GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Fire and related events can cause very big losses, and they have become one of the biggest causes of losses in recent times. The damage due to fire can include non-movable assets like homes and buildings as well as movable assets like goods. To ensure you are protected against any unforeseen damage of your property by fire or any fire-related event, you can buy fire insurance for your property from any of the fire insurance companies in India. Fire insurance involves many things and some things must be taken care of while buying fire insurance or renewing your insurance so that you need to pay a lesser premium as well as while filing claims so that you get the best deals.

Things covered under fire insurance: -

Fire, explosion and implosion Lightning Damage due to aircraft Strikes and riots Rockslides and landslides Impact damage Malicious damage Bush fire Smoke damage Storm, typhoon Sprinkler damage Earthquake

Things which fire insurance companies in India do not cover: -

Perils like war, civil war, invasion and similar events Rebellion or Martial law and similar events Underground fires and losses due to that Spontaneous Combustion Losses due to pollution or contamination Theft related losses occurring during or after the fire Consequential losses

What should be the policy amount of your fire insurance?

In most cases, the total sum for which you are buying the fire insurance should be equal to the total cost needed to rebuild or reinstate the property and the professional fees involved along with the charges for the removal of debris.

What is the difference between Replacement Value Policy and Reinstatement Value Policy for Fixed Assets?

In Replacement Value Policy, the insurance company pays the cost of replacing the complete asset that has been damaged or lost due to fire and related events whereas in case of a Reinstatement Value Policy; the insurance company pays the cost to replace the damaged property to its original condition it was in before the loss due to fire. While Replacement Value Policy can apply to other assets, the Reinstatement Value Policy is only applicable to buildings and no other assets.

When buying a fire insurance policy from fire insurance companies in India, you must consider the following things:

The type of risk that the policy covers and if the risk covered by the policy matches the risk you face for your property. The nature of the asset you want to insure because there are different types of policies available for fixed assets and many other different types of policies available for non-fixed assets. Understand the coverage duration of your policy and when to renew the policy.

What information you should get from the fire insurance company while buying the policy?

Premium Payable The insurance cancellation and refund policy Period of coverage Scope of policy coverage Non-standard exclusions Claims reporting procedures

What things are considered to calculate the premium?

The insurer uses many different kinds of data to come up with a final number which you need to pay as premium annually:

The type of policy The type of risk or risks covered The total sum insured The total value of the asset being insured How the asset being insured is used by the owner of the asset The expected risks that can damage the property being insured Whether the person has taken a policy extension or not

How to claim if your asset is damaged?

You need to immediately contact your insurer as soon as your insured property is damaged. The insurer may appoint an independent loss adjuster to take care of your claim, and you will be required to fill a form to start the claim process. The insurer will undertake proper investigation and will then accept the claim if everything is fine.

As the world steers towards sustainable mobility solutions, electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a promising answer to the environmental concerns associated with traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. India, too, is making significant strides in the EV market, with the government's commitment to promote electric mobility.
India's ambition to electrify its transportation system is evident in its National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) and Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) schemes. These initiatives aim to encourage EV adoption by offering incentives, tax breaks, and promoting charging infrastructure development.
As more consumers switch to EVs, the focus on battery technology and its maintenance becomes pivotal after all the battery is at the heart of this technology revolution. And with the growth in this market, there arises a need for a tailored insurance solution as well.
However, many motor insurance companies still do not provide any specialized coverage for EV and HEV batteries, resulting in a void in this fast-developing sector. However, forward-thinking insurance companies are recognizing the opportunity and starting to offer specialized coverage for batteries.
In response to this demand, Magma HDI General Insurance has taken a proactive step by introducing a product: "Battery Secure Add On" This specialized insurance offering is designed to address the unique requirements of electric and hybrid vehicles.
What sets "Battery Secure Add On" apart is its comprehensive coverage of critical EV/HEV components, with a primary focus on the battery. This coverage extends to repair and replacement costs arising from various scenarios. For instance,

• If the battery is damaged as a result of an unexpected power surge while charging or Experiences consequential harm from a short circuit or water ingress, "Battery Secure Add-on” has it covered.

• Moreover, " Battery Secure Add On" goes beyond battery coverage alone. It recognizes that electric vehicles encompass a range of specialized components that differ from traditional combustion-engine vehicles.

• This insurance product also safeguards other electric-specific elements, such as the electric motor, ensuring holistic protection for the entire EV system.

Click HERE to learn more about the product.

Are you someone who loves to travel to new destinations and locations? Then, we have something exciting to present to you. Travelling simply does not mean going from one place to another. If you truly want to experience a location and its surroundings, you need to dive deeper. Exploring a place does not only mean going to underrated places or trying the most interesting food combinations. It also means to immerse yourself in the culture of a place completely.

Engaging yourself in the culture of an unknown land can be an awakening experience for you. It is most commonly known as cultural immersion. With cultural immersion, you need to surround yourself with a particular culture. It requires interacting, spending time with the locals, and getting to know them better.

Cultural immersion can enhance your travel experience and help you get the real feel of a destination. It is also associated with volunteering in an ethnic group or spending some time away from home in a foreign land. Regardless, you should check out the general insurance online quote before you embark on your journey. It will keep you safe and secure.

We have curated a list of things you should keep in mind while you immerse yourself in a culture:

1. Study the customs
Before visiting any new land, you should research its history, culture, and customs in-depth. You should have a basic understanding of the way people meet and greet here. Try gathering more information about the languages spoken, the food, and the local lifestyle. Many cultures are very orthodox and hold their customs very dear to themselves. Knowing about them in advance is important to avoid any trouble later.

2. Try local food and drinks
Every destination has some authentic local delicacies that are worth trying. You will miss most part of your cultural immersion if you do not experience the cuisine of that area. You can dine with the locals or ask about the famous food joints to explore. You can also visit various places and try different food during your stay at the destination.

3. Learn the language
The native language of a place plays a crucial role in its culture. Learning the basics of the language before you embark on your journey is recommended. Although learning a new language is difficult, you can always try with a few words. You can start by memorising words like 'Thank you,' 'Sorry,' 'Please,' etc. Although they are little phrases, they can go a long way.

4. Take the local transportation
Instead of a posh taxi or cab, you should try public transport to experience a region's culture. You will save a lot of money and also be part of the local life. Travelling with locals provides you with an opportunity to interact with them. It helps you understand people and their lifestyles better.

5. Try underrated destinations
You should not restrict yourself to a set itinerary every day. They are monotonous and boring. You should seek advice from locals and ask them for unknown or hidden destinations. These places will not only be less crowded but also give you a chance to immerse yourself in the hidden beauty of a region.

These are some pointers that should be kept in mind by every traveller during cultural immersion. Don't constrain yourself to mundane and superficial exploration. Cultural immersion is one of the best ways to explore a destination and be a part of the everyday life of a particular place. However, travelling and exploring can sometimes be tricky and chaotic due to unexpected circumstances, flight delays, and overbooking at hotels. Before starting your journey, you should check the general insurance online quote, as it provides extra protection against financial loss.

Click HERE to get a general insurance online quote.

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.

Does your business rely heavily on machines and equipment? If yes, then you surely must’ve heard about machinery breakdown insurance. Even if you haven’t, worry not, we’re here to explain

Businesses that have machines running day-in-day-out are susceptible to loss if there is any physical damage to the machines or if they break down. Even if the daily wear and tear are monitored, it is impossible to predict a breakdown. But what you can do is be prepared for such situations by having a machinery breakdown insurance.

What is covered by this type of insurance?

Loss or damage due to:

• A mechanical breakdown
• An electrical breakdown 
• Accidental external factors

The cover is applicable:

• When the machinery is operating
• When it is at rest 
• When it is in the process of getting dismantled
• When it is being overhauled or subsequently being re-erected at the same premises.

The machinery breakdown insurance that we provide also has the following additional covers:

• Air Freight
• Express Freight
• Insured’s own surrounding property
• Third party liability
• Escalation
• Additional custom duty

What is not covered by this type of insurance?

Loss or damage due to:

• Natural calamities like lightning, flood, earthquake, landslides, etc.
• Burglary or theft
• Damage caused due to impact by land-borne/water-borne craft.
• Wear and tear, faults or defects that existed when the insurance period started and was either known to you or ought to have been known to you. 
• Faults or defects for which the supplier is responsible either by law or under contract
• War or war-like operations
• Wilful acts or gross negligence on your or your representative’s part
• Accidental loss or damage due to overload experiments or tests requiring the imposition of abnormal conditions
• Loss of or damage to the different types of belts, ropes, chains, and other exchangeable tools
• Loss of or damage to objects made of glass, porcelain, ceramics, all operating media, etc
• Flaws, defects, cracks or partial fractures that develop gradually in any part not necessitating immediate stoppage

Machines and equipment form an integral part of some businesses. If your business is one of them, then you definitely must own insurance that protects your machinery against unforeseen circumstances. Specific insurance policies such as this one are made to ensure that if something does go wrong, business owners have a reliable option to fall back on.

Today, the number of cases with construction workers being a victim of such accidental risks is increasing. There isn't much awareness around it to make every person understand its importance. Physical loss of engineering insurance includes protection from machinery breakdown, machinery loss, contractor's risk, etc. The major focus is on covering losses that are unforeseen and unexpected. This is also called machinery breakdown insurance.

In the workplace, regardless of the precautions taken, it's always possible that there are unexpected and unfortunate accidents that might put you at risk. This is why you need the physical loss of engineering insurance.

Types of engineering risks include -

• Stock deterioration - Stock deterioration includes the depletion of goods kept in cold storage. This is covered if there's a breakdown of refrigerating machinery. It's similar to machinery breakdown insurance and can be seen as a subset of the same.

This type of insurance may benefit you if you're owners or users of cold storage houses, food preservation industry, and meat and fish processing industries, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

• Movement of Machinery - This insurance covers the damage of machinery during specified operations. This type is important as a lot of machinery is heavy and not always easy to move accordingly. There can be damage during such movement even after the said precaution is taken. This type also often includes incidental storage in transit and moving and unloading to the work position.
• Computer equipment - Computer equipment insurance covers loss of or damage to all computer equipment. Additionally, provides cost required to reinstate lost records. These apply to almost every firm today that can make use of this insurance. Especially with data at threat, companies must safeguard themselves and have an insurance plan to turn to in such a situation.
• Unexpected damage - This policy covers damage that is unexpected and could be due to internal defects or external unfortunate situations. This insurance covers accidental damage most of the time, but it's advisable to check the documents and peculiarities before you go ahead.
• All Risk Cover - The all-risk cover, usually known as the Contractor's all risk, covers all of the above insurances. Usually, the threat of a single kind seems more than the rest, and hence particular insurance opts-in isolation. To easily define it, it covers all risks related to construction.

Here are the reasons why engineering insurance is important

• Machinery breakdown - This is one of the overlooked factors. Be it machines on the ground or even computers; your insurance must cover not only the cost of damage done to the computer installation but also for all the data that was lost. You can opt for machinery breakdown insurance as well.
• Risks of explosions - Such an unsafe work environment comes with its risks and troubles. Insurance will make it one step closer to safety, and you know you're covered in times of crisis.
• If you're in a risky job like that and have the uncertainty of consequences if something unfortunate happens, engineering insurance is your go-to remedy. Insurance covers can be generally applied to, but every insurance does not cover it all in detail. You can always choose multiple insurances, and that's completely alright. But you may need to understand something very important, at a workplace like a construction site; you ought to know that engineering insurance cannot be compromised.

Does your company rely on some huge equipment to generate revenue? Even one failure or breakdown will lead to costly repairs to the extent that a company can even be forced to shut down indefinitely. So, how would you possibly have operated, without these key pieces of machinery like heavy machinery or specialized manufacturing equipment?

Usually, considering other things, companies overlook the importance of manufacturing power. The machinery is the backbone that keeps the force running. They're also a major investment and if not insured, any damage can cause not only hindrance but could also stop workflow altogether and huge loss. Therefore, it's important to opt for a machinery breakdown insurance policy. It is a form of property insurance designed to transfer unexpected breakdown risks associated with a company's mechanical and electrical equipment.

This insurance will cover physical damage from the unanticipated breakdown of machinery. By repairing or replacing the additional costs, this insurance will keep your work going and ensure it doesn't halt in the light of such unforeseen events.

Unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances caused due to carelessness, short circuit, electric overpressure, failure of safety device operation, defects in assembly, structural or mechanical, loosening of parts or excessive speed, falling, impact, collision and entry of foreign goods in the machinery are covered. Under this policy, the sum insured includes the following:

• Replacement value of the equipment
• Erection costs
• Freight charges
• Duties paid
• Value of brickwork

These policies are usually flexible and help organizations recoup financial losses related to property damage, interruption and spoilage. The premium, however, is calculated once the type of equipment and factors like their capacity and price are taken into consideration. There is a different premium for different machinery used. The machines that can be insured are-

• All stationery machinery equipment
• Electrical equipment
• Mechanical plant equipment
• Process machinery in industries

The eligibility criteria are that the owner or lessor of the machinery can get the insurance.

Mechanical loss of engineering insurance policy includes compensation for the cost of repair and replacement arising from unforeseeable circumstances. The cover is effective even if the equipment is not in use. The machinery is also covered if the equipment has been dismissed for maintenance and overhauling or is moved to a different location.

Usually, with an additional premium, the machinery breakdown insurance policy also covers third party liability, additional customs duty, air freight, escalation, property surrounding machinery, overtime, holiday wages etc. This makes it an essential complete package.

Since machinery breakdown insurance policy is for electrical and mechanical equipment, electronic material such as computers are not protected or covered. Specific risks that are not included in this policy are wear and tear, war, fire, gross negligence, damage due to overload and known pre-existing defects.

Machinery breakdown insurance is now crucial for businesses of all kinds and provides protection. However, secure the right policy to ensure your business is covered before, during and after an equipment breakdown.

As the world steers towards sustainable mobility solutions, electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a promising answer to the environmental concerns associated with traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. India, too, is making significant strides in the EV market, with the government's commitment to promote electric mobility.
India's ambition to electrify its transportation system is evident in its National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) and Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) schemes. These initiatives aim to encourage EV adoption by offering incentives, tax breaks, and promoting charging infrastructure development.
As more consumers switch to EVs, the focus on battery technology and its maintenance becomes pivotal after all the battery is at the heart of this technology revolution. And with the growth in this market, there arises a need for a tailored insurance solution as well.
However, many motor insurance companies still do not provide any specialized coverage for EV and HEV batteries, resulting in a void in this fast-developing sector. However, forward-thinking insurance companies are recognizing the opportunity and starting to offer specialized coverage for batteries.
In response to this demand, Magma HDI General Insurance has taken a proactive step by introducing a product: "Battery Secure Add On" This specialized insurance offering is designed to address the unique requirements of electric and hybrid vehicles.
What sets "Battery Secure Add On" apart is its comprehensive coverage of critical EV/HEV components, with a primary focus on the battery. This coverage extends to repair and replacement costs arising from various scenarios. For instance,

• If the battery is damaged as a result of an unexpected power surge while charging or Experiences consequential harm from a short circuit or water ingress, "Battery Secure Add-on” has it covered.

• Moreover, " Battery Secure Add On" goes beyond battery coverage alone. It recognizes that electric vehicles encompass a range of specialized components that differ from traditional combustion-engine vehicles.

• This insurance product also safeguards other electric-specific elements, such as the electric motor, ensuring holistic protection for the entire EV system.

Click HERE to learn more about the product.