Home Insurance Blogs

Helping you to make informed decisions about insurance
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Factors that affect your Home Insurance Rates
published on October 29, 2021

Your home’s location, construction, and condition, as well as your credit and claims history, all play a part in how much you pay for home insurance. Insurance companies assess risk in different ways, so it’s essential to compare homeowners’ insurance quotes to be sure you get the most affordable rate. It is critical to review your insurance coverage regularly so you can be sure your coverage keeps pace with the cost to repair or rebuild your home and replace its contents, including any upgrades you might make over time.

Some of the things which affect the homeowner’s insurance quote are:

  1. The replacement cost of your home – Under-insuring your home’s value is perhaps the biggest mistake homeowners make when insuring their homes. Not having enough coverage can lead to financial pain if the worst happens. Replacement cost is the amount of money to build the exact same house where it stands now. This is different from a home’s market value. Market value includes other things, such as the land’s value.
  2. Home insurance deductibles – A deductible is an amount you pay toward a loss before your insurance company pays a claim. Choosing the right deductible amount is a significant decision. The higher the deductible, the more money you save on premiums.
  3. Age of house, roof and materials – As your home and roof age, they could become more susceptible to damage from weather elements or even internal deterioration. Replacement costs, including material and labour, go up over time.
  4. Wood-burning stoves – If you have a wood-burning stove, you could limit potential premium increases by providing your insurance carrier with proof your wood-burning stove was installed by a licensed contractor and meets code requirements. Install smoke detectors on all levels of your home. Additionally, keep a fire extinguisher in an easily-accessible location and make sure everyone in the household knows how to use it.
  5. Marital status – When it comes to buying home insurance online, insurers tend to smile at married homeowners. Married couples historically file fewer claims than singles and are seen as, possibly, more mature and definitely less of an actuarial risk by insurance companies.
  6. Having a swimming pool, hot tub, or outdoor spa – These nice-to-have features will increase your home insurance rates because you’ll need additional liability coverage in case someone is injured, and the Insurance Information Institute suggests homeowners with swimming pools and other special features, such as spas, consider an umbrella policy to provide additional protection in the event someone gets injured on your property and decides to sue.
  7. Home-based businesses – As experts who offer home insurance online, you may need coverage for equipment and electronics, business vehicles, and inventory stored on-site if you work from home. Standard homeowners insurance may provide some protection for business equipment, but coverage varies by policy and may not be enough.

Hence, insurance companies use multiple factors when setting your home insurance rates. These factors point to the importance of shopping for home insurance.

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Life insurance for people with depression or anxiety
published on January 31, 2022

The first thing to remember is that having depression or anxiety doesn’t have to hold you back from getting life insurance, as most people have a mental illness at some point during their lives. And from the past ten years, the percentage of young adults experiencing mental illness has significantly increased. If you have a complex mental health history, it can be challenging if you have never shopped for life insurance. Under this blog, you can get a clear idea about employee life insurance and make the process more comfortable than ever.

Can you get employee life insurance if you have depression or anxiety?

If you die, life insurance is there to provide a financial cushion for your family or loved ones. Even if you are dealing with mental health challenges, there is a life insurance policy out there for nearly everyone. As insurers want to know how likely you are to die when you apply, your health is one of the main things that insurers consider. You might be wondering if life insurance covers people with depression and other mental illnesses if you have a mental health diagnosis. How severe it is and how it might affect your life expectancy will decide the impact of depression or anxiety on your life insurance.

For instance, it might not have much of an impact if you have a history of mild anxiety and depression that is well-controlled. Your insurance company will ask you health questions, including questions about your mental health when you apply:

  • Are you being treated by a medical health professional or therapist?
  • Which medications or other treatments are you taking?
  • How severe is your condition?
  • When were you diagnosed?

You might also need to take a medical exam and provide details on current and past prescriptions depending on the type of policy, such as employee term life insurance. 

Ideas for getting covered with depression or anxiety:

  • Learn to be honest- If your insurer finds out later that you lied, it can decline to cover you or deny your family a life insurance payout later. Still, it might feel awkward to discuss personal details about your anxiety and depression. Your life insurance company will be better equipped to help you find the right fit if you are honest about your condition.
  • Look around- If you have a history of health issues, then some life insurance carriers might be more lenient than others.
  • Avoid giving up. There are life insurance options available where you are not required to take a medical exam if you don’t qualify for term life insurance or permanent life insurance.

How will mental illness affect employee term life insurance?

It may not impact your rates much if your depression or anxiety is mild and you’re under professional care. It could raise your rates or prevent you from qualifying at all if it is severe and you’ve been hospitalized or are at risk of suicide. Your loved ones receive a cash payment called a death benefit to use for whatever they need if your policy is still active when you die.

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How to get Income Tax benefits from your Life Insurance cover
published on November 29, 2021

Financial worries are the most painful ones that each of us undergoes in our daily life cycle. Death is not invited and if there occurs an unpredicted death, it may affect our family badly if our financial state is low.

Life insurance cover is a good goal as it will provide security for the family. A part of our income can be safely handed to the life insurance cover every month or year as per our convenience and can get super befitted. Few insurance policies are very flexible, and they also get differ in the rates and the types of covers that are chosen like term insurance benefits, term or permanent life insurance, or even whole life insurance and premium life insurance.

Life insurance also provides income tax benefits that include free of tax for any death, thus beneficiaries can be free from paying the tax and even no tax for the cash whose value grows time by time. However, 10% of tax is to be paid as income tax if we earn more than the limit that is as per the quote each insurance policy undergoes. Yes, it is more important to know about each insurance policy in the insurance market before buying it. There are chances to buy life insurance policies even with pension funds. For pension fund insurance, there will be tax relief based on the premium. Hence, everyone can get premium life insurance based on the age and premium they pay.

Talking about the age limit, the minimum age to enter term insurance is around 18 years and the maximum age is 69 years (pensioner included). Also, the term will get varied with the basic pay too. Term insurance will suit the people who have loan issues and if the budget is too low. Term insurance tax benefits may vary based on the TDS (tax deduction source). To avail of insurance tax benefits, one must have the annual premium at least 10 times. All the tax benefits are calculated by the income tax rules. Section 80C and 10D are the tax acts that are used in current tax benefits calculations.

Plan to go for 10 times plus for an annual premium and get benefited. If the sum is less than 10 times the annual premium, then 10% of the amount will be deducted. However, the beneficiary gets free on tax payments when the plan holder is no more. Plan holders aged below 45 years can have 10 times the annual premium, and the plan holder of age above 45 years gets seven times the annual premium. Insurance policies are a bit difficult, but if the plan holder chose the right one, then it will be more beneficial for the plan holder and the beneficiary.

Planning for life insurance based on income is the best thing one must have in mind before entering into the insurance policies. Let our family settle well even in the absence of the family head (income source).

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How to choose the best Bike Insurance Policy
published on November 22, 2021

One of the most popular modes of transport on the Indian roads is two-wheelers. The two-wheeler riders are also exposed to high risks of accidental injuries and fatalities, but riding a two-wheeler can make it easier to breeze through the traffic. We consider numerous factors such as design, mileage, and price, among others, when buying a two-wheeler. Hence, owning two-wheeler insurance is highly recommended to enjoy the ride without any worry. The third-party insurance cover is obligatory, which gives you coverage against a third party’s financial liabilities.

It is advisable to purchase a standalone own-damage cover or a comprehensive insurance plan that will cover both aspects under a single premium in a hassle-free manner; hence, it is also advisable to think about the cost of own damages in a mishap.

Why should you buy two-wheeler insurance online?

Motor insurance is mandatory as per the Motor Vehicles Act 1988; riding a bike without insurance is an offence that’s punishable by law. As per law, only third-party insurance is mandatory, and people prefer buying a third-party cover to save on premiums. However, it is essential to understand that having an insufficient insurance cover is as good as having no insurance at all. Therefore, it is necessary to compare bike insurance online and buy an insurance policy that meets your requirements in the best way.

Tips to consider when it comes to buying two-wheeler insurance online:

You consider various factors like looks, mileage, cost, etc. Similarly, you should choose the right insurance cover for your two-wheeler by going through several aspects while buying a two-wheeler. As a comprehensive two-wheeler insurance cover provides an all-inclusive cover, it is advisable to prefer buying cover over third-party insurance.

Know your Coverage Requirement:

It is essential to make an assessment based on your requirement and budget before you start to look for insurance. Bike insurance is of two types depending upon coverage – third-party cover and comprehensive cover. Based on your two-wheeler usage, your expenditures, and other existing liabilities, choose a plan that offers the right range.

The Cubic Capacity of the Bike Decides your Premium:

When you are choosing insurance, be informed about your bike’s cubic capacity, as your bike’s cubic capacity decides the insurance premium that you will pay. If the cubic capacity of your two-wheeler is high, your premium will also be on the higher side under the motor vehicle insurance quote.

Understand Insurance Declared Value (ID):

Ideally, as per the motor vehicle insurance quote, ID is the current market value of a vehicle. ID is the maximum sum insured fixed at the time of purchasing a policy and is the amount that will be paid in case of total loss or theft of a two-wheeler. As a vehicle age, depreciation will increase, ID will decrease, and as a result, the premium will get lower year on year. Keep the above points in mind when buying insurance, and also ensure to renew your policy on time.

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How critical illness insurance can offer financial support
published on November 19, 2021

Critical Illness is a condition when someone’s life is in danger and he/she requires emergency treatment as soon as possible and too much money is needed to cure the illness.

Critical Illness insurance is also called catastrophic illness insurance.

When there’s some sort of big health emergency, such as heart attack, cancer, etc., medical insurance is the only thing that helps to prevent financial problems.

In Today’s generation, there is a risk of critical illness and medical treatment requires a high cost. That is why one should make a cover plan for health or medical insurance or health cover.

All this insurance not only helps the people in their time of need but also provides a huge amount of money and also provides a financial backup plan.

Under the plan of critical illness, one needs to pay the total amount of money to the insured so that it can be used later on for the treatment costs and also to pay the debts that are taken because of diseases.

For firefighters and first responders, their job is related to danger that is why they need emergency services, as these services come along with health problems that are too risky for someone’s life. A firefighter’s life is riskier than an American as fighters cause cancer issues easily, heart attacks, failure of kidneys, and many more other health-related issues. As firefighters work in such a risky place, that is too hazardous a place to work. Members of this field should offer some health illness insurance to them so that they can feel that we care about their life and health and also their financial status.

Why we need Critical Illness Insurance

In today’s world, there is a rise in incidences and lots of risks in people’s life due to various health problems. Because of all this treatment, we need a critical plan more significantly as in our latest generation cancer surgery can up to Rs16-18lacs, transplantation of the liver can cost Rs24-35lacs. So because of all these huge figures, one needs a critical illness insurance plan.

Benefits of Critical Illness Insurance-

One gets payment in a lump sum amount-The insured pays the full amount of money. We can use this money to pay off the debts, to pay the treatment costs, and recuperation expenses.

The procedure of claiming is easy- Hospitalization does not need to be important for claiming the insurance, one can get the claim through diagnosis reports also.

The waiting period is less – One must wait for up to 3 months for claiming.

Benefits to Avail Tax-Under section 80D Critical Illness plans offer tax benefits with medical insurance.

Under the policy that covered a certain list of illness diseases-

Cancer, first heart attack, coronary artery disease, coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve surgery, surgery to the aorta, stroke, kidney failure, Plastic Anemia, End-stage lung disease, End-stage liver failure, Coma Major Burns, Major organ or the Bone marrow transplantation, the Multiple Sclerosis, the Fulminant Hepatitis, the motor neuron disease, the primary pulmonary hypertension, the terminal illness and bacterial meningitis.

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Do’s and don’ts before buying Two-Wheeler Insurance.
published on October 22, 2021

As per the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988, having a motor insurance is compulsory for all vehicle owners in India. This move was conceptualized for the benefit of both parties, the one involved and one who may get involved in an unfortunate accident or mishap.

Some dos under insurance buying process by highlighting just the essentials:

You need to know about types of insurances-You need to be well aware of the two basic types of coverage. When you buy two-wheeler insurance online, there is also a third-party plan with only third-party legal liabilities. It is a basic plan with lower premium rates. Under the compressive plan, you can get a complete cover package that includes third-party liabilities as well as personal accident cover.
Look for add-ons- in a few words, the current insurance market scenario stands as a well-planned and organized machine. Additionally, under two-wheeler insurance, online add-ons focus on the pain areas of several customers and tend to the need of the hour for each of them separately, including repairs, roadside assistance, the return of invoice value, accessories cover, etc.
Understand the ID: one of the essential factors that need to be considered while reducing the premium amount of your vehicle insurance is Insured Declared Value (ID). It is the current valuation of your two-wheeler in the market. Depreciation of the two-wheelers is factored into the ID, and the ID is then calculated.
Look for the coverages-, basic coverages are similar which are offered by most insurers. You must carefully go through and understand every factor included to be claimed in case of damage or loss. Under the cover, Natural calamities, human-made disasters, etc., are included. It is impossible to know when to claim without having sufficient knowledge of this.
Remember the inclusions and exclusions- it is essential to know and keep in mind when you are eligible for a claim, and when you are not, be it the add-on or the necessary cover. When your two-wheeler vehicle has been damaged due to driver intoxication, then making a claim is a futile effort.

Don’t under a two-wheeler insurance policy:

Do not go for a cheaper cover that does not cover well-There might cover that may give you premium respites. However, this is not always recommended for you.
Do not delay in filing for the claim-Filing a claim within the stipulated time is the only way to ensure you receive the benefits of the insurance policy. Claiming the policy even a day after the slotted time will disqualify your entitlement to the claim.
Do not forget to renew policies- if you own a two-wheeler vehicle, Two-wheeler insurance. So you can proceed to renewals and are always covered by setting reminders for getting a heads-up on when the policy expires.

Hence, when it comes to buying a two-wheeler insurance policy, you need to know one thing for sure if you fail to understand any part, get in touch with your insurance provider.

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Do I Need a Cyber Insurance Policy
published on October 12, 2021

Cybercrime is very rampant these days. Daily, news reports are coming off more and more crime, fraud, and theft relating to information on the internet. In case, if you are new to cyber insurance, this implies protecting the individual or the company financially against cyber-attacks such as Phishing, Identity Theft, ID Theft, Email Spoofing, etc.

It has gained immense importance in recent years, due to the proliferation of hackers, cyber thieves, etc. One of the most common types of cyber fraud is in the field of internet banking. Banking customers often get phishing emails, from fake websites, which resemble original banking sites. Then customers are prompted to enter their username and password, which gives hackers access to the bank account, and consequently, crores of money is swindled by them.

In order to counter this, banks have started an information campaign. This, however, is applicable at the individual level. At the organizational level, many firms are opting for Cyber Fraud Insurance. Using this technique, the firm is insured against cyber fraud, by using the services of world-class experts. Now, let us list the advantages of cyber insurance, which have made it so popular. 

  1. The gap between the current requirements and traditional coverage is greatly reduced

It has been observed that traditional insurance, which is done for commercial liability, is applicable for risk, which comes out of a tangible property, which implies the server, on which data is stored. Conventional policies do not cover the first-party breach costs for notification. This results in a huge gap in the organization’s digital assets coverage, which exposes them to the full costs of an event leading to loss of data. Consequently, cyber insurance is designed to fulfill this gap and act as insurance against cybercrime. To put it into simpler language, cyber insurance provides coverage for:

  • Loss of data.
  • Costs of remedy to respond to a breach of data.
  • Legal penalties and fines and regulations.

2. Covering the expenses of a data breach

Data breaches are very difficult to estimate and make a budget. The scope, size, and complexity of data breaches vary tremendously. Breach of information is very expensive, due to very strict requirements for notification, the chances of fines from different regulatory authorities, specialized monitoring for medical identity and recovery services.

It has been observed that cyber insurance assists individuals cope with unwarranted expenses, and handle some of the costs associated with loss of data. The most common form of loss of data consists of Forensic Investigation, Fees for litigation, All types of communication ( Call Centers, Notification Letters, Regulatory Services ), Data Analysis, Monitoring of Identity ( Credit Monitoring ), Public Relations, Services related to identity restoration, Legal Settlements and Regulatory Fines.

3. Delivering resources for responding to a data breach

In case, there is a loss of data or a very staggering data breach, there are plenty of carriers that offer a panel of approved vendors. This consists of a lawyer, who gives guidance to the insured with the help of the breach response process.

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Bike Accessories For Long Distance Motorcycles Touring
published on October 6, 2021

Words can hardly describe how it feels when it comes to Exploring new locations on a motorcycle. Experts who offer two wheeler insurance online say ‘free spirits’ throw caution to the wind and hope everything works out. Meeting new people, visiting new places, on a bike has the ability to empower you, at the same time, freshen you up. To go on such a journey, you need to equip yourself with some necessary bike accessories for a practical and safe ride.

A few must-have Bike Accessories for long-distance rides are:

Tool kit:

Different bikes have different tool kits, which have evolved over the years into a set of more advanced and efficient tools. These new tool kits reduce the amount of work for the mechanic and also reduce the effort applied and increase the speed of a repair. For long-distance touring, a tool kit is now a requirement as you never know what problems your bike might face and when it might need a repair. 

First aid kit:

In case of an emergency, a first-aid kit is a collection of supplies and medical equipment that is used to give medical treatment. There is a wide variation in the contents of first-aid kits based on the knowledge and experience of those putting it together. A first-aid kit can also save lives in case of an accident or medical emergency. Since doctors and hospitals won’t be available in remote destinations, the first-aid kit proves to be one of the essential touring accessories you need.

Saddlebags or tank bags:

Earlier saddlebags were earlier used on horses, but ever since the motorcycle was invented, the military started using these bags to carry heavy ammunition and artillery on the bike. Saddlebags are now available as modern motorcycle accessories to place across the rear portion of the motorcycle seat, making them quickly detachable. Panniers are Modern metal Saddlebags. Experts who offer two wheeler insurance online say a tank bag is a storage compartment attached to the top of the gas tank.

Evacuation Insurance:

you may need to be evacuated to the nearest medical facility and, ultimately, back home when excrement really hits the propeller. Based on your two-wheeler insurance online,  you could end up with an exceptionally costly transportation bill. Medical evacuation insurance can provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones and potentially save you a pile of money.

Portable Air Compressor:

You will need a way to re-inflate it After you fix your flat tire. Some flat-repair kits come with a few CO2 cartridges, but depending on your tire’s size, you probably won’t have enough to inflate it fully for safe operation.

Motorcycle Owner’s Manual and Spare Bike Key:

Keeping your motorcycle owner’s manual on the bike and being familiar with its contents can be very helpful. Experts who offer two-wheeler insurance online say it contains valuable information about routine maintenance, load capacity, electrical system charging output, proper tire inflation, etc. 

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Alliance Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd.
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CIN: U67200MH2003PTC141621
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Valid from : 13/10/2021 to 12/10/2024
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Principal Officer Name: Mr. S. V. Thakkar
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