free hospitalization and claim settlement, however, check their social media pages, Internet reviews, independent insurance websites, or ask for references before finalizing.

Take these pointers by heart and start searching for the best health insurance company for your family as no matter the levels of success you achieve in life, health has and should always come first.

Whether due to work-related tasks or personal matters, relocating has become a way of life. It is no secret that relocation to a new city is full of various hassles and can turn out to be a stressful experience. While there are multiple aspects that you need to contemplate while moving to a new city, one crucial aspect you should pay attention to is ensuring the safe relocation of your two-wheeler. In the hustle and bustle of relocation, it is very easy for you to overlook an important aspect related to the relocation of your two-wheeler and that is to keep it insured with the  best two-wheeler insurance in india during, as well as after the relocation process is complete.

Of course, you love your two-wheeler and would want the best two-wheeler insurance in India, but when it comes to relocating it to a new city, you can be caught unprepared. If you are unaware of the various important factors related to your two-wheeler insurance policy that must be taken care of during relocation, then here is all the information you need: 

• 1. Update your address: First and foremost, you must inform your insurance company regarding the impending move and apply for an update of your address. Your mailing address serves as an important channel of communication between you and your insurer. By updating your address in the company records, you can avoid many issues later on when you need to submit a claim.
• 2. Re-register your two-wheeler: If you are relocating for more than one year or permanently, it is advisable to re-register your vehicle to get a local registration number. For this, you need to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your previous road transport office. Subsequently, notify your insurance company regarding this change through official channels, and you will have no issues later on while making a claim.
• 3. Obtain NOC from Police: You must also obtain an NOC from your local police station as well as traffic police. This is to ensure that no challans or accident cases are pending against the vehicle. Obtaining these NOCs will guarantee that you do not face any problems in the new location. 
• 4. Check Network of Cashless Garages: You can contact your insurance company regarding the availability of cashless garages in your new city. This will allow you to get any repair done on a cashless basis; otherwise, you will have to pay for the expenses from your pocket and later on, file a reimbursement claim.
• 5. Upgrade your policy: Different cities can have different traffic situations, and this might prompt you to add or remove any cover from your insurance. If you feel the need to do so, get in touch with your insurance company and seek guidance on how to complete this process. Moreover, based on the zonal risk involved, the insurance company may increase or reduce your premium as well.
• 6. No Claim Bonus: Do not worry about the No Claim Bonus (NCB) that you have accumulated against your  two-wheeler insurance in India. It will follow you wherever you go. NCB is offered to a driver, not to the vehicle, so even if you were to purchase a new two-wheeler or transfer to a new insurer, your NCB would stay intact. 

So, keep these points in mind while relocating and enjoy continued insurance coverage against your two-wheeler without any hassles.

Life is an enigma; it has countless possibilities with many struggles. The uncertainty of one's life is what makes it worthwhile and horrifying at the same time. Some investments made at the correct time could bear fruitful results for future; like opting a well-rounded health insurance policy for you and your family. Health insurance in today's time is not a luxury but a vital necessity given the rising healthcare costs and out of the world lifestyle choices by today's millennial.

Experienced financial advisors highly recommend buying a health plan in the early stages of life as premiums on health insurance increase with one's age. The premium criterion is based on the health history, age, lifestyle etc. of the insured candidate.

Here are the reasons to testify why do you have to take it now at the peak of your health?

Early age investment means full benefits – Opting for a health plan at a young age as early you start working will provide maximum coverage for your health scares. It also makes for a smart financial decision because of lowest possible premimum paid by you.

Poor Lifestyle Choices is on the Rise – You don't need to be 60 to require medical coverage. The laid back lifestyle has prompted entry to life-threatening illnesses like cancer, tumours and threats to the heart, brain, lungs. Hence, it is crucial to safeguard your health continually. Besides this, medical policies offer yearly checks ups to encourage health awareness.

Waiting period for the cover – There are specific listed ailments such as hernia, Cataract, ENT disorder for which there is a waiting period of one to two years before you get them covered. So starting early is always a more comprehensive option. 

Hectic work-related travel – The corporate worklife demands your time and extensive travel. A healthcare plan that covers both domestic and International medical emergencies along with well suited International medical benefits is yet again a very sensible choice.

The policy covering pre and post Hospital charges – Mainstream medical expenses, the cost of OPD (out-patient department), diagnostic tests have likewise ascended as of late which has made it considerably imperative for one to invest in healthcare policy. Your healthcare plan covers not just surgical or any other hospitalization costs but also the expenses brought forward via OPD and miscellaneous tests before and after a fixed time as set in the policy.

Rebate on Income Tax – Another merit of investing in a good healthcare plan is that the insured is eligible for tax exemption under section 80D of the income tax act on the premium paid for the health insurance policy.

So don’t let this crucial decision of your health take a back seat and invest in health insurance at a young age. In adition to it, when you buy a health insurance policy at an early age, you receive the benefit of lifetime renewability. You can renew health insurance online and enjoy the extended coverage for a long time.

There has been an exponential increase in the number of people opting for health insurances across India in recent years. The top reason is definitely not aggressive advertising by the Insurance Firms, but the health and medical costs that have dramatically risen lately. With much needed financial backup during the critical medical emergencies, health insurances do play an important role in helping you and your family not getting burdened by medical expenses.

Illnesses bring bad times, and an additional financial burden along with it. The rising medical treatment cost, every year, is one of the top reasons why health insurances become somewhat like a necessity for every average earning person.  

Kusum, a single earning mother of two sons, was leading a happy life and was awarded twice as the employee of the year. However, medical emergencies come unannounced. Life took a big turn when her father was admitted to the hospital for chest pain. Her father needed to undergo heart surgery, which not only for him but for the whole family were some of the stressful days of their lives. The surgery went well but left behind a huge dent on her father’s retirement savings and a lot of her savings too. Luckily her family had these savings and did not compromise on the medical treatment plan, but the incident did make Kusum learn a valuable lesson. It was time for her now, to understand Health insurances better and ensure that her whole family is fully insured in order to prevent herself from stressful financial aftermath. 

 As per the WHO statistics, about 70% of the hospitalization in urban India put the consumers in crippling medical distress as they blow up their entire income on healthcare.

Health insurances serve a better way to tackle such health emergencies with a range of insurance plans covering illnesses, accidents and surgical ailments, safeguarding the life of insured a bit easy after the medial process.

How are we helpful?

MAGMA HDI’s OneHealth insurance policies help you to access a whole range of insurance plans which you choose as per your personal needs or family size. With the benefits of cashless hospitalization over 4,100 hospitals, it helps in providing insured covers over accidents and critical ailments. Providing 24x7 claim assistance, hospitalization costs, cashless options, and keeps the insured and the family into financial ease. 

Though Kusum is dealing with a financial crunch and has to give away the dream of a world tour, but she is happy to have adequate family health insurance,putting financial distress at bay.

She might have learned in a harder way, but you can learn from her life incident and choose the best health insurance in india for the parents and yourself.

Health insurance is not a luxury but a necessity. Be a prudent individual by planning the best-fit health insurance and lead a much secure and happy life. 

Having a basic third-party insurance is a must as per the law, however, it only covers the risk of harm or damage to a third party, leaving you high and dry in the event of an accident. So, if you love your ride and your peace of mind, you need to go beyond the basics with a comprehensive motor insurance. Not only does it cover you and your car, but also offers an array of add-ons to truly protect your car.

What are add-ons?

Just as you get to choose from a range of toppings for your pizza to make it better, you can pick and choose from a multitude of add-on benefits made available to you by motor insurance companies in india . It offers additional coverage in return for a little extra premium. Here are some great choices to help you build your ideal plan.

1. Engine protection: If you live in an area prone to flooding, consider getting an engine protection add-on cover that allows you to get your engine repaired or replaced in case of water ingress. This benefit also applies to instances of leakage that could eventually harm your engine. Your insurance provider will cover the costs of repairs or replacements as long as they fall under coverage mentioned in the policy wordings.

2. NCB retention:  You take extra care of your car and even bear small costs yourself to save your NCB. Imagine after 4-5 years of carefully increasing the discount percentage, a small accident compels you to make a claim. You'll lose all the time and effort you had put into increasing your NCB because of a small mistake. This is where the NCB retention add on comes in which helps you protect your NCB even after you make a claim.

3. Zero depreciation: The depreciated value of your car refers to the regular wear and tear that decreases the value of your vehicle. In fact, even if you ensure not a single scratch comes to your car, it'll still lose value with time. So when you make a claim, it'll be settled keeping the reduced value of the parts in mind. Well, unless you have zero depreciation add on that helps you retain the value of your car even with time. This means you get the complete coverage for your claim with no out-of-pocket expenses.

4. Road-side assistance: If you fear anything going wrong on the roads such as a flat tire, dead battery etc., this add-on guarantees you assistance on the spot and is covered by your insurance provider. You can even get coverage against additional circumstances such as overnight expense coverage in case your car breaks down with Magma HDI's additional road-side assistance cover.

5. Invoice value: In the event of total loss, constructive total loss or theft of the insured vehicle, your insurance provider will pay the invoice value or even replace your vehicle with a new one if you opt for this cover. It will also apply to additional charges that may come with your vehicle such as customs duty, registration charges etc.

6. Key replacements: Losing your car key is probably one of the most common car mishaps. With this add-on, get reimbursed for getting a duplicate key or replacing your car lockset in case of a burglary.

7. Loss of personal belongings: In the event of an accident or burglary, you undergo tremendous amounts of stress as you can never fully recover the belongings. However, with this cover, you can put your mind at ease as it can reimburse the cost of your valuable belongings such as your laptop, phone etc.

8. Inconvenience allowance Motor insurance provides you with financial coverage in case of accidents or any other damages. Inconvenience allowance is a daily cash benefit that you are entitled to if you file a valid own damage claim. It can go for as long as ten days to cover all the repairs that your insured vehicle needs. Thus, leaving you prepared for any unforeseen damages no matter how big they are.

The key is to identify your needs and choose the add-on benefits accordingly while buying/renewing your insurance. Most of these add-on covers come at a nominal charge but are well worth the extra buck. For these add-on covers and much more, have a look here at what Magma HDI has to offer.

A health insurance policy is meant to save you from the financial impact of a sudden illness, accidental injuries, and critical diseases. It also works as a legal contract between you and the health insurance provider to bear the costs of hospitalization, doctor’s fee, and other medical expenses.

But, there are many unique provisions of general insurance in india that can be difficult for a layperson to grasp. But thanks to the internet, it's simpler now to understand many confusing concepts.

You can explore and browse through YouTube videos that lucidly explain every important term at your own convenience.

If you're left wondering which videos to watch, here are our top five picks:

1. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=W4ZWXBQRO-I

This is a video from Indianmoney.com, where they explain the best methods to find a suitable health insurance plan. The video tells you how to look for the maximum coverage on your insurance policy and how add-ons can help you in the future.

They also inform you about other important things like clarifying with your insurer about coverage for certain pre-existing diseases when taking a policy with a lesser waiting period to ensure you go in completely informed while buying your first policy.

2. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=X86NLVV6ERE

This link from My Insurance Club talks about the different types of health insurance policies available to us. It broadly divides all health insurance policies into two and then further talks about plans specific to your needs such as critical illness plans.

The video explains the type of policies with the help of examples that relate to real-life scenarios.

3. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=DBTMNM8D-84

This video from Consumer Reports explains the costs related to health insurance. Here, they explain deductibles, premiums and out-of-pocket maximums which are applicable to various health insurance plans.

You must have read or heard about these terms with regard to medical insurance policies. In this video, you can understand them better with in-depth explanations and visuals. It helps you to make better sense of health insurance in India and how your plan helps you.

4. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=9H-VSFU_B_Q

This is a YouTube video from Consumer Reports which is a quick guide to picking the right health insurance for you. The video tells you factors to look for while looking for health insurance. These may include services such as OPD or even ambulance fees. 

5. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=ZZAYPKW6W-G

This video from My Insurance Club talks about the major benefits of buying health insurance. These include cashless services, hospitalisation coverage etc. Check out this video to make sure that you are making the best of your plan.

These are some of the best YouTube videos related to various concepts of health insurance. Go through them to know your options better when choosing a plan for you and your family. 

Given the problems we still face as adults today, educating your kids about being responsible consumers is always a great idea. If you prepare your child with good planning skills now, they’ll be better prepared to face financial challenges in their adulthood.

So, here are some facts about health insurance policies for families that you can use to help your child understand what health insurance truly stands for.

1. Health insurance is essential for everyone

Who could need health insurance? The answer is every individual on this planet. Hence, it is extremely important for your child to know that the benefit of health insurance is invaluable at any stage of your life. No matter what your age is, the future remains unpredictable. This is an important lesson in itself which must be impressed upon your child.

2. The types of health insurance

Getting health insurance should always be an informed decision. In order for that to happen, one must be aware of the options available to them. These options could range from individual and family floater plans to special covers available such as critical illness and maternity care. The idea is to familiarise your child with these for when they do have to make the choice for themselves.

3. The plan can be updated with needs

When it comes to health insurance, many people tend to set it and forget it. And some think that the plan is set in stone - once you've bought it, you're stuck with it. But that's not true. It's important to teach your child that they can and should customise the policy according to their evolving needs. These may include risks that come with age or including your new family in the plan.

4. The importance of reading the policy wordings

Before signing up for any kind of insurance, you must be familiar with what all you are getting with it. No one likes to go through heavy and technical information but it helps you make informed decisions later. So it's important that you encourage your child not to ignore the policy wordings as it'd tell them about their policy's coverage as well as terms and conditions.

5. Health insurance is a necessary expense

In a world with rising expenses, how is one to determine what is worth investing in? Teach your child that health insurance might seem expensive while purchasing but helps you save more than that in the long run. With the rising cost of medical care, having health insurance would be even more important in the future.

Before your child grows up, it is crucial to prepare them with the best knowledge and resources.

Health insurance is one of the most significant things you can teach your child about to ensure a safer future for them.

Health insurance in India is a necessity in contemporary times as it takes care of your finances in case of any health emergency with the help of a single policy. That being said, even the most comprehensive plans come with some exclusions. These are mentioned in your policy document and are often standard for all insurance providers.

You can make the best of your policy only if you know its coverage as well as exclusions. So, here are some you should definitely know of before you sign up for a new plan:

Waiting period

The only risks your health insurance covers from day one are injury/ hospitalisation claims due to an accident. Other than that, all other medical conditions have a waiting period after which you can make a claim. For common ailments, the waiting period is between one to three months from the inception of the policy, whereas the more serious diseases are excluded from coverage for as long as the first year.

Pre-existing conditions

You must have been told repeatedly that making a full disclosure of your health status is essential to get the right coverage. The reason behind this is a standard exclusion which says that all pre-existing diseases have an exclusion period stated in the policy wordings. Falsifying or hiding critical information can render your policy void and will inevitably leave you hanging in the future.

Lifestyle diseases

While these have not always been a concern, the drastic change in our environment and daily routines have made this a necessary part of healthcare. Unless specified at the time of availing the policy, all lifestyle-related diseases arising from smoking, alcohol consumption or drug abuse are excluded from a health plan. You would either have to pay a higher premium or be denied coverage in cases involving such ailments.

Alternative remedies

Most insurance companies are only slowly warming up to the idea of alternative treatment options. Treatment systems such as Ayurveda, Naturopathy and Unani have conventionally been excluded from health covers due to a lack of support from the medical community, which makes it difficult for insurance companies to accommodate.

However, some insurance providers are beginning to recognise these treatments now and are providing optional benefits which you can opt for to get coverage for them.

Maternity and childbirth

Maternity benefits are an integral part of any family health plan. This includes the medical expenses incurred for childbirth, infertility treatment or even abortion. In most cases, you would have to opt for a specialised maternity plan which is subject to a waiting period. Hence, it is a great idea to keep your family's future in mind while picking your policy.

Cosmetic treatments

While your health insurance policy may mention coverage for all hospitalisation, treatments such as plastic surgery, laser treatments, weight loss programmes, liposuction, eye and dental procedures are excluded from this cover. The exception to this rule is cosmetic procedures after an accident as they are critical to the functioning and well-being of a person.

To conclude, when looking for the best health insurance policy in india , remember to get details of all exclusions and waiting periods from your insurance agent or the policy wordings available to you. After all, the unpleasantness of reading that massive policy document sure beats being caught in a lurch while making a claim.