Health Insurance : Myths and Facts

Health Insurance: Myths & Facts

All of us know very well about the importance of health insurance. Today, everyone realize the benefit and need of having health insurance. For sales points of view it is very easy product which can be offer to the clients by the non life insurer. I have also written many blogs about it. Yesterday, I came across very useful information in the news paper which I want to share with all of you. A very well known insurer called ICICI Lombard has conducted the survey about health insurance. According to this survey that people have many misconceptions about health insurance which we will be discuss in today’s blog.

Myth1:

52% people believe that health insurance policies settle the claim only in case of hospitalization.

Reality:

9 out of 22 non life insurance companies offer OPD benefits, including dental treatment, diagnostic test expenses, vaccinations, hearing aid, eye check up, spectacles and preventive health care services.

Myth2:

27% people said I don’t need health insurance if I am fit.

Reality:

Many illnesses like dengue, malaria, food poising and critical illness can happen in healthy people due to hectic life style and pollution. Health insurance also covers injuries due to accident or violence.

Myth3:

29% people said that they have group health cover. So they don’t need a separate health insurance policy.

Reality:

Due to increasing medical cost day by day, group cover may not be enough in case of medical treatment. In case of job loss, you will need the cover. The group health insurance policies have some defined limits and constraint.

Myth4:

49% people was not sure in survey whether they can get health cover or not as they smoke or consume alcohol.

Reality:

Insurance companies offer health insurance to these types of people. In these cases loading increase the premium can be higher due to high risky habits.

Myth5:

26% people do not intend to cover their family as they think that only earning member need the health insurance cover.

Reality:

Unlike life insurance, health insurance should cover the entire family including children and parents of the customer.

Myth6:

Pre- existing diseases will be covered after waiting period so no need to declare in the proposal form.

Reality:

As per IRDA guidelines, any ailment not declared by a customer is considered an un-disclosed pre existing disease and it leads to claim rejection.

If you want more information regarding investment or you need investment services, feel free to ask us. We also conduct the seminar on investment and financial planning. If you are interested for seminar in your city just drop the mail.

Warm regards,

Arvind Trivedi

Certified Financial Planner

arvind.trivedi79@gmail.com

www.artofinvest.com

Insurance Planning: Part 3

Insurance Planning: Part 3

In last two parts of insurance planning we have discussed about life insurance. Today we will discuss about non life insurance. In our country, health insurance falls in non life insurance category.

Medical treatment is getting very costlier in these days. Hospitalization of any family member make a big hole in your pocket and your financial balance become in bad shape. None knows when it comes. It may be happen anytime without informing you and you will never know it prior. Health insurance is very critical and essential part of any individuals. No one should ignore it. In our country it is getting popular and demands are growing from last couple of year.

These policies not only cover hospitalization but also the expenses incurred before the admitting in hospital. There are many private companies like Max Bupa, Apolo Munich, ICICI Lombard, Religare Healthcare provide excellent coverage and services. Some of these companies provide free health check up if you do not get admitted in hospital during the policy cover period.

In tax saving point of view, one can claim deduction under section 80D for paying premium up to Rs 15,000 for self, spouse and dependent children. For senior citizens the claim deduction limit available up to Rs 20,000.

In addition to above mentioned limit, one can claim additional claim tax deduction of Rs 20,000 if one pay premium for parents if parents are senior citizen and if not senior citizen then additional limit is up to Rs 15,000. Therefore, one can claim maximum tax deduction up to RS 40,000 under section 80D.

It is very vast subject so please check all inclusion and exclusion of deceases and check the hospital list under TPA.

If you want more information regarding investment or you have any other query about investment feel free to ask us.

Warm regards,

Arvind Trivedi

Certified Financial Planner

arvind.trivedi79@gmail.com

www.artofinvest.com

www.arvindtrivedicfp.blogspot.in

Insurance Sector Update - November 2013

Insurance Update – November, 2013

I am starting for now onward to simple update on insurance industry time to time. Insurance is very vital and critical part of any financial plan. It is our duty as an advisor and planner to inform our readers to update about this industry. A lot of regulatory activity is going on and companies come with new customized product. Every investor must know about this. Some recent update as given below:

• According to FICCI report, General insurance industry may touch gross written premium (GWP) 3 lakh crore by 2025 with a conservative growth rate of 13% CAGR. According to report that increased health insurance awareness would increase the opportunities in this sector.

• National Disaster Management Authority suggested that insurance should be mandatory for residential properties, malls, theaters, hospitals and hotels. It also be recommended that it should be applies on all urban property tax payers.

• Insurance regulator IRDA has increased investment limit in various category. Now general insurance companies are allowed to invest upto 1.50% or Rs, 3,500 crore in liquid mutual fund. It is for temporary time and can be reversed at a later stage.

• Life insurance companies now can invest upto 5% in FD schemes of promoter group bank. Earlier the limit was 3%. IRDA has also increased  invest limit to invest in information technology and industrial sector from existing 15% to 20%.
• Reliance life insurance has launched policy revival drive. In this campaign lapse policyholder can revive their lapse insurance policy without any penalty and medical tests subject to conditions. This offer will available till 30^th November, 2013 for all reliance insurance products.

• IRDA wants insures to stop giving high incentives to auto dealers. For pushing motor insurance policies sales, insurers offering high incentives to auto dealers and due to this policy holder are paying unreasonable premium.

• IRDS has also proposed to set up insurance clearing house. For smooth functioning of reinsurance and coinsurance business IRDA want to establish “Insurance Clearing House”. It would be promoted by Indian insurers, reinsurers and the authority.

For more detail and any other query related investment, you can contact me through my email

Warm regards,

Arvind Trivedi

Certified Financial Planner

arvind.trivedi79@gmail.com

Health Insurance Policies

Have you read your health insurance policy carefully..?

As we already know that the health insurance policy is very essential thing for anyone regardless any income group or age group. It is mandatory part of any comprehensive financial planning. Many private and public sector companies provide these types of policies with many attractive benefit and limitation.

Many companies come with these types of policies with restriction like hospital daily room rent and many exclusions like pre existing decease. Now, it has become more important that we should read all the term and conditioned very carefully. At present, there is no free look in facility but IRDA has indicated that they can implement this norm on health insurance policies. As per current scenario, it is only implemented on life insurance policies only.

Please make sure whether lifetime renewability is available or not with the policy. Many medi-claim policy provider often refuse renew the policy after certain age. You can select a plan that offers lifelong renewal because buying insurance at older age becomes a difficult task in case any ailment. There are many decent policies available with lifelong renewal. Few of them as given below:

• Apollo Munich Easy Health Plan
• Apollo Munich Optima Senior
• Star Citizen Red Corpet
• ICICI LombardComplete Health Insurance – iHealth Plan
• Max Bupa Health Assurance
• Religare Mediclaim

You should check premium and benefit and select the plan according to your need.

For more detail about any other query related investment, you can contact me through my email.

Warm regards,

Arvind Trivedi

Certified Financial Planner

arvind.trivedi79@gmail.com