Posts tagged: claims

Is It Important to Cover Your Car Against Theft?

coverage against car theftWhen you think about car insurance, it is always about accidents and getting yourself protected in the event of an accident. We believe that having a third party liability insurance policy is enough since it is mandatory by law to provide for damages done to third parties involved in a mishap. However, is it enough?

God, Forbid! What if you meet with an unfortunate scenario of your car getting broken into and stolen? Would you be covered for the loss?

Car theft is something that would not have crossed your mind. However, looking at the alarming statistics of theft in India, it is worthy to revisit your insurance plan and get yourself covered for theft.

Importance of Comprehensive Insurance Plan

Car insurance policies fall into two categories – third party liability and comprehensive plans. Third party liability covers for damages done to third party or property in an accident and is compulsory to own one as per the Indian law.

On the other hand, comprehensive car insurance plan comprises of third party liability coverage and also covers you for damages done to your car due to accidents, theft, and unforeseen mishaps.

A comprehensive insurance policy is the most sought by all since it gives the much-needed security against unforeseen damages and provides full-proof protection for your car. It is wise to opt for a comprehensive insurance plan to give you complete peace of mind.

The compulsory third party liability insurance policy is not going to help you in any way when you discover suddenly that your car is stolen. Whereas, when you own a comprehensive insurance policy, in the event of theft, the insurance company will come to your rescue and reimburse for your loss.

All you need to do is to lodge an FIR with the police and inform the insurance company of the same. You will be covered for the loss, and your money will be reinstated back to you as per the terms and conditions of the policy. Your car is the most prized asset and going an extra mile to protect it, using a comprehensive insurance policy is essential.

Why should you consider upgrading to a comprehensive cover?

You need coverage to protect you against damage to your car as opposed to the third party only If your car is stolen, you would have to pay up in full to purchase a brand new vehicle. Whereas with the comprehensive insurance plan, you are eligible to get back your hard-earned money, even if not in full.

Added level of protection that gives you more advantages

Don’t go for the lower level of cover just to save few bucks. You will save more in the long-run when you opt for comprehensive plans.

Stay safe against the crime of theft and other unforeseen damages that can happen to you anytime

Be secured on the road and also off the road. Don’t pay up for something for which you were not at fault

As seen above, the advantages of owning a comprehensive insurance policy are plenty. So make a wise choice and don’t regret later.

Health Insurance Tips to Use All Year

health insurance protectionEverybody has heard the saying “health is wealth”. While it is true that good health is something that money cannot buy, access to funds can certainly give you the best medical care. Life is uncertain and despite all your safeguards, accidents and diseases can strike without warning. It is therefore prudent to make arrangements for the wellbeing of yourself and your family, well in advance.

Medical costs today are prohibitive, making the need for sudden treatment or hospitalization a huge financial burden. If you are not covered under a health plan, you may find yourself in a difficult situation and can end up depleting your savings.

Benefits of Health Insurance

Financial stability – Medical costs are increasing at a rapid pace. In case of hospitalization, you will have to incur several expenses, such as doctors’ fees, diagnostic tests, medications, and lots more. If you have to pay for these, you may end up spending all your savings. When you have purchased the best health insurance coverage, all these expenses are paid for by the insurer.

Avail the best medical care – Many people who are not covered under a health plan often compromise on the quality of care they receive. However, with adequate health insurance, you can focus on receiving the best medical care and recover earlier. Most insurers offer a wide network of hospitals, which gives you the additional benefit of cashless hospitalization.

Tax benefits – In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, individuals can avail of tax benefits on the premium paid for purchasing the health insurance policy. Under section 80 D of the Income Tax Act, premium up to INR 25,000 per annum is tax deductible. An amount of INR 30,000, paid as premium for senior dependent parents covered under these health plans, is tax deductible under this section.

Tips to Avail the Best Plan

• Individuals must pay their monthly premiums on time to ensure the benefits under the health insurance plans remain valid throughout the policy term.

• If you receive any message asking for additional information and/or documentation, it is important that you submit the same quickly to avoid loss of coverage.

• It is also important to pay your renewal premium in a timely manner to continue enjoying the different benefits available under the insurance coverage.

If you follow these simple tips diligently, you can be sure to reap the benefits of your health insurance policy. Do not wait for a health crisis to learn more about health insurance.

Know more about health insurance tips at 5 Paisa Insurance

Difference between Term Insurance and Endowment Plans

insurance for familyIn today’s fast-driven world, one faces uncertainty in life. Various financial tools like life insurance, endowments plans, medical insurance, etc. are made available to take care of this aspect. Besides, they are also an investment and helps to secure one’s financial future. Life insurance policies also aids in saving tax, improves credit ratings, inculcates saving habit, acts as retirement income and provides for your family in case of untimely death.

What is term insurance plans?

Term insurance is a basic and fundamental insurance product. It is a type of insurance policy that provides coverage for a specified ‘term’. In case of death of the policy holder during the policy term, death benefit will be paid by the insurance provider to the beneficiary. The premium for term policies is very low as compared to other insurance plans. This is because there is no investment component and the entire premium paid is directed towards covering risk.

What is endowment plan?

An endowment policy is a type of life insurance policy which apart from covering the life of the policyholder helps him to save regularly over a period of time so that a lump sum amount is received at the end of the maturity term. Thus, such plans fulfill the dual need for life cover as well as investment, under a single plan. The main benefits of such a plan is regular savings, financial protection of family in case of death, loans against the policy and tax benefits under section 80C and 10(10D) of the Income Tax act, 1961.

Which plan is best for you?

Based on financial goals

Both types of life insurance plans have their own pros and cons. An individual needs to make a choice between the two depending on his financial goals. Some may take a policy for the sole purpose of a life cover while some may take it with the goal of investing and growing their money.

Cost of premiums

Endowment plans have higher costs than term policies for the same coverage and duration. Customers are charged premium for both investment and life cover. Various charges like mortality charges are deducted and the balance amount is then invested in other instruments. Term plans, on the other hand, charge premium only for life protection and not for investment. Hence, term plans come at very low premium and give good returns to the family in case of death of the holder.

Rate of return

Amount received as premium in endowment plans are invested in debt as well as stock market after deducting insurance cost, mortality cost, etc. The rate of return depends on the performance of the stock market. Considering that the term of endowment policies is usually long-term (around 20 years), the return is low. You could reap a better return by investing in mutual funds, which give a higher rate of return as compared to these plans.

Regular income

Most endowment policies declare bonus once a year. The bonus received is a certain proportion of the sum assured. This acts as a regular income as compared to term plans where you do not receive any returns whatsoever. In case of term insurance the nominee receives the sum assured amount only if the policyholder passes away.

Conclusion

If the sole purpose is to buy a life cover, it is advisable to go in for a term plan. Though you may not receive any amount on maturity, the low premiums are quite affordable. In case of death of the policyholder, the amount given to the beneficiary is quite high. This amount can then be used by the dependents for purposes like marriage, house loans, paying debts, etc.

For those who already have a term planin place and are seeking investment gains, endowment plans are best suited for them. It provides an avenue for disciplined investment even though the returns are not very high. It is important to make the right choice between the two depending on your financial goals.

Know more about endowment plans and term insurance at 5 Paisa Insurance.

How To Protect Yourself When Facing Criminal Charges

criminal defenseWe’re all adults here. You know as well as I do that someone facing criminal charges is not necessarily guilty. When you’re facing criminal charges, it’s extremely important to make the right decisions. The wrong turn of events can completely cripple your financial profile, and grind your personal to a halt. Here are the most important things to do when facing criminal charges.

The first thing you need to do is hire an attorney. It’s possible to handle a criminal case without spending a penny on legal counsel. It’s also technically possible to climb Everest with no equipment. Visit http://www.rogersandmoss.com/ for an example of what to look for in a professional attorney’s firm. If hiring an independent attorney is totally out of your question, then you should get a public defender. The US constitution gives you the right to be represented by a competent attorney, who will be appointed to your case free of charge. Take your time settling on a law firm though. This could be one of the most important decisions in your life. Try your best to find a lawyer with a lot of experience in cases similar to yours.

Once you have an attorney on board, go through all your legal paperwork with them in detail. A fresh pair of eyes, specifically a lawyer’s, will help you to understand the charges made against you, and the best way to tackle them. One of the most important things is making sure all the information on your documentation is correct. A lot of criminal charges have been dismissed in the past, simply due to a criminal complaint being inaccurate. The exact information which is required in a criminal complaint varies from state to state, so read up on your local bylaws. Any police reports should also be scrutinised as much as possible. These typically have limited information, and a wrong fact could really help your chances of walking free.

You should analyse all possible evidence lined up against you. Again, this should be done with your lawyer present. If any of the police involved with the incident violated your constitutional rights, your charges could be dropped in an instant. Unfortunately, this is much more common than you might think. The police can’t search or arrest you without probable cause. Probable cause is a reasonable belief that you committed a crime, based on objective facts. If it’s found that the officer who arrested you didn’t have probable cause, you can’t be prosecuted for the charge at all. Visit http://www.constitution.org/uslaw/defunlaw.htm for more detail. It’s integral for you to go over all of your constitutional rights concerning criminal charges in detail. If you think any of them were violated, this can be a significant help in the course of your overall case.

Once you take these three steps, you’ll have a much stronger defence in your criminal case. After doing all of this base work, it’s all down to the skill of your attorney, and the evidence available. The last, overarching tip I’ll give is to listen to your lawyer, and go along with their plan.