Why do you need critical illness insurance?

You are currently in the best phase of your life. You have a great job, a stable family life, and you and your family are in great health. It seems like you have the best life in the world.

And then a bolt strikes from the blue – you are diagnosed with a serious illness that you had absolutely no awareness of. Your doctor advises you to get yourself admitted for a series of tests, which throw up further bad news – you will need an immediate surgery and prolonged hospitalisation. And through all of this, you are thinking with dismay of how much money you have to spend immediately, and that you don’t have enough funds.

If you could rewind back to the time when you were happy and healthy, you could have invested in a good critical illness insurance plan that could have accounted for bad news in the future. It’s not too late – you can still ensure that you don’t fall into a debt trap by not buying adequate insurance for yourself.

Features of critical illness insurance

Critical illness is anything that restricts mobility temporarily or permanently, and which comes with the risk of death. Treatment for the same is costly and often prolonged, causing a huge strain on finances for the entire household. It can range from a paralytic stroke to cancer, and from multiple sclerosis to liver cirrhosis.

Hence, critical illness insurance is a must to safeguard your finances against the high expenses associated with the treatment of these illnesses. It deals actively with the ongoing diagnosis and treatment than hospitalisation – thus the policy holder needs to furnish proofs of the existence of the critical illness and the insurer gives the policy amount. Once the proofs of the illness are furnished, the person must receive the full sum assured at once.

You cannot use critical illness insurance in lieu of regular health insurance – it cannot be swapped for other insurance plans or used for any other purpose than paying for treatment of critical illness. It is an add-on health coverage.

When you have a critical illness insurance plan, you can use it to cover the pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses, while your regular health cover takes care of hospitalisation and operations costs. If you are buying this plan, make sure to select one that covers as many critical illnesses as possible, and if there are any conditions to filing claims after buying the plan.

Medical Insurance Companies offer Cover for Alternate Medicine

Benefits of Alternate Medicine

Modern lifestyle has resulted in various kinds of diseases. More and more people are now suffering from chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, malfunction of the thyroid gland, migraines, etc. When they turn to conventional medicine for cure, they are disappointed, since most allopathic drugs focus on the symptoms rather than the root cause. Apart from this, there are concerns regarding side effects as well as drug dependency. However, there are a noteworthy number who have also reported relief and absolute deliverance from their debilitating diseases through alternate medicinal treatments like Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani medicine. Yet there are many who continue suffering, believing that there is no other way for them to survive but to take prescription drugs every day, for the rest of their lives, benefiting no one but the medical insurance companies.

How Opening Your Mind to Alternate Medicine Can Help

The good news is that health insurance companies in India offer cover for alternate medical treatment as well. Here are some of the benefits of alternate medicine.

1. Holistic healing: Alternate medicine operates on the philosophy that disease in the body is a function of imbalances between the mind, body and spirit. In order to be healthy, there must be harmony between the purpose of healing, thoughts, feelings and physical action. For instance, health in Ayurveda is defined as, “An experience of bliss/happiness in the soul, mind, and senses and balance of the body's three governing principles, seven tissues, three wastes, digestion, and other processes such as immune functioning.” It clearly states that health cannot be the mere absence of symptoms.

2. Non-invasive and interconnected techniques: There are several benefits of surgery as practiced in conventional medicine, but when there can be alternate solutions, they should be preferred, especially if health insurance companies in India cover the procedure. The interconnectedness of alternate medicine is an intriguingly effective method. It is believed that the body operates in an interconnected, systematic way and a disease in one area would set in motion a domino effect in all other connected areas of the body. For instance, in homeopathy, eczema, gastric ulcer and panic attacks are all part of the same problem and should be treated as one!

3. No side effects: This is a huge benefit of the alternate medicine. It is also a reason to give it a try even if you are skeptical. The worst that can happen is that it will not help to make you feel better. But it guarantees that it will not make you feel worse. If you are concerned about the added expenditure of a parallel treatment, it may be of solace to know that there are some medical insurance companies in India that also cover alternate medicine treatments.

Get Health Insurance in India to Explore Hippie Attractions

Top Hippie Destinations in India

Have you ever come a across a trail of hippies trekking at a picturesque mountain trail or strolling around at a beach in India? While the hippie culture in India was almost taboo a few years ago, things have changed considerably. The original hippie places in India, such as Varanasi and Goa, have been overwhelmed by both commercial and international tourism. Moreover, there has been a discovery of several under the radar towns around India that serve as great places for people to forget their everyday worries and just relax. It is obvious that such places have been discovered by hippies and attracts similar crowds. Most of these hippies wouldn’t really be bothered about what people think about them and will be constantly seen dancing to thumping beats and celebrating life. If you are a hippie at heart or are just looking for a quiet time away from your everyday mundane schedule, here are several under the radar places that have become popular hippie destinations in India. Before you decide to travel to such places, be sure to keep your travel and health insurance in India handy.You could research the health insurance company while looking for the best destination.

Kasol and Tosh

Situated at the banks of the River Parvati in Himachal Pradesh, these two destinations are associated with cool temperatures, scenic beauty, cheap food and accommodation, and, of course, an excess of marijuana. While Kasol remains the hub of most of the action, for a quieter time, you can start trekking to Chalal or even climb uphill to Tosh, where you will be greeted by friendly villagers and snow capped mountains. Spend an evening watching the sunset from a hilltop, gorge on Israeli food, go for an offbeat trance party, or spend time with a “baba” at a shack, you will never fall short of activities in this hippie paradise.

Gokarna

This is another equally popular destination for hippies due to its quaint atmosphere and laid back vibe. There are essentially three popular beaches in Gokarna, Paradise, Om and Kudli, and each has a perfect combination of hippie norms, red and yellow Rasta colored cafes and foreign backpackers with dreadlocks. Every evening,trance music plays in the every cafés to set the mood, while you are served great seafood. This is a perfect place for idlers, since there is literally nothing to do other than relishing the beautiful surroundings and hypnotic music. Hence, hippie crowds are seen in excess at this destination. If you are planning such a holiday, do not forget to get your travel and health insurance in India at the earliest for a hassle free holiday.

Show Your Spouse You Care with Family Health Insurance

Things that Make Life Better for Your Better Half

“Marriage: Love is the reason. Lifelong friendship is the gift. Kindness is the cause. Til’ death do us part is the length.”
~Fawn Weaver, Author and Founder of Happy Wives Club

Marriage is a journey that two individuals decide to take together, facing all the obstacles on the way and rejoicing for every little accomplishment with each other.But sometimes work, health and stress can bring seemingly insurmountable hurdles on this path. Here are some simple ways to handle the pressure that comes with the marriage and keep your love evergreen. Even the smallest act of consideration, like buying a family health insurancefor the two of you, means a lot in the long run.

Top 4 Things To Do for Your Wife

It is important that a man shows his appreciation for his wife’s presence in his life because women like to hear those three magical words often. There are some more really easy things that a man can do to keep his wife happy, such as:

1. Face conflictcalmly: When a partner reaches out to you to discuss something that is either a cause of worry, irritation or stress, the least you can do is to offer a sincere ear. Ignoring the issues now can lead to anuglier spat later. So, analyze the underlying cause of the problem and work out a suitable solution.

2. Appreciate her efforts: Just like appreciation at work can make your day, similarly appreciating her efforts can be the best reward you can give her. Genuinely appreciate the small things she does to ensure the wellbeing of your family, health and home.

3. Invest in her name: You could invest in shares,a vehicleor even bonds in her name. Just as much as it offers financial security; it also ensures that your wife is cared for.

4. Family health insurance: A family health insurance plan is a necessary investment as much as investing in life insurance is. It can bring great peace of mind to both of you knowing that medical emergencies can be easily paid for.

5. Give her wings to fly: Don’t fall prey to stereotypes and don’t get stuck with the predefined roles of a husband and wife. If she has a dream to pursue a career or her interests, encourage and support her by sharing family responsibilities.

It is important to make her feel special and a little bit of your time and ffort invested in this pursuit might even mean that you don’t need to make a claim on your family health insurance for a long time to come.

Keep the Family Together withFamily Floater Health Insurance

How to Keep Your Family Together

“The greatest gift you can give someone is your time. Because when you dedicate your time, you are offering a part of your life that you will never get back.”

Nothing can replace your undivided attention, time and love for your family. If all the members of the family contribute time to building bonds and being sensitive to each other’s needs, the family will remain united for all eternity. A little consideration goes a long way, be it to help a cousin win a dance competition or planning out family floater health insurance to take care of medical emergencies. Here is what more you can do to keep the family together.

Ways to Stay Closer To Your Family

Make it a point to involve each member of the family in decisionmaking, so that you know how your decision will impact the other members. You can begin by choosing family floater health insurance and move on to do the following.

1. Eat one meal together.As the age old saying goes, the family that eats together, stays together. So make sure every members eat atleast one meal of the day together. Every month, plan a visit to the extended family and let the older and younger generation bond over a cup of tea and pakoras.

2. Build interesting traditions.Apart from celebrating festivals and special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries, make sure you come up with some more interesting ideas for having some family fun time. Schedule a family match of cricket or football. Additionally, plan out a monthly barbeque party, where all the members of the family have to cook a meal together and enjoy the fruits of theirlabourtogether.

3. Share your stories.Each member of the family must be aware of what the others are undergoing. So make sure, every one shares their story of success and setbacks, while other members can come up with a solution to handle or improve on any shortcomings.

4. Delegate responsibilities.Each member of the family can join clubs based on their interests and expertise. For instance, people who are street smart or good with shopping can join a logistics club, while there can be a club for the cooks, who will be responsible for kitchen related responsibilities. A dedicated team of financial leaders will ensure smooth cash flow for any financial need, right from parties to buying family floater health insurance. Once you are done with this, you can organize or deal with any kind of situation.

Apart from these, make sure every members of the family is respected and celebrated because your strength lies in togetherness.

Cashless Health Insurance & Caring for Aging Parents

Your Parents Need You... Are You There?

“Love your parents and treat them with loving care. For you will only know their value when you see their empty chair.”
~ Anonymous

The most satisfying thing in the world is to see a smile on your parents’ face and knowing that you are the reason for it. Make sure you take care of them, just the way they cared for you. Here are some simple things you can do to make them smile.

Things to Ensure the Best Care for Your Parents

Nothing can replace your presence and affection, so make sure you are always available for them. As JK Simmons said in his acceptance speech at the 2015 Oscars, “Don’t text, don’t email, call your parents. Talk to them.”

1. Socialize: Now that they have fulfilled all their responsibilities, it is time for them toreconnect with all the important people in their lives. So, arrange a get together with theirclose friends and relatives. Introduce them to the world of social mediaand see the joy of finding their long lost friendson their face. They can even associate withsome self help group or can be a part of a charitable organization. The more active theyare socially, better will be their mental health.

2. Health management: Ensure that they have a well balanced and doctorrecommended diet. Make sure they go for regular health checkups for early diagnosis and timely treatment of any ailments. Enroll them at the nearest yoga class oraccompany them for their morning or evening walks. Let them know about cashless health insurance benefits and how to make best use of it. If you cannot accompany your parentsduring their medical checks, make sure you get a complete copy of the reports for your reference.

3. Keeping them engaged: Make sure they are occupied so that negative thoughts are kept atbay. If they love and can handle kids (along with a helper) you can leave your children with them for the weekend. This way, you get some time off from parenting as well. Encourage them to restart their favourite hobbies or take classes, anything to keep them busy.

4. Financial management: With a cashless health insurance plan, you have already taken care of their medical expenses.Similarly, make sure you take care of their daily needs and expenses, and plan out a separate emergency fund to take care of any future contingencies.With just a little consideration and planning, their last innings of life could be the most rewardingand with a comprehensive cashless health insurance plan,they will also have peace of mind.

Super Foods Myths&Best Health Insurance

Myths about Super Foods Busted

Super foods seem to be the buzz word today!The media has a list of reports on ultra-healthy foods right from blueberries and beetroot to greentea, cocoa, probiotic drinks and salmon. The reports are believed to be centered on the latest scientific evidence and claim to protect you against illness and aging. But how close are these findings to reality?While super foods could be a way to secure your health, they cannot replace traditional methods like a balanced diet, exercise or opting for best health insurance plan to save on medical costs.

Separating Myth from Reality

Super foods are considered to have superpowers to curenumerous health problems. But, how much of this is actually true, and when does it spill over into pure exaggeration? Also, even the best health insurance provider won’t slash your premiums based on your consumption of a food item. Here’s a look at some of the most common myths about these super foods.

Myth 1: Super foods are essential for good health.

There is no scientific evidence that these food items have exceptional benefits for your health. Unfortunately, the hype associated with such items is invented out of marketing interest. However, these foods aren’t completely without benefits either. It is just that the reality is a little less rosy than the ads would have you believe. For instance, berries and avocados are great for health, but these are not the only way to stay fit.

Myth 2: It enhances the functioning of the brain. It helps prevent obesity and maintain high energy levels. It also boosts libido.

Studies supporting such claims are often found to neglect the established medical and research techniques. So, the authenticity of the claim is questionable. For instance, it is said that garlic is good for blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels. However, this will not work without daily consumption of at least 30 cloves! So, it is better to keep cholesterol under control using time-test allopathic and non-allopathic methods rather than only relying on super foods. Opt for the best health insurance policy that will cover you financially for such ailments and their repercussions as well.

Myth 3: Antioxidants from these foods fight free radicals. This reduces ageing and the risk of cancer.

It is true that antioxidants fight free radicals in the body. However, the white blood cells (WBCs) in our body are already equipped with this ability. So, unless it can be proved that antioxidants increase the performance of WBCs, this theory is inconclusive. Also, unlike the tests conducted in labs, the human body cannot absorb antioxidants from food sufficiently. For now, it is better to opt for best health insurance rather than rely on only berries and avocado.

Medical Insurance, Medical Health Insurance

When Insurance meets the Hollywood Spotlight

When we face an unforeseen situation; medical health insurance for instance, acts as the powerful and mighty Wizard of OZ. Yes, it is a substantial investment for everyone, even for those who work at the cine-industry. While we all agreed about its off-screen importance, has insurance managed a catch an on-screen presence?

Top 3 Movies with an Insurance Cameo

George Pelecanos, Emmy-nominated writer and producer says, “By itself, insurance is pretty boring and uncinematic.”Wouldn’t you all agree with MrPelecanos? However, he says that many movies have made in work pretty well in the plot. Here are a few movies that might have done the trick.

1. The Apartment (1960)

Jack Lemmon, who plays Baxter, works at a New York based life and medical insurance company. As he climbs the corporate ladder, he meets Fran played by Shirley MacLaine. And the plot unfolds… What is to be noted is that, this movie came out before the counterculture became popular, making it a class apart. The movie won best picture at the Oscars for Billy Wilder. And we see actors Lemmon and MacMurray in other insurance movies as well!

2. Double Indemnity (1944)

Los Angeles based insurance representative Walter Neff, played by Fred MacMurray, falls in love with Barbara Stanwyck, who plays Phyllis. Phyllis plans to leave her husband for Neff. Together, they trick her husband to get a life insurance policy, and scheme his death. So, Phyllis can get a lump sum under the double indemnity clause. However, their plan does not unfold as predicted. Barton Keyes played Edward Robinson, catches a whiff of foul play and seeks to bring justice for the departed husband. The movie is a masterpiece. And it goes on to shows that fraud always has a way of resurfacing. After watching this movie, you will rest assured about your own life and medical insurance plans.

3. Cedar Rapids (2011)

Ed Helms plays Tim Lippe, who is a small time insurance agent from Iowa. The plot soon questions the integrity of the business showing cases of corruption and mismanagement. However, Lippe, a man of his principles, redeems himself, the profession and the industry. This movie highlights optimistically the good and morals of the insurance industry today. Stating that, there are honest and hardworking agents and companies, working in the life, motor and medical insurance sector. This happy ending for the profession and industry, is worthy of appreciation.

Health Insurance Benefits

Astonishing Facts about Sugar

We are all worried about diabetes. However, rest assured because several companies’ health insurance benefits includes treatment for this disorder and other related conditions. But know that, many companies that offer such a cover do so only after you satisfy a 24 month waiting period. On a lighter note, let as look at the central cause of it – Sugar. An as a nation home to masala chai and sweet delicasies,we do have a sugar rush!

Sugar is Not as Sweet for you!

1. Consider Liquid Sugar

If you think Indian desserts and your chai are the only causes of a sugar overdose, think again. It becomes a part of your diet even through sodas and energy drinks. And these beverages are the single largest source of added sugar, even more than ice creams and chocolates.

For instance, take an energy drink and an ice cream with the same calorie count.You would need to consume more liquid, the drink;compared to the solid, the ice cream, to actually quench your appetite. This means, you are more likely to have a sugar overdose from a soda or energy drink, than a dessert. This causes diabetes and related conditions. So, if you consume more than a bottle of soda a day, consider a medical plan, so that you can reap health insurance benefits…

2. Sugar Affects your Liver

Fructose is the type of sugar you get from fruits and vegetables. This is the reason why ripe produce tastes so delicious. According to the Journal of Hepatology and Nature, this can affect your liver just like alcohol. However, natural fructose from fruits is good for your body. The problem arises when the substance is extracted and refined. Manufacturers do this from corn and sugarcane. During the refining process, the fructose looses nutrients and fibers. Such nutrients lets your liver handle it the right way, without them the liver gets taxed. So, apart from diabetes you can land up with several conditions like fatty liver disease or liver scarring. It is a good thing that you can rely on your health insurance benefits, isn’t it?

3. Sugar has many names

When you look at a manufacturer’s nutrition label and see sugar missing, you are immediately elated that you are consuming something with a low calorie. However, sugar has over 50 different names, so look again. Do these names look familiar? - Sucrose, treacle, maltose, diastase, corn syrup, muscovado, maltodextrin, Florida crystals, sorghum syrup and galactose to name a few. They all mean the same thing!

Best Health Insurance

What Added Sugar is Doing to Your Brain

Figure this! According to the United States Department of Agriculture, an average American consumes no less than 156 pounds of artificially added sugar every year! Hard to believe as it might be, sugar is indeed so ubiquitous in our daily diets that most of us do not have any idea of how much we are actually consuming! And although we might seek the best health insurance policies to take care of all the diabetes-related complications, this sweet poison could be harming us in many more ways than weimagine. In fact, it could be making us less smart!

What exactly happens to your brain when you continue to indulge your sweet tooth?

Researchers reveal that consuming too much of “added” sugar actually reduces the production of BDNF or “Brain Derived Neutrophic Factor,” which is a brain chemical. Without sufficient production of BDNF, the brain loses its ability to remember or learn new things. People suffering from a low glucose metabolic rate have exceptionally low BDNF levels. And as the levels of this brain chemical fall, sugar metabolism progressively worsens, leading to organ damage.

Low BDNF levels also contribute to insulin resistance, resulting in a metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Subsequently, scores of allied health problems follow. And, the body and brain get into a destructive cycle, emerging from which becomes near impossible.This is specifically the reason why the incidence of diabetes or pre diabetes is often associated with poor prognosis. Once diabetes strikes, the best health insurance policies will become available for a heightened premium. So, the best option is to get medical cover as early as possible.

Sugar, Dementia and Depression

There are many more ways in which the brain might suffer damage due to sugar overload. For instance, studies have linked excess consumption of artificial sugar to conditions such as dementia and depression. Low levels of BDNF might actually fuel conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Further, studies have also connected the role of sugar in overeating. Most of us intuitively link sugar consumption to obesity; however, the actually correlation is that relentless consumption of sugar compromises the brain’s ability to detect stomach fullness.

So is all sugar bad for the brain?

Hardly! In fact, the brain cells require double the energy as compared to other cell units of the body. And this energy is supplied by sugar. So, natural sugar stocks found in fruits and whole grains are welcome food for the brain. It is only the “added” sugar that you need to steer clear of.