FAQs
What
is Insurance ?
What is the logic
of insurance?
Why should you take Insurance ?
Who provides Insurance ?
How to get Insurance ?
What are the other alternatives to Insurance ?
What are the other benefits of taking Insurance ?
What
is the difference between Agent & a Broker?
What are the pre-requisites for becoming Insurance Broker?
What are
Insurance Brokerage houses?
What is
Insurance ?
"Insurance is a contract between two parties whereby one party called insurer
undertakes in exchange for a fixed sum called premiums, to pay the other party called
insured a fixed amount of money on the happening of a certain event."Insurance is a
protection against financial loss arising on the happening of an unexpected event.
Insurance companies collect premiums to provide for this protection. A loss is paid out of
the premiums collected from the insuring public and the Insurance Companies act as
trustees to the amount collected. For Example, in a Life Policy, by paying a premium to
the Insurer, the family of the insured person receives a fixed compensation on the death
of the insured. Similarly, in a car insurance, in the event of the car meeting with an
accident, the insured receives the compensation to the extent of damage.It is a system by
which the losses suffered by a few are spread over many, exposed to similar risks.
What is the
logic of insurance?
It is a system by which the losses suffered by a few are spread over many, exposed to
similar risks. Insurance is a protection against financial loss arising on the happening
of an unexpected event. Insurance companies collect premiums to provide for this
protection. A loss is paid out of the amount premiums collected from the insuring public
and the Insurance Companies act as trustees to the collected.
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Why should you take Insurance ?
Insurance is desired to safeguard oneself and one's family against possible losses on
account of risks and perils. It provides financial compensation for the losses suffered
due to the happening of any unforeseen events.By taking life insurance a person can have
peace of mind and need not worry about the financial consequences in case of any untimely
death. Certain Insurance contracts are also made compulsory by legislation. For example,
Motor Vehicles Act 1988, stipulates that a person driving a vehicle in a public place
should hold a valid insurance policy covering " Act" risks. Another example of
compulsory insurance pertains to the Environmental Protection Act, wherein a person using
or carrying hazardous substances (as defined in the Act) must hold a valid public
liability (Act) policy.
Who provides Insurance ?
In India, Insurance protection is made available through Public sector Insurance
Companies, namely, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and the four subsidiaries of
General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC). All Life Insurance schemes are offered by
The Life Insurance Corporation of India, while all the Non-Life insurance schemes are
offered by the General Insurance Corporation of India through-
-National Insurance Company
-New India Assurance Company
-Oriental Insurance Company
-United India Insurance Company
By the passing of the IRDA Bill, the Insurance sector has been opened up for private
companies to carry on Insurance business. Therefore, in the next one year, many more
companies are expected to enter the market with new products.
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How to get Insurance ?
The simplest procedure to obtain insurance is:
1.Approach the Insurance Companies directly
2.Through Insurance agents of the concerned companies.
3.Intermediaries.
The procedure involves the proposer to complete a
proposal form giving full details. Insurance contracts are based on good faith i.e. the
details furnished by the proposer are accepted in good faith and this will form the basis
of the contract.
What are the other alternatives to
Insurance ?
One alternative to Insurance is to provide self-Insurance i.e. the individual has to
create a fund to meet risk exigencies. Specified trusts have also tried to provide
insurance by a scheme of self-insurance. However, these are not very popular. The postal
department provides Insurance coverage to all working people. There are many financial
instruments which advocate savings and provide future returns at specific intervals such
as the provident fund and pension plans. However, none of these provide for life coverage.
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What are the other benefits of taking
Insurance ?
- Tax Relief:
- Under Section 88 of Income Tax Act , a portion of premiums
paid for life insurance policies are deducted from tax liability. Similarly, exemption is
available for Health Insurance Policy premiums.
- Money paid as claim including Bonus under a life policy is
exempted from payment of Income Tax.
- Encourages Savings : An insurance scheme encourages thrift
among individuals. It inculcates the habit of saving compulsorily, unlike other saving
instruments, wherein the saved money can be easily withdrawn.
- The beneficiaries to an insurance claim amount are
protected from the claims of creditors by affecting a valid assignment.
- For a policy taken under the MWP Act 1874, (Married
Women's Property Act), a trust is created for wife and children as beneficiaries.
- Life Policies are accepted as a security for a loan. They
can also be surrendered for meeting unexpected emergencies.
What is the difference between
Agent & a Broker?
Agent is the representative of Insurance Company whereas broker is the representative of
the consumer or policy holder.
What are the
pre-requisites for becoming Insurance Broker?
IRDA would shortly be releasing the gazette for intermediaries like agents, brokers,
surveyors, etc. The same will be available on the web site for your down loading on
availability.
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What
are Insurance Brokerage houses?
Worldover insurance brokerage houses are large, sometimes even larger than the
insurance companies themselves. They provide reinsurance to insurance companies. In many
markets, brokers provide non-life insurance as well as group life and group mortgage
insurance.
In countries like Japan, the broker is not empowered to conclude contracts, accept
representations, and to receive insurance premiums. In such cases minimum capital
requirements and solvency margins are not needed.
In general an insurance broker would provide the
following services:
- Pre sales and after sales service to the customers.
- Provisions of relevant information to the underwriters to
assess the risk and decide the premium.
- Design covers that meet the client requirements.
- Recommend risk improvement and loss minimisation measures
- Provide risk management and insurance education
- Collection of Premiums
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