Why you need Insurance
Like many things in life, the decision to purchase insurance or not is based on a system of risk/reward. Unfortunately, consumers often look at the reward and ignore the risk altogether. This can impede the process of making an educated decision. For example, the lottery is a very popular system of risk / reward. In this case, the risk is generally small, but the reward can be great, making it a popular choice. Gambling in casinos is another example. In this case, some people become so fixated on the reward that they forget the risk of losing. Think of insurance as an inverted version of the lottery. The reward (not paying for insurance and therefore saving an immediate expenditure) is miniscule compared to the possible risk (losing everything you own and being in debt for the rest of your life). And sadly, the chances of your number coming up in the insurance game are a lot greater than your chances of winning millions.
General Insurance
These policies are of three types -- the first covers basic hospitalisation needs; the second critical illness; and the third daily hospital cash reimbursements. Even life insurers offer health covers with defined benefits.
Under these, a pre-specified amount is paid as compensation, irrespective of the expenses incurred. With or without a family, you need a health cover. For those who have a family, we recommend a family floater instead of a standalone policy since the probability of all family members needing hospitalisation at one go is remote. Even if your employer offers group medical insurance, get your own cover. A change of job could leave you without insurance, and so could retirement. And, getting a fresh cover after 45 is difficult.
- Buy floater plan to cover entire family
- Opt for a cashless plan, keep cashless mediclaim cards at hand
- Ask insurers for premium rates to find the cheapest policy
- Keep an eye on exclusions and inclusions in the policy
- Undergo medical tests, if required
- Buy health insurance even if you have one from your employer
General Insurance
These policies are of three types -- the first covers basic hospitalisation needs; the second critical illness; and the third daily hospital cash reimbursements. Even life insurers offer health covers with defined benefits.
Accidents don’t just happen on the roads. You may meet with one if you slip in your bathroom, or trip down the staircase in your office, or fail to see the next step in the darkness of a cinema hall.
One careless step could render a double blow to your finances — your healthcare spending increases as you undergo treatment and your income stream gets disrupted until you recuperate. It is here that accident insurance plays a crucial role.
In India, you have two major options to cover the risk from accidents. First, are standalone personal accident insurance policies (PAIP) available with general insurance companies. Second, you can get it as a rider along with a life cover.
Accident policies only cover bodily injuries due to accidents, which are external, violent and visible, as the definition goes. It covers you for four contingencies that may arise from an accident — death, permanent total disability, permanent partial disability, and temporary total disability.
Like benefits from all insurance policies, buyers need to understand how these contingencies are defined in the policy. When you go for a PAIP, opt for a comprehensive cover of the four contingencies even if you have the option of covering one, two or three of them.
Important
> Choose your preferred insurer as premiums are the same across insurers
> Provide income and profession details to the insurer
> Insurer determines your risk category
> Pay the premium based on risk category
> Opt for comprehensive cover to include disability
> Receive certificate and check its terms and conditions
Not having a cover for your vehicle is like driving one at night without switching on the headlights.
You need to compulsorily take a third-party insurance, or third-party liability cover, sometimes also referred to as the ‘act only’ cover, when you buy a vehicle. It is referred to as a ‘third-party’ cover since the beneficiary of the policy is not the two parties involved in the contract — the insured and the insurance company.
It covers the injuries to a third person, or damage to the third person’s assets. But, it is better to go for a comprehensive motor insurance.
You can negotiate for a discount while buying. Also, soon general insurers would be able to price the premium on the policy wordings.
As a buyer, you will need to understand how the wordings of the policy would affect your premium. Factors like the driver’s age and record, the type of vehicle and usage could determine the premium in the future. For now, look for lower rates without compromising on any of the clauses or feature.
Always remember, to transfer your no-claim bonus to the new car, if you are replacing your old one. This way, you would be able to save 20-50 per cent on the first premium of your new car.
Important
Talk directly with insurers or brokers while comparing premiums
Negotiate on discounts
Check if there is deletion of any clause or benefit
Opt for co-payment/deductible to lower premium outgo
Make sure benefit of no-claim bonus is added, if available
Receive the original policy certificate/cover note
For most Indians, buying a house is the most cherished dream and probably the biggest investment of life. Home insurance not only covers your dwelling against unpredictable events, such as a terrorist attack or an earthquake, but also your valuable personal property, such as consumer durables and jewellery.
The premium is less than 1 per cent of the actual cost of the contents or structure covered. You can also opt for a long-term cover by paying a lumpsum premium.
Remember, it’s never too late to buy insurance. So, if you don’t have the must have five, buy them now.
Important
> Choose your preferred insurer
> Compile a list of belongings
> Keep handy the purchase bills of high value items
> Segregate items according to perils
> Opt for personal accident cover or other add-ons
> Receive the policy certificate
Life Insurance is a contract by which you can protect yourself against specific losses by paying a premium over a period of time. Since each one of us, during our lives are faced with numerous risks – failing health, financial losses, accidents and even fatalities, our instinct drives us to cover ourselves against those risks. Though an insurance cover can’t protect you against the emotional losses arising out of these risks, it softens the economic crisis that usually accompanies these losses.
Simply put, life brings with it many surprises, both pleasant and unpleasant. By taking a Life Insurance Plan one can ensure that he / she is better prepared to face uncertainties in number of ways.
Important
> Keep the highest possible term
> Keep the maturity age as long as possible
> Choose the plan that has the lowest premium at your parameters
> Undergo medical tests, if required
> Keep the nominees informed
> Pay premiums every year
Why should I start planning my life cover needs now?
One should have adequate cover for dependence. It’s better to be prepared and ensure that the financial needs of your loved ones are taken care of, in the unfortunate event of death.
> With age, the premiums tend to increase and therefore buying term insurance becomes more expensive.
> Apart from the benefit of protection for your dependents, also enjoy tax benefits under Sec 80C up to Rs. 1,00,000.
Traditional Plans : Popular and widely accepted products like Endowment, Whole life, Money Back and Pension plans with/ without guaranteed Maturity benefit fall under the category of Traditional Plans. Periodic payment of certain percentage of sum assured is made at regular intervals as premium and the Assured Sum is payable at Death / maturity.
Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIP) : ULIPs offer a unique combination of security from life insurance and earnings from investments along with various funds options. Like any traditional plan, ULIP also addresses various future financial needs which may come up for an individual, like Child education, Mid and long term Investment, Retirement, etc.
Hopefully, you now realize that insurance is a necessary part of today’s world. So let’s move on. There are four questions you should have in mind when you set out to purchase insurance.
What kinds of insurance do I need?
- Who do I insure from?
- How do I get the best deal?
- There is also a fifth question that you should continually ask yourself when deciding about your insurance needs.
- What happens if I’m not covered?
What really happens if you aren’t covered, whether it’s not enough of a particular type of insurance or none at all? Imagine a scenario and play it out in your head. Will it even affect you? Can you recover from it at all? We will go through some basic scenarios together and you can decide for yourself.