Published in Mint on 15th January, 2018. Written by Kapil Mehta. Last week, I received a new year’s Whatsapp greeting from Kalu. He was a poor worker who had been insured through a Trust that bought health insurance from us 4 years ago. I remember Kalu’s case well. For the first 4 months of that […]
Media
It is possible for legal guardians of step children to buy life insurance for them
Published in Mint on 15th January 2018. Written by Abhishek Bondia Can I buy life insurance policies for my stepchildren too? —Jayanat Baliga Yes, you can buy life insurance for your stepchildren. The legal relationship between the proposer and the insured is relevant for the insurer. You need to establish that you are the legal […]
Indian citizenship is not a prerequisite to buy health insurance in India
Published in Mint on 9th January, 2018. Written by Abhishek Bondia Is there a requirement that those insured in a health policy should be Indian citizens? My minor daughter was born in the US and she now lives in India. Can we include her in our family floater or will we have to buy her […]
Tardy complaint handling and service hurts insurers
Published in Mint on 2 September 2015, Written by Kapil Mehta Last week, The New Yorker released a curated edition of its best cartoons over the past 90 years. My favourite is of two cavemen who have obviously just made a sacrificial offering. One of them looks quizzically at the other and says, “I don’t […]
Blame the product design; not the insurance agent
Published in Mint on 15 August 2015, Written by Kapil Mehta I would not like to be an insurance agent. Research regularly reconfirms that it is one of the most looked-down upon professions in the US, Australia, the UK, most of Asia and India. A Gallup Inc. poll conducted in the US between 1977 and […]
Feedback helps mediclaim ratings advance
Published in Mint on 27 July 2015, Written by Kapil Mehta The Mint Mediclaim Ratings (MMR) rate individual health insurance products across age and sum assured categories, and are tracked by industry and insurance buyers. Readers write in with detailed queries, often commenting on product specifics. Insurers with A-rated products prominently display these on their […]
Putting the spotlight on home insurance
Published in Mint on 1 July 2015, Written by Kapil Mehta A friend owns a house in South Delhi where she has regularly paid insurance charges to the maintenance agency. Last year her home was gutted by a fire. The insurance claim of Rs.20 lakh was denied on two counts: the insurance had been bought […]
You don’t have to be an Indian citizen to buy life insurance in India
Published in Mint on 26th December 2017. Written by Abhishek Bondia I am 32, currently working in Australia on a long-term contract. I have married an Australian citizen. Can I and my family (including my Australian wife) buy life insurance in India? If my children are born in Australia, will I be allowed to buy […]
It is possible to insure gold lying in your bank locker as well as that at your house
Published in Mint on 18th December 2017. Written by Abhishek Bondia I am planning a trip to Indonesia, which is currently in the news for volcanic eruptions. If the airport is shut and my travel plans are delayed, will my insurance cover my hotel and food expenses? What is the cap on such expenses, in […]
Sorting out the hospital imbroglio
Published in Mint on 14th December,2017. Written by Kapil Mehta Once again, the public and the government are at loggerheads with hospitals. Several high-profile cases have been reported in the media with blame being generously meted out. Unfortunately, if the posturing does not address systemic issues, it would be a crisis gone waste. The situation […]