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November 2021

Insurance

Avoid These Events to Have Your Motor Insurance Claim Rejected

by Roberts Sam on

Motor insurance is mandatory by law, but you must not buy it solely for legal compliance. Instead you must choose to opt for a policy for the other benefits it has on offer like coverage against accidents, damages, and even third-party liabilities. It helps create a financial buffer for times when expected events occur damaging your car or bike.

The Motor Vehicles Act requires all vehicle owners to buy a motor insurance coverage of which third-party plans are the bare minimum requirement. Since it is the minimum coverage, there are other plans which can be opted for – a comprehensive policy. This policy offers the minimum third-party coverage along with protection for damages to your vehicle.

However, not every claim made by policyholders is accepted by the insurance company. Only those claims that are can be successfully verified are honoured. This article mentions some of those events that can lead to rejection of your motor insurance claim.

  • Not updating information

Outdated information regarding the policyholder or the vehicle is one of the common reasons for rejection of an insurance claim application. Your insurance company must be on top of all the necessary changes pertaining to your vehicle or even your personal information. Thus, you need to ensure all these changes are updated with your insurance company. Not updating can be sufficient grounds to consider it as a case of misrepresentation and consequently denied compensation.

  • Failing to renew the policy on time

Insurance coverage is only available when you have an active insurance policy. Thus, you must ensure your policy is active for which consistent renewal is essential. Once the policy expires, no insurance coverage is available and is a sufficient reason for rejection of your application.

  • Driving without valid documents

If the driver does not possess valid and active driving license, any claims made for repairs are rejected by the insurance company. Thus, you must make sure that you possess a valid driving license at all times.

  • Illegal acts

Acts that are considered unlawful will not honour your application for claim, be it a private or commercial vehicle insurance. These illegal acts may include drunk driving, driving without valid vehicle documents or eve the vehicle being used for illegitimate purposes are all categorised as illegal acts.

  • Fraudulent claims

A contract of insurance is based on the principle of utmost good faith. Thus, any fraudulent claims are straight-up rejected by the insurance company. Compensation is paid only after a verification by the insurance company. Thus, any untrue claim is disallowed by the insurance company.

  • Misinterpretation of insurance coverage

Insurance plans specifically state what falls under the purview of the policy terms. Hence, only those events that are mentioned in your policy terms are compensated for. In any case you misinterpret the coverage, the application for claim is rejected. For instance, you misinterpret your comprehensive policy to offer zero-depreciation cover where no add-on was opted for.

These are some situations that you must remember to avoid unnecessary rejections of your claim applications. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms and conditions, please read sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.

 

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Finance

Misapprehensions About Two-Wheeler Insurance That You Should Ignore

by Roberts Sam on

Buying a two-wheeler in today’s day and age is no luxury but a mere matter of convenience. Convenience from hassles of public transport. But whichever two-wheeler you ride, having an insurance cover is mandatory as per the law. The Motor Vehicles Act lays down this need for compliance failing which, attracts hefty penalties.

Your search for a bike insurance policy may be supported by suggestions from friends, family and even your peers. But during the lookout for a suitable policy, there are various misconceptions that you mustn’t believe. Here are some of those misapprehensions you need to stay away from to make a prudent choice of bike insurance policy.

  1. Two-wheeler insurance is complicated

There are a myriad insurance plans to choose from and all of which are loaded with different jargons and terminologies. This makes most buyers believe that two-wheeler insurance plans are complicated in nature. However, that isn’t the case. The jargons and terms used in the policy documents and brochures only create such an impression but in reality, it is simple and straightforward once you breakdown those terms. Moreover, with the advent of internet technologies, bike insurance renewal and its purchase can be made seamlessly online. All of it at the convenience of your couch. So, the next time you hear that two-wheeler insurance is a complicated process, trust no one because it is easy and straightforward.

                                                               

  1. A third-party policy provides sufficient coverage

Many buyers of bike insurance plans overlook the importance of a policy that offers 360-degree coverage. Thus, they opt for only a third-party policy. Such third-party plan, although suffice the legal requirement of a two-wheeler insurance policy, often falls short of its coverage when it comes to protecting against own damages. Thus, the misconception about a third-party policy being enough must not be believed in. In fact, you must opt for a policy that offers comprehensive coverage. This way, any damages sustained by your bike during an accident or due to natural calamities or other man-made perils can be covered under your insurance policy’s scope. * Standard T&C Apply

  1. Your insurer cannot be changed or switched

Two-wheeler insurance plans are valid for a specified tenure, which is generally for a period of one year. After such tenure, you need to renew the insurance coverage wherein you can opt for additional or delete covers, or even opt for an ungraded insurance policy. Not just that, you can even change your insurance company and transfer accumulated benefits like the no-claim bonus too. Moreover, such transfer is possible even during your policy tenure, however, it isn’t advisable to switch mid tenure unless there are some serious coverage flaws. You can visit the official website of IRDAI for further details.

  1. Two-wheeler insurance provides for all damages

A comprehensive two-wheeler insurance plan protects your bike from different perils which otherwise are excluded from third-party policy’s scope, but just like all insurance policies, it has its share of limitations. Cases like riding under the influence of an intoxicating substance isn’t covered under any insurance policy. The insurance company straight up reject such claim applications. Hence, you need to be aware of the inclusions and exclusions of your policy and ensure you follow the law to have protection from damages.

  1. Buying two-wheeler plans is an expensive affair

Lastly, it is commonly believed that two-wheeler insurance plans are expensive. While in reality, economical plans are also available. While add-ons to a comprehensive plan can increase the premium, offloading those that do not add any value can help you save on premiums. In this process, tools like two wheeler insurance premium calculator come handy.

With the common misconceptions cleared about two-wheeler insurance plans, you can make a smart decision the next time you are buying one. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms and conditions, please read sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.

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Finance

Everything you need to know about the National Pension System

by Roberts Sam on

All your life’s hard work and struggle pays off during retirement, your golden years, if you have an effective retirement plan in place. A good retirement plan will ensure you get a steady flow of income after you’re done working. One such effective plan that every Indian citizen is entitled to is the National Pension System or NPS. So, what is NPS and how does it work? Let’s figure out all you need to know about NPS here so that you can get started.

What is NPS?

NPS is a voluntary retirement plan that all Indian citizens between 18-70 years of age can invest in. It’s a government scheme that even corporate sector employees and self-employed individuals can benefit from.

Not only does the NPS help you save money, but also helps in reducing your taxes as the plan is eligible for a tax deduction. You invest a certain amount of money every year which builds up a corpus fund that you can withdraw during retirement. So, the earlier you plan, the more you can benefit from it.

Types of NPS accounts

There are two types of NPS accounts:

●      Tier I account:

When you want to invest under NPS, this is the default scheme you go for at first. It requires a minimum initial investment of Rs. 500 and a minimum annual investment of Rs. 1,000. There is no limit to the maximum amount you can invest in.

Here, you get a lock-in period till the age of 60. Withdrawals are permitted only after the lock-in period unless there are special circumstances. You are entitled to a tax deduction for NPS investment up to Rs. 1,50,000 each year under section 80 C and further deductions for up to Rs. 50,000 under section 80CCD (1B) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

●      Tier II account:

This account is completely voluntary and you’re eligible to invest here if your Tier I account already exists. The minimum initial investment here is Rs. 1,000 and the minimum annual contribution amount here is Rs. 250. There is no tax deduction or lock-in period here. This means you can withdraw from here at any given point in time.

NPS scheme details – Rules for application, investment, and withdrawals

The easy and quick way to apply for NPS is through the online portal where you need to link your account to your Aadhaar, PAN, and mobile number.

Once your permanent retirement account number is generated, you need to make the initial investment. Your pension fund manager will take care of the investments you make here, helping you select the investment mode – equity, corporate debt, or government bonds. You’re allowed to change this mode only once in a financial year.

For Tier I account, the maximum age for exiting the scheme is 75 years. After that, you are entitled to withdraw 60% of the total corpus amount you have, while the rest 40% is to be invested in an annuity scheme if your corpus amount is more than Rs. 5,00,000.

You can make three premature withdrawals throughout the tenure, given it is for children’s higher education and/or marriage, house purchase/renovation, or medical emergencies. This is limited to 25% of your total investment and only applicable for those who have invested for at least three years.

Going for an NPS scheme is important for every individual as it helps contribute to your retirement corpus. Retirement planning ensures that you don’t have to financially depend on anybody in your golden years and are financially stable even after you stop working.

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