Month: November 2019

National Pension Scheme (NPS): Benefits, Types, Premium & More!

Rupanjali Mitra Basu

The Government of India introduced the National Pension Scheme (NPS) in the year 2004 solely for Central Government employees so that they can contribute towards a retirement corpus. However, in the year 2009, the scheme was made public for all individuals. Moreover, the Government also introduced an additional tax deduction of up to INR 50,000 if you invest in the National Pension Scheme. This further popularized the concept of NPS and made investors invest in the scheme.

What is NPS?

NPS is a retirement oriented investment scheme which promises you pensions and lump sum benefits on maturity. The scheme is a market-linked scheme where your investments grow as per the market performance so that you get inflation-adjusted returns when you retire.

Who can invest in NPS?

Both Indian residents and NRIs can invest in the National Pension Scheme if they are aged between 18 and 60 years. In case of NRIs, though, the investment would be terminated if the citizenship changes after opening the NPS account.

Investment into the National Pension Scheme

When you choose to invest in the National Pension Scheme, there are two investment accounts which are available. These are as follows –

  1. Tier I Account
    Tier I Account is the mandatory account into which you have to invest if you want to invest in NPS. The minimum investment required for Tier I Account is INR 500. This means that you can invest in the NPS scheme with as little as INR 500. Moreover, over a financial year, you have to invest a minimum of INR 1000 into Tier I account to keep it active. If the minimum investment is not done, the account would freeze and you would face a penalty to unfreeze it.Tier I Account does not allow withdrawals till the scheme matures. It, therefore, helps your investments to grow. However, in certain situations which are mentioned below, withdrawals are allowed. The situations include the following –
    a. Unemployment for 60 or more continuous days
    b. Paying the expenses of a wedding
    c. Paying for medical emergencies
    d. To buy a home, etc.
  2. Tier II Account
    Tier II Account is not mandatory. You can make investments in this account or only if the Tier I Account investment has been done. The minimum investment for Tier II Account is INR 250. Tier II Account is quite flexible. You can make investments anytime and even withdraw anytime. Withdrawals are permitted from Tier II Account freely.

National Pension Scheme Investment Funds

Now that you know the accounts under NPS, let’s understand the returns that the scheme promises. As stated earlier, the National Pension Scheme invests in market-linked funds. There are four investment funds to choose from. They are as follows –

  1. Asset Class A – This fund invests its portfolio in alternate investment funds which include REITS, MBS and AIFs among others. This is an optional investment fund. If you choose to invest in this fund, the maximum investment would be limited to 5% of your total investment.
  2. Asset Class C – This fund invests its portfolio in securities which promise a fixed rate of interest. However, the securities do not include Government securities. Since the underlying assets of the portfolio have guaranteed returns, the risk in Asset Class C is very low and the returns are stable. You can invest 100% of your investments in this fund without any restrictions.
  3. Asset Class E – Under Asset Class E, at least 50% of the portfolio is invested in equity-oriented stocks. The portfolio, therefore, depends on the performance of the stock market. Since the market is volatile in nature, the risk is high. The returns, on the other hand, are attractive since equity promises good returns. When investing in the National Pension Scheme, however, you cannot invest 100% of your money in this volatile fund. The investment would be restricted to 75% and the remainder should be invested in either Asset Class C or G or in a combination of both. Moreover, as you age, your equity investment would reduce to reduce the volatility that your investments would be exposed to.
  4. Asset Class G – Under this fund, the portfolio consists of only Government securities. These securities are highly secured and offer a fixed rate of return. The fund, therefore, has negligible risks and the returns are moderate and stable. 100% of your investment can be invested in this fund without restrictions.To invest, you can choose either one of Asset Class C or G or a combination of multiple funds. You can also switch between the funds when you want to change your investment preference. There are two investment strategies too to invest your money. These strategies are as follows –

NPS investment strategies:

  1. Active Choice

    If you choose Active Choice, you can invest in the above-mentioned funds as per your discretion. However, the minimum and maximum investment limit would have to be followed.

  2. Auto Choice

    Under this strategy, your investments are managed automatically depending on your risk profile. There are three risk profiles to choose from and the profile you choose would determine your asset allocation. The profiles and their asset allocations are as follows –

    3. Risk profilesAllocation in Asset Class EAllocation in Asset Class CAllocation in Asset Class G
    Aggressive75%10%15%
    Moderate50%30%20%
    Conservative25%35%40%

Thereafter, as you age, the equity exposure from Asset Class E is reduced and redistributed towards the other two Asset Classes.

Switching is also allowed between these two strategies. You can choose the Auto Choice strategy and then switch to Active Choice or vice-versa.

Historic National Pension Scheme Returns

National Pension Scheme returns are not promised as they depend on the performance of the securities into which the scheme has invested in. However, the historic National Pension Scheme returns can be assessed to check how the scheme has performed ever since its inception. So, let’s have a look into the National Pension Scheme return for different types of Asset Classes available under the scheme –

National Pension Scheme returns under Tier I Account as on 31st September 2019

  1. Asset Class A:
    Returns Name of the Pension Fund Manager
    SBIPF*LICPF**UTIRSL**ICICI PF***KOTAK PF ^HDFC PF ^^BIRLA PF^^^
    3-month return2.31%1.66%1.53%2.53%3.11%1.70%1.59%
    6-month return3.96%2.99%3.33%4.63%8.06%4.07%3.34%
    1-year return11.48%10.41%7.26%13.32%16.19%12.74%7.32%
    Return since inception8.15%7.78%6.98%7.99%7.69%8.40%7.09%
  1. Asset Class E:
    Returns Name of the Pension Fund Manager
    SBIPF*LICPF**UTIRSL**ICICI PF***KOTAK PF ^HDFC PF ^^BIRLA PF^^^
    3-month return-2.70%-3.30%-1.68%-2.53%-0.93%-1.12%-0.36%
    1-year return3.94%2.26%4.44%4.21%7.19%6.67%4.80%
    3 years return9.16%7.73%9.44%9.26%9.79%10.97%NA
    5 years return8.18%6.83%8.51%8%8.50%9.11%NA
    Return since inception9.31%10.79%10.98%10.98%10.27%13.89%8.73%
  1. Asset Class C:
    2. Returns Name of the Pension Fund Manager
    SBIPF*LICPF**UTIRSL**ICICI PF***KOTAK PF ^HDFC PF ^^BIRLA PF^^^
    3-month return3.29%2.90%1.79%3.02%1.77%3.25%3.34%
    1-year return14.39%14.51%12.63%14.43%12.95%14.92%15%
    3 years return8.01%7.56%7.18%8.19%7.29%8.10%NA
    5 years return9.99%9.84%9.39%10.38%9.69%10.13%NA
    Return since inception10.57%10.21%9.29%10.58%10.29%10.42%9.88%
  1. Asset Class G:
    2. Returns Name of the Pension Fund Manager
    SBIPF*LICPF**UTIRSL**ICICI PF***KOTAK PF ^HDFC PF ^^BIRLA PF^^^
    3-month return2.01%1.68%2.33%1.69%1.98%1.78%1.90%
    1-year return18.42%21.02%18.21%18.08%18.97%18.48%18.26%
    3 years return7.87%9.46%7.39%7.63%7.69%7.67%NA
    5 years return10.90%11.69%10.38%10.71%10.78%10.65%NA
    Return since inception9.93%11.69%8.83%9.13%9.08%10.34%9.07%

National Pension Scheme returns under Tier II Account as on 31st September 2019:

  1. Asset Class E
    2. Returns Name of the Pension Fund Manager
    SBIPF*LICPF**UTIRSL**ICICI PF***KOTAK PF ^HDFC PF ^^BIRLA PF^^^
    3-month return-2.62%-2.90%-1.75%-2.49%-1.04%-1.13%-0.16%
    1-year return3.93%2.81%4.37%4.33%7.15%6.81%4.51%
    3 years return7.46%5.39%7.98%7.78%7.20%8.36%NA
    5 years return8.19%6.64%8.63%8.04%8.52%9.28%NA
    Return since inception8.99%7.74%9.32%9.02%9.55%11.24%8.47%
  1. Asset Class C
    2. Returns Name of the Pension Fund Manager
    SBIPF*LICPF**UTIRSL**ICICI PF***KOTAK PF ^HDFC PF ^^BIRLA PF^^^
    3-month return2.59%2.54%2.10%2.96%2.78%3.32%3.13%
    1-year return13.39%14.11%12.80%14.08%13.77%14.61%13.78%
    3 years return7.68%7.17%7.34%8.04%7.61%8.13%NA
    5 years return9.77%9.22%9.44%10.22%9.68%9.39%NA
    Return since inception10.13%9.02%9.40%10.41%9.34%9.37%8.35%
  1. Asset Class G
    Returns Name of the Pension Fund Manager
    SBIPF*LICPF**UTIRSL**ICICI PF***KOTAK PF ^HDFC PF ^^BIRLA PF^^^
    3-month return2.30%2.38%2.05%1.68%2.02%2.06%2%
    1-year return18.12%22.75%18.37%17.76%17.67%18.70%18.46%
    3 years return7.78%10.07%7.52%7.54%7.49%7.70%NA
    5 years return10.82%11.89%10.51%10.66%10.56%10.59%NA
    Return since inception10.02%12.15%9.65%9.23%8.84%10.75%7.52%

SBIPF* is SBI Pension Fund Private Limited

LICPF** is LIC Pension Fund Limited

UTIRSL** is UTI Retirement Solutions Limited

ICICIPF*** is ICICI Pension Fund Management Company

KOTAK PF ^ is Kotak Pension Fund Limited

HDFC PF ^^ is HDFC Pension Fund

BIRLA PF^^^ is Birla Sun Life Pension Fund

The National Pension Scheme returns are quite good and attractive even for low-risk asset classes like C and G. You can, therefore, invest in the National Pension Scheme to earn good returns on your investments and create a substantial retirement corpus for your golden years. Remember, the earlier you start investing the more the returns that you can get. So, start investing today and secure your retired life financially.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  1. Who manages the portfolio of NPS?

    NPS investments are managed by authorized pension fund managers. Currently, there are seven pension fund managers which are as follows –

    • Birla Pension Fund
    • LIC Pension Fund
    • SBI Pension Fund
    • ICICI Prudential Pension Fund
    • Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund
    • UTI Retirement Solutions Pension Fund
    • HDFC Pension Management Company
  1. When does the National Pension Scheme mature?

    The National Pension Scheme matures when you reach 60 years of age. You also have the option to defer the maturity age by another 10 years and collect the maturity proceeds when you attain 70 years of age.

  1. What happens on the maturity of the scheme?

    When the National Pension Scheme matures, you have the option of withdrawing 60% of the accumulated corpus in a lump sum. This withdrawn amount would also be tax-free in your hands and can be used for any type of financial requirement that you have. The remaining 40% of the corpus would then be utilised to pay you annuities. There are nine annuity payment options under the National Pension Scheme and you can choose to receive annuities under any option that you like.

  1. Can National Pension Scheme returns be negative?

    Yes, if you invest in Asset Class E which invests in equity-oriented stocks and if the market is falling, the returns can be negative. Positive returns are only promised by Asset Class C and G which invest in fixed income securities which do not depend on the volatility of the capital market.

Indemnity Insurance: Everything You Need to Know (Detailed Guide)

Ankita Sejpal

Human error is natural and inevitable. But human errors can cause enormous loss and may put an end to business (service provider) or career of a professional. Inadequate services, error in judgement, medical diagnosis and incorrect advice can land the service provider or professional in legal trouble if the client takes the legal action to seek compensation. This is where the role of professional indemnity insurance comes into play.

What is professional indemnity insurance?

Professional indemnity insurance is a type of business insurance that indemnifies the service provider company or the professional when they commit an error that landed them in legal trouble. Professional indemnity insurance provides coverage for the legal cost incurred for defending the claim and the compensation to be paid to the client who initiated the claim.

Why is it important to have professional indemnity insurance?

When you work hard towards your profession or business, for its growth, it makes sense to protect it. Professional indemnity insurance is an ideal way to secure yourself and your business against the claims of malpractice, negligence or error. Businesses or professionals are often sued because of the mistakes they make. If the client takes the legal action, financial loss that you may suffer would take a very long time to recover or it can even end your business or career. Hence, availing professional indemnity insurance is very important for the following reasons:

  • To mitigate the risk of litigation that may arise due to unintentional errors
  • Indemnity insurance lowers the chance loss for risky businesses and profession
  • Indemnity insurance helps in securing the reputation of their practice or profession along with protecting the personal asset

Features and benefits of professional indemnity insurance

Professional indemnity insurance policies offer numerous benefits and features. Some of the key features and benefits of professional indemnity insurance are:

  • Lawsuit protection: The indemnity insurance provides protection against lawsuits brought against the insured regardless of the actual wrongdoing. The insurance policy covers compensation, settlement or damages awarded to the claimant along with legal costs incurred to defend the case
  • Coverage: The policy provides exhaustive coverage against various potential risks to the profession or to the business.
  • Customisable: Professional indemnity insurance policies are customisable based on the nature of business or profession and specific requirements relating to the nature of professional services offered.
  • Simple and hassle-free: Availing indemnity insurance plans are quite simple in India with hassle-free and minimal documentation requirements.
  • Flexible: Most of the indemnity insurance plans offered are flexible which allows the insured to adjust the coverage based on the requirement.

Who can avail professional indemnity insurance?

Professional indemnity insurance policies can be availed by various types of professionals and service providing establishments in order to protect their career, business and personal integrity. Professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, architects, medical practitioners and chartered accountants can seek professional indemnity cover. Service providers like hospitals and medical establishments can also seek this indemnity cover to secure themselves financially against various risks relating to professional duties.

How does professional indemnity insurance policy work?

Professional indemnity insurance policies work on a claims made basis. Professional indemnity insurance basically covers the claims that may result from a breach of professional duties. It is also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance in the United States. As the policy provides cover on a claims-made basis, only those claims registered during the tenure of the policy are covered. It’s important to renew the policies on time to enjoy the continuous coverage. It’s important to note that the financial losses caused due to a professional error, improper advice and out of negligence are covered only if those errors were committed during the policy period.

What is the retroactive date in professional indemnity insurance

A retroactive date is a date from which you have held professional indemnity cover. The retroactive date is prior to the date of inception of professional indemnity insurance. Basically, retroactive date helps you avail the cover for your past work and the mistakes that occurred in the past, which is before the policy start date. This concept of ‘backward’ cover can be for several months or years before the commencement of the policy. For example, an architect can be held financially or legally responsible for the work that was completed a year ago on the grounds of deterioration of material or cracks etc. The best part of the retroactive date is it helps you get cover for such old works also.

What is a doctor’s professional indemnity insurance?

In today’s litigious world, there has been a steep rise in a negligence claim against doctors. Considering the legal and financial threat involved in the medical profession, there needs to be a special cover for doctors to protect themselves against various professional risks. In order to protect their professional interest, doctors and medical establishments can avail professional indemnity insurance.

Doctor’s professional indemnity insurance covers the legal liabilities which includes the cost of defending claims, investigation cost, cost of representation and compensation to be awarded to claimant etc. The claims arising out of death or bodily injury caused by error, negligence or omission.

However, the coverage excludes criminal acts, plastic surgery, HIV/AIDS, punitive and exemplary damages, blood banks, weight reduction and acts committed under the influence of intoxicants.

Scope of coverage in professional indemnity insurance

Following are the coverages offered by professional indemnity insurance:

  • Legal expenses and cost:

    The policy covers the cost of defending the legal claims made against you.

  • Compensation:

    If the case goes in favour of the claimant, policy compensates for the compensation to be awarded to the claimant.

  • Run-off cover:

    Even after the business ceases to trade, there may still be a chance of claims against a business for the work carried out before at the time of running the business. Such claims are covered in run-off cover.

Exclusions in professional indemnity insurance

Following are the exclusions under professional indemnity insurance:

  1. Claims arising out of libel, slander, wrongful eviction, false arrest, defamation and wrongful detention etc.
  2. Claims arising out of anguish, shock or mental injury
  3. Infringement of plans, trade name, patent and copyright
  4. Fraudulent, criminal or malicious act
  5. Bodily injury, death, disease, property damage, financial loss or consequential loss unless arising out of wrongful or inadequate advice or design.
  6. Contractual liabilities
  7. Intentional and deliberate non-compliance of statutory provisions
  8. Punitive and exemplary damages
  9. War and nuclear perils
  10. Natural calamities and atmospheric disturbance
  11. HIV/AIDS
  12. Alcohol and drug abuse, etc

List of companies providing professional indemnity insurance in India

There are various general insurance companies that offer indemnity insurance. Following are the top insurance providers that offer professional indemnity insurance in India:

  1. Tata AIG General Insurance Company:

    Professional indemnity/error and omissions policy offered by Tata AIG General Insurance Company provides customised solutions to various professionals such as IT companies, financial institutions, law firms, media companies and other professionals. The coverage is provided against claims arising out of negligent acts, errors or omissions in the professional services rendered by these companies.

  1. Reliance General Insurance Company:

    Professional indemnity insurance offered by Reliance General Insurance Company provides comprehensive coverage against various risks associated with the performance of professions such as error, professional neglect and improper advice etc which may lead to legal claims. The policy offered is customisable and flexible.

  1. New India Assurance Company:

    Professional indemnity insurance policy offered by the New India Assurance Company offers financial security against various litigations that may arise due to a breach of professional duties and negligence. The indemnity coverage can also be availed as a group policy. The coverage includes death, bodily injury and third-party property damage.

  1. ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company:

    Professional indemnity insurance offered by ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company provides security against various ‘professional indemnity risks’ the business or the professional is exposed to. There is also separate and special coverage designed for doctors and medical establishments.

  1. Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company:

    Indemnity insurance cover offered by Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company offers exhaustive coverage against various professional risks. These policies can be availed as group policies also.

To sum up, professional indemnity insurance protects your professional interest and prevents you from committing professional mistakes. With indemnity insurance, service provider businesses can run smoothly without having to worry about litigations.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  1. What is the cost of availing professional indemnity insurance?

    Cost of professional indemnity insurance depends on various factors such as type of profession, nature of services provided, risk exposure to a particular profession, the annual turnover of the business and previous claim history if any etc. For example, an investment advisory firm is considered to have high-risk exposure in comparison to a recruitment consultancy firm in terms of quantum of loss that a professional indemnity claim may cause. Hence, the cost may vary depending on the risk exposure to the particular business. Rates may also vary from insurance company to insurance company depending on the market competition. Usually, the premium rates may vary between 0.5% and 5% of the annual turnover of the business or the professional seeking indemnity insurance.

  1. What are claims made policy?

    Claims made policy refers to an insurance policy wherein the requirement of coverage is triggered only when the claim is made against the insured during the policy tenure. However, the retroactive date is an exception to this as the policy with a retroactive date can cover past mistakes and claims as well.

  1. Is professional indemnity insurance a compulsory legal requirement?

    No. professional indemnity insurance is not compulsory by law for everyone. But, having an adequate professional indemnity insurance cover is essential to secure your business or profession from exorbitant compensation you may need to pay in the event of a claim. Regardless of whether the claim is justified or not, it’s worth availing indemnity insurance to stay prepared for the consequences of litigations.

  1. How much professional indemnity insurance is ideally needed

    Indemnity insurance plans come with various limits. However, the policy can be customised based on the following factors:

    • Size and nature of business
    • Risks involved in the industry
    • The estimated cost of defence and compensation for similar businesses
    • Size of clientele

    The requirement of coverage ultimately depends on the risk exposure the business has.

  1. What is a civil liability?

    In indemnity insurance, civil liability refers to the amount that you are liable to pay for potential damages following a lawsuit.

Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana(PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) – Differences and Similarities

Ankita Sejpal

The honourable Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi, has introduced several insurance schemes for the general public of India. These schemes are aimed at social welfare and provide good insurance coverage at low premium rates. Among the different schemes which have been launched by the Prime Minister, there are two popular insurance schemes – PMJJBY and PMSBY. Let’s understand what these schemes are all about and do their comparative analysis –

Meaning of PMJJBY and PMSBY

  • What is PMJJBY or Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana?

    Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) is a pure term insurance plan. The plan offers life insurance coverage for one year. If the insured dies during the period of coverage, the sum assured is paid. The sum assured under the scheme is INR 2 lakhs and the premium is INR 330.

  • What is PMSBY or Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana?

    Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana is a personal accident insurance plan. This plan covers accidental death, permanent total disablement and permanent partial disablement. The policy runs for one year and can be renewed annually. The coverage amount for death and total disablement is INR 2 lakhs and for partial disablement, it is INR 1 lakh. The premium is INR 12.

Similarities between PMJJBY and PMSBY

Both the insurance schemes, PMJJBY and PMSBY have various similarities between them. These include the following –

  • Both the schemes run for one year after which they can be renewed.
  • PMJJBY and PMSBY are both voluntary insurance schemes. You can choose to be covered under these schemes if you want.
  • The coverage level for death under both PMJJBY and PMSBY schemes is INR 2 lakhs.
  • The coverage period of both the schemes is from 1st June to 31st May
  • PMJJBY and PMSBY are both sold through insurance companies as well as participating banks. In case you have multiple bank accounts, you can avail coverage from anyone account only.
  • The payment of premium under PMJJBY and PMSBY scheme is done through auto-debit from your bank account. 
  • Both the PMJJBY and PMSBY schemes can be bought even when you have other insurance schemes in your name.

Differences between PMJJBY and PMSBY

Though PMJJBY and PMSBY share similarities, saying that these schemes of insurance are alike is wrong. Both PMJJBY and PMSBY schemes are completely different from one another. Let’s understand how –

Basis of distinction

PMJJBY

PMSBY

Type of scheme

This is a life insurance term plan.

This is a personal accident insurance plan.

Nature of insurance

This is a life insurance policy

This is a general insurance policy

Coverage offered

Under PMJJBY, death during the coverage duration is covered. This death can be accidental or due to natural causes. Any type of disability suffered is not covered under the plan.

PMSBY scheme covers accidental deaths, permanent total disability and permanent partial disability. Natural deaths are not covered under the plan. 

Benefit payable

If the insured dies during the term of the policy, the sum assured is paid which is INR 2 lakhs.

The benefit payable under PMSBY scheme depends on the contingency suffered by the insured. In case of accidental deaths and permanent total disablements, the sum insured of INR 2 lakhs is paid. However, in case of permanent partial disablement, the benefit payable is INR 1 lakh.

Premium rate 

Under PMJJBY scheme, the premium payable for the coverage is INR 330

PMSBY has a lower premium compared to PMJJBY scheme. The premium payable for personal accident coverage is only INR 12

Eligibility 

For enrolling under the PMJJBY scheme, you should be aged between 18 and 50 years. Life insurance coverage would be available up to 55 years of age.

Coverage under PMSBY scheme is available to individuals who are aged 18 to 70 years. Coverage is also available until 70 years of age.

Waiting period for claims

There is a waiting period for natural deaths under PMJJBY scheme. The waiting period is 45 days. However, there is no waiting period for accidental deaths.

There is no waiting period under PMSBY scheme. Coverage is available from Day 1

Both PMJJBY and PMSBY insurance schemes are designed for providing low-cost coverage to the Indian population. The schemes have become quite popular ever since they have been launched given the ease of application and the affordable premium rates. So, if you also want to apply for the PMJJBY and PMSBY schemes, understand what the schemes are all about and their similarities and differences and then buy a scheme for your coverage needs.

However, if you wish to increase your life insurance coverage or opt for health insurance, you can visit https://www.turtlemint.com/

All You Need to Know About Travel Insurance

Rupanjali Mitra Basu

Going on a trip is a joyous experience for all. You get to take a break from your routine life and relax. You also get to bond with your loved ones as you spend some quality time with them. Moreover, the thrill of exploring new places is also exhilarating. That is why everyone loves to travel and a vacation is planned with great excitement and enthusiasm. But what if your perfectly planned trip goes awry.

Uncertainties cannot be predicted. What you believe to be a relaxing holiday can become stressed when any unforeseen emergency strikes you. When that happens, you not only get mental stress but financial stress too. When you are travelling to an unknown place and if you face unexpected contingencies, finding help in an unknown land might prove difficult. Moreover, it would also incur additional financial expenses which might overshoot your travel budget and cause a financial strain. Would you be able to handle the strain yourself? What about emergency medical hospitalisation abroad? Would you be able to meet the expensive costs from your own pockets?

Travelling is fraught with risks and that is why a travel insurance plan is recommended to cover your trips. Though the plan is essential to cover your trips, many of you don’t understand the concept of travel insurance and that is why you don’t invest in the plan. So, let’s understand what travel insurance is all about and why it is essential.

History of PLI India Post

The concept of Postal Life Insurance was first floated in the year 1884 when the Secretary of State to Her Majesty approved life insurance schemes for the employees of the post office. In the year 1888, the scheme expanded its scope and covered the employees of the Telegraph department as well. Later on, in the year 1894, female employees in the Postal and Telegraph departments were also covered under PLI which was a first in the history of insurance.

PLI India Post is the oldest life insurance company in India. Initially, the plans offered under Postal Life Insurance provided coverage of up to INR 4000 only. However, in recent times, the limit has increased. Nowadays, you can enjoy coverage of up to INR 50 lakhs in aggregate under different types of post insurance schemes.

What is travel insurance?

A travel insurance policy is one which covers the financial losses that you might suffer when you are travelling. Travel insurance plans cover you for the duration of your trip and help you meet with financial emergencies that you might face on such a trip.

Features of travel insurance

Here are some notable features which you can find in travel insurance policies –

  1. There are different types of travel insurance plans available in the market. Each type of plan caters to a particular type of trip that you are undertaking
  2. The sum insured is expressed in US Dollars and ranges from $25,000 to $500,000
  3. The coverage duration is the duration of your trip
  4. If you are travelling to Schengen countries, buying travel insurance would be a must
  5. The premiums for travel insurance policies are very low

Types of travel insurance plans in India

In India, you can find the following types of travel insurance policies for your travels –

  1. International travel insurance plans

    These plans cover trips taken abroad. International travel insurance plans can also be further sub-divided into countries that they cover. There are plans which cover all countries except the USA and Canada and then there are those which cover all countries including USA and Canada. You can also find a specific plan for Asia, Japan and Schengen countries.

  1. Domestic travel insurance plans

    Contrary to international travel insurance plans, domestic travel insurance plans cover trips taken within India itself. You can travel anywhere in India and buy a domestic travel insurance plan for covering your travel risks.

  1. Student travel insurance plans

    Student travel insurance plans are those which cover students who are travelling abroad for higher education. These plans have some specific coverage benefits for such travelling students.

  1. Senior citizen travel insurance plans

    As the name suggests, senior citizen travel insurance plans are meant to cover senior citizens (individuals aged 60 years and above) when they are going on a trip.

  1. Single trip travel insurance plans

    Single trip travel insurance plans cover one trip for a specified number of days.

  1. Annual multi trip travel insurance plans

    Annual multi-trip plans are those travel insurance plans which cover multiple trips taken within a year. If you are a frequent traveller, buying single trip travel insurance plans might prove expensive and inconvenient. In such cases you can invest in an annual multi trip travel insurance plan which would cover all the trips that you take within a year.

  1. Individual travel insurance plans

    Individual travel plans cover a single individual and/or his family members travelling with him/her on a trip.

  1. Group travel insurance plans

    Group travel insurance plans are those which cover a group of individuals under a single plan. A group travel insurance plan can be taken by companies whose employees frequently travel for business. Similarly, a tour operator can also buy a group travel insurance plan for a group of people travelling on a package trip.

What is covered under travel insurance?

There are different travel insurance plans available in the market and each plan has a different set of coverage benefits. However, all travel insurance plans have some common coverage benefits which are also called standard coverage benefits. These benefits include the following –

Coverage benefitMeaning
Emergency medical expensesIf you are injured or if you fall sick when you are travelling and you are hospitalised, the travel insurance plan would cover the costs of such hospitalisation and pay your medical bills
Repatriation of mortal remainsThis covers the cost of sending the remains of a dead body if the insured dies while on the trip
Loss of baggageIf your checked in baggage is misplaced by the airline and it is lost, the policy would cover the financial loss that you would suffer
Delay of checked-in baggageIf there is a delay in receiving your checked-in baggage, the travel insurance policy would pay you a claim so that you can buy items of personal use which your bag contained
Third party legal liabilityIf, while on the trip, you damage someone’s property or hurt an individual physically, you might have to pay a financial compensation for the damages that you have caused. This compensation is also paid by the travel insurance policy
Loss of passportIf you lose your passport on the trip, the policy pays you the cost of arranging a duplicate one
Hijack distress allowanceIn case of a hijack, the policy pays a benefit for the distress that you suffer
Trip cancellationIf your trip is cancelled due to unavoidable reasons, the costs incurred in pre booking hotels and travel tickets are reimbursed
Accidental death or disabilityIf you suffer accidental death or disability when travelling by air or when you are on the trip, the policy pays a lump sum benefit

Other coverage benefits

Travel insurance plans provide a comprehensive scope of cover which ensures that most of your financial losses are covered. That is why, besides the above-mentioned standard coverage benefits, you would find some of the below-mentioned benefits too under many travel insurance plans –

  1. Trip curtailment

    While trip cancellation covers the cancellation of your trip before it begins, trip curtailment covers cutting short an ongoing trip due to unavoidable emergencies.

  1. Hospital cash allowance

    Under this cover a daily allowance is paid if you are hospitalised during your trip. This benefit is paid along with the medical insurance coverage that you get for your hospital bills.

  1. Missed flight connection

    If you are taking connecting flights and if you miss such flights due to unavoidable reasons, coverage is allowed for the loss that you incur.

  1. Compassionate visit

    Under this benefit, the return ticket for a family member is arranged if you are hospitalised on your trip and your family member wants to visit and check on you.

  1. Emergency cash advance

    If you lose your wallet and or money while travelling due to theft or robbery, this cover provides cash advance to you so that you can meet your travel related expenses.

Unique coverage benefits under student travel insurance plans

Student travel insurance plans allow all the standard coverage benefits along with some of the above-mentioned coverage benefits to students travelling abroad. Moreover, these plans have some unique coverage features which are especially designed for students. These coverage benefits include the following.

  1. Bail bond

    If the student gets arrested in an international country, the travel insurance policy would cover the cost of posting a bail.

  1. Study interruption

    If the student’s study is interrupted due to illness or injury which takes time to recover, the travel insurance plan would cover the tuition fee incurred during the interrupted period.

  1. Sponsor protection

    If the sponsor of the student, who finances the student’s international education, dies or becomes disabled, this benefit covers the student’s cost of tuition and pays the tuition fee In place of the sponsor.

Exclusions under travel insurance plans

While the above-mentioned coverage benefits make travel insurance plans quite comprehensive in their scope of coverage, the plans also have a set of exclusions which are not covered. If you make a claim which is because of the exclusion, the claim would be rejected. Commonly found exclusions in travel insurance plans are as follows –

  1. Pre-existing conditions and medical complications faced due to them
  2. When you travel against the advice of a medical practitioner
  3. If you are travelling solely for the purpose of receiving medical treatments abroad
  4. If you suffer any accident, injury or illness due to the use of alcohol and/or narcotics
  5. If you suffer any accident or injury when participating in adventure sports and other hazardous activities
  6. Claims due to war, nuclear contamination, radiation, mutiny, etc.
  7. Medical expenses incurred on pregnancy and childbirth
  8. Medical expenses incurred due to HIV/AIDS or any other sexual diseases
  9. Attempted suicide, self-inflicted injuries or deliberate accidents
  10. Any type of cosmetic treatments would not be covered
  11. Non-allopathic alternative forms of treatment are not covered under travel insurance plans
  12. Consequential losses are not covered
  13. If you lose your passport because you left it unattended, such a loss would not be covered under travel insurance plans

Optional coverage benefits under travel insurance

Optional coverage benefits are those which are not inbuilt in the coverage of the plan but can be taken by paying additional premiums. Travel insurance plans also offer different types of optional covers some of which are as follows –

  1. Home burglary insurance

    If your home is burgled while you are away on a trip, the benefit covers the loss that you suffer.

  1. Coverage for pre-existing conditions

    While pre-existing conditions are excluded from coverage, many travel insurance plans allow coverage for such conditions on the payment of additional premiums.

  1. Coverage for adventure sports

    If you are taking a vacation and plan to engage in adventure sports, you can inform the insurance company of your intentions. Many companies, then, allow coverage for injuries suffered when engaging in adventure sports if you pay additional premiums.

  1. Trip extension

    If you have to extend your trip due to unavoidable reasons, this benefit would cover the costs incurred on such extensions.

  1. Enhanced cover for accidental death and disablement

    If you choose this optional cover, the coverage benefit payable under accidental death and/or disablement would be enhanced.

Why travel insurance is a must?

It is always recommended that you insure your trips under a travel insurance plan. The reason is the assistance which travel insurance plans provide. Here are some benefits which you can get from travel insurance plans which make the plans a must buy –

  1. Coverage for medical costs

    Medical costs are pretty expensive and when you are travelling to an international country, the costs multiply manifold. A travel insurance plan covers these costs and ensures that you don’t suffer any financial contingency due to illnesses and injuries suffered when travelling.

  1. Help in an unknown land

    When you are travelling to an unknown country and you face contingencies you can be assured that your travel insurance plan would come to your assistance. This makes travel insurance a friend in foreign lands and ensures a smooth trip.

  1. Trip cancellations are covered

    Though you might be excited to go on a vacation but a sudden illness or death in the family might put a dent in your plans. In such cases you incur huge losses on pre-booked flights and hotels. Travel insurance plans cover these costs and help you financially in such dilemmas.

  1. It might be mandatory

    Schengen countries have mandated a valid overseas medical insurance plan when you are travelling there. So, if you are travelling to any Schengen country, buying a travel insurance plan becomes mandatory.

  1. The plan protects your whole family

    The best thing about a travel insurance plan is that you can insure all your family members under the same plan if they are travelling with you. Thus, a single plan allows coverage for your whole family and allows risk-free travelling.

  1. Financial help in case of thefts

    Losing your wallet and cash is quite common and this loss proves quite expensive. By advancing emergency cash, a travel insurance policy helps you out financially when you have no one to turn to.

    Given these benefits, you should insure your trip under a suitable travel insurance plan and safeguard your travels.

How to buy travel insurance plans?

You can buy travel insurance online or offline. Offline policies are bought through travel insurance agents or through the branches of insurers. On the other hand, you can buy travel insurance online directly from your home or office by visiting the website of the insurance company or an insurance aggregator. The process to buy travel insurance online or offline is as follows –

  1. Choose the most suitable travel insurance plan for your needs
  2. Ensure that the plan has all the required coverage benefits
  3. The sum assured should also be sufficient enough to cover expected contingencies
  4. Once the plan has been shortlisted, you can apply for it
  5. Fill up an application form stating all the relevant details. These details include the following
    1. The trip destination
    2. The duration of the trip
    3. Number of members travelling
    4. Trip start and end date
    5. Age of the travelling members
    6. Their relation with you
    7. Sum insured that you need
    8. Any other optional coverage benefits that you need
    9. Any pre-existing illnesses that you or any travelling members have, etc.
  6. Once all the details are filled, the form should be submitted to the insurance company
  7. A set of documents might also be required to apply for insurance. These documents include the following –
    1. Identity proof of the travelling members
    2. Age proof of the members to be insured
    3. Copy of your passport in case of international travel
    4. Visa documents
    5. Copy of the travel tickets
    6. Photographs of the members who are to be insured

      The insurance company would then assess the application form, verify the documents submitted and issue the policy once the premium is paid.

Best travel insurance companies in India

To buy the best travel insurance plan for your trip, here are some of the best companies which you can consider –

Name of the companyTypes of travel insurance plansSalient features
HDFC Ergo
  • Individual Travel Insurance
  • Family Travel Insurance
  • Student Travel Insurance
  • Frequent Flyers Insurance
  • Emergency dental expenses are covered
  • Hospital daily cash allowance
  • Loss of personal belongings is covered under international travel insurance policy
Apollo Munich
  • Family travel insurance
  • Individual travel insurance
  • Senior citizen travel insurance
  • Annual multi trip travel insurance
  • Student travel insurance
  • A range of travel insurance plans are available
  • The coverage is comprehensive in nature
  • Premiums are affordable
  • Plans can be bought online
Future Generali
  • Schengen and Worldwide travel insurance
  • Overseas Travel Insurance
  • Student travel insurance
  • No documents are required to buy the company’s travel insurance plans
  • Cashless claims are settled hassle-free
  • The plans provide worldwide emergency services 
Bajaj Allianz
  • Individual travel insurance
  • Family travel insurance
  • Senior citizen travel insurance
  • Student travel insurance
  • Corporate Travel Insurance
  • Travel Asia policy
  • Bharat Bhraman Policy 
  • The company settles its claims quickly
  • A range of travel insurance plans to suit different travel destinations
  • Home burglary insurance is also available under the coverage benefits
  • You get covered against trip cancellation or curtailment
Religare
  • Explore
  • Student Explore
  • Group Explore
  • No pre-entrance health check-ups are required to buy Religare’s travel insurance plans
  • Coverage for pre-existing illnesses is allowed
  • Outpatient expenses are also covered under international travel insurance plans

Top #10 Things to remember before buying travel insurance

Though buying a travel insurance plan is quite simple, thanks to the online mode, and you also have the list of best companies to buy the plan from, you should do your research before buying a travel insurance policy. There are certain things which you should keep in mind before buying the policy to ensure that you invest in the best and the most suitable travel insurance plan. These aspects which you should remember are as follows –

  1. Make sure to cover all your family members travelling with you. Emergencies can befall anyone and you don’t want to bear the expenses yourself if any member is left uncovered, do you?
  2. The sum insured should be sufficient depending on the destination, the number of members travelling with you and your trip duration. If you are travelling to developing countries which are expensive, choose a high sum insured. Similarly, if many members are travelling with you, the sum insured should be sufficient to cover all of them.
  3. Always choose the right trip of plan depending on your trip. For instance, if you are travelling to the USA, choose travel insurance USA plans which cover the USA and Canada. Similarly, if you are travelling for higher education, a student travel insurance plan is required. So, choose the plan depending on the nature of your trip
  4. Look for the coverage features offered by the plan and make sure that your plan has all the necessary coverage benefits that you need
  5. Check the claim settlement ratio of the insurance company. A high ratio indicates that the company settles most of its claims. You should choose an insurer having a high claim settlement ratio
  6. Ensure that the premiums are affordable
  7. Check the details of your policy to make sure that there are no errors
  8. Check the claim process of the insurance company. It should be simple and convenient so that you don’t face any problems in making a claim and getting it settled
  9. The insurance companies are tied up with international service providers to provide claim assistance in foreign lands. Before you embark on your trip, note down the contact details of the service provider located in the city or country that you are travelling to. This would help you at the time of claims when you can directly contact the service provider and get your claims settled quickly
  10. Always compare and buy the best travel insurance plan. Comparing would let you find a plan which has the most inclusive coverage features at the lowest rates of premiums. So, compare and then buy travel insurance

How to make a claim under travel insurance plans?

Knowing the claim process of a travel insurance policy is necessary so that you know how to make a claim when you suffer a contingency. So, here’s the process in brief –

  1. Inform the insurance company immediately as soon as you face a claim. Insurance companies have to claim helpline numbers for different countries. Keep the numbers handy or call the central claim helpline number of the insurance company in India to register your claim
  2. Once you inform the insurance company, the company would give you the details of the tied-up service provider in your destination country that would help you with your claims
  3. Inform the insurer’s service provider of the claim
  4. The claim related documents would have to be submitted to the insurance company or the service provider. Submit the documents so that the claim can be processed
  5. Once the documents are verified and if the claim is valid, the insurance company would settle your travel insurance claim

Documents required for making a claim?

Documentation plays an important role in getting the settlement of your insurance claims and travel insurance is no different. You would have to submit the following documents for your travel insurance claims –

  1. The claim form completely filled in and signed
  2. Policy bond in original
  3. All the relevant bills which you incurred and for which you are making a claim
  4. Medical reports, bills and hospital records for medical claims
  5. Details of the claim like the time, place, manner in which it happened, etc.
  6. Your identity proof
  7. Your passport copy
  8. Copy of your travel tickets
  9. Police FIR, wherever necessary
  10. Any other document as required by the insurance company

A travel insurance plan provides a good scope of coverage at very low premiums and should not be given a miss. It is always better to insure your trips so that those unforeseen contingencies do not cripple you financially. By parting with a small amount of money in premiums you can buy peace of mind knowing that if any misfortune befalls you while you are on a trip, the travel insurance policy would come to your rescue.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  1. What are Schengen countries?

    Schengen countries are a group of European countries which do not require multiple visas to visit. In these countries, there is a single jurisdiction for international travel. There are 26 countries which are Schengen countries which are Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Estonia, France, Germany, Iceland, Hungary, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Italy, Liechtenstein, Sweden, Luxembourg, Spain, Netherlands, Slovakia, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Poland, Norway and Latvia.

  1. What is a deductible?

    Under many coverage benefits under travel insurance plans, there is a deductible limit. This limit is the limit up to which the policy would not pay any claims. If the loss is more than the deductible, the claim would be payable. For instance, in case of delay of baggage, there might be a deductible of 12 hours. This means that if the baggage is delayed for more than 12 hours you can make a claim under your policy.

  1. Do coverage benefits have limits under travel insurance plans?

    Yes, except medical insurance benefit, all coverage benefits are covered up to specified limits.

  1. If I am travelling with my senior citizen parents do I need to buy a separate policy for them?

    Most travel insurance plans have a maximum entry age. If your parents are within the entry age limits of your travel insurance plan, you can get them covered. If not, you would have to buy a separate travel insurance policy for them.

All you need to know about insurance

Ankita Sejpal

Insurance is the most effective risk management tool which can protect individuals and businesses from financial risks arising out of various contingencies. The emotional and psychological loss can never be compensated, but at least the financial loss can be compensated with insurance. Though there are uncertainties in life which you cannot mitigate, but insurance will surely help you transfer the financial risk associated with the same. 

What is insurance?

Insurance is a legal contract between two parties- the insurance company (insurer) and the individual (insured), wherein the insurance company promises to compensate for financial losses due to insured contingencies in return for the premiums paid by the insured individual. In simple words, insurance is a risk transfer mechanism, where you transfer your risk to the insurance company and get the cover for financial loss that you may face due to unforeseen events. And the amount that you pay for this arrangement is called premium. There is insurance available for various risks, starting from your life to mobile phones that you use. In the end, it’s essential to protect what is ‘important’ to you.

How does insurance work?

The concept of insurance works on the basis of ‘risk pooling’. When you buy any type of insurance policy from the insurance company for a specified period with specific cover, you will make regular payments (referred to as premiums) towards the policy. Similarly, Insurance Company collects premium from all of its clients (referred to as insured) and pools the money collected to pay for losses arising out of an insured event. In case the insured event takes place, and you make a claim, losses will be compensated by the insurance company from the pool of policyholder’s premiums. In case you don’t make a claim during the specified policy period, no benefits will be paid to you. However, there are various types of products offered by insurance companies today which also involve savings element attached to it.

Types of insurance available

There are various types of insurance products available in India. Mainly, insurance products are classified as:

  • Life insurance products
  • General insurance products

Life insurance covers you against the risk of death. Life insurance policies come in many variants such as term plans, endowment plans, whole life insurance plans, money back plans and unit-linked investment plans etc. Many life insurance products can be a great tool for long-term savings also as it comes as a combination of protection and savings. General insurance products cover financial losses caused by various risks other than death. General insurance products come in various types covering a wide range of risks such as health insurance, motor insurance, marine insurance, liability insurance, travel insurance and commercial insurance etc.

Insurance is an effective risk management tool that protects what is precious for us –life, health, home and businesses etc. The requirement of insurance may vary from one individual to another, but there are certain types of insurance products that are must-have for every individual for ensuring a secure future.

Must-have insurance products

Knowing the importance of insurance is the need of the hour. Following insurance products are the must-have for any individual today.

  1. Life insurance:

    As no one wants to leave their loved ones financially shattered, life coverage is one of the must-have for every individual having dependents. In case of life insurance, the sum assured or the coverage amount will be paid out to the nominee of the insured in the event of the death of the insured. Life insurance is a crucial requirement to ensure the financial well-being of your loved ones even in your absence. The coverage amount opted should be able to provide complete financial protection – to replace income loss, to repay debt and also to create a financial buffer that can be utilised by insured’s family for future financial stability. Though life insurance products come in many variants, it’s important to first avail the term insurance with adequate coverage.

  1. Health insurance:

    Health uncertainties are part of life. Keeping in mind the rising cost of healthcare and an increasing number of diseases, it’s important to have the financial cushion to protect yourself against health contingencies. Health insurance policies are of many types such as individual health insurance, family floater health insurance, critical illness health insurance and senior citizen health insurance. It’s important to have adequate health insurance coverage that can protect you from financial crisis during medical emergencies.

  1. Motor insurance:

    Motor insurance policies are the mandatory legal requirement in India for every vehicle owner under the Motor Vehicle Act. Be it two-wheeler, car or a commercial vehicle, its compulsory to avail third party liability motor insurance to protect oneself against the claims that may arise from another party during an accident. However, motor insurance policies come in a comprehensive package wherein your valuable assets (bike or car) are covered against the various risk of damage or loss along with the personal accidental cover to you as the owner. Keeping in mind the rising incidents of road accidents and the asset value, it’s most important to have a comprehensive motor insurance policy.

  1. Accident and disability insurance:

    Accidents are unexpected and are inevitable. Sometimes accidents can result in disabilities that can further have huge impact on your earning capacity. In order to have financial stability for yourself and your family, it’s important to be insured against accidents.

  1. Home insurance:

    Home is one of your most valuable possessions that also includes many precious belongings and memories. Though you try to secure it to the fullest, your property is exposed to various risks like theft, damages due to natural disasters etc. which you may not be able to mitigate completely. Hence, in order to protect your home against losses and damages that may arise due to many insurable events, availing home insurance is the most effective solution.

    Though you need to be prepared for future uncertainties by availing insurance cover, you may not need all types of insurance. The priority of any insurance product may vary depending on your individual need. Insurance is a large industry with numerous product types available to cater to every sort of need. Some of them mentioned already are of top priority for every individual. Priority of rest other types of insurance may purely depend on your unique need or situation. Let’s take a look at some of the insurance types that are of lesser priority.

  1. Standalone critical illness insurance:

    Critical illness insurance plan may not be needed for every individual, specifically, if you do not have any family history of critical illness. Critical illnesses are sometimes covered in health insurance plans and also comes as a rider along with life insurance plans. Hence, a standalone cover for critical illness depends purely on the requirement of an individual.

  1. Travel insurance:

    Travel insurance may be the priority for frequent travellers. But, it may not be needed for all. The need for insurance may vary depending on each individual’s unique needs. For example, if you are planning a domestic trip and your comprehensive health insurance plan covers you across the country for any medical emergencies, travel plans may not just be needed for you. More specifically, the travel insurance plan may not be your priority if you can afford to lose your pre-paid trip expenses. Sometimes travel covers also come as your credit card travel benefit.

    Likewise, there are many insurance types that are not suitable or required for every individual. It’s important to think about the benefits that you can reap before investing in an insurance plan.

How to decide on the type of insurance you need?

Before you buy any insurance, it’s important to understand the need for insurance. Here are certain things to keep in mind at the time of deciding what type of insurance you need.

  • Purpose of cover
  • Risks that you want to be covered against
  • How long you might need the coverage
  • Affordability

List of benefits and importance of insurance

Insurance is a risk management tool not only benefits the individual and businesses but also benefits the society and economy in numerous ways. Following are some of the important benefits of insurance:

  1. Provides peace of mind:
    Insurance provides protection against various uncertainties that can put you or your family in financial crisis. By covering the uncertainties of human life and businesses, insurance provides a sense of security. Having life insurance gives you peace of mind that the financial stability of your family will remain intact even when you are not around. Having health insurance gives you a sense of security that you do not need to shell out all your savings in the event of medical emergencies.
  1. Promotes risk control:
    As insurance works on risk transfer mechanism, it promotes risk control activity.
  1. Promotes economic growth:
    As insurance funds are invested in various projects like water supply, power and roads etc, it contributes to the overall economic growth of the nation. Also, insurance provides employment opportunity to people. Insurance contributes to economic growth in many other ways such as getting Foreign Direct Investment, paying taxes on the profit earned and by investing in the capital market etc.
  1. Distribution of risk:
    Risk of insurance is spread across various individuals and organisation instead of concentrating on only one.
  1. Helps to get loan easily:
    There are loan facilities offered against insurance policies. In case of home loans, having an insurance cover can help to get the loan easily from the lender.
  1. Inculcates savings habit:
    There are many life insurance products that come with investment cum protection benefit. Such products inculcate a regular saving habit among individuals. Plans like endowment insurance plans help in achieving long-term financial goals. Pension plans help to receive regular income flow in older age.
  1. Provides tax benefit:
    Insured gets the tax benefits for premium paid depending on the insurance product type. For example, the premium paid towards life insurance plans qualifies for tax deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. And, the premium paid towards health insurance plans qualifies for tax deduction under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.

Following are some of the examples that demonstrate the importance of insurance:

  • Case 1:
    Ram, a software engineer living in Bangalore meets with an accident and dies on the spot leaving his wife and son in deep emotional shock. He was just 40! He also has a home loan of INR. 30 lakhs running. Luckily, Ram has taken a term insurance cover of INR. 1 Cr. at the age of 32 years for 25 years of the policy tenure. His wife received compensation from the insurance company within 10 days which helped her pay off the debt and invest the corpus for future needs. If he had not taken the wise decision of investing in life insurance, his family would have been a huge financial crisis today! Insurance is important to secure your family’s future.
  • Case 2:
    Sunil, an employee in a multinational company in Mumbai suddenly fell unconscious due to high fever. He was then rushed to the nearest hospital. He was admitted for 3 days in the hospital for diagnosis and treatment. When he was discharged after 3 days, his hospital bill came up to around INR. 70,000. Luckily, he had taken a health insurance coverage for INR. 3, 00,000. As the hospital was listed in the network hospitals of his insurer, bills were directly settled to the hospital. If he had not known the importance of insurance, he would have to pay INR.70, 000 out of his pocket. Insurance helps you to have financial stability during unforeseen events.

To conclude, shield your life and important assets against all the uncertainties with the help of insurance. Know what insurance coverages you need, compare and invest wisely. It’s important to understand that the need for insurance is to secure what you love.

How to Check LIC India Policy Details?

Sidharth Hampanavar

The Life Insurance Corporation of India was established in the year 1956 and up until the year 2000 LIC enjoyed a monopoly position in the life insurance segment. Even today, when there are more than 20 life insurance companies in the market LIC continues to have the largest market share. LIC India has a huge customer base which trusts the company and invests in different types of life insurance plans offered by LIC.

When it comes to the range of products offered, LIC India offers the following types of insurance plans:

  1. Term insurance plans
  2. Whole life insurance plans
  3. Endowment plans
  4. Money-back plans
  5. Child plans
  6. Pension plans
  7. Unit linked insurance plans
  8. Health insurance plans

You can buy any plan as per your suitability. To buy the plan, you are required to fill up a proposal form with your relevant information and submit the form with your documents. The first instalment premium would also have to be paid when the proposal form is submitted.

Once the form is submitted, LIC underwrites your risk and then issues you your insurance policy. After your LIC policy is issued, you might want to check your policy details. Even when you are an existing customer, you might want to check the status of your policy to check the term left, the surrender value, the bonus earned so far (if any) and any other relevant details of your policy.

Checking your LIC India policy’s status can be done without visiting LIC’s branch offices. LIC allows its customers with easy ways to check the status of their policy. The status of a LIC policy can be checked in any of the following ways:

  • Online
  • Through an SMS
  • By calling the customer care number of the company

Checking your LIC’s policy status online is, by far, the easiest and the most convenient method. You can check the status from your computer or Smartphone right from the comfort of your home or office and even on the go.

Enrolling LIC India policy online:

To check the policy status online, you would, first, have to enrol your LIC policy on the online portal of the company. Here is the step-by-step guide on how you can enrol your LIC policy online –

  1. Steps to enrol LIC policy for first-time/new users

    If you are a new customer of LIC and/or have not registered yourself for LIC’s online services, you are a new user. As a new user, first, you would have to create your LIC account and then you would be able to enrol your LIC policy. So, for creating your LIC account and enrolling your policy status, here are the steps:

    • Visit LIC India’s website https://www.licindia.in/
    • On the home page, choose ‘Customer Portal’ and you will be redirected to another page
    • On the next page choose ‘New User’ to register yourself
    • To complete registration you would have to provide the following details –
      • LIC Policy number
      • Premium amount
      • Date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY format)
      • Mobile number
      • Email Id
      • Passport and PAN number (optional)
      • Gender

    You would have to accept the terms and conditions and allow the stated mobile number to be used by LIC India for future communications

    • Click ‘Proceed’ wherein you would be taken to a new page where you would have to create your User ID and password
    • Once you choose a user ID and password and submit, your online LIC account will be created and you would become a registered user. You will be sent a verification email for completing your registration process. Click the verification link and your account would be created
    • Once your LIC account is created, log into your account using your user ID and password
    • When registering, if you selected ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Do you have any LIC policies?’ you would get an online policy enrolment form
    • Fill up the form stating the LIC policy number, premium amount, the name of the insured and other policy related details
    • Print the filled form and sign it. The form should then be submitted to the nearest branch of LIC from where you have purchased at least one policy
    • LIC would, then, verify the enrolment form and enrol your LIC policy online
  1. Steps to enrol for registered users

    If you already have a registered user ID and password for an online account, you can simply log into your account and enrol your LIC policy. To login, the steps are as follows –

    • Visit https://www.licindia.in/ and choose ‘Customer Portal’
    • Choose ‘Registered User’ and provide your user ID and password to log into your online LIC account
    • Along with your user ID and password, you would also have to provide your date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format.
    • You can then select ‘Sign In’ to log into your LIC account
    • Once you enter your account, choose ‘Do you have LIC policies’ and answer ‘Yes’
    • You would get an online enrolment form
    • Fill up the form, take its print out, put your signature on the form and deposit the form at the nearest LIC branch office
    • The company would then verify the enrolment form and enrol your LIC policy online

    After the LIC policy is enrolled, you can check the LIC online status of your policy. Let’s understand the process –

Things to remember when checking LIC policy details online 

When you are a new customer and are creating your user ID and password for the first time, here are some things which you should keep in mind –

  • Your policy number would be required. Therefore, you should keep the details of your LIC policy handy
  • You have the flexibility of choosing any user ID which you want. Your user ID can be alphabetical, numerical and it can have characters like a dot or an underscore
  • The length of your password should be between 8 and 30 characters. Set a password which you would be able to remember easily. Your password should be unique and kept confidential to prevent any fraudulent activities in your account
  • The details which are marked with an asterix (*) are mandatory. You would have to provide such details to proceed further and register or log into your account
  • Your area PIN Code should be a 6-digit number
  • The email ID which you provide when signing up should be valid so that it can be used for any type of communication later on
  • Your user ID should be unique. If it matches an existing ID you would be informed and you would have to choose a unique ID for your account

How to check the status of LIC policy details online?

To check the status of your LIC policy, the steps are as follows –

  1. Visit https://www.licindia.in/ and go to ‘Customer Portal’
  2. Choose ‘Registered User’ and log into your LIC online account
  3. Choose the LIC policy number whose status you want to check
  4. As you select the policy, the policy details page will open which would show the status of your LIC policy

How to check the status of LIC policy through SMS?

LIC also allows you to check the status and other policy details through a simple SMS. You have to SMS from your registered mobile number and you get the answer through revert SMS on the same phone. The SMS should be sent to 9222492224 with the following texts –

Policy query

SMS to be sent

To know about the instalment premium payable under your LIC policy

ASKLIC<Policy number>PREMIUM

To know about availing policy loan 

ASKLIC<Policy number>LOAN

To know about the current bonus rate and the vested bonuses in the plan

ASKLIC<Policy number>BONUS

To revive a lapsed policy and to know about the revival

ASKLIC<Policy number>REVIVAL

To check your existing nominee details

ASKLIC<Policy number>NOMINATION

How to check policy status through customer care?

LIC has dedicated customer zones which help you with any type of LIC policy query that you have. The customer zones are active from Monday to Saturday and provide personalised assistance for all your insurance related queries, information, service requests, etc.

There are different customer zones for different cities. Here are the contact details of the customer zones of the top 50 cities –

Name of the city

Customer zone contact number

Agra 

0562-2524912

Ahmedabad 

079-27490619, 079-27461032 and 079-27461662

Amritsar 

0183-2560673

Bangalore

IVRS Number: 080-26659230
Phone number: 080-22966528, 22966553, 080-22966836/896

Bhagalpur 

IVRSNumber:: 0641-2610024
Phone Number: 0641-2610011, 2610033, 2610099

Bhubaneshwar 

IVRSNumber:: 0674 – 2573996
Phone numbers: – 0674-2573910, 0674- 2573911

Bhopal 

0755-2550242

Chandigarh 

0172-2678107

Chennai 

IVRS Number: 044-28884300
Phone number.- 044-28611912, 044-28611642, 044-25331915 and 044-25331914

Coimbatore 

0422-2300300

Cuttack 

IVRS Number: 0671-2307085
Phone Numbers. -0671-2307883,, 0671-2307889

Delhi

1800112552/ 011-23310868 and 011-22785930

Ernakulam 

0484-2383883

Goa

0832-2490100

Guwahati 

0361-2450389

Gwalior 

0751-2630272

Gurgaon

0124-2576060, 2578060, 2570060

Howrah 

033-2637-4387

Hyderabad 

IVRS Number: 040-23437997
Phone numbers- 040-23420730, 23420740 & 23420761

Indore 

0731-2533523

Jaipur 

0141-2702845

Jalandhar 

IVRS Number: 0181-2480918
Phone Number- 0181-2480967

Jamshedpur 

IVRS Number: 0657-2320600,
Phone Numbers – 0657-2443228 ,0657- 2443229

Jammu 

IVRS Number: 0191-2479717,
Phone Number- 0191-2479791

Jodhpur 

IVRS Number: 0291-2620079,
Phone Number- 0291-2657117 or 0291-2635076

Kanpur 

0512-2307443

Kolkata 

IVRS Number: 033-22545454,
Phone numbers – 033-22124172, 033-22124176, 033-2337-0642 and 033 2419-8476

Kozhikode 

Manager- 0495 2725581 
Executives 0495-2725583 IVRS 0495-2726006

Lucknow

0522-2614782

Ludhiana 

0161-2424074

Madurai 

0452-2370361

Mumbai 

IVRS Number: 022-26766221.
Phone numbers- 022-26788943, 022-27725968, 022-27723592, 022-28912605, 022-28913760 and 022- 28482907

Mysore 

IVRS Number: 0821-2346900
Phone Numbers – 0821-2341096, 2341099

Nagpur 

IVRS Number: 0712-2454820,
Phone numbers – 0712-2450083, 0712-2450080

Noida 

0120-2444026

Patna 

IVRS Number: 0612-2201795,
Phone Number- 0612-2332033

Pune 

IVRS Number: 020-25514248,
Phone number – 020-25539790

Raipur

0771-2210010

Rajkot 

IVRS number: 0281-2570871,
Phone numbers: 0281-2581318, 2581319, 2483210

Secunderabad 

040-27820146 and 27820136

Siliguri 

0353-2545739

Surat 

0261-2801833 and 2770227

Thane 

022-25423226 and 25421474

Tirunelveli

0462-2577070

Trichy 

0431-2741000

Trivandrum 

0471-2335222

Varanasi 

IVRS Number: 0542-2222412,
Phone Number- 0542-2220457

Vellore 

0416-2252202

Vijayawada 

IVRS Number: 0866-2484803,
Phone Numbers- 0866-2499595, 596, 597

Visakhapatnam 

IVRS : 0891-2523473
Phone no.: 0891-2558254 and 2513404

Checking your LIC Policy surrender value:

You can also check the surrender value of your traditional LIC policy online. Surrender value is the value that you would get when you surrender your policy before the completion of the plan term. Surrendering the policy can be done during the tenure of the plan by requesting the insurance company. The surrender value is calculated using the following formula –

Surrender value = [{Sum Assured * (number of premiums paid / total number of premiums payable)} + vested bonuses] * Surrender Value Factor

You can calculate your surrender value yourself or you can check your policy’s surrender value online in your policy details.

Why the LIC policy status should be checked timely?

You should do a periodic check of the status of your existing LIC policy. When you do a periodic check you can:

  • Find out the premium due date
  • See the remaining duration of the plan
  • Check the accumulated bonuses
  • Revive a policy which has lapsed
  • Make any type of service requests, etc.

Timely check, therefore, keeps you updated about your existing policy and you can plan your finances accordingly.

You can easily check your LIC policy’s status in different ways. Make the most of the facilities provided by LIC and keep a tab on your LIC policies to know your coverage. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What are the charges involved in checking LIC policy status?

    LIC policy status can be checked free of cost. There are no charged levied by LIC if you want to check your policy status. Checking the online status is completely free of cost. If you send SMS to know the status, the SMS rates of your mobile service provider might apply. Even in the case of customer care numbers, the call rates of your mobile service provider might apply when you call. Besides these, there are no additional charges levied by LIC when you check your policy status.

  1. How many times can I check the status of my policy?

    You can check the status of your LIC policy as many times as you like. There is no limit on the checks that you can do.

  1. Is it necessary to enrol my LIC policy to check its status online?

    Yes, enrolling your LIC policy online is necessary to check the status online. You have to enrol your LIC policies if you want them to reflect on your online user account and if you want to check their status.

  1. What is ‘Add Policy’?

    ‘Add Policy’ is an option available on your online LIC account. Using this option you can add any other LIC policy that you have bought. Once the policies are added, their status can be seen online on your online LIC account.

  1. Can I enrol only those policies in which I am the insured?

    No, you can also add those insurance policies for which you are the policyholder whether or not you are the life insured. For instance, if you buy a policy on the life of your child and pay the premium, you would be the policyholder while the child would be the insured. You can add this child plan to your online account. Similarly, if you buy a policy on the life of your spouse, such a policy can also be added to your online account.

  1. What is the benefit of adding policies online?

    When you add your LIC policies to your online account, you can check the details and status of all your policies at one place. You can, therefore, get a complete picture of your insurance plans centrally on LIC’s website.

A Guide to Postal Life Insurance

Ankita Sejpal

Besides the life insurance plans offered by insurance companies in India, the post office also offers various types of life insurance schemes. These schemes are affordable schemes of life insurance which are offered by the Indian Post Office. The schemes are called PLI schemes. PLI full form is Postal Life Insurance (PLI). Let’s have a look into the PLI India Post life insurance schemes.

History of PLI India Post

The concept of Postal Life Insurance was first floated in the year 1884 when the Secretary of State to Her Majesty approved life insurance schemes for the employees of the post office. In the year 1888, the scheme expanded its scope and covered the employees of the Telegraph department as well. Later on, in the year 1894, female employees in the Postal and Telegraph departments were also covered under PLI which was a first in the history of insurance.

PLI India Post is the oldest life insurance company in India. Initially, the plans offered under Postal Life Insurance provided coverage of up to INR 4000 only. However, in recent times, the limit has increased. Nowadays, you can enjoy coverage of up to INR 50 lakhs in aggregate under different types of post insurance schemes.

Who can buy PLI insurance plans?

Post office life insurance schemes are offered to the following individuals if they fulfil the entry age limits prescribed under different plans –

  1. Individuals employed in the Central Government
  2. Individuals employed in the State Government
  3. Individuals employed in the Central Government owned Public Sector Undertakings
  4. Individuals employed in the State Government owned Public Sector Undertakings
  5. Individuals employed in Universities
  6. Individuals employed in Government aided educational institutes
  7. Individuals employed in nationalized banks
  8. Individuals employed in local or autonomous bodies
  9. People working in joint ventures wherein the Central or the State Government has at least a 10% stake
  10. People employed in credit co-operative societies
  11. Officers and staff in Defence services
  12. Officers and staff in paramilitary forces

Features of Postal Life Insurance

PLI has the following aspects which you should know about –

  1. Under Section 118 (C) of the Insurance Act, 1938, PLI is an exempted insurance company
  2. LIC Act, 1956 also exempts PLI under Section 44 (D)
  3. Six types of life insurance plans are offered under post office life insurance
  4. All the plans offered by PLI are traditional life insurance plans which offer guaranteed benefits
  5. The premiums are very low and easily affordable
  6. All the policies under PLI scheme offer attractive rates of bonus which help in enhancing the plan benefits
  7. A group insurance policy is also offered by the Postal Life Insurance. This policy is issued to Extra Departmental Employees of the Department of Posts

Postal Life Insurance Plan Details

As stated earlier, there are six types of traditional life insurance plans offered under post insurance. These plans and their features are as follows –

  1. PLI Whole Life Assurance Plan, Suraksha

    Suraksha is a whole life insurance policy offered by PLI which runs till 80 years of age. The policy promises a death benefit in case of death during the policy tenure as well as a maturity benefit if the plan matures. The features of the scheme are as follows –

    • You can avail a loan under the plan after the first four policy years are over
    • You can also surrender the plan if you want after the plan has completed three years
    • The plan is a participating plan where bonuses are declared
    • The sum assured and accrued bonus is paid either on death or on maturity
    • Premiums are payable only up to 55, 58 or 60 years of age

      Eligibility parameters of PLI Whole Life Assurance Plan, Suraksha

      Entry age19 to 55 years
      Maturity age80 years
      Sum assuredINR 20,000 to INR 50 lakhs
      Policy term 80 – age at entry

      Sample premium rates of PLI Whole Life Assurance Plan, Suraksha

      Here are the annual premiums payable for the policy at different combinations of age and premium payment term if the sum assured is INR 10 lakhs

      Age of the insuredIf premium is paid for up to 55 yearsIf premium is paid for up to 60 years
      30 yearsINR 24,950INR 22,550
      40 years INR 44,150INR 36,950
      50 years INR 135,360INR 76,610
  2. PLI Endowment Assurance Plan, Santosh

    This is an endowment assurance plan where either a death benefit or a maturity benefit is paid. The salient features of the plan are as follows –

    • The policy can be surrendered after the completion of 3 years
    • You can get a policy loan after the first three policy years
    • The sum assured and vested bonus is paid on death or maturity
    • Attractive rates of bonus are declared under the plan

      Eligibility parameters of PLI Endowment Assurance Plan, Santosh

      Entry age19 to 55 years
      Maturity age35 to 60 years
      Sum assuredINR 20,000 to INR 50 lakhs
      Policy term5 to 41 years

      Sample premium rates of PLI Endowment Assurance Plan, Santosh

      Here are the sample annual premiums payable for the policy at different combinations of age and term if the sum assured is INR 5 lakhs

      Age of the insuredTerm 15 yearsTerm 20 years
      20 yearsINR 31,430INR 23,290
      30 years INR 32,600INR 23,290
      40 yearsINR 32,600INR 24,450
  3. PLI Convertible Whole Life Assurance Plan, Suvidha

    Suvidha is a whole life insurance plan which allows you the facility of conversion. You can convert the plan to an endowment assurance plan if you want. The features of the policy are as follows –

    • Conversion option can be exercised after the first five years have been completed
    • The plan is offered as a participating plan which earns bonus
    • Loans are available after the first four years
    • You can even surrender the plan if the first three years have been completed

      Eligibility parameters of PLI Convertible Whole Life Assurance Plan, Suvidha

      Entry age19 to 50 years
      Maturity ageFor whole life cover – 60 years
      If conversion option is selected – 50, 55 or 58 years
      Sum assuredINR 20,000 to INR 50 lakhs
      APolicy termIf conversion option is not selected – 10 to 41 years
      If conversion option is selected – 5 years to 39 years

      Sample premium rates of PLI Convertible Whole Life Assurance Plan, Suvidha

      Here are the sample monthly premiums payable for the policy if the conversion option is exercised and not exercised. The sum assured is assumed to be INR 5 lakhs

      Age of the insuredIf conversion option is not selected and the plan matures at 60 years of ageIf conversion option is selected and the plan matures at 50 years of age
      20 yearsINR 700INR 1500
      30 years INR 1000INR 2500
      40 yearsINR 1600INR 7700
  4. PLI Anticipated Endowment Assurance Plan, Sumangal

    This is an anticipated endowment assurance plan or simply a money back plan which pays you income at specified intervals. The salient features of the policy are as follows –

    • In case of death the full sum assured is paid irrespective of the money back benefits that you have previously received under the policy
    • The plan participates in profits and earns bonuses
    • The survival benefits are paid three times during the term of the plan. In case of a 15 year plan, the benefits are paid at the end of the 6th, 9th and 12th policy year. In case of a 20 year plan however, the benefits are paid at the end of the 8th, 12th and 16th policy year
    • 20% of the selected sum assured is paid as survival benefits
    • When the plan matures, 40% of the sum assured and accrued bonuses are paid

      Eligibility parameters of PLI Anticipated Endowment Assurance Plan, Sumangal

      Entry age19 to 45 years
      Maturity age60 years
      Sum assuredUp to INR 50 lakhs
      Policy term15 or 20 years

      Sample premium rates of PLI Anticipated Endowment Assurance Plan, Sumangal

      Here is the sample monthly premiums payable for the policy at different combinations of age and term if the sum assured is INR 5 lakhs –

      Age of the insuredTerm 15 yearsTerm 20 years
      30 years INR 3300INR 2500
      40 yearsINR 3400INR 2700
  5. PLI Joint Life Assurance Plan, Yugal Suraksha

    Yugal Suraksha is a joint life plan which covers two individuals under the same plan. The features of Yugal Suraksha are as follows –

    • The plan covers a married couple under the same plan on a joint life basis
    • To buy the plan at least one of the spouses should be eligible to buy Postal Life Insurance
    • Bonuses are declared under the policy
    • Loan can be availed after the completion of three policy years
    • The policy can be surrendered after the completion of the first three policy years
    • If either of the covered spouse dies, the death benefit is paid which is the sum assured and vested bonus
    • A premium discount of INR 1 per INR 10,000 sum assured is allowed if you choose a coverage level of INR 40,000 or above

      Eligibility parameters of PLI Joint Life Assurance Plan, Yugal Suraksha

      Entry age21 to 45 years
      Maturity age60 years
      Sum assuredINR 20,000 to INR 50 lakhs
      Policy term5 to 20 years

      Sample premium rates of PLI Joint Life Assurance Plan, Yugal Suraksha

      Here is the sample monthly premiums payable for the policy at different combinations of age and term if the sum assured is INR 10 lakhs –

      Equivalent age of the coupleTerm 10 yearsTerm 15 yearsTerm 20 years
      25 yearsINR 9300INR 6000INR 4200
      30 yearsINR 9400INR 6000INR 4300
      35 yearsINR 9400INR 6100INR 4400
  6. PLI Children Life Plan, Bal Jeevan Bima

    Bal Jeevan Bima, as the name suggests, is a child insurance plan which helps in creating a financial corpus for your child. The salient features of the plan are as follows –

    • A child is insured under the plan
    • You can buy the plan to cover a maximum of two dependent children
    • Premiums are waived if the parent dies during the term of the policy. Thereafter, the sum assured and accrued bonus is paid when the policy matures
    • The parent would be the policyholder of the plan who would also be responsible for paying the premiums
    • The parent should have a PLI policy to be eligible to buy this policy for his/her children

      Eligibility parameters of PLI Children Life Plan, Bal Jeevan Bima:

      Entry age of the child5 to 20 years
      Entry age of the parentUp to 45 years
      Sum assuredMinimum – INR 3 lakhs
      Maximum – equal to the sum assured of the parent

      Bonus offered under Postal Life Insurance

      All PLI insurance plans offer attractive bonus rates every financial year. The bonus rates are not fixed. They depend on the profit experience of PLI during the financial year. However, for the last financial year, the bonus declared under different plans of PLI is as follows –

      Name of the planBonus declared
      SurakshaINR 85/ INR 1000 sum assured
      SantoshINR 58/INR 1000 sum assured
      SuvidhaINR 85/ INR 1000 sum assured
      SumangalINR 53/ INR 1000 sum assured
      Yugal SurakshaINR 58/ INR 1000 sum assured
      Bal Jeevan BimaINR 58/ INR 1000 sum assured

Why choose PLI India post?

There are various benefits of buying PLI insurance plans. These are as follows –

  1. The premiums are very affordable and you can enjoy life insurance coverage at low premium rates
  2. The plans offered by PLI earn attractive rates of bonus
  3. Buying a plan is simple and you can buy a policy online or through the nearest post office
  4. Loans are available under all plans which allows you to take financial help from your own policy when you need
  5. The claims under PLI insurance plans are settled quickly
  6. The premium can be paid monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annually as per your suitability
  7. There is a range of life insurance plans offered by PLI and you can choose any plan that you want

Turnaround time limits for PLI services

Whether you have a claim or you need any other service under your PLI insurance policy, the post office ensures that the services are done quickly. As per the guidelines, there are different time limits for different services that you need. These time limits are as follows –

Type of serviceMaximum turnaround time taken
Issue of acceptance letter or policy bond of the insurance policy15 days after receiving the documents
Payment of maturity claim, paid-up value or survival benefit15 days after receiving the documents
Payment of death claims30 days after receiving the documents if no investigation is involved
90 days if the investigation is involved
Revival or conversion of the policy15 days after receiving the documents
Taking a policy loan10 days after receiving the request
Changing the address in the policy documents5 days after receiving the request
Changing the nomination under the policy10 days after receiving the request
Assignment of the policy10 days after receiving the request
Issuance of a duplicate policy bond10 days after receiving the request

Forms and documents under PLI

There are different types of forms under PLI schemes which you need to fill and submit depending on the type of service you need. The forms and their respective uses are as follows –

Type of formNeed
PLI Proposal FormThis form is needed to propose a scheme of PLI insurance that want to buy
RPLI Proposal FormThis form is needed to propose a scheme of Rural Postal Life Insurance that you want to buy
Maturity Claim FormIf your PLI policy matures, you would need to fill up this form and submit it to receive the maturity benefit of the policy
Loan Application FormIf you want to apply for a policy loan under any of your PLI insurance plan, you would need to fill out and submit this form
Nomination FormThis form would be required to appoint a nominee who can collect the death benefit of the PLI policy in case of your death. You can also use the form to change an existing nominee under an existing PLI insurance policy
Personal bond of IndemnityIf you lose your original policy bond you would have to fill up and submit this indemnity bond to get a duplicate policy bond
Revival Application FormIf your PLI policy has been lapsed due to non-payment of premium and you want to revive the lapsed policy, this form would be needed for revival
Surrender Application ValueThis form would be needed if you want to surrender an existing PLI insurance policy and receive the surrender value
AEA Survival Benefit FormThis form is applicable for Sumangal plan which is an anticipated endowment assurance (AEA) plan. This form is needed to claim the money back benefit which is payable under the policy
APS Children Policy Proposal FormThis form needs to be filled and submitted if you want to buy the Bal Jeevan Bima policy which is a children’s policy
APS PLI Proposal FormThis is a proposal form for buying PLI
Children Policy ProposalThis is a proposal form for buying a child plan
CWA Conversion FormIf you buy Suvidha policy which is a whole life convertible plan, you would need to fill out and submit this form if you want to convert your whole life plan to endowment plan
Death claim formThis form would have to be filled and submitted by the nominee or legal heirs of the insured to claim the death benefit of the PLI policy

All the above-mentioned forms can be downloaded from PLI website using the https://www.postallifeinsurance.gov.in/innerpage/downloads.php. You should fill up the downloaded forms, sign them and submit them to the post office to get your service request resolved.

Guide to buying PLI insurance plans

PLI offers its customers complete guidelines on buying and storing their insurance plans so that they can enjoy the plan benefits easily. The customer guidelines prescribed by PLI for its customers are as follows –

  1. Safety of the bond

    The policy bond of the policy should be kept in a safe place so that it can be submitted to make a claim when required.

  1. Policy number

    Each PLI policy comes with a 13 digit unique policy number. You should keep this number handy to enquire about your policy details or to make a claim.

  1. Premium payment

    The premiums of the policy should be paid timely. If the premiums are not paid on time, the policy would lapse. The premiums should be paid in advance on the 1st of the month. However, if you forget, you get a grace period till the last day of the month to pay the premiums. You can also arrange for auto-debit of your premium from your monthly salary.

  1. Online transactions

    You can transact online under your PLI policy. To do so you should generate a customer ID and register your mobile number and email ID at the nearest post office. Once your details are registered with the post office and you get a customer ID, you can transact online.

  1. Your communication details

    Your address and phone number should be maintained with the post office throughout the duration of the policy. If there is any change in the address you should inform the same to the post office and get the address updated.

  1. Nomination

    Nominating an individual to receive the death benefit is necessary. If you have made a nomination the death claim is settled without hassles. You can also change the nominee during the policy tenure whenever you want by making a simple request.

  1. Lapse of the policy

    Policy lapses if the due premiums are not paid. If the policy has not completed three years and you have paid premiums for less than six months, your policy would lapse. However, if the policy has completed three years and you have not paid premiums for more than twelve months, the policy would lapse if premiums are not paid within the due date.

  1. Revival

    A lapsed policy can be revived by paying the due premiums. Automatic revival is possible if you have not paid premiums for 12 months and the policy has completed 3 years or if you have not paid premiums for 6 months and the policy has not completed 3 years. To revive you should pay the due premiums and inform the Chief Postmaster General. You would also have to submit a declaration of good health and a letter from the employer stating that you have not taken leave for medical reasons.

  1. Customer care

    You can contact the toll-free number of the postal department for any queries regarding your policy. The numbers are 1800 180 5232 and 155232. For any complaints, you can https://ccc.cept.gov.in/complaintregistration.aspx and register your complaint. You can also send an email to pli.dte@gmail.com with your complaint.

How to buy PLI insurance schemes?

You can buy any insurance policy offered by PLI India Post online or offline. Offline policies can be bought by visiting the nearest post office and applying for the policy. Alternatively, you can buy the policy online easily. PLI offers you the facility to buy the policy online from its website. To buy, you should take the following steps –

  1. Visit the PLI India Post website https://www.postallifeinsurance.gov.in/index.php
  2. Choose ‘Buy Policy’ from the home page
  3. A new link would open which is https://pli.indiapost.gov.in/CustomerPortal/loadQuotePage.action. You would be able to find the online application form in this link
  4. You should fill in your details in the online application form. The details include your date of birth, type of policy you want to buy, sum assured, gender, the name of the policy, email address, name, mobile number and PIN code. These details are mandatory. Besides the mandatory details, you can also mention your occupation, monthly income and expenditure and State.
  5. When you submit the form, the premium amount and the policy details would be shown
  6. You would then have to select the mode of premium payment and buy the policy
  7. Once the premiums are paid online, the policy would be issued

Documents required for buying PLI plans

You would have to submit your documents to buy PLI insurance plans. These documents are as follows:

  1. Age proof
  2. Address proof
  3. Identity proof
  4. Declaration by a medical examiner after a medical check-up has been done
  5. Certificate by your immediate supervisor
  6. Certificate by a DO or FO or PLI Agent
  7. Declaration of proponent
  8. Declaration of spouse

By filling up the form and submitting these documents a PLI policy can be easily bought.

PLI – the success so far

Ever since it was conceptualised in the year 1884, PLI has been popular given the low premium rates and attractive bonus declarations. The success story of PLI insurance policies in the last few years can be seen from the below-mentioned statistics –

Financial yearNumber of policies sold during the year Total number of in-force policies at the end of the financial yearThe aggregate sum assured of all in-force policies Premium income earned during the financial year
2011-12482,42350,06,060INR 76,591.33 croresINR 3681.03 crores
2012-13454,05352,19,326INR 88,896.46 croresINR 4557.29 crores
2013-14433,18254,06,093INR 102,276.08 croresINR 5352.01 crores
2014-15324,02252,42,257109,106.93 croresINR 5963.46 crores
2015-16198,60649,30,838INR 109,982.09 croresINR 6657.03 crores
2016-17213,32346,80,013INR 113,084.81 croresINR 7233.89 crores

The bottom line

If you are eligible to buy postal life insurance plans, you can invest in any plan of your choice. The plans would give you good insurance coverage and also promise returns through bonus declarations. So, choose an insurance policy of your needs and invest in PLI India post plans.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  1. Can I avail a loan even if my policy is in a lapsed state?

    Loans under PLI insurance plans are available only if your policy has completed three years. Even then, if the surrender value is at least INR 1000 can you avail a loan. So, if your policy is in a lapsed state but it has completed three years and the surrender value is more than INR 1000 you can apply for a policy loan.

  1. What is the assignment?

    The assignment is when you transfer the ownership of your policy to someone else. If you assign the policy the policy benefits would be payable to the new owner. However, you would continue to remain the life insured

  1. Can I apply for a child plan if I am more than 45 years old?

    No, the age of the parent should be below 45 years to apply for the child insurance plan offered by PLI.

  1. If I live in a rural sector can I buy PLI plans?

    There are different types of plans created for the population of the rural sector. These are called Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) Plans. So, if you live in the rural sector, you can buy RPLI plans.

All You Need to Know About Cashless Mediclaim Policy

Sidharth Hampanavar

Having an adequate health cover is an essential requirement of today. Considering the rapid rise in lifestyle diseases, road accidents and inflated cost of healthcare, mediclaim is one of the most important investments one has to make. An unfortunate accident or a sudden illness can lead to huge amount of out-of-pocket medical expenses without having the right cashless mediclaim insurance policy. With the rising rate of healthcare inflation, treatment cost for minor illness can also deplete your savings and become a financial burden. Due to this rising concerns of treatment cost, many insurers are now offering mediclaim policies with cashless facility.

Overview of cashless mediclaim policy

Cashless mediclaim policy is an excellent solution to protect yourself against sky-rocketing medical expenses in the event of hospitalisation for an illness or due to an accident, without having to incur any out-of-pocket expenses. Basically, insurance companies are tied up with various hospitals across the country for the cashless facility which are referred to as ‘network hospitals’. On availing treatment at any of the network hospitals, medical bills will be directly settled to the hospital by insurance company. ‘Cashless mediclaim policy’ comes as a blessing in the event of medical emergencies by ensuring you complete financial security and peace of mind. When compared to reimbursement mediclaim policies where you pay medical bills first and then get them reimbursed from insurance company, cashless mediclaim is extremely beneficial in the time of need.

Types of cashless mediclaim policies in India:

You can safeguard your financial well-being and your health by investing in various types of cashless mediclaim policies available in India. Indian insurance market offers various types of mediclaim policies depending on the need of people. Following are the major types of cashless mediclaim policies available in India:

  1. Individual cashless mediclaim policy: Under individual cashless mediclaim policy, an individual is provided a specific amount of medical coverage for a specified period of time. The coverage offered can be claimed for hospitalisation expenses whenever the insured individual is in need of it.
  2. Family floater cashless mediclaim policy: Under Family floater cashless mediclaim policy, all members of the family are covered under a single policy with one fixed sum insured. The policy generally covers self, spouse and dependent children. Many policies even cover dependent parents and parents-in-law. The coverage provided under the policy can be utilised by any insured member of the family during the policy period for hospitalisation expenses.
  3. Senior citizen cashless mediclaim policy: Unique healthcare needs of old age people are covered under senior citizen cashless mediclaim policy. These policies are carefully crafted to take care of senior citizen’s hospitalisation expenses in the crucial stage of their life.

How to avail cashless mediclaim (planned /emergency)?

With the cashless facility offered by mediclaim policies, you don’t need to run around arranging for the funds in the time of medical emergencies. You can locate the nearest network hospital of your insurance company and avail the cashless mediclaim facility without having to incur any out-of-pocket cost, wherein insurer directly makes the payment of medical bills to the hospital.

Third party administrator (TPA) coordinates between hospital and the insurance company in the process of cashless mediclaim settlement. There will be insurance desk set up in every network hospital to help initiate the cashless claims. Cashless mediclaim services can be availed in two ways during hospitalisation:

Cashless claims for planned hospitalisation:

In the case of planned hospitalisation, you will have good enough time to choose your preferred hospital out of list of your insurer’s network hospitals for availing treatment. Following is the simple process to follow for availing cashless treatment in case of planned hospitalisation:

  1. Choose the network hospital by referring to your insurance company’s website for list of network hospitals or by calling up your insurer’s customer care
  2. Once you choose the hospital for your treatment, contact the hospital’s insurance desk and fill-up pre-authorisation cashless request form which can be downloaded online on TPA website or physical copy can be obtained from insurance desk at the hospital
  3. Submit the pre-authorisation cashless request within the time limit specified by your insurance company. Details filled in the request form will be verified and signed by the hospital authorities
  4. TPA/insurance desk will check the eligibility and authenticity of pre-authorisation cashless request submitted by you
  5. Upon verifying the request, TPA will either approve or reject the request placed
  6. Sanction letter will be issued to the hospital mentioning the amount approved
  7. On producing the final documents by hospital, payment of claim will be directly made to the hospital

Cashless claims for emergency hospitalisation:

In the case of a medical emergency that requires immediate medical care, cashless claim can be initiated after getting admitted at the nearest network hospital. Following is the simple process to follow for availing cashless treatment in case of emergency hospitalisation:

  1. Upon getting admitted at the nearest network hospital, show your policy document/card to the hospital. The document will contain necessary details like policy number, policy type and name of the insurance company etc.
  2. Contact insurance desk of the hospital and fill up pre-authorisation request form within 24 hours of hospitalisation
  3. Third party administrator/insurance company will review you pre-authorisation request and other documents submitted
  4. Once documents are verified, TPA will either approve or reject your cashless claim request. If the claim is approved, cashless treatment can be availed
  5. Once final set documents submitted by hospital are verified, claim amount will be directly settled with the network hospital

Reasons for claim rejection in cashless mediclaim policy:

Cashless insurance claims also can get rejected for various reasons. However, some of them can be avoided with a little care. Let’s take a look at the reasons for rejection of cashless claims.

  1. Unawareness of claim process:
    Sometimes not being aware of the claim process and not following the process diligently can lead to rejection of claims. For example, not following the time limit for placing the claim may become a reason for rejection. Filling up the wrong information in the form, not submitting the right documents etc. could lead to rejection of cashless claims. Knowing the claim process properly and taking help of insurance company’s customer support team for the information can help reduce such type of claim rejections.
  2. Pre-existing conditions:
    Pre-existing health conditions is one of the top reasons for rejection of cashless claims. Some of the pre-existing health conditions at the time of the policy are not covered under the cashless mediclaim policies temporarily for a certain period of time, which may vary from 24 months to 48 months. During this waiting period, expenses incurred for treatment of pre-existing illnesses are not covered by cashless mediclaim policies. Placing the claim for pre-existing medical conditions during the waiting period is one of the reasons for rejection of cashless claims.
  3. Non-disclosure of information:
    Holding back the information at the time of buying cashless mediclaim policy is one of the main reasons for claim rejections later. For example, not disclosing the details about a pre-existing health condition while purchasing the cashless mediclaim policy can become reason for claim rejection later.
  4. Exclusions:
    Though cashless mediclaim policies cover all the major hospitalisation expenses, policies do come with certain exclusions. For example, treatment expenses incurred for hospitalisation relating to sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS/HIV are not covered under cashless mediclaim policies. Claims cannot be raised for expenses that are permanently excluded from the policy. Claims raised for exclusions will lead to rejection of claims.
  5. Policy period:
    Cashless mediclaim policies are insurance contract for a specific period of time called policy period. Once the policy expires, coverage provided under the specific policy stands invalid. Any claim that is raised after the expiry of the policy period and before the renewal leads to rejection of claims.

Points to remember before buying cashless mediclaim policy:

Buying the ideal cashless mediclaim policy is a daunting task considering the huge variety of plans available in the market. To make a rational purchase, there are certain important points that you need to consider. Following are the important points to consider at the time of buying cashless mediclaim policy:

  1. Right coverage:
    Remember to choose the right amount of coverage for your cashless mediclaim policy keeping in mind the healthcare inflation. Having an adequate amount of coverage provides complete protection.
  2. Network hospitals:
    Ensuring your preferred hospitals are there in the list of your insurer’s network hospitals is really important to avail the timely cashless treatment. It’s good to go with insurance companies having wider network of hospitals. Wider network helps in getting timely medical care, quality treatment along with making it all the more convenient for you.
  3. Waiting period:
    Almost every cashless mediclaim policy comes with certain waiting period for treatment of pre-existing illnesses and for certain specific treatments and illnesses. During the waiting period you cannot make any claims for the treatment of such illnesses or medical conditions. It’s ideal to choose the policies that come with lesser waiting period. However, this may depend on your healthcare requirements and present health conditions.
  4. Renewability:
    Considering the difficulty in getting the mediclaim policies with increasing age, it’s always better to go with policies that offer lifelong renewability. Such policies can be renewed for lifetime without compromising on the coverage.
  5. Value adds:
    Though cashless mediclaim policies are primarily meant for covering hospitalisation expenses during illnesses and accidents, you can expect certain additional benefits under the policy such as free medical check-ups and maternity benefits etc. Depending on your requirement, avail policy with some value adds.
  6. Incurred claim ratio:
    Ratio of claims settled by the insurance company is an important consideration at the time of buying cashless mediclaim policy. Insurance company with high claim settlement ratio ensures that your claims are settled quickly and conveniently without any hassles.
  7. Cost:
    Though buying decision cannot just be based on cost of cashless mediclaim policy, exorbitant premiums may hit your yearly budget. Hence, consider plans that can provide you much needed coverage within your affordability range.

Cashless mediclaim policy is an amazing solution to safeguard your financial well-being in the event of medical emergencies. Cashless facility helps you avail quality medical treatment at the right time. You can buy cashless mediclaim policy on Turtlemint by comparing various plans side by side based on various parameters and choose the right one for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

  1. What are the factors that affect cashless mediclaim policy’s premium?

    Mediclaim insurance premiums are determined based on numerous factors. Following are some of the important factors that affect your cashless mediclaim policy’s premium:

    • Age
    • Pre-existing medical conditions
    • Habits such as alcohol and drug abuse
    • Family health history
    • Profession
    • Marital status, etc.
  1. What is ‘free look period’ in cashless mediclaim policy?

    Free look period in cashless mediclaim policy refers to time given to new policyholders to understand the terms and conditions of the policy and terminate the policy without penalties, in case he/she is not satisfied with the terms and conditions of the policy. Usually, most of the cashless mediclaim policies come with 15 days free look period within which policy can be cancelled without penalties. However, it’s important to state the reason for cancellation.

  1. What are the tax benefits of cashless mediclaim policy?

    Premiums paid towards cashless mediclaim plans can be claimed as a tax deduction under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Tax deduction can be availed on premiums paid towards health insurance plans taken for self, spouse, children and parents.

    Following are the details –

    DescriptionUpper limit on premium for self, spouse and dependent childrenUpper limit on premium for parents (dependent/non-dependent)Total deductions available 
    All members of the family < 60 years of ageINR 25,000INR 25,000INR 50,000
    Self, spouse and children < 60 years age

    Either of the parents > 60 years age

    		INR 25,000INR 50,000INR 75,000
    Self > 60 years age

    Spouse and children < 60 years of age

    Parents > 60 years age

    		INR 50,000INR 50,000INR 1,00,000
  1. Can I have more than one cashless mediclaim policy?

    Yes. You can have more than one cashless mediclaim policy.

Best Cheap Car Insurance Plans in India : Compare & Buy/Renew Plans

Rupanjali Mitra Basu

Car insurance policies are a must if you own a car. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 lays down the traffic rules which are to be followed by vehicles that run on Indian roads. One such rule imposed by the Act is the requirement of a valid car insurance policy. So, besides needing a driving license to drive, you also need a valid car insurance plan.

 Car insurance types

There are two types of car insurance policies which are available in the market. These are as follows –

  • Third party policies which cover only the third party liabilities which you face if your car causes any third party damage. This damage includes physical and bodily injury to third parties as well as property damage. Third party coverage is the mandatory coverage for cars as specified under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
  • Comprehensive policies which have two coverage benefits. They cover the mandatory third party liability as well the damages suffered by the car itself.

Click on the button to read more about detailed comparison between a third party and comprehensive car insurance plan.

List of the 10 best and cheapest car insurance plans

Here is a list showing the best and the cheapest car insurance policies available in the market –

  • HDFC Ergo Car Insurance Plans HDFC Ergo offers a range of car insurance policies for different coverage needs. There are long term plans as well as annual and bundled car insurance plans. The features which make HDFC’s car insurance plans one of the best include the following –
    • There is a network of more than 6800 cashless garages all over India
    • You get a range of add-ons to enhance your coverage
    • The company promises overnight car repair services in 13 main cities of India
  • TATA AIG Private Car Package Policy TATA AIG is also a leading name in the insurance industry which offers cheap car insurance plans. The features of TATA AIG’s car insurance plans are as follows –
    • There are 13 car insurance add-ons which promise to provide an exhaustive coverage
    • The premium rates are low and affordable
    • The company promises 24*7 assistance in case of claims
  • ICICI Lombard Car Insurance Plan ICICI Lombard’s car insurance plans have the following features which make them popular –
    • There are more than 3900 cashless garages tied-up with the company
    • Even lapsed car insurance plans can be renewed instantly
    • The company offers a comprehensive roadside assistance coverage in its car insurance plans
  • Royal Sundaram Car Shield Plan Royal Sundaram also offers cheap car insurance policies which have the following benefits –
    • Free roadside assistance cover is allowed under the policy.
    • There is an add-on cover which offers 100% purchase price to be paid in case of theft of the car or total loss.
    • The company is tied up with 4600+ garages across India for easy cashless claim settlements.
  • New India Private Car Policy New India is a public sector general insurance company which has a large customer base. This allows the company to offer cheap car insurance plans which have the following benefits –
    • Long term, annual and bundled car insurance plans are sold by the company
    • There are different add-ons to make the coverage comprehensive
  • Reliance Car Insurance Policy Another leading name in the general insurance industry, Reliance offers a multitude of car insurance policies for its customers. The features of Reliance’s car insurance plans include the following –
    • The policy is issued and delivered within 10 seconds
    • There is a free roadside assistance cover under the plan worth INR 500
    • The company has a tie-up with more than 4450 garages all over India. This makes claim settlements easier.
  • Bajaj Allianz Car Insurance Bajaj Allianz offers cutting edge yet cheap car insurance plans. The features of the company’s car insurance plans include the following –
    • The company offers 24*7 spot assistance in case of claims
    • The Motor-on-the-spot feature allows you to make a claim through videos and images right from the spot of the accident
    • There are more than 4000 cashless garages which are tied-up with the company
  • IFFCO Tokio Car Insurance Policy IFFCO Tokio offers some of the best benefits in its car insurance plans which include the following –
    • There is unlimited zero depreciation cover which allows you to make multiple zero depreciation claims under the plan.
    • 24*7 roadside assistance is provided by the company
    • There is a network of more than 4300 garage in India for cashless claims
  • United India Motor Insurance Policies United India is another public sector general insurance company which offers both comprehensive and third party plans. The company offers cheap car insurance plans which have the following features –
    • Premiums are low and affordable
    • There are a range of premium discounts which further lower the premium
    • Inbuilt as well as optional coverage benefits are available under the plan.

These are some of the best plans which are also cheap.

Most important 5 benefits of car insurance policies

Besides being a mandatory legal requirement, car insurance policies also give you the following benefits –

  • If any individual dies in an accident involving your car, you face an unlimited financial liability. You might have to pay a huge amount of compensation to the bereaved family which would create a financial crisis for you. Car insurance policies cover this liability and pay the compensation on your behalf freeing you from the financial crisis which you might face otherwise.
  • Even in case of injuries suffered by individuals or any property being damaged, you are required to compensate for the financial loss caused. The car insurance policy covers this compensation as well giving you financial relief.
  • If you buy a comprehensive car insurance policy, you also get coverage for the damages suffered by your car. So, the repair costs are paid by the policy and you don’t have to shoulder the burden yourself.
  • If your car is stolen, a comprehensive car insurance plan pays you a lump sum benefit which allows you to bear the financial loss that you suffer.
  • There are useful add-ons under comprehensive car insurance plans which, when opted, promise assistance in case of car related contingencies. You are, therefore, assured of help in case of car related contingencies which makes it easier for you to face emergencies.

Car insurance plans are, therefore, beneficial. If you have a policy on your car, you would also be saved from high legal fines and/or imprisonment if you are found to drive your car without a valid cover. So, you should invest in a car insurance policy for your car.

Car insurance premiums depend on these 7 factors

When you buy a car insurance policy, you have to pay premiums on the same. The premium of your car insurance policy depends on the following factors –

  • Make, model and variant of the car which determines its value. The more expensive the car is the higher would be the premium.
  • Age of the car which reduces the value of the car due to depreciation. The older the car the lower would be its value and also the premium of the car insurance policy.
  • The type of policy you buy – third party plans have cheap car insurance premiums while comprehensive policies are expensive.
  • Fuel type of the car as the fuel variant determines the car’s value. Higher the value, higher would be the premium.
  • City of registration – cars in metropolitan cities have higher premium rates compared to non-metro cities
  • Add-ons selected – each add-on has an additional premium. If you select one or more add-ons, the premium would increase.
  • Policy discounts – there are different types of policy discounts available in car insurance plans. The higher the discounts that you can claim the lower would be the premium of the car insurance policy.

It is a smart option to calculate your car insurance premium online using a car insurance premium calculator before buying a car insurance online.

Top 7 tips for cheap car insurance policies

Now you know how the premiums of car insurance policies are calculated but do you know you can reduce them?

Yes, there are ways in which you can reduce the premiums of your car insurance policy to avail a cheap car insurance plan. These ways are as follows –

  • Avoid making small claims in your policy. When you don’t make claims you earn a no claim bonus. This bonus starts at 20% and keeps increasing after every successive claim-free year. You can get a maximum no claim bonus of 50% which allows you a premium discount. However, when you make a claim, the bonus reduces to zero and you don’t get the discount. So, if you have small claims, pay them yourself rather than losing your accumulated no claim bonus.
  • If you are a member of an approved automobile association, you can get a premium discount.
  • If you install safety gadgets in your car, you can get a premium discount and enjoy cheap car insurance coverage.
  • If you use your car sparingly or if the car is very old, you can opt for only third party liability cover. Since third party allows cheap car insurance cover, your premiums would be very low.
  • Choose only those add-ons that you require. For instance, if you don’t take your car on road trips, roadside assistance cover would not be required. Similarly, if you live in an area which has no water-logging problem in monsoons, avoid engine protect add-on. When you choose only the necessary add-ons, you can cut down on unnecessary additional premium payments and enjoy cheap car insurance cover.
  • Choose a voluntary deductible if you are a safe driver. Voluntary deductible represents the part of claim which you are willing to cover yourself. When you choose voluntary deductible, you lower the claim burden of the insurance company. Due to the reduced burden, the company offers you a premium discount.
  • Always compare and buy car insurance policies. Comparing lets you check the coverage details vis-à-vis premium rates of different car insurance plans. Through comparing you can get the cheapest car insurance policy for your car without compromising on the coverage.

Top 4 points to consider before investing in cheap car insurance policies

Before investing in cheap car insurance online, the following points should be remembered –

  • Skimping on the coverage If the premiums are very low, the coverage benefits would be limited. You would get what you pay for. The policy might not offer value-added benefits which provide better coverage. So, dot skimp on the coverage and buy cheap car insurance online just to lower the premium rates otherwise you would suffer huge claims which would prove financially disastrous.
  • Ignoring add-onsYou might choose to ignore the add-ons to save on the premium cost. Add-ons, however, are quite beneficial as they provide unmatched coverage and increase the amount of claim payable. So, don’t avoid add-ons which are necessary.
  • The flip side of deductibles If you are availing a premium discount by choosing a voluntary deductible, remember that you would have to foot the amount of deductible that you have chosen. There is already a component of compulsory deductible under car insurance plans which you have to pay in a claim. Choosing voluntary deductible would increase your claim burden. So, always weight the savings in premiums to the cost that you would be bearing. Choose voluntary deductibles only when it proves economical.
  • Claim processAlways check the claim process of the insurance company before buying the plan. If the company is offering cheap car insurance online but has a complicated claim settlement process, you would eventually suffer. So, pay heed to the claim process and choose an insurer which has a simplified process.Car insurance plans are mandatory but they don’t need to be expensive. Know how car insurance premiums are calculated and use the afore-mentioned tips to lower the premiums. Buy cheap car insurance policies from the best companies and enjoy plans with the best coverage benefits. Turtlemint is an online platform which lets you compare car insurance plans. Through Turtlemint you can compare the best policies and choose cheap car insurance online as per your coverage needs.

Read more related articles:
Best Car Insurance Companies in India
5 consequences of driving without Car Insurance

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