subject: Must Know Before Choosing Insurance - Life Insurance, Health Insurance [print this page] Must Know Before Choosing Insurance - Life Insurance, Health Insurance
Today choosing insurance may baffle anyone with little knowledge of the insurance policies in general. Equally, dozens of insurance companies may confuse a buyer. However, it is necessary that the buyer knows exactly what he is buying and what his requirements are. Once he has identified his insurance needs, he can select among the different companies in the market. But how do you ensure that the company you are signing on with is trustworthy? How do you choose the right insurance company?
The following points will help the customer to make a wise decision:-
Sound Financial History:
Carefully scrutinize the reputation and services of the insurance company. Be updated on its recent developments and position in the market. Ensure that the insurer has a solid footing and has sound financial background.
Credit History:
Make sure that the company you are choosing has a solid track of settling claims and treats the customer well. Ask around and if possible consult an independent agent who can brief you about the credit standing of the companies.
Premium Factor:
Since you know your insurance needs, you need to study about the premium charged by various companies. You can list the quotes offered by companies for a particular product and decide accordingly. However, your decision should not be made on price alone. Buying cheap and best insurance does not necessarily mean that you get substantial coverage. Hence, you should not bargain simply because you get what you pay for.
Check Coverage:
Always focus on the coverage provided by the company. Ensure that the policy has comprehensive coverage to guard you against emergencies. Say suppose you are planning to buy a health plan, make sure that you get terrorism cover, which is an urgent requirement of the present time.
Cashless Network:
Find out the network of hospitals/ garages under the cashless claim facility provided by the company. When opting for health insurance and travel insurance it is very important that you are able to avail cashless claim in hospitals of your own choice. Similarly, for your car insurance, the vicinity of the cashless garage is essential.
Customer Service:
An affordable insurance policy will not be much useful if it is not backed by a company which is customer-oriented. See if the company has proper network of agents, offices and call centers. Also check their online interactive services and its effectiveness.
Buy Online Facility:
Buying your policy online is always preferable. The main reason being that you can do everything independently and hence you are not dependant on any third person. Also, buying online is extremely convenient and can be done within few minutes without any paperwork. When you buy online, an e-policy is generated which is a valid legal document. One can access this policy anytime anywhere. Also check on other online services such as online renewal, online claim tracking etc.
Choosing the right insurance company may not be that easy. Be patient, do thorough research keeping in mind the above pointers which will surely help you make the right decision.
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