Everybody loves to save money.
Do you need a fresh pair of jeans? Why not check to see if you can get 10% off?
Are you making a purchase of groceries through an online app? If so, you may be interested in finding a coupon code that can get you a great deal!
Are you signing up for an insurance plan? You may be looking for a bargain, but discounts in the online insurance sector are not as generous as elsewhere. The rules that regulate how insurers set their prices rarely allow agents to offer a 10% discount just because you were polite.
Instead of large price differences, you’ll likely notice subtler variances in costs across different channels. Buying insurance from offline agents, for instance, usually entails an extra charge to make up for the expenses involved with maintaining a physical location.
You may be able to benefit from a slight reduction in price when you make the same purchase online. Insurers often have different prices for policies bought from their own website, which might offer you some savings – though the same discount may not be available through other outlets.
People believe it is sensible to acquire the policy from the insurer directly, which does make sense but has some drawbacks.
When a price disparity arises, every channel partner who markets the product will naturally resist it. For example, if an insurer’s policy is offered at a significantly lower cost to online consumers, offline agents will likely encounter difficulty making sales since customers tend to compare prices across the internet. This severe discount may cause those agents to no longer collaborate with the insurer.
Elsewhere, across online outlets, this phenomenon becomes even more visible. Customers purchasing policies through an online broker will often compare prices with the insurer themselves. The intermediary is likely to be at a disadvantage when they notice the price difference.
You hardly ever spot a shift in premiums when assessing prices through intermediary channels or insurers’ websites. Although some products may offer enticing discounts, these are typically restricted to less than five per cent for the first year of the premium paid. So watch out for anyone claiming to give you massive value if you purchase online.
What sort of savings can customers expect? How do insurers entice people to purchase their policies?
Insurance companies often provide incentives for those that can prove they are leading healthy lifestyles. Popular methods include tracking progress through an app, for which a premium discount may be available if a set amount of walking is achieved.
Alternatively, medical professionals and those who purchase a policy for multiple years, for e.g. 2-3 years, may also avail of discounts.
If you are still looking for an impressive insurance plan, you may have to reconsider your approach. Consider including more than one individual in the same policy and buy a family floater policy.
Consider this: A family floater plan covers you, your spouse and your children in one contract. Instead of individual policies for each person, you can get a single premium for all coverage. Though, it’s important to note that most insurers have particular stipulations on who counts as a dependent.
Despite being subject to restrictions, this could be a viable option for those who have a limited budget, as you can purchase these products at a discounted rate compared to individual plans. You will only get 10 lakhs of combined coverage instead of 10 lakhs each, however; if that’s something which you can live with, this could be the right choice for many.
The only downside is that once your kids surpass a certain age, they must leave the plan. So, be mindful of this if including your parents and siblings in the same scheme is a concern, as this may not be possible. In these situations, you should consider other options.
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Disclosures and Disclaimer: Investment in securities markets are subject to market risks; please read all the related documents carefully before investing. The securities quoted are exemplary and are not recommendatory. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Details provided in the above newsletter are for educational purposes and should not be construed as investment advice by BP Equities Pvt. Ltd. Investors should consult their investment advisor before making any investment decision. BP Equities Pvt Ltd – SEBI Regn No: INZ000176539 (BSE/NSE), IN-DP-CDSL-183-2002 (CDSL), INH000000974 (Research Analyst), CIN: U45200MH1994PTC081564. Please ensure you carefully read the Risk Disclosure Document as prescribed by SEBI | ICF
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