General Insurance

General insurance actuaries help provide expertise in three main areas:

·         Reserving (in reserving they apply statistical techniques to assess the likely outcome of general insurance liabilities, typically, and the provisions that are needed for reporting purposes)

·         Rating (the pricing actuary assesses the frequency and average amount of claims to estimate premiums)

·         Capital modelling (for capital modelling the actuary projects both the liability and assets of insurers to assess solvency and future capital needs).

General insurance or non-life insurance policies, including motor and household policies, provide payments depending on the loss from a particular financial event.  General Insurance typically comprises any insurance that is not determined to be life insurance.  It is called property and casualty insurance and non-life insurance in Continental Europe.

In the General insurance is broadly divided into two areas, personal lines and commercial lines.

Commercial lines products are usually designed for relatively large legal entities. These would include workers' comp (employer’s liability), public liability, product liability, commercial fleet and other general insurance products sold in a relatively standard fashion to many organisations. There are many companies that supply comprehensive commercial insurance packages for a wide range of different industries, including shops, restaurants and hotels.

Personal lines products are designed to be sold in large quantities. This would include motor insurance, household insurance, pet insurance, creditor insurance and others.

The London Market provides a focus for many insurance companies and syndicates operating under a Lloyd’s of London banner to write large commercial risks such as supermarkets, football players and other very specific risks. It consists of a number of insurers, reinsurers, [P&I Clubs], brokers and other companies that are typically physically located in the City of London. Business is typically written through specialist brokers. The London Market also participates in personal lines and commercial lines, domestic and foreign, and provides reinsurance.

The statistics on the changing profile of our membership tell us that around 30% of our general insurance members live and work outside. As a result, the General Insurance Practice Executive Committee (PEC) is continually looking at what it can do to support our members. 

[Source : http://bestinsurancestock.blogspot.in/2013/03/general-insurance-uk.html]

GENERAL INSURANCE

Bajaj Allianz is one of the fastest growing General Insurance companies in India and also won awards for Best General Insurance Company & Claims Innovation awards.

Four Types of Insurance

Before buying an insurance policy should you choose an insurance product that matches the kind of protection you need . Suppose you need protection against the risk of financial need as a result of various risks , including death , hospitalization , or permanent disability . At the same time , the level of your tolerance for risk and the purpose of saving and investing and investment period also determines the insurance program that works for you. there are four types of insurance you need to know :

To determine the choice of life insurance products that suit your needs then you should consult with a life insurance agent . They will serve you as well as provide solutions and choice of life insurance products that best fit you .

1. Health insurance is a big topic and one that is getting much in the U.S. Attention right now. One accident or injury Needs Treatment That Can is enough to wipe you out in Financially Potentially Both the short and the long term. Many people have to declare bankruptcy due at least in part to unpaid medical and others prolong Treatment Expenses until it is too late. A health insurance policy is NECESSARY that is something for everyone from birth Until Death.

2. Car insurance is of course a form of insurance most people realize That They Need, mostly because the law says they must have it to drive. Even if you are an excellent driver-you-can wind up with Injuries and property damage from someone else's negligence so it is important to make sure insurance Coverage That You Have to Take Care of These issues just in case.

3. Life insurance Is another Thing That Especially Young people do not think That They Need. Death is Not Guaranteed to hold off Until late in life so it is advisable to carry at least a minimal life insurance policy Even If You Do not Have Any Dependents. Life insurance cover Can you pretty cheaply if you are young and in good health But It Can really help your loved ones pay for funeral and burial Expenses That Could September them back quite a bit. Everyone should have at least a minimum life insurance policy.

4. Home owners and renters insurance Policies are very important no matter WHERE you live. Believe it or not, even the most dog modest cost of home furnishings to replace a lot. When taking out a policy like this make sure your stuff That They cover not at the present value but at the replacement value. If you lose everything you will not Have Time to shop around for bargains you will need replacements right away and the best way to get through that is a replacement value policy.

[Source: https://generalinsurancesite.wordpress.com/2016/05/03/four-types-of-insurance/]

Insurance Online

Renew your existing insurance policies online with ease. Whether it is car insurance, two-wheeler or health insurance, avail Bajaj Allianz instant renewal facility for hassle-free insurance renewals.

What is New - General Insurance in India

Post de-tariffing of market in 2007 the general insurers in India have free market approach to price their products except for motor third party insurance. Sustainable growth is the life line for any business and insurance is no exception to it. Insurers must have the 360 degree view of their business .The Regulator, who watches the interest of the policyholders, however observed that despite its advisories the free market regime coupled with intense competition amongst insurers & their obsession for the top-line is resulting into deficient assessment of insurable risks, in corporate sector, and that the prices are offered to these corporate clients for property insurance and group health insurance at non-viable rates which are ultimately subsidized by the buyers of retail products. Due to aggressive competition the insurers were offering heavy discounts on portfolio basis to retain their accounts and were quoting less than 10 to 20% below the estimated outgo in group health segment to attract new corporate. 

These corporate with loss making group health covers continue to escape price hikes by shopping for new insurers. The chase to build up top line and the pressure on marketing force of the insurers for their targets resulted in health insurers willingness to accept the business even not covering expected claim cost ignoring loading for medical inflation, acquisition cost , servicing cost by third party administrators and management expenses. 

In a bid to address this issue and to bring corporate governance in the business behaviour of the insurers the Authority has prescribed its pricing prescription which is applicable with the 1st day of 2015. The Authority's prescription for pricing fire, property and group health insurance is to consider Burning Cost as starting point to price these risks. This only can move market forward towards claim plus pricing mechanism. Burning cost is the estimated cost of claims in proposed insurance period and is calculated from previous year claim experience of the insurer duly adjusted for change in number of lives and for changes in the benefit design proposed for current year of the risk. IRDA in its advisory and prescription has made it very clear that industry-wide losses should be considered for pricing the product and insurers current level experience of acquisition and management expenses should be loaded to it. 

The industry-wide burning cost is available with IIB (Insurance Information Bureau of India) for Fire and Property Insurance but such industry-wide burning cost for group health is not available. The Authority is also aware that brokers are not disclosing all details of group health experience to insurers at the time of RFQ (request for quote). In health insurance the trend & incidence rate usually does not vary from year to year. However, the average claim cost bears the impact of medical inflation to some extent. Till the IIB is ready with the industry-wide Burning cost in group health segment the authority has tightened the reporting parameters. It has prescribed that the intermediary or the client will mandatory have to sign and disclose the claim cost of last year and preceding two years in the input format designed by General Insurance Council of India (GI Council). This will surely improve the disclosure and will put insurers in a better position to assess the risk on quality data necessary to price the risk.

With uniform data now available to underwriters if any of them choose to price the group health risk lower than burning cost than it will have to have the approval of its Board of Directors. Further this will have to be filed in form of Exception Report in a format to be designed by IRDA.

The Regulator has initiated this move to see right pricing coming into the market and corporate governance in the business behaviour of the insurers. The move signals that premium for this fastest growing portfolio would be rising in last quarter of 2014-15 or else there will be reduction in the benefits including caps beings introduced for procedures or else employers will seek sharing of cost from employees for present benefit design of their health protection covers.

[Source: http://vinay-verma.blogspot.in/2015/01/burning-cost-prescription-by-indian.html]

Medical Travel Insurance

Health Insurance by Life and General Insurance Cos

By now you know how the increasing cost of hospitalization and healthcare expenses have made health insurance an inevitable necessity for all, right? Let’s now understand how buying health insurance from a general insurance company and a health policy from a life insurance company can mean two totally different things. And it is when you know this difference, can you select the best for yourself and can you avail of all the benefits you are entitled to.

Health insurance vis-à-vis General Insurance Company: (or non-life insurance)

Any insurance which is non-life insurance typically falls under the category of General health Insurance. This includes insurance for myriad things including car, fire, travel, household, marine etc. But this is not all. As general insurance pertains to non-life insurance, it also includes Health Insurance, wherein a person insures his and his family’s health against hospitalization due to various unforeseen ailments and growing medical expenses.

Hence, health insurance comes under general insurance as the latter provides protection against unforeseen events such as accidents, illness, et al. General insurance companies offer health policies which are mainly short term in nature. This means, that the health insurance policies can be renewed year after year and the premium amount varies with age.

Health insurance covers offered under general insurance, include mainly hospitalization covers either on reimbursement or cashless basis. The Third Party Administrators (TPAs) mainly offer cashless service as they have arrangements with various hospitals, who are the service providers. The TPAs also help in reimbursement claims.

Health insurance vis-à-vis Life insurance Company:

Many of us tend to confuse health insurance or mediclaim with life insurance. Though, both of them are vastly different in structure and content, while health insurance primarily caters to your health related expenses until you are alive, life insurance typically means insuring a person’s life wherein the returns are accrued due to your death or at the end of the term of the policy.

There are various life insurance companies that offer health benefits and packages. Firstly, the health related policies under life insurance companies cover certain critical illnesses. For example, certain private companies that offer life insurance to customers cover about 36 critical illnesses which include heart attacks, stroke, cancer, paralysis etc. Now this in turn means that once a person visits a doctor for treatment, and if the doctor then after diagnosis confirms a serious illness, then on the basis of the doctor’s report, the insured will get a lump sum amount from the company.

[Source:http://www.medimanage.com/my-health-insurance/articles/health-insurance-by-life-and-general-insurance-cos.aspx]

Two-Wheeler Insurance Policies To Get Cheaper, Easier To Buy

Comprehensive two-wheeler insurance policies would soon get cheaper once policies with three-year validity come into effect. Large insurance companies General Insurance, apart from government-owned companies, are planning to launch policies with riders for customers.

To enable long-term motor insurance for two-wheelers, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irda) has introduced a long-term motor third-party insurance policy for two-wheelers with a three-year term.

Irda said the total premium charged for the third-party coverage would be three times the annual third-party premium for two-wheelers as decided by the regulator. Motor third-party premium is regulated by Irda and the regulator brings out revised rates for these policies every year based on the claims experience. Third-party motor insurance is mandatory in India.

The insurance regulator also said that the premium would not be revised upwards or downwards during the period of the policy. According to insurance industry executives, two-wheeler owners would opt for these, since there would not be any premium fluctuations for the three-year term unlike one-year policies where the premium would be revised every year.

Sector officials said the firms would save costs by not having to renew policies every year. This, they said, would be passed on to customers in the form of discounts on the ‘own damage’ front. Customers would also get an option to stay with their one-year policy or opt for a three-year policy.

Third-party motor insurance includes two parts, own damage that protects the driver/owner from accidents and third-party cover that covers liability from third-party accidents. Third-party cover is mandatory, while own damage is optional.

General Insurance companies have already planned to launch products. General Insurance companies said his company would file a product in tandem with the Irda guidelines.

He added add-ons could be offered with the policies, subject to Irda approvals.

“With respect to the pricing of the product, we are analysing the past trends for a suitable pricing mechanism.”

From April 1, 2014, third-party premiums in the two-wheeler category were raised by 9-10 per cent, compared with the proposed 1-45 per cent across segments – sub-75cc, 75-150cc, 150-350cc, and more than 350cc.

had earlier said the insurer would launch a motor third-party policy for two-wheelers after filing the product with Irda. Thereafter, the company would file a comprehensive two-wheeler plan, he added.

Irda also said that the entire premium would have to be paid in one instalment and insurers would not be able to cancel the standalone third-party cover in any circumstances except for ‘total loss’. In case of cancellation of policy under total loss, premiums for the full unexpired years would be refunded. Non-life companies wanting to introduce these policies will have to submit a letter of intent to Irda.

According to the regulator, since there is also a need to have long-term comprehensive cover including own damage and third-party covers, insurers can also file three-year term comprehensive policy for two-wheelers. While the ‘own-damage’ motor segment covers losses to self during accidents, motor third-party covers liability to a third-party caused by a vehicle owner during an accident.

[Source:http://insuranceblog.asia/two-wheeler-insurance-policies-to-get-cheaper-easier-to-buy/]

Overseas Travel Insurance

Health insurance segment yet to be tapped upon

We live in the world filled with uncertainties. Sometimes a seemingly small ailment can turn into a major dent in our life. Within fraction of seconds your life can come to a standstill if you’re involved in a major road traffic accident. Situation can turn bad to worse if the earning member of your family is hospitalized! Well the problems are many but the path is one to overcome them. Buying a suitable health policy for you and your family will help you overcome these problems and offer some security!

India with a population of around 1.2 billion offers a huge potential in health insurance market. To get rid of health worries health or medical insurance is the answer. Many old citizens of which one of them must be your parents have worked hard all their lives and contributed to the development of the nation and the community. Mostly ignored and sometimes shunned by the younger community but there is much to learn from them. Some continue to be productive and work in various capacities. Most organizations and universities entertain this skilled manpower up to the age of 65 to 70 years.

There are over 35 insurance companies comprising both life and non-life insurers (general insurance) sectors. Health care costs have risen considerably during the past few years. It has gone beyond the reach of common man thus making more sense to buy health insurance policies. Poor quality of service is rendered to the citizen by government hospitals while private medicare has become highly expensive. Therefore, it is mandatory for a middle class person to seriously consider the option of health insurance. Today, a major surgical operation of the heart may cost anywhere between two to three lakhs. Not many individuals can afford to spend out this amount in a short and sudden situation. Even if they have insurance that is reimbursable under their Mediclaim plans the strain on the family can be immense. The option of cashless hospitalization becomes attractive under these circumstances.

Health insurance is an agreement between two parties i.e. insured and insurer under which insurer agrees to pay for medical treatment in case of any health issue for a fixed sum which is paid by insured to the insurer. Health insurance policies are provided by almost every insurance company and it can be bought through various methods. It can be bought through traditional channels through agents else it can be bought online via internet.

The entry of private players has stirred fierce competition amongst the companies, ultimately benefiting the consumers who are offered with better coverage and facilities. The arrival of foreign and private players into the life and general insurance sector has directly resulted in the huge development of insurance market including significant increase in medi-claim insurances. With massive Indian middle-class section, India looks promising and attractive for business opportunities to international players in this field.

The insurance business professionals strongly say that the limitless Indian medical insurance market has not been fully tapped so far due to lack of awareness among the public about the importance of health policy. Also there is lack of rightly targeted policies from the companies. An appropriate policy and cohesive approach will rope in more than few million customers into the health insurance segment.

Source: https://insurancegeneralindia.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/health-insurance-segment-yet-to-be-tapped-upon/