In India, we’ve several different insurance policies to take care of every aspect of our lives, be it life, health, or assets. Insurance plans available in the market provide financial protection to you, your loved ones, and your assets/property. But before you buy any insurance policy, it is imperative to understand the different types available in the market and choose the ones that fulfil your needs.
But before we give you a walkthrough of the different insurance plans, let us understand what insurance is.
An insurance policy is a document between you (the policyholder) and the insurer. It mentions that the insurer will provide financial coverage in case of emergencies in exchange for the said premium amount. In India, several insurance plans are available in the market but are broadly classified into two sections -
Further, these sections have different types of insurance plans under them.
The table below has the types of insurance policies available in the Indian market.
Category |
Types |
Life Insurance |
|
General Insurance |
Life insurance is a policy that ensures financial security for your loved ones in case of your death or disability. A few life insurance plans also provide financial protection after retirement for a certain period.
You can choose to pay for your life insurance policies as a lump-sum amount or in instalments over a specific period. The amount you pay towards the policy is known as the premium. In return, your insurer promises to financially protect you and your loved ones in case of any unforeseen life event.
You can avail the benefits of the policies, depending on the type of life insurance product you purchase. The table below gives a brief overview of the different types of life insurance plans and their benefits.
Term Insurance |
|
Whole Life Insurance |
|
Endowment Plan |
|
Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) |
|
Child Plan |
|
Pension Plan |
|
The amount you paid towards your life insurance plans can be claimed for deductions under Section 80C of the old income tax regime. However, you can claim up to ₹1.5 Lakh under this section.
Moreover, the premium amount used for a tax deduction cannot exceed 10% of your sum assured amount.
The death and maturity benefits received on the policies are tax-free under Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
The most common exclusion in life insurance plans states that if the death of the insured occurs due to:
Intoxicating items such as alcohol or drugs
War or terrorism
Suicide or any other self-inflicting injuries
Now that we’re all caught up on what life insurance is, let us proceed to understand general insurance.
General insurance is a legal contract between you (the policyholder) and the insurer that provides financial protection for the loss incurred other than death. A general insurance policy will compensate for the financial loss incurred due to liabilities such as your home, motor vehicle, and travel.
The insurer will pay a lump-sum amount to cover the damage/loss to your motor vehicle, medical expenses for unforeseen emergencies, the loss incurred due to fire or theft, and financial issues during your travel.
We’ve discussed each general insurance product along with their benefits in detail below.
General insurance is a legal contract between you (the policyholder) and the insurer that provides financial protection for the loss incurred other than death. A general insurance policy will compensate for the financial loss incurred due to liabilities such as your home, motor vehicle, and travel.
The insurer will pay a lump-sum amount to cover the damage/loss to your motor vehicle, medical expenses for unforeseen emergencies, the loss incurred due to fire or theft, and financial issues during your travel.
We’ve discussed each general insurance product along with their benefits in detail below.
A health insurance plan covers the expenses incurred due to sudden medical contingencies. You can either avail a cashless claim facility at a network hospital enlisted by your insurer or claim of reimbursement after completing the treatment. Things that are usually covered in a standard health insurance plan in India are as follows:
Hospitalisation and medical expenses
Treatment of enlisted critical illnesses
Pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses
Daycare procedures
Maternity and newborn cover
In addition to these benefits, health insurance also provides tax benefits. You can claim a deduction on the premium amount as follows:
Health Insurance For |
Tax Deduction on Premium |
Total Tax Deduction |
You + Your Parents (All below 60 years old). |
₹25,000 + ₹25,000 |
₹50,000 |
You (if you are below 60 years old) + Your Parents who are senior citizens |
₹25,000 + ₹50,000 |
₹75,000 |
You (if you are a senior citizen) + Your Parents who are senior citizens |
₹50,000 + ₹50,000 |
₹1 Lakh |
If you are worried about the cost of the policy, use the health insurance calculator to determine the premium rates. Based on the results, you can shortlist your options and choose a health plan that fulfils your and your family’s medical needs.
Exclusions in Health Insurance
A few things a health insurance plan does not cover are as follows:
Medical treatment or hospitalisation due to war or other such activities
Medical expenses arising due to alcohol or drugs
Any claims arising during the policy waiting period
Diagnostic charges if the report does not confirm the covered disease
Motor insurance provides financial protection to your motor vehicle in case of damages/loss due to accidents, theft, and natural or man-made disasters. You can buy motor insurance for your private as well as commercial vehicles. Moreover, motor insurance is a mandatory policy under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
There are two types of motor insurance plans available in India.
A) Car Insurance Plan
In India, you can either buy a third-party car insurance plan or a comprehensive car insurance plan, depending on your requirements. A third-party car insurance plan covers third-party liabilities only. The policy is affordable but offers limited coverage. A comprehensive car insurance plan, on the other hand, provides extensive coverage. It covers third-party liabilities and damage to your vehicle as well.
You can enhance the scope of your comprehensive car insurance plan with add-on covers. For a slightly high premium rate, you can provide your car with all-around protection with a comprehensive plan. If you are worried about how much the policy will cost you, use the car insurance calculator to determine the same.
Exclusions in Car Insurance
A few things that are commonly not covered in car insurance plans in India are as follows:
Damage or loss to the vehicle when the policy is inactive
Loss of personal belongings inside the car unless you have an add-on benefit to cover the same
Damage or loss due to the car when driving without a valid licence
Damage or loss when driving under the influence of intoxicants
You can get in touch with the insurer to understand the exclusions of your car insurance policy before purchasing it.
B) Two-wheeler Insurance Plan
A bike insurance policy is a financial protection plan for your motorcycle. Similar to car insurance, bike insurance is also available in two types: third-party bike insurance and comprehensive bike insurance.
A third-party bike insurance plan has limited coverage as it covers third-party liabilities only. If you want extensive coverage for your two-wheeler, it is best to buy comprehensive bike insurance. Also, you can buy add-on covers to enhance the scope of the comprehensive policy as per your needs. If you are wondering how much premiums you have to pay towards a comprehensive bike insurance plan, use the bike insurance calculator for the same.
Lastly, know that if you want to ride your bike or drive your car legally in India, it is mandatory to have a valid motor insurance plan. Failing to present the document when asked by the traffic police officer can lead to a hefty fine. Besides, the absence of a valid motor insurance plan during accidents or other unfortunate events can lead to claim rejections.
Exclusions in Two-wheeler Insurance
A few things that are commonly not covered in bike insurance plans are as follows:
Basic wear and tear of general component of the bike
Mechanical or electrical breakdown of the motorcycle
Damage or loss due to the bike when riding without a valid licence
Damage or loss when riding under the influence of intoxicants
For resolving any doubts, get in touch with your bike insurance provider immediately.
As the name suggests, a travel insurance plan protects you against any financial liabilities (medical or otherwise) during your travel abroad or within India. The things that are usually covered under a standard travel insurance plan are as follows:
Baggage loss
Sudden medical contingencies
Passport loss
Hijacking
Flight delay/cancellation
Accidental deaths
Based on your preferences, you can buy an individual travel insurance plan, a family travel insurance plan, or student travel insurance plan.
Exclusions in Travel Insurance
Following are the things that are commonly not covered under travel insurance.
When travelling against doctor’s advice
Luggage delay (less than 24 hours)
Medical expenses due to self-inflicting injuries during the trip
War or riots when in foreign lands
Participation in dangerous sports such as bungee jumping
You can get in touch with your travel insurance provider to resolve any doubts you may have before buying the policy.
Home insurance is a policy that financially protects your house against damages/loss due to natural and man-made calamities, fire, or burglary. The cover is also extended to the valuable items inside your home. A few types of home insurance plans available on Bajaj Markets are as follows:
Home building (structure): Provides financial protection to your home/property.
Household articles (content): Provides financial protection to valuables inside your house.
Besides, you can use the home insurance calculator to determine the premium rate of your desired coverage. You can read about the home insurance exclusions by visiting Bajaj Markets.
The premium amount of your insurance policy depends on certain factors. The following table shows the factors that hold significance when determining the cost of different policies in India.
Insurance Policy |
Factors Affecting the Premium Price |
Life Insurance |
|
Motor Insurance |
|
Health Insurance |
|
Travel Insurance |
|
Home Insurance |
|
We’ve got the following types of general insurance plans on our platform:
Health Insurance
Motor Insurance
Travel Insurance
Home Insurance
Cyber Insurance
You can raise a claim on your insurance plan by visiting the specific section on the Bajaj Markets website. Fill out the claim application form, upload the supporting documents, and submit the same. The respective insurer will assess your claim application and approve/reject it.
The reliability of the insurer can be judged based on their claim settlement ratio. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) publishes the CSR of every insurer in India on its website every year.
We’ve got the following types of life insurance products on our platform:
Term insurance
Whole life insurance
Endowment plan
ULIPs