As of March 25, life insurers have paid Rs 1,986 crore towards 25,500 Covid death claims
Currently investment in saving instruments, like risk cover, pension products, PF contributions, National Savings Certificates and others, are eligible for aggregate deduction of Rs 100,000.
After a slump in sales in January, life insurance companies saw 36 per cent rise in new premium income during February.
The stock of mid-tier information technology (IT) major Persistent Systems has been one of the outperformers in the IT pack with a return of 5.3 per cent over the last year, while its peer index, the Nifty IT, is down 16.2 per cent over the same period. The strong September quarter (Q2FY26) result and upgrades by brokerages are positive but its ability to sustain growth momentum in a weak macroeconomic environment will be key for future gains. At the current levels, the stock is trading at a premium valuation of 38 times its FY27 earnings estimates.
Term life insurance policies, and senior citizens' health insurance premium are likely to be exempted from GST as most members of a state ministerial panel favoured cutting taxes to benefit the common man, an official said on Saturday. The GoM to decide on GST on health and life insurance premiums in its meeting on Saturday decided to exempt GST on premiums paid by individuals, other than senior citizens, for health insurance with coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh. However, 18 per cent GST will continue to be levied for health insurance cover of over Rs 5 lakh.
Ahead of the Union Budget 2023, insurers are hoping that the Centre will act on their recommendations, which includes increasing the limit for tax deduction under 80D of the Income Tax Act. Also among them are issuance of long-term bonds, tax incentives for home insurance premiums, and a separate section to claim deduction for term-insurance premium, among others. These suggestions would help improve the penetration of insurance in the country.
Staying healthy can reduce your next premium. Through wellness programmes, policyholders can get discounts ranging from 8 per cent to 30 per cent.
Bupa and Axa have already declared their intention to raise stakes.
The non-life insurance industry has received over 1 million Covid-related claims in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (Q1FY22), higher than in the entire FY21, indicating the severity of the second wave of the pandemic. According to the General Insurance Council data, which is not publicly available, non-life insurers have received 1.22 million Covid-related claims so far in FY22 and have settled 944,573 of those worth Rs 9,178 crore. In comparison, they had received 986,366 Covid claims in FY21 and settled 849,034.
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company has launched a completely online term insurance plan named 'iProtect' on Tuesday.
Contrary to expectations, the new business premium (NBP) of life insurance companies dropped 12.62 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in March 2023 due to an over 30 per cent drop in Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India's premiums, albeit on a high base. Data released by the Life Insurance Council shows the industry racked up NBP of Rs 52,081 crore in March 2023, compared with Rs 59,608.83 crore in the year-ago period. NBP is the premium acquired from new policies in a year. It is the sum of the first-year premium and single premium, reflecting the total premium received from new businesses.
This will not affect the tax exemption provided to the amount received on the death of a person insured. It will also not affect insurance policies issued till March 31, 2023
The lone public sector player Life Insurance Corporation fared much better than its private sector peers did.
SBI is expected to mop up almost $202 million via the share sale.
Though exposure draft proposed 35-60% hike, Irda raised it only 19%.
If you quit or change jobs in your 40s, buying an individual term plan will be expensive. You might not even get one if you have health problems, says Priya Nair
When Taragauri Doshi's husband died, an assessing officer wanted to tax the proceeds from a life insurance policy that had been bought abroad. Homi Mistry, Mousami Nagarsenkar & Hiral Tanna explain why such proceeds are not taxable in India.
Private sector market leader ICICI Prudential has reported just a 20 per cent rise in new retail business weighted premiums during March, 2008, and a 40 per cent rise for the quarter ended March 2008. That has dragged down ICICI Prudential's growth for 2007-08 to below 70 per cent. The average for the first 11 months was 80 per cent.
'The kind of reach it has with so many bank branches even in the remotest part of the country, it is one channel which will play a very important role in vision of insurance for all.'
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company (IPru) is struggling to generate growth in the value of new business (VNB). This is due to a combination of weak growth through the parent bank's channels, a shifting product mix in favour of unit-linked life insurance policies (ULIPS), and higher payouts to third-party channels. Leverage from current investments, a further reduction in contributions from ICICI Bank, and a pick-up in non-participating policies from the end of the year is key for this metric in the near to medium term.
People in their quest to save tax usually end up buying a lot of unwanted insurance products.
Traditional plans are the biggest area of concern for consumers.
Section 45, which says no claim can be rejected after three years of a policy being in force, remains a bone of contention
Under 'Claims Guarantee' the company guarantees to pay claims within 12 working days of receipt of all required death claim documents from the nominee or claimant, provided full premium is paid by the policyholder for at least three policy years and the required claim application documents are submitted.
For the first time since the sector was opened up in 2000, the life insurance industry is expected to see a drop in premiums from the sale of new policies. Companies are, however, seeing a growth in overall premium income as policyholders are paying their premium to keep policies active before the current financial year concludes.
Some of the key names include: Maruti, M&M, Ashok Leyland, Britannia, Ultratech, JK Cement, Havells, Voltas, Amber, Metro, Trent, LemonTree, Indian Hotels, Niva Bupa, HDFC Life, IGL, Acme Solar, Suzlon, Swiggy, Delhivery, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finance, Shriram Finance," according to a report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services.
Fraudsters lure individuals with false promises of recovering bonuses or maturity proceeds from lapsed policies.
Puts in checks to reach customers before and after selling the policy.
Retirement-focused products that promise certainty can look attractive. The returns are guaranteed, and locking into a fixed rate feels reassuring at a time when deposit rates are declining.
Move to strengthen market share and become more profitable.
'Some of the astounding proposals, if translated into statutory provisions, would be suicidal.' 'This would not be a wonder cure for increasing insurance penetration and only result in mushrooming growth of players like paan kiosks with deleterious consequences.'
HDFC Life, which posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 281.83 crore (Rs 2.81 billion) for the quarter ended June compared with Rs 11.92 crore (Rs 119.2 million) in corresponding period last year (according to HDFC's first quarter results), has diversified its distribution mix.
Tough times don't last, but tough people -- and smart financial strategies - do, says Ramalingam Kalirajan
While basic policies focus on structural damage, comprehensive ones extend to household contents like furniture, electronics, clothing, and other personal belongings.
The GST to be implemented from April 1, 2016, will increase the premiums.
Though COVID-19 will wreak more damage to the finances of the Indian population, the insurance sector is unlikely to get hurt.
State-owned Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) is not keen on a composite license but it is looking to buy less than 50 per cent stake in a standalone health insurance company to enter the health insurance segment such that they have a say in the management of the company, without having to run the company, sources in the know said. "LIC doesn't need a composite licence. "Even if it is introduced, they will not opt for it.
Banks offer a wide range of group insurance plans -- personal accident, health, hospital cash, home insurance, credit protection, and critical illness.
'They take care of the problem: How can I ensure my child's education and other goals are not compromised, even if I am not around?'
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) reported encouraging results for the April-June quarter (Q1) of FY26. The net premium income of India's largest life insurer was Rs 1.2 trillion, up 5 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y), in Q1. Renewal premium grew 6 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 59,900 crore, while first-year and single premium grew 1 per cent and 4 per cent Y-o-Y respectively to Rs 7,500 crore and Rs 51,900 crore.
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