Insurance is a very important save and secured investment when it comes to our savings and securing the cost of our life when we are not there for our families so that they are not left for begging on roads. Though the money can not fulfill my absence, it is going to fulfill some of their daily needs which I had to, in my absence. That’s a huge reason why all should insure, at least the one who is the bread and butter earner for the family. It may be the father, mother or anyone else.
However, gone are those days, when only Life Insurance was considered and LIC [Life Insurance Corporation of India] was the only leading insurance provider in India. These days, there are 14 Life Insurance Companies and 23 General Insurance Companies in India running their business. To provide a fair business to the companies and fair benefits to the customers the governing body Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (IRDA) who controls all these Insurance Companies provides guidelines from time to time for the benefit of all. You as a customer need to know those because with the knowledge you can be wise and simultaneously you can help someone else.
14 LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES OPERATING IN INDIA
- Aviva India
- Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance
- Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Limited
- Exide Life Insurance
- HDFC Standard Life Insurance
- ICICI Prudential Life Insurance
- IDBI Federal Life Insurance
- IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company
- Life Insurance Corporation of India
- Max Life Insurance
- Peerless Group
- PNB MetLife India Insurance Company
- SBI Life Insurance Company
- Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance
23 GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANIES OPERATING IN INDIA
- Agriculture Insurance Company of India
- Apollo Munich Health Insurance
- Cholamandalam MS General Insurance
- Bajaj Allianz General Insurance
- Bharti AXA General Insurance
- Cigna TTK
- Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India
- GIC Re
- HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company
- ICICI Lombard
- IFFCO Tokio
- L&T General Insurance
- Liberty Videocon General Insurance
- National Insurance Company
- New India Assurance
- The Oriental Insurance Company
- Reliance General Insurance
- Religare
- Royal Sundaram General Insurance
- Star Health and Allied Insurance
- Tata AIG General
- United India Insurance Company
- Universal Sompo General Insurance Company
There are around 8 most valuable tips that can benefit you when you are planning to buy any type of insurance may be for your life, your vehicle, health insurance or any other type. Just keep these 8 simple tips in mind you rock then.
MAKE SURE YOU PURCHASE INSURANCE POLICIES FROM REGISTERED INSURANCE COMPANIES DIRECTLY OR THROUGH
- Registered corporate agents/appointed insurance Agents by Insurer by verifying their identity cards or authorized letters etc.
- Licensed Insurance Brokers.
- Licensed web aggregators.
- Registered Common Service Centers (CSCs)
- Registered Insurance Marketing Firms (IMF)
VERIFY GENUINENESS OF THE PERSON AND THE ENTITY BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT
- Ask for the identity proof of the person/entity soliciting insurance.
- Ask for the details of the address and telephone number of the person and the entity concerned, especially in the case of telesales.
- Check the IRDAI website to verify the details of insurance companies, brokers, corporate agents, and web-aggregators/IMF.
- Check the authenticity with insurance companies about the agents.
- If the premium is paid through cheque, please ensure that it is in the name of the registered insurance
- company; and obtain a receipt of payment.
- Do not make payment in the name of any individual; or if the payment is by cash, make sure it is not without ascertaining the credentials.
CHOOSE THE INSURANCE PRODUCT SUITABLE TO YOU BASED ON THE FOLLOWING:
- Life stage, financial position, and financial requirements.
- Purpose of the policy to be purchased:-to insure against the risk of life or property as long-term savings
to take care of hospitalization needs in future to meet statutory requirements - Benefits offered in terms of adequacy of sum assured/sum insured.
- Tax incentive, if available.
ENSURE THE FOLLOWING WHILE PURCHASING ANY INSURANCE POLICY.
- Read the prospectus and proposal form carefully.
- Fill in the details completely before signing the proposal form.
- Retain a copy of the proposal form for ready reference.
- The insurer has a duty to furnish free of charge a copy of the proposal form within 30 days of the acceptance of the proposal. Please collect the same along with the insurance policy.
- Follow p with insurer or agent/broker for the prompt receipt of a policy document.
Life insurance policy mainly provides risk coverage for life. But it can also serve as a tool for long term investment and involves long term commitment. Take care of the following after receiving the life insurance policy:
- Read the policy document carefully.
- Check the mode of premium payment, the term of the policy, maturity benefits offered, lock-in period, surrender value, etc.
- Ensure that the terms and conditions as per policy documents are the same as indicated in the prospectus at the time of the sale process.
- If you disagree with the terms and conditions, return the policy to the insurer within 15 days (30 days in case of electronic policies) from the date of receipt of policy giving reasons for objections. You are entitled to refund of the premium paid after deducting proportionate risk premium, the expenses incurred by the insurer for medical examination, stamp charges.
- Pay premium regularly and promptly, and do not allow the policy to lapse.
- Continue the policy without a break to ensure maximum benefit of the insurance policy as full insurance cover and other benefits will be available only on timely payment of premium.
Inform the family members about the purchase of insurance policy and its benefits, especially to the nominee.
Never fall prey to fictitious offers made by spurious callers promising high returns of unreasonable gains involving sale or redemption of insurance policies or other financial products. Never fall prey to calls made in the name of ideas offering bonuses or profits on investment. Irdai neither declares bonus nor involves in the sale of any kind of insurance or financial products or in the investment of a premium of insurance companies whatsoever.
Last but not the least, if any unlicensed intermediaries or unregistered insurers solicit insurance, file fir with the police and intimate ride. Any payment made to such unlicensed intermediaries or unregistered insurers is at your own risk.
I hope I have given you enough information to stay you alert next time you or any of your family members or friends check these points you purchase insurance. If you liked this review, please do share it on social media and leave your valuable comments.