Spike in medical inflation has significantly pushed up hospitalisation expenses, making health insurance an absolute must. Knowing about the list of network hospitals is among the several things you must consider while buying a health plan. There are several benefits on offer while undergoing treatment in a network hospital.

However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t avail of treatment in a non-network hospital. It’s essential for you, as a policyholder, to understand the difference between network hospitals and non-network hospitals so that you can make a prudent choice when the need arises. This article aims to decipher the differences between the two on different parameters. Let’s get started.

Meaning of Network Hospitals in Health Insurance

Network hospitals in health insurance refer to hospitals and clinics with which your health insurer has a collaboration, and these hospitals are on the empanelled list of your insurer. Every health insurer has a tie-up with different hospitals (in your state and outside), clinics, and treatment care centres.

These are known as network hospitals with which your health insurance company has a contract. When you get admitted to any network hospital, you are eligible to receive cashless treatment facilities, subject to the policy’s terms and conditions.

Meaning of Non-network Hospitals in Health Insurance

Non-network hospital means hospitals, clinics, and treatment centres that are not on the empanelled list of your health insurance. In other words, your insurer doesn’t have a collaboration with them. If you end up hospitalised in a non-network hospital, you can’t avail cashless treatment facility.

Though every health insurance company strives to have an extensive network of hospitals, some are left out. No health insurance company can have a tie-up with all the hospitals and medical treatment centres present in the country. However, leading hospital chains and reputed clinics are on the empanelled list of health insurance companies.

Parameters on Which Network and Non-network Hospitals Differ

1. Cashless Treatment Facility

Cashless treatment facility is one of the fundamental differences between a network and a non-network hospital.  It essentially means that you don’t have to end up paying upfront when you are hospitalised in a network hospital. Inform your insurer about hospitalisation and submit the relevant documents to the third-party administrator (TPA).

In a network hospital, your insurer directly settles hospitalisation expenses incurred. However, the case is different in the case of a non-network hospital. When you get yourself treated in a non-network hospital, you have to make payments upfront.

Once you are discharged, you need to submit the relevant bills and reports to your insurer. After due diligence, the insurer reimburses you the hospitalisation expenses incurred based on the policy purchased by you.

2. Documentation and Formalities

Documentation and formalities are a straightforward process in a network hospital. Present your health card to the TPA (third-party administrator), get in touch with your health insurer, and you are done. They take the process forward. You don’t have to undergo the cumbersome process of keeping all documents, including doctor’s reports, bills, etc to claim your insurance.

However, things are different in a non-network hospital. You have to keep all the documents carefully as misplacing them can lead to claim rejection or being reimbursed a lower claim amount. If you happen to lose any document, arranging a duplicate for the same can be challenging. This will also delay the claim settlement process.

3. Cash Arrangement

When you get treated in a network hospital, you don’t have to worry about cash arrangements. As said, everything is cashless. However, if you get treated in a non-network hospital, you may need to deposit some cash upfront for admission. Also, you need to make regular payments during the course of treatment, which can be pretty challenging.

During testing times such as these — when income is under stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic — arranging and paying cash in short intervals can be an uphill task. In such situations, you may end up borrowing money on high-interest rates that can further dent your finances.

Breakfast is important because it is the first meal after the longest period of fasting in a day. Usually, there is a gap of 10-12 hours between the previous day’s dinner and the next day’s breakfast. Whether you are a school-going kid, a gym enthusiast, a workaholic professional or a stay-at-home person, skipping breakfast can not only make you weary throughout the day but also increases your risk of developing a variety of diseases and illnesses. According to experts, integrating a healthy breakfast into your daily routine not only benefits your physical health but also enhances your mental wellbeing. However, many people are unaware of what to eat for breakfast and some even skip their morning meals. Today, in this article, we will focus on what to eat for breakfast and why.

What to eat for breakfast?

Whole grains:

Whole grains are the grains of pseudo-cereals and contain all three parts of the grain—the bran, endosperm, and germ. Some of the common whole grains breakfast foods that are healthy include: 

• Multi-grain dosa
• Oatmeal
• Barley
• Whole-wheat bread

Why are whole grains a key to a healthy breakfast?

• Whole grains provide fibre as well as a variety of essential nutrients and minerals. Some of the vital minerals in whole grains include zinc, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus. 
• Whole grains contain antioxidants, fibre, and vitamin K, which helps in lowering the risk of a heart attack.
• Since whole grains are high in fibre, most health experts believe that it helps in preventing obesity and helps in weight loss.
• Replacing refined grains from your morning breakfast and replacing them with whole grains lowers your risk of type 2 diabetes.

Whole grain wheat fibre components act as a prebiotic, aiding digestion by feeding beneficial gut bacteria.

Lean Protein:

Lean protein foods are those that are high in protein but also low in less healthy nutrients such as dietary cholesterol and saturated fat. If you are looking for healthy breakfast food options that are rich sources of lean protein, consider including the following in your meal plan: 

• Sprouts salad
• Scrambled egg or cottage cheese (paneer)
• Tofu chilla

Oats uttapam and idli

Why include lean protein foods in your breakfast?

• Lean protein keeps your body healthy by helping you lose extra weight.
• If you are a gym enthusiast, incorporating lean protein in your breakfast can help you gain muscle.
• Since lean protein contains very little amount of saturated fat, it lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• Many lean protein sources such as yoghurt and chicken have high levels of zinc that help in boosting our immune system.
• Lean proteins not only help you lose weight but also provide your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to keep your metabolism functioning smoothly.
• Lean proteins are known for lowering blood pressure levels and increasing LDL cholesterol or, say, the good cholesterol in your body.

Low-fat dairy:

When compared to full-fat milk, low-fat dairy products have fewer calories and more protein. Consuming low-fat dairy products for breakfast lowers the risk of heart diseases since they contain less saturated fat. Some of the healthy low-fat dairy products that you can add to your breakfast are:
• Skimmed milk
• Yoghurt
• Ice cream
• Cottage cheese

Why include low-fat dairy in your breakfast?

• Low-fat dairy products such as yoghurt and cottage cheese are abundant in protein and calcium that help in building your muscles and improving your bone density.

Including low-fat dairy or fat-free dairy in the diet helps in lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes.

Fruits and vegetables

Including fruits and vegetables in your breakfast is also a great way to reduce your calorie intake. Since they are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables come with a host of advantages. Some of the healthy fruits that you can include in your breakfast are:

• Pineapple and cherry for anti-inflammation
• Grapefruit, strawberries, and kiwi for boosting your immune system
• Pomegranate for antioxidant
• Watermelon for body detoxification

We generally tend to lead our lives within a fixed routine. Tasks like cooking, driving, cleaning do not require us to exhibit our mental strength. Just as you take steps to ensure your body is fit and healthy, you need to do brain exercises for your mind to remain healthy.

These monotonous tasks do not provide our brain with enough stimulation, which is needed to keep our brain active and functioning well.

Here are eight ways to not only achieve brain fitness but also make your day enjoyable and exciting:

Meditation

Beginning your day with mediation is one of the great techniques for brain exercises. It helps you feel refreshed overall and energized. According to studies, mindful meditation is highly effective. It stimulates new neural pathways, thereby improving your self-observational skills and helping you increase your mental flexibility.

Besides, meditation has also been found to help improve your attention span and focus, empathy, and even build your immunity. Moreover, it has also been observed that meditation has the power to enhance your working memory's capacity, thus helping you keep your brain sharp.

Use non-dominant hand

The most effective techniques for brain exercises are those that are not necessarily easy. Using your non-dominant hand or the hand you don't usually use is one of the interesting ways to increase your brain sharpness.

For instance, if you use your right hand for most tasks like brushing your teeth or even gardening, try doing that with your left hand. Since your brain is used to your dominant hand, using your opposite hand is challenging and one of the great brain exercises and stimulators.

Try crosswords

Indulging in crosswords or Sudoku or playing games like Tetris for approximately 15 minutes is another effective technique for brain exercises and a fun way to challenge your brain. These activities can significantly help you improve your brain's speed and memory and your analytical skills since they rely on logic, word skills and maths besides also being fun.

Studies have found that crosswords improve your attention span and focus on desired tasks while enhancing your working memory, cognitive abilities, and overall functioning.

Eat healthy

Studies have found a link between green leafy vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish, and olive oil in your diet and improved brain sharpness, cognitive skills, and overall mental health.

Regular intake of these foods reduces the risk of Alzheimer's by more than 50%. Eating healthy is thus extremely good for achieving brain fitness and maintaining good brain health.

Body fitness = brain fitness

Exercise helps you achieve brain sharpness and fitness and prevents your brain from ageing fast. When you do physical exercise, it is as good as your brain indulging in activities. A study found that doing physical exercise and thus indirectly doing brain exercises reduces your risk of experiencing dementia and cognitive impairment.

Doing exercise such as walking or doing push-ups has been found to increase the generation of new brain cells, thus enhancing your brain's sharpness.

Given the severity of the coronavirus pandemic, many countries are permitting only completely vaccinated travellers and tourists there. But how can officials in other countries know if you are completely vaccinated or not? Well, to make life easy for travellers and officials seeking this information, there is something known as an immunity passport, often known as a vaccine passport because it acts as proof of vaccination. Surprised? Don’t be.

If you have not linked your passport with your vaccine certificate yet and are wondering how to link a passport with a vaccine certificate, then this article is for you.

How to link vaccination certificate to passport?

Since most of the COVID vaccination slot scheduling process is done online, any certificate update or modification is straightforward. You can complete the linkage process from the comfort of your home with the only requirement of smartphone and Internet connectivity.

CoWIN registration with a passport

If you are working overseas and are currently in India, or if you need to fly to another country for urgent business, having appropriate documentation that proofs your vaccination is mandatory. To comply with international travel guidelines, while booking a slot on the CoWIN portal for a jab, use your passport as identity proof.

In case you have used another identity proof to book your vaccination slot and are wondering how to link a passport with a vaccination certificate, then here are the steps to update your passport details.

Step 1:

CoWIN website:

Visit the CoWIN portal at www.cowin.gov.in to update your passport details. Login to your account using your registered mobile number.

Step 2:

Alter your details:

Once you log in to the CoWIN portal, go to the "Account Details" section and click on the "Raise Issue" icon.

Step 3:

Add passport details:

After you click on the "Raise Issue" tab, your screen will display three options under the certificate correction category—Merge Multiple Dose, Provisional Certificate, and Add Passport Details. Click on "Add Passport Details".

Step 4:

Add beneficiary:

On the “Add Passport Details” page, enter your passport number in the "Enter Beneficiary's Passport Number" box. Input the passport number carefully because the certificate photo ID can only be altered once in this section.

Step 5

Confirm:

Once you have entered your passport information, double-check it against your original passport to ensure that everything is correct. Below the declaration statement, you will find a small check box. Tick on that checkbox and then click on the “Submit Request” icon.

Step 6

SMS confirmation

Following your submission request, you will receive a text message confirming that your passport information has been updated successfully. After you submit your request, it may take a few minutes for you to receive an SMS notification.

Step 7

Download certificate

Once you have completed all the formalities, you can now easily download your passport-linked vaccination certificate. To download the certificate, go to the 'Account Details' section and click on the 'Certificate' icon; your certificate will begin downloading when you click on this icon. If you used your passport as your photo identity when enrolling on the CoWIN portal, you will need to go directly to this step to download your certificate.

You probably drive as carefully as you can to avoid accidents and refrain from violating traffic rules. But mistakes happen by the best of us. You may drive on high alert but there will always be some mistakes you make and end up getting a challan. A traffic challan can be issued for flouting any traffic rules like jumping a signal, driving over the speed limit, or driving without valid motor insurance. Earlier the process of getting a challan till actually clearing the fine in the system used to be an arduous task. But in order to simplify this process and ensure that traffic rules are followed even in the absence of traffic police, the authorities have employed the e-challan system.

What is E-challan?

An E-challan is a challan or fine that is generated through electronic and digital means. The idea behind employing e-challans is to reduce dependency on physical papers. An E-challan is accessible through an authorized digital source. These e-challans, add a great deal of convenience to the different processes surrounding them.

What is a traffic e-challan?

In India, if you are pulled over by the traffic police for breaking a traffic rule, you will be given a ticket. This ticket is called a challan. It lists the rule you broke and the fine for it. However, there are a lot of problems that arise from doing things this way. First, maintaining a record of all the challans issued even in a single day becomes a tough challenge. Second, just issuing a challan doesn’t mean the fine will be collected. Moreover, in the case of a physical challan, you have to go to an authorized traffic police station or the RTO office to make a payment. 

To tackle all of these challenges, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has started executing on the concept of e-challan. At its base concept, an e-challan is just an electronically generated challan. However, the benefits it has for drivers as well traffic authorities are exceptional. E-challans work on an integrated platform to enforce traffic laws through information technology. Traffic personnel can issue challans to noncompliant drivers digitally and charge them fines as per the rules set by Motor Vehicles Act of 2019 with or without even being present at the scene.

How does traffic e-challan work?

The main goal of traffic e-challan is to create a more seamless approach of penalizing traffic violations like traffic signal violation, not wearing a helmet, over-speeding, etc. E-challans achieve this goal in two ways:

• Traffic police can generate an e-challan after pulling a driver over upon catching them on violating a traffic rule.
• E-challan can be automatically issued if any driver is recorded going above speed limit or breaking red-signal rule, etc. on traffic surveillance cameras or speed guns. The e-challan is issued against the vehicle owner after the cameras register its number plate, make and model.

Different cities across India have different kinds of automated systems for giving e-challans. Some of them directly capture the vehicle on camera and issue a penalty. On the other hand, some require manual handling. This manual operation is carried out by traffic personnel who issue e-challans through a mobile app connected to the database of the RTO.

When a driver logs onto the website where these challans are listed, he/she can see the list of offenses and the fine that they need to pay for them. To make things better, you do not even need to visit a police station or an RTO office to pay your fines. You can pay your penalty through debit cards, net banking, etc. on the website itself.

Traffic e-Challan Process Flow

CCTV camera captures violation - Traffic Enforcement Officer is notified - Officer confirms the offense - E-challan is issued - Driver receives e-challan on registered email ID/mobile no. - Driver pays the fine - E-challan is cleared

Steps To Pay Your E Challan Online

The simplest and most convenient way to pay for traffic e-challans is to do it online. To promote hassle-free processes, traffic authorities have introduced a designated website for traffic compliance that is easy to find and navigate. Moreover, your e-challan will have a unique number so there is no confusion in making your payment. You can use this number to find your e-challan and make the payment quickly.

When an e-challan is issued, you will get a notification on your registered email or phone number. Once you receive this e-challan, you will have 60 days to pay your fines. However, it is better to make the necessary payment as soon as possible. Failure to do so within the next 60 days means the traffic authorities will take legal action against you. These are the steps that you can follow to make the e-challan payment:

• Log on to the following link: https://echallan.parivahan.gov.in/index/accused-challan.
• Provide the necessary details like driving license number, challan number, etc. where the website requires you to.
• After you have entered the necessary details, you need to click on the ‘get detail’ option.
• You will see the e-challan status on your screen. Click on the ‘Pay now’ option to start your payment.
• The next step is to select a payment mode for your e-challan. The options available to you will be debit cards, credit cards, and net banking. Once you have selected an option and made the payment, you will receive a message on your registered mobile number confirming your payment.
• You also can use digital wallets like PayTm, PhonePe, GPay, etc. to pay your traffic e-challan.

If you are not familiar with doing things online, there is always the option to pay fines offline. This way of paying fines involves visiting your nearest traffic police station or RTO office and making your payment over the counter.

Steps to Check Traffic E-Challan Status Online

Here is how you can check your e-challan status online:

• Log on to https://echallan.parivahan.gov.in/
• Go to the ‘Check Challan Status’ section.
• The new page that opens up next will require you to provide your vehicle number or driving license to check if your vehicle has any traffic violations listed against it.
• In the case your vehicle is not involved in any traffic violations, the website will show you a dialog box showing the words ‘Challan Not Found’.
• On the other hand, if you have committed traffic violations, you will see a row showing the list of all of them. It will show you the list of offences and the fine that has to be paid for them.

What happens if you don’t pay the traffic e-challan?

Simply put, the e-challan is a compulsory payment and not making it means ignoring stringent traffic laws. Hence, as a penalty for breaking the law, you will have to face legal action from traffic authorities.

Upon missing your payment deadline, you will be sent a court summon at your registered address. At the court, you will have to explain to a judge why you made the traffic violations and why you have missed your e-challan payment. Based on your explanation, the judge gives a verdict.

In the rare case that drivers do not show up at court even after a summon, their driving license is suspended.

How can you avoid the E-challan?

Here are a few tips that you can use to avoid getting a traffic e-challan:

• Drive smartly by following lane discipline, following traffic signals, wearing helmets/ seatbelts, following the speed limit.
• Make sure you have a suitable car insurance

Two-wheelers are one of the most convenient and cost-efficient modes of commuting. Their ability to cut through long traffic snarls and narrow lanes means that you can reach your destination as quickly as possible. Moreover, two-wheelers are the best means to avoid the hassles of using public transport for those who can't afford a car.

However, there's no denying the fact that even though two-wheelers are cool and fuel-efficient, they are riskier than cars. According to the Insurance Information Institute, a two-wheeler accident is 30 times more likely to cause the rider's death than other vehicles. The NCRB data also shows that in 2019, around 58,747 two-wheeler occupants died in road accidents against 22,637 car occupants.

Therefore, it is imperative for two-wheeler owners to follow certain road safety tips while riding their bikes or scooters. It will not only help in avoiding an accident but also provide them with a stress-free riding experience.

What Does Nominee Mean in Car Insurance?

Well-planned insurance coverage for your car includes a well-thought decision regarding a suitable nominee. It ensures a smooth transfer of car ownership in case of the policyholder’s demise. Keeping this in mind, let us understand who a car insurance nominee is and what are his/her rights and duties.

Meaning of Nominee in Car Insurance Policies

While purchasing the car insurance policy, you need to name a nominee along with other essential personal details. A nominee in car insurance serves a similar function as that of any other insurance policy or any other asset an individual holds.

Legally, in the case of an individual’s demise, the assets and any other property owned by him/her is passed on to the legal heir. When naming a nominee, such legality is executed and brought to force, making the named individual the legal heir and effecting policy transfer in the case of the unfortunate demise of the policyholder.

Naming a nominee also eliminates any chances of legal dispute if there are multiple legal heirs to the individual. For instance, if a person has two children, X and Y, both would be the legal heirs to his property. However, if he has named X as the nominee in his car insurance policy, in the case of the policyholder’s demise, any scope for ownership dispute is eliminated.

Now, one must also understand that the policy should be active while such policyholder is deceased for this to effect. The benefits mentioned under the coverage plan would be applicable and claimable by the nominee only if the policy was active during the policyholder’s demise.

Under circumstances where the car insurance nominee hasn’t been mentioned, the ownership of such policy passes on to the legal heir without dispute.

The Indian automobile industry has witnessed some tectonic changes during the last few years. Some of these changes are increasing penetration of electric vehicles, innovative connectivity features in cars, digitalisation of

The most noteworthy change among these is the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, EV manufacturers sold 5,32,485 units in India during the last two financial years. With the Government pushing for complete electric mobility and rising fuel prices, these figures will expand by 26% between 2021 and 2023.

So, if you are planning to buy a new car soon, you should start looking at the futuristic EV options. Almost all top automobile brands in India have started offering electric cars to their customers. You can select from a range of impressive options from some world-renowned car manufacturers.

What about car insurance?

As per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, all vehicles in India must be insured with a motor insurance policy; electric cars are not exempted from this rule. It means that you have to compulsorily buy car insurance for your electric vehicle to drive it on Indian roads. However, electric car insurance policies aren’t the same as regular car insurance plans.

Since electric cars are battery-powered and consist of a different engine, coverage offered by an electric car insurance policy is more customised. Also, the cost of car insurance for electric cars is higher as compared to the usual petrol and diesel cars.

Owning a car is a dream come true for many, for others it could be a much-needed asset—whatever is your reason for loving your car, make sure you secure it with the right car insurance policy. The Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 mandates third-party insurance for every car owner. However, a third-party policy offers only partial cover. While it covers third-party liabilities in case of a mishap, it will not protect you against any injury or damage to your car. Therefore, it is advised to secure your car and your finances with a comprehensive car insurance policy since it covers third-party liabilities as well as your own damage. A comprehensive car insurance policy can give you complete financial protection in the face of an unfortunate event.

What is the deductible in car insurance?

This is important. Remember, no insurance policy pays 100% of the claim amount since every plan comes with a deductible. A deductible is an amount you have to pay from your pocket as and when you make a claim. So, when an unfortunate event occurs, you pay a certain amount by yourself, and then the insurance company settles the remaining amount. For example, let’s say your car insurance policy has a fixed deductible of 5% and you make a cashless claim for Rs 50,000. In this scenario, once you make a claim, the insurer will ask you to pay the deductible, which will be Rs 2500 in this case. After you pay, the insurer will settle the remaining amount, which is Rs 47,500 directly with the garage.

In case of a reimbursement claim, you will have to pay the entire expenses to the garage from your pocket and the insurance company will reimburse the claim amount after deducting the deductible.

How are car insurance deductibles beneficial?

Car insurance deductible is beneficial to policyholders as it reduces your insurance premium amount considerably. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium. Therefore, many people opt for a higher deductible to reduce the car insurance premium.

Deductible is beneficial to the insurance company as it discourages the policyholder from making small claims.

The COVID-19 pandemic tossed life off gear in a matter of weeks throwing global economies in disarray. While the trail of devastation because of the deadly virus is well-documented, it also gave several critical lessons on different aspects, with health insurance being one of them.

The once-in-a-century pandemic gave essential lessons on imbibing health insurance, which can help you stay better prepared should such an event occur in the future. What are these? Let’s find out.

Health Insurance is Not a Want Anymore

While the need for health insurance plans was always there, many people took it as an unnecessary expense. There was no significant urge to buy health insurance among the majority of the people. However, the pandemic changed this outlook. Data shows that people purchasing comprehensive health insurance plans stood at approximately 32% during pre-COVID times, and it shot up to 55% after the pandemic.

Insurers witnessed a significant demand for health plans coming their way - a testament that health insurance is not a want but a modern-day need. Financial literacy advocates have always highlighted the need and importance of health insurance in one’s portfolio; it took a pandemic of this magnitude to drive home the point.

So, if you don’t want your finances to take a dip because of COVID-19, it’s paramount to buy a health insurance plan at the earliest.

Have Adequate Sum Insured

Sum insured is one of the vital aspects to look for while buying health insurance, and it is the maximum amount your insurer pays in case of hospitalisation. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the dynamics of purchasing health insurance plans and what was earlier thought to be adequate is not the case now.

Many cases have come to the fore where hospitalisation bills have run into lakhs of rupees and are significantly higher than the sum insured offered by the policy. Hence, it’s essential to opt for a plan with a high sum insured to minimise out-of-pocket expenses. If you live in a metro, where treatment costs are higher than non-metros, it’s prudent to opt for a policy with a sum insured of at least Rs. 15 to 20 lakhs.

Though it pushes up the premium, it will come to your rescue, should you need hospitalisation. Another way to ensure adequate coverage is to avail a top-up plan. A top-up plan is cheap and works on the concept of deductible. Once you have paid the deductible amount mentioned in the top-up plan through your base policy, the benefits kick in. It’s a cost-effective way to ensure you have a wider net to deal with large COVID-19 bills.

After two years since the imposition of Covid-19 restrictions in Mumbai and Maharashtra, the Maharashtra government withdrew all Covid-19 curbs on 1st April 2022. The decision was made following a sharp decline in cases during a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on 31^st March 2022.

Covid-19 in Maharashtra took a significant toll on life, as the state was one of the worst hits during the pandemic. Cases were significantly high during the first, second and third wave of the pandemic. 

However, things have changed over the past few months with concentrated efforts from the authorities and front-line workers. Hence, the Maharashtra Government decided to withdraw all the Covid-19 restrictions imposed under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

There have been various predictions about the increase in motor insurance premiums in recent years. You must have scrolled through the websites of several insurers to check the price hikes, whether it was for comprehensive insurance or third-party coverage. Much to your anticipation, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has recently proposed amendments to third party car insurance pricing. The last revisions were made in June 2019, just before the onset of the pandemic.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and IRDAI’s latest proposal calls for a significant increase in third party car insurance premium. However, the car insurance price hike is kept to a minimum for private and commercial cars.

The proposals were made after reviewing the last 10 years' insurance claims and premiums data. The new rates will be effective starting 1^st April, 2022. 

What is third-party car insurance?

Third-party car insurance is the minimum insurance cover needed to drive a car in India. The policy covers the property loss and physical injury of a third party. Simply put, it is a pact between you and your insurer where the insurer agrees to indemnify you if you are sued or are found legally accountable for the death, injuries, or property damage caused to a third party.

In India, the rate of third party insurance is decided by the IRDAI and not by the insurance companies. The insurer is responsible for fixing the rate of standalone own damage insurance and comprehensive car insurance—own damage portion plus add-ons. The rates are set following a thorough evaluation of the claims paid out by various insurers over a period.

Let's go over the benefits of the third-party cover to understand why you should get it before the car insurance price increases.

Features of third-party liability cover

• Third-party legal cover is mandatory by law. 

• It compensates the third party for property damage caused by your car.

• If a third person is injured physically, the policy will cover their medical costs.

If a third person dies or becomes permanently disabled as a result of an accident involving your car, the policy will pay a lump sum amount.

How travel medical insurance can help you if you fall sick abroad during your trip

Travelling is a refreshing experience, especially if you are visiting another country for a vacation. But, just like any change, travelling comes with its own set of inconveniences. A change of climate, food, or travel-related exhaustion can lead to common cough and cold, or you may even fall severely sick or be injured. During such trying times, getting hospitalised or availing of medical treatment in a foreign country can drain you off your funds. As a precaution get yourself travel medical insurance before you set out on your journey. This would help you to meet the healthcare expenses if required so that you can travel stress-free. Note, that travel medical insurance or health insurance for overseas travel differs from regular health insurance. Keep reading to know more about travel medical insurance in detail.

A travel medical insurance would cover the cost of emergency medical treatments or injury as per the limits of your policy. You will find that most of the domestic health insurance policies are not valid abroad, so you have to buy additional travel medical insurance. This insurance would be active only as long as you are travelling. With travel medical insurance, you will get foreign language help if you are not comfortable communicating in the country’s official language. Your insurance provider will facilitate it in case you have any problems related to communication. In certain countries, it is compulsory to show proof of travel medical insurance for entry permits.

Coverage under medical insurance for overseas travel

Travel medical insurance covers emergency medical treatments including:

• Bone fractures
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Emergency dental procedures
• Medical evacuations
• Emergency transport
• Emergency repatriation
• Ambulance service
• Doctor consultation fees
• Hospital and operating room charges
• X-rays, examinations, treatments, lab tests and anaesthesia
• Drugs and medicines
• Emergency medical evacuation or arrangements for sending back the patient to the domestic country

There are two types of health insurance for travel abroad

• Stand-alone plan for health insurance for abroad

It covers emergency medical and dental expenses that you may have to pay for while travelling. It will not include any other expenses related to travel insurance. Travel medical insurance will cover medical emergencies while travelling such as a sprained ankle, fracture, injury etc. while sightseeing. It will not cover non-emergency issues or regular treatment procedures.

• Comprehensive travel insurance cover

In addition to emergency medical benefits, a comprehensive travel insurance package plan provides coverage for trip cancellation, trip delay, emergency medical evacuation, baggage loss etc.

You can buy travel medical insurance as primary or secondary coverage, depending on your requirements. If it is the primary coverage, it will pay for the expenses irrespective of any other health insurance that you have. If you have existing health insurance and buy travel medical insurance as secondary coverage, you have to claim from the primary health insurance first. You can claim the balance amount from the secondary cover.

If you travel to a country where your domestic or primary health insurance is not valid, then the secondary travel medical insurance will become the primary coverage due to lack of other insurance. Take care to know about the policy rules for evacuation in case of a medical emergency. Some policies may require a minimum period of hospitalisation abroad before you are evacuated.

Benefits of Renewing Your ICICI Lombard Car Insurance Policy

So, how many times have you read the article stating that under the MV Act of 1988, car insurance is mandatory? Twice? Or, thrice a week? You may have insurance cover for your car but do you remember its expiry date? Avoid the last-minute rush to your insurance company’s branch for car insurance renewal, figuring out discounts, deals and the process. In such situations, having a customer-oriented insurer can make life much easier for you. Renewing car insurance with ICICI Lombard comes with numerous advantages sans any stress or hassles. Want to know more? Keep reading.

Advantages of Renewing Your ICICI Lombard Car Insurance Policy

Saves Time:

Do you usually take a day off only for car insurance renewal? Consider going on a movie date instead because, with ICICI Lombard, car insurance policy renewal takes just a few minutes. Here are the steps for instant car insurance renewal.

• Visit the ICICI car insurance renewal page.
• Enter your car's registration number and registered mobile number.
• Click on the 'Proceed' icon.
• Follow the instructions displayed on your laptop screen.

In case you find this method difficult, simply visit the link sent to your registered email address and mobile number.

Easy Customisation:

Did you forget to buy the add-on you wanted for your car the last time you bought a policy with ICICI Lombard? Do not forget it this time. With us, you can select from nine different car insurance add-on cover. All you have to do at renewal time is customize your policy with the add-on you think is best for your car. However, keep in mind that add-ons come with an additional policy premium and the calculation is based on the type of your car's policy cover. The different add-ons available at ICICI Lombard are:

• Roadside assistance cover
• Zero depreciation cover
• Consumable cover
• Garage cash cover
• NCB protection cover
• Engine protect plus
• Return to invoice cover
• Key protect cover
• Personal belonging cover

No Claim Bonus (NCB):

ICICI Lombard appreciates your safe driving through the policy year and rewards you with a No Claim Bonus for each claim-free year. When you opt for car insurance policy renewal within 90 days from its expiry day, you are eligible to retain your NCB. This way, you can easily lower your policy premium up to a maximum of 50%. To understand the NCB retention in a detailed manner, look at the table below.

Why The National Dish Of Saudi Arabia Is A Must Try

Everything about a trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia spells exotic and generous. And the cuisine of this land is no exception. A blend of wheat, rice, milk, chicken or lamb, dates, yoghurt and potatoes, delicately flavoured with rich aromatic spices, is typically what Saudi food consists of.

The cuisine varies from province to province, although some dishes such as the national dish of Saudi Arabia are found across the Kingdom.  

The warmth, generosity and sense of sharing that are the hallmarks of Saudi Arabian culture are amply reflected in the food of the people here as well. And perhaps the best example of this culture is a dish called Kabsa. Any culinary trail to explore Saudi Arabia’s food culture would be incomplete without a proper mention of Kabsa which is considered as the national dish of the kingdom, and with good reason.

What Makes Kabsa Special

To understand what makes Kabsa so special, let us see what goes into the making of this dish. At its heart the traditional Kabsa is a simple preparation of wholesome, hearty Saudi food staples of rice and meat, cooked with potatoes and vegetables. All these main ingredients are brought together with the warmth of aromatic Arabian spices such as black pepper, cloves, cardamom, saffron, black lime, bay leaves and nutmeg. This spice mix is what lends that beautiful distinctive flavour to the dish. One mouthful and you immediately get a feeling of immense satisfaction.

What is Power Petrol

You might have noted at many of the fuel pumps while fueling your vehicle that there are two kinds of fuel sold at pumps. Also, if you have asked for fueling your vehicle with power petrol, then you might have noted that the price or cost of power petrol is higher than regular petrol. Doesn’t it make you curious? Like what is the difference between petrol, are there any additional benefits of adding power or premium petrol, and why power petrol is costlier than standard petrol?

In India, fuel pumps usually sell three categories of petrol:

• Normal (unleaded)

• Premium petrol (Power, Speed, and Extra mile, Turbojet or Hi-speed)

• High octane petrol (Speed octane)

You can note here that Power is a kind of premium petrol and normal is unleaded. The main difference between regular and power fuel is that power or premium fuels have a higher number of octane. Usually, in the country, different kinds of petrol have different numbers of octane. Regular petrol or unleaded petrol has octane ratings of 87 typically. In midgrade petrol, the number of octanes varies from 88 to 90. In premium or Power petrol, there is a higher number of octane, i.e. 91 to 94.

You can note here that Power is a kind of premium petrol and normal is unleaded. The main difference between regular and power fuel is that power or premium fuels have a higher number of octane. Usually, in the country, different kinds of petrol have different numbers of octane. Regular petrol or unleaded petrol has octane ratings of 87 typically. In midgrade petrol, the number of octanes varies from 88 to 90. In premium or Power petrol, there is a higher number of octane, i.e. 91 to 94.

Interesting things You Should Know About Brazil

Brazil is a vibrant, full-of-life, sports crazy nation, the largest in South America, and famous for its beaches, nightlife, samba and the flamboyant Rio carnival of course.

There is a lot that is well known and world famous about Brazil but Brazil’s unique culture and traditions are not so widely known.

Here are some quirky, fascinating and lesser known facts about Brazil, it’s culture and society, so that you know exactly what to expect when you visit this vibrant country. Being aware of these facts is not only fun, it can also help you to appreciate the cultural nuances better when enjoying the various sights, attractions and experiences in Brazil.

Fact #1: World’s Largest Portuguese-Speaking Nation

Brazil being a Latin American country, visitors quite often mistakenly assume that most people in Brazil speak Spanish. It is actually Portuguese and not Spanish which is the country’s official and most widely spoken language. In fact Brazil is the world’s largest Portuguese speaking country and this is because of its 300-year long history with Portugal. Brazil was a Portuguese colony till the early 19^th century.  

Fact #2: Eclectic and Diverse Ethnic Culture

The population, culture and cuisine of Brazil is truly a global melting pot since it is made up largely of immigrant culture from countries as far apart and diverse as Japan, Italy, Syria, Germany, Korea, Lebanon and China. In fact Sao Paulo is said to have the largest population of Japanese outside of Japan. Overall Brazilians today are considered to be descendants of three main ethnic groups – Europeans, Africans and Amerindians. All of this comes together beautifully to lend a unique vibrancy to Brazil’s culture.

What is Grace Period in Car Insurance?

Earlier buying an insurance policy and its renewal was really a very cumbersome process. With the advent of technology, the whole procedure has become so much simpler. In fact, the majority of service providers offer the option of completing the entire buying and renewal of policies online to their customers.

While the insurance companies have their own websites where you can get this done, another option is to use third party aggregator sites too. You can primarily use these sites to compare the various benefits offered by the insurance companies at the time of buying or renewing their car insurance policies .

Grace Period After the Car Insurance Expires

There is no grace period after insurance expires under law. It all depends on the insurance companies. The grace period for the insurance plan may vary from 3 days to 30 days as per the terms and conditions of the policy issued by the insurance company. The customer must check about the car insurance grace period at the time of buying the insurance policy.

Consequences of Not Renewing Car Insurance Before Expiry

Under the Motor Vehicles Act driving cars on Indian roads without third party car insurance is illegal. Such action may invite imposition of penalties and fines. It is advisable to renew your car insurance before its expiry date.

Furthermore, if the car owner is involved in any car accident after the expiry of the car insurance policy, but before its renewal, then there is a possibility of the owner being entangled in third party legal hassles.

How to Maintain Your Wagon R

A little effort here and there is all that is required to maintain your Maruti Wagon R. With scheduled maintenance regimes, it ensures that the longevity of the car increases.

The owner’s manual of the Wagon R has clear instructions at timely intervals after which the car needs to be taken to the service centre for maintenance. However, apart from that, g buying a car insurance policy for your car is non negotiable. There are various tips that you can apply to help maintain your Wagon R too.

Tips to Maintain Your Wagon R

Here are the tips that you can follow to keep your Wagon R well maintained:

Battery: When the engine is turned off completely, you should take look at the battery of the car. The exterior of the battery must be checked for corrosion. If found corroded, mix baking soda with warm water to clean it off. Fill distilled water in the battery for it to last longer.

Engine: Engines are known as the driving force of the car. The smooth functioning of the mechanical parts of the engine depends on the engine oil. Therefore, the engine oil must be checked and changed at regular intervals. If not changed regularly, then it may cause friction between the parts which may result in it to wear out. The owner’s manual lists a set of lubricants that can be used. With this, the oil pressure and fan belt should also be examined.

Tyres and Wheel Alignment: It is a must to get the tyre pressure checked regularly. The best time to get it done is when you visit the gas station for refueling. Incorrect tyre pressure affects the mileage of the car. Wheel alignment is also equally important since it ensures a better grip on the road and improvement of the life of the tyres.

Know What Your Health Insurance Does Not Cover

Health insurance is an essential in order to ease the financial burden that arises due to a medical emergency, surgery and critical illness. There are many health insurance plans offered by different insurance companies with different add on covers and benefits. You should opt for the policy that best suits your needs and gives you respite in difficult times, such as hospitalization of self or a loved one due to an untimely injury or illness. At the same time, it is important to know the kind of treatments and health conditions your medical insurance plan does not cover. Few of them are:

1. Cosmetic Surgery

A surgery of this kind is not life threatening or dangerous, thus Liposuction, Botox or surgeries of a similar kind are not covered under a health insurance policy.

2. Pre-existing Diseases

Now this varies from one insurance provider to the other. Some insurance providers do not provide cover for high blood pressure and diabetes, while some do. Some insurance companies offer cover for pre-existing diseases if the insured continues with the policy for considerable period of time such as 12 - 48 months. In case of some insurers, payment of additional premium will cover the insured for pre-existing diseases.