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New Delhi, <keyword id="47209" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance-ministry" source="Orion">Finance Ministry</keyword> would consider capital infusion in three loss-making public sector general insurance companies based on their financial performance of nine months. The infusion if required would be made in the fourth quarter of the current financial year, sources said. According to sources, the finance ministry last year asked three insurers -- National Insurance Company Limited, <keyword id="94451" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="oriental-insurance-company-limited" source="Orion">Oriental Insurance Company Limited</keyword> and <keyword id="356117" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="united-india-insurance-company" source="Orion">United India Insurance Company</keyword> -- to chase bottomlines rather than topline and underwrite only good proposals. The financial review would give some idea about the impact of restructuring initiated on the profitability numbers and the solvency margin, sources said. The solvency margin is the extra capital the companies must hold over and above the claim amounts they are likely to incur. It acts as a financial backup in extreme situations, enabling the company to settle all claims. The government last year provided Rs 5,000 crore capital to three insurers -- National Insurance Company Limited, Oriental Insurance Company Limited and United India Insurance Company. Kolkata-based National Insurance Company Limited was given the highest, Rs 3,700 crore, followed by Delhi-based Oriental Insurance Company Limited (Rs 1,200 crore) and Chennai-based United India Insurance Company (Rs 100 crore). According to sources these companies have been asked to improve their solvency ratio and meet the regulatory requirement of 150 per cent. The solvency ratio is a measure of capital adequacy. A higher ratio reflects better financial health and the ability of the company to pay claims and meet future contingencies and business growth plans. Barring the solvency ratio of <keyword id="6369780" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="new-india-assurance" source="Orion">New India Assurance</keyword>, this key indicator of the three public sector general insurance companies stood below the regulatory requirement of 150 per cent. During 2019-20, the government infused Rs 2,500 crore in these three companies. It increased substantially to Rs 9,950 crore in the following year and Rs 5,000 crore in 2021-22. In all, the government infused Rs 17,450 crore into these insurance firms so far to improve their financial health. Public sector general insurance companies are undergoing various reforms, including organisational restructuring, product rationalisation, cost rationalisation and digitalisation. For efficient use of capital and to push profitable growth, the sources said, a set of key performance indicators linked reforms have been initiated by all public sector general insurance companies effective 2020-21, when the maximum capital infusion was made. Of the four state-run general insurance companies only New India Assurance Company is listed on the stock exchanges, the remaining three are wholly owned by the government. The government has already announced its intention to privatise one general insurance company. To facilitate privatisation, Parliament has already approved amendments to the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Act (GIBNA). Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="Orion">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> in the Budget 2021-22 announced a big-ticket privatisation agenda, which included two public sector banks and one general insurance company. "We propose to take up the privatisation of two public sector Banks and one general insurance company in the year 2021-22. This would require legislative amendments," she had said.

Govt may infuse capital in PSU general insurers in Q4 based on performance

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trump said he plans to change the Affordable Care Act, which provides healthcare for 45 million Americans.</li><li>His past actions include ACA opposition. He has flip-flopped on Medicaid and Medicare cuts.</li></ul>Donald Trump's return to the Oval Office could mean changes to Americans' healthcare coverage, based on his previous comments and actions while president.During his recent campaign, Trump promised to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-us-economy-would-look-like-with-trump-biden-presidency-2024-5">make changes to the Affordable Care Act</a>, colloquially called Obamacare, but did not give specifics."If we can come up with a plan that's going to cost our people, our population less money and be better healthcare than Obamacare, then I would absolutely do it," Trump said at the presidential debate in September.As president, he will also have the power to influence America's healthcare landscape, including insurance coverage, drug price negotiations, government <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fluoride-in-water-why-it-is-controversial-risks-benefits-2024-11">health and safety regulations</a>, and reproductive healthcare access.Trump has a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/healthcare-investors-torn-on-trump-second-term-2024-11">mixed record</a> on supporting government health insurance policies like the ACA, which the Department of Health and Human Services estimated covers 45 million people in health plans like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/medicare-changes-increase-costs-deductibles-prescription-drugs-premiums-copays-2024-10">Medicare</a> and Medicaid. Also in the hot seat: the enhanced federal ACA subsidies, which are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-aca-subsidies-health-insurance-affordable-care-act-congress/">set to expire</a> at the end of next year.If Trump doesn't extend the enhanced subsidies policy, which helps many low- and middle-income Americans pay for medical care, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2024-07/60523-2024-07-premium-tax-credit.pdf">nearly 4 million people </a>will lose their coverage in 2026 because they won't be able to afford it.Trump's transition team told Business Insider in a statement that he will "strongly protect" Medicare in his second term — although he has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-cutting-medicare-social-security-benefits-2024-3">previously suggested cuts</a>. Any changes to Medicaid and Medicare under Trump could also cause those with ACA insurance see a reduction in their care options.<h2 id="69e6831b-4c89-4dd9-8ec0-501ab8666185">Medicare, Medicaid, and preexisting conditions</h2>Trump has not provided specifics about his affordable healthcare policies, beyond saying he has "concepts of a plan" at the September debate.During his first term, Trump backed a rejected Supreme Court case to overturn the Affordable Care Act, which former President Barack Obama passed in 2010 and that expanded Medicaid coverage for low-income Americans and Medicare coverage for older Americans. ACA's other marquee change required insurance companies to cover care for individuals with preexisting conditions, like asthma, heart disease, and diabetes.Yunan Ji is an assistant professor and economist at Georgetown University with an expertise in healthcare policy. She told BI that reducing or repealing ACA coverage — which Trump proposed during his first-term — could be detrimental to Americans with preexisting conditions, who may lose their coverage or have to pay more for healthcare."We purchase insurance to protect against future risk," Ji said. "If we make people go into a different risk pool when they require care for some medical condition, that defeats the purpose of insurance."Trump has also voiced support for privatizing more of the healthcare sector. This could mean some Americans on ACA plans could face higher out-of-pocket costs and fewer in-network care options.President Joe Biden's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/house-passes-inflation-reduction-act-sending-it-to-biden-2022-8">Inflation Reduction Act</a> also took steps to lower the cost of prescription drugs and cap out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries. The legislation <a target="_blank" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/07/trump-medicare-price-negotiations-executive-power">requires</a> Trump to continue existing drug price negotiations through at least the end of 2025.<h2 id="1380ef19-42c4-43c1-841e-04dcb5227dd9">Reproductive and gender-affirming care</h2>Trump has said he would take steps to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-vows-stop-gender-affirming-care-minors-re-elected-president-rcna68461">ban all gender-affirming healthcare and hormone therapies</a> for minors, which ACA plans cover in some states.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-project-2025-conservative-political-playbook-heritage-foundation-trump-2024-7">Project 2025</a>, a policy plan proposed by Trump allies, calls for significant national restrictions on abortion and birth control. Trump has expressed support for federal enforcement of the Hyde Amendment, a rule that prevents Medicaid from covering abortion pills and procedures. Among the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/dashboard/abortion-in-the-u-s-dashboard/">37 states and DC</a> that do not ban abortion, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/state-indicator/abortion-under-medicaid/?currentTimeframe=0&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Follows%20Federal%20Standard,%20Funding%20Only%20Cases%20Involving%20Life%20Endangerment,%20Rape%20and%20Incest%22,%22sort%22:%22desc%22%7D">17 states and DC</a> currently follow the Hyde Amendment.Trump has called for federally-subsidized in-vitro fertilization — a proposal that is divisive among Republicans.<h2 id="f6dc24d6-1b01-41c0-99ba-9603db98ef3f">Insurance regulations and national health policy</h2>Ji said that Americans often focus on the sticker price of premiums in their healthcare plan — how much they are expected to pay out-of-pocket each month or year. But a Trump presidency would also shape rules and regulations for insurance companies. For example, companies are required to cover a wide range of providers, so someone with heart disease can find an in-network cardiologist in their area.Ji added that Trump's cabinet appointments will give insight into his second-term healthcare priorities. His leadership selections will determine federal investment in medical research, health and safety guidelines, insurance company regulations, and vaccines. Trump is expected to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-banning-vaccines-president-rfk-fluoride-rcna178570">discourage vaccinations</a> and limit federal health and insurance regulations.Trump tapped <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-robert-f-kennedy-jr-rfk-department-health-human-services-2024-11">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a> on November 14 to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, a decision that will require Senate approval. Kennedy has not outlined specific plans to increase healthcare affordability, but he would have some influence over the ACA in the role. The former presidential candidate is a vaccine-skeptic, who Trump hopes will "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-rfk-jr-plans-to-make-america-healthy-again-2024-11">go wild</a>" on health, safety, and food protocols.Any major changes to healthcare policy and federal budgets would need to be approved by Congress. Trump will likely have the support of a Republican-led Senate and House."The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail," Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team, told BI in a statement. "He will deliver."Are you doing anything to prepare your finances or healthcare plan for Trump's second term? If so, please reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" class="" href="mailto:allisonkelly@businessinsider.com">allisonkelly@businessinsider.com</a>.

Trump's plans to change healthcare could slash insurance for some low-income Americans and retirees

The <keyword id="19994390" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="GST-Council" source="keywords">GST Council</keyword> on Monday is expected to deliberate on a host of issues, including <keyword id="20118944" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="taxation" source="keywords">taxation</keyword> of insurance premiums, GoM's suggestions on rate rationalisation, and a status report on <keyword id="19939772" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-gaming" source="keywords">online gaming</keyword>, sources said. Sources said the fitment committee, comprising Centre and state tax officials, will present a report on GST levied on life, health and reinsurance premiums and the revenue implications. The GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising state ministers, will decide on whether to reduce the tax burden on <keyword id="19894985" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-insurance" source="keywords">health insurance</keyword> from the current 18% or exempt certain categories of individuals, like senior citizens. The deliberations will also happen with regard to the goods and services tax (GST) cut on <keyword id="23083492" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="life-insurance-premium" source="keywords">life insurance premium</keyword>. In 2023-24, the Centre and states collected Rs 8,262.94 crore through GST on health <keyword id="22612491" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="insurance-premium" source="keywords">insurance premium</keyword>, while Rs 1,484.36 crore was collected on account of GST on health reinsurance premium. The issue of taxation on insurance premium figured in Parliament discussions with opposition members demanding that health and life insurance premiums be exempt from GST. Even Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari wrote to Sitharaman on the issue. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her reply to discussion on the Finance Bill had said 75% of the GST collected goes to states and opposition members should ask their state finance ministers to bring the proposal at the GST Council. West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya had raised the issue in the meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on rate rationalisation last month and the matter was referred to the fitment committee for further data analysis. The GoM had opined against any tinkering of four-tier GST slab of 5, 12, 18, and 28 % for the time being. The panel, however, had asked the fitment committee to look into any scope for rationalisation of rates of goods and services. With regard to online gaming, Centre and state tax officers will present a "status report" before the GST Council. The report would include <keyword id="20053837" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GST-revenue" source="keywords">GST revenue</keyword> collection from the online gaming sector before and after October 1, 2023. From October 1, 2023, entry-level bets placed on online gaming platforms and casinos were subject to 28% GST. Prior to that, many online gaming companies were not paying 28% GST, arguing that there were differential tax rates for games of skill and games of chance. The GST Council in its meeting in August 2023 had clarified that online gaming platforms were required to pay 28% tax and subsequently, Central GST law was amended to make the taxation provision clear. Offshore gaming platforms were also mandated to register with GST authorities and pay taxes, failing which the government would block those sites. The council had then decided that the taxation on online gaming sector would be reviewed after six months of its implementation. Sources said the Council would deliberate on the status of taxation on the sector, and any change in tax rates is unlikely. Besides, the Council is likely to be apprised about the ongoing drive against fake registration, the success of the drive and action taken against such entities. The total amount of suspected GST evasion would also be presented before the Council. The drive, from August 16, 2024, to October 15, 2024, is aimed at detecting suspicious/fake GSTINs and to conduct requisite verification and further remedial action to weed out these fake billers. In the first drive between May 16, 2023 to July 15, 2023, against fake registration, 21,791 entities (11,392 pertaining to state tax jurisdiction and 10,399 pertaining to CBIC jurisdiction) having GST registration were discovered to be non-existent. An amount of Rs 24,010 crore (state - Rs 8,805 crore + centre - Rs 15,205 crore) of suspected tax evasion was detected during the special drive. Also, the Council would approve notifications, including that of the amnesty scheme, announced in the last council meeting. The council in June meeting took a host of taxpayer-friendly measures, including waiver of interest and penalty for demand notices issued in the first three years of GST -- 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 -- if the full tax demanded is paid by March 31, 2025. To reduce litigation, a monetary limit for tax officers, to file appeals before the GST Appellate Tribunal, the High Court and the Supreme Court was fixed at Rs 20 lakh, Rs 1 crore and Rs 2 crore, respectively, by the Council. It also recommended a reduction of the quantum of pre-deposit required to be paid by taxpayers for filing of appeals under goods and services tax (GST).

GST Council to deliberate on taxation of insurance premium, report on online gaming tomorrow

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Two hurricanes hit Florida in recent weeks, exacerbating a home insurance crisis in the state.</li><li>Insurance experts said the back-to-back hurricanes could signal rising insurance rates nationwide.</li></ul>Two back-to-back hurricanes in Florida in recent weeks will likely raise <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-real-estate-worth-it-home-prices-insurance-hurricane-helene-2024-10">home insurance rates</a> even higher in a state that is already grappling with prices nearly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/01/business/florida-homeowner-insurance-rates/index.html">four times</a> the national average, insurance experts told Business Insider."Florida represents an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-milton-category-four-storm-real-estate-market-insurance-damages-2024-10">outsize amount of risk</a> compared to other areas of the world," Kyle Ulrich, president and CEO of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, told BI. "And we pay commensurately for it."But it's not just Florida.The compounding financial crises of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-helene-milton-tampa-florida-desantis-clean-disaster-dangerous-2024-10">Hurricane Helene</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-milton-landfall-florida-housing-market-insurance-fema-2024-10">Hurricane Milton</a> could also point to looming hikes in insurance rates nationwide, the home insurance experts said. They pointed to the recent Florida storms as examples of the increasingly severe and frequent climate catastrophes wreaking havoc on the global insurance market.<h2 id="25940b76-9ef6-4385-94a3-eb8903a79169">Florida's battered home insurance market</h2>Home insurance rates are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-its-expensive-to-own-a-home-mortgage-insurance-interest2024-4">up across the board</a> in recent years due to a combination of natural disasters and inflation, according to a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://insurify.com/homeowners-insurance/report/home-insurance-price-projections/">recent report</a> from insurance comparison shopping site Insurify. Between 2021 and 2023, overall home insurance costs rose nearly 20%, the report found.And, for mortgaged single-family residences specifically, the average monthly property insurance payment has increased 52% nationally since 2019, according to a 2024 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://static.icemortgagetechnology.com/pdf/ICE_Mortgage-Monitor-Report-October-2024.pdf">mortgage report</a> from financial services company Intercontinental Exchange.That number is even higher in regions more at risk of environmental disasters. California has seen <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/homeowners-california-florida-insurance-issues-natural-disasters-wildfires-hurricanes-2023-10">several top home insurance agencies</a> pull out or limit their business in the state amid a growing risk of destructive wildfires, while tornado-prone states such as Illinois and Arkansas have seen an uptick in premiums as cyclones become more frequent, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/storms-homeowners-insurance-oklahoma-texas-tornado/">according to CBS News</a>."Certainly, areas that are chronically hit by storms, you're seeing either rates increase or insurers pull out completely," Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, a research scholar and director at Columbia Climate School's National Center for Disaster Preparedness, told Business Insider.But nowhere in the country is the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-home-insurance-prices-premium-effect-from-hurricanes-2024-9">home insurance crisis</a> more acute than in Florida. The state has, in recent years, been battered by a wave of costly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-ian-photos-videos-destruction-in-florida-2022-9">hurricanes</a>, seen an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-are-people-moving-florida-home-prices-cost-of-living-2023-12#:~:text=Florida's%20population%20jumped%20by%201.9,growing%20state%20in%20the%20country.">influx of new residents</a>, and dealt with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.renaissanceins.com/blog/florida-personal-lines-crisis/">fraud</a> over the state's assignment-of-benefits loophole, said Oscar Miniet, regional executive vice president, Southeast for Renaissance, a nationwide network of independent insurance agencies.Miniet said the number of insurers willing to write policies in parts of the state most exposed to hurricanes is shrinking, primarily because the potential risk outweighs the possible financial reward. Meanwhile, those that have stuck around, he added, have implemented extremely tight underwriting practices, which leads to homeowners paying far more in premiums, especially in at-risk areas.Florida cities like Deltona, Jacksonville, and Cape Coral saw the average property insurance payment for mortgaged single-family residences skyrocket 90%, 86%, and 85%, respectively, since 2019, according to an analysis by financial services company Intercontinental Exchange.Tampa — which sustained severe <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-milton-flooding-damage-photos-2024-10#winds-of-up-to-120-mph-ripped-through-the-state-shredding-the-roof-of-tropicana-field-home-of-the-tampa-bay-rays-baseball-team-8">wind damage when Milton</a> landed near Sarasota on Wednesday evening and a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-helene-milton-tampa-florida-desantis-clean-disaster-dangerous-2024-10">deadly storm surge when Helene</a> touched down last month — has seen insurance payments go up 71% since 2019, Intercontinental Exchange found.And Helene and Milton are likely to make matters even worse for Florida homeowners, the insurance experts said.The majority of Helene's damage in the state was flooding-related, which isn't included in most home insurance policies. But Helene also caused wind damage and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-homeowner-milton-tearing-through-neighborhood-cant-sleep-2024-10">Hurricane Milton's gusts</a> were fierce enough to tear the roof off Tampa's Tropicana Field and spawn several tornadoes that tore through Central Florida. Unlike flooding, wind damage is typically covered by home insurance."That is clearly going to have an impact on premiums in the state, said Shahid Hamid, a finance professor at Florida International University and director of the school's Hurricane Research Center's Laboratory for Insurance, Financial and Economic Research. "They're going to go up quite significantly."<h2 id="66cc80ec-e36b-4d1c-9df6-0fbbad2a8fb5">Increased home insurance prices nationwide</h2>While Floridians will bear the brunt of Helene and Milton's insurance-related pains, homeowners across the country could also soon feel the pain in their pocketbook thanks to the recent storms and other climate disasters like them.Milton and Helene are one-time events, but storms like them can end up <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/soaring-home-car-insurance-rates-hurting-americans-finances-us-economy-2023-11">impacting the larger insurance industry</a>, said Jeremy Porter, the head of climate implications research at climate risk evaluation company First Street."When insurance costs get increased, they get increased not only in the places where we're seeing the exposure but they get increased across the industry," he told Business Insider.Large insurance companies such as Allstate or State Farm typically take major losses after big storms and, as a result, need to find ways to make up for those loss payouts, Porter said."So you're going to end up seeing people in Kentucky and Idaho and other places that just aren't anywhere near this event that may see a spike, an increase in their insurance costs, just due to the company's overhead and the additional payouts that they're having to make given climate risk in other areas," Porter said.But the primary reason homeowners around the country could see their rates rise post-hurricane season is thanks to the global reinsurance market, three insurance experts said.The reinsurance market, with hubs in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lloyds-london-firms-face-billions-claims-baltimore-bridge-collapse-2024-3">London</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.abir.bm/why-bermuda/">Bermuda</a>, is where insurance companies can offload some of their risk to a reinsurance company — a kind of insurance company for insurance companies.An uptick in reinsurance rates in recent years has been a driving force behind climbing insurance rates nationwide, said Kyle Ulrich, president and CEO of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents.Reinsurance rates are determined by worldwide losses, and when prices increase, insurance companies pass financial responsibility to customers who end up paying higher premiums, Hamid said.Those increases are, in part, because of climate change. The global reinsurance market has to assess risk against catastrophic events around the globe, from hurricanes in Florida to tsunamis in Japan, Ulrich said.But as catastrophic climate events become more common worldwide, homeowners everywhere are bearing the risk."There used to be five storms a year. Now there are 30 storms a year. There used to be one strong one and nine weak ones. Now there are nine strong ones and one weak one," said Oscar Seikaly, CEO of NSI Insurance Group, one of the largest privately owned insurance firms in Florida. "So the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-milton-helene-economy-gdp-damage-cost-rebuilding-florida-climate-2024-10">frequency and severity</a> have been the factors that set the reinsurance industry off guard and put them in panic mode a bit."With Hurricanes Helen and Milton shaping up to be massive loss events, reinsurers could be on the hook for paying out billions of dollars of claims, which would, in turn, shrink the reinsurance industry's capacity to supply capital when it comes time to renew contracts next year, thus driving up premiums in the primary market, Yanjun (Penny) Liao, an economist and fellow at nonprofit research institute Resources for the Future, said."Because primary insurers rely on reinsurance everywhere, this could happen even in places that are not hit," Liao added.

Back-to-back Florida hurricanes signal trouble for home insurance prices nationwide

<keyword id="22053621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Insurance-regulator-IRDA" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Insurance regulator IRDA" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Insurance regulator IRDA">Insurance regulator IRDA</keyword> has introduced sweeping reforms for various <keyword id="19936531" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="life-insurance" source="keywords">life insurance</keyword> products. In its master circular dated 12th June, 2024, the insurance watchdog laid out a slew of customer-friendly directives for life insurance companies to follow with immediate effect. Read on to know all about how these new rules will impact you : <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Customer information sheet" comment="subhead" text="Customer information sheet"><keyword id="22033784" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="customer-information-sheet" source="keywords">Customer information sheet</keyword></cmsannotation> Going ahead, all life insurance companies will have to mandatorily provide their policyholders with a CIS, or Customer Information Sheet. This will serve to explain to them the basic features of the policy in very simple terms, and will include essential details like sum assured, benefits, policy loan options, free-look period and procedures for making claims and redressing grievances. In addition, benefits payable to the policyholder if they survive the policy tenure (maturity benefits), upon death and surrender of policy should also be clearly spelt out. Along with this, the policyholders are also entitled to a customised illustration of how the policy will benefit them while they are being sold the policy. CIS should also be made available to the policyholder in their local language on request. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Free-look and grace period" comment="subhead" text="Free-look and grace period"><keyword id="22053620" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Free-look-and-Grace-Period" source="Orion">Free-look and grace period</keyword></cmsannotation> Policyholders will now have a 30-day window from the day they receive the policy document to review and cancel the policy if they want. If the policy is cancelled within this period, they will be entitled to a full premium refund. Earlier, this period only lasted for 15 days. For grace period, which basically refers to the additional, penalty-free window given to the policyholder to make premium payment post due date to avoid losing coverage, the windows will differ depending on premium payment frequency. If you pay the policy premiums on a monthly basis, you will get a 15-day grace period. For premium payments made on a quarterly/half-yearly or annual basis, the grace period will be of 30 days. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Penalty on violating Ombudsman’s word" comment="subhead" text="Penalty on violating Ombudsman’s word">Penalty on violating Ombudsman’s word</cmsannotation> The insurer is bound to comply with the <keyword id="960887" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Insurance-Ombudsman" source="Orion">Insurance Ombudsman</keyword>’s award within 30 days of receiving the same. In case the same is violated, the insurer will have to pay a penalty of Rs 5,000 per day to the complainant. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Higher value on early policy surrender" comment="subhead" text="Higher value on early policy surrender">Higher value on early policy surrender</cmsannotation> Often, policyholders ended up with a low, negligible amount as refund upon surrendering their insurance policy. This is set to change with <keyword id="21879234" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IRDA" source="keywords">IRDA</keyword>’s latest directives. Now, policyholders will be eligible for <keyword id="885219" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="surrender-value" source="Orion">surrender value</keyword> even if they decide to surrender their policy after just one year. Previously, only 50% of <keyword id="2939473" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="policy-premium" source="Orion">policy premium</keyword> would be refunded, provided the policyholders surrendered their policy between years 4-7 of the policy tenure. Moreover, they would lose the entire premium amount if they surrendered their policy within a year. Customers will also be entitled to higher special surrender value (SSV) from now on. This SSV should be at least equivalent to the expected present one of the these three: <ol><li>Paid up sum assured, or present value of your sum assured after you stop paying premiums</li><li>Paid up future benefits</li><li>Accrued benefits</li></ol>Also, it will be compulsory for life insurers to offer loans to policyholders as per the eligible surrender value of the policy. Says Vivek Jain, Head, Investments, Policybazaar.com, "The provision for higher Surrender Value (SV), calculated at a prevailing 10-year government securities rate with a limited spread, significantly increases the value returned to policyholders in the event of a policy surrender, after the completion of first year. The mandatory facility of policy loans across all life insurance savings products and the allowance of partial withdrawals under pension products will provide vital financial flexibility, which will enable policyholders to meet liquidity needs and specific financial goals. These measures will certainly enhance trust and transparency in the industry." <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Partial withdrawal allowed from pension products" comment="subhead" text="Partial withdrawal allowed from pension products">Partial withdrawal allowed from pension products</cmsannotation> Policyholders will be allowed to make partial withdrawals, provided they have 3 years of continuous coverage under their insurance-cum-pension plan. Also, these withdrawals cannot be more than 25% of the total premiums paid till date. The insurer cannot use this withdrawal towards making any adjustments in the policy's sum assured. However, this withdrawal will only be allowed for specific situations, like funding children’s higher education/marriage, constructing a house, treating critical illnesses, starting a new venture or for skill development purposes.

Here’s how your life insurance plans are set to change

<keyword id="19994372" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maruti-suzuki-india-limited" source="keywords">Maruti Suzuki India Limited</keyword> (MSIL) has introduced a new variant of its popular hatchback, the <keyword id="23141056" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="epic-new-swift" source="Orion">Epic New Swift</keyword>, offering an S-CNG model that promises to set a new benchmark in fuel efficiency. With a claimed mileage of 32.85 km per kg, this variant promises to be the most fuel-efficient premium hatchback in its segment, according to the automaker. <h2><keyword id="19909974" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="maruti-suzuki" source="keywords">Maruti Suzuki</keyword>'s Epic New <keyword id="23141055" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="swift-s-cng" source="keywords">Swift S-CNG</keyword> launched</h2>The launch of the Swift S-CNG marks another step in Maruti Suzuki's commitment to providing greener mobility solutions. As the demand for eco-friendly vehicles continues to rise, the automaker has expanded its Swift S-CNG lineup to three variants: V, V(O), and Z, offering customers more choices. Each variant comes equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, and their ex-showroom prices are set at Rs 819,500, Rs 846,500, and Rs 919,500, respectively. Maruti Suzuki has been at the forefront of the CNG vehicle segment in India since 2010. Over the years, it has sold more than 2 million S-CNG vehicles, making it a leader in the industry. Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer of Marketing and Sales at Maruti Suzuki India Limited, talked about the company’s achievements and said, “Our S-CNG technology has democratized green mobility solutions, and we are proud to offer the widest range of 14 S-CNG powered vehicles across all body styles.” The automaker’s CNG vehicle sales have witnessed significant growth, with a 46.8% increase in the passenger vehicle category during the 2023-24 financial year compared to the previous year. Additionally, since 2010, Maruti Suzuki has maintained a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 28% in its CNG sales, underlining the strong demand for eco-friendly vehicles in India. <h2>Swift S-CNG features </h2> The new Swift S-CNG not only promises to offer best-in-segment fuel efficiency but also packs a range of features designed to enhance the driving experience. It comes equipped with six airbags for enhanced safety, automatic climate control, a rear AC vent, and a wireless charger. The vehicle also boasts a 17.78 cm (7-inch) Smart Play Pro infotainment system with <keyword id="20518583" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="suzuki-connect" source="keywords">Suzuki Connect</keyword>, offering a connected and feature-rich driving experience. Maruti Suzuki also offers the Swift S-CNG through its subscription program, Maruti Suzuki Subscribe, at a monthly fee starting from Rs 21,628. This option provides a hassle-free way to drive a new car without the need for outright ownership. The subscription fee covers the cost of registration, service and maintenance, insurance, and roadside assistance, allowing customers to enjoy the benefits of driving a new car with minimal worries. (With ANI inputs)

Maruti Suzuki's Epic New Swift S-CNG launched, price starts from Rs 8,19,500

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Climate change is increasing the severity of natural disasters — and home insurance prices.</li><li>For those moving to a climate-risk state, there are some steps you can take to protect your home.</li></ul>Finding an affordable home in a red-hot real estate market is already a tremendous feat.And now, in addition to rapidly rising prices, home buyers are increasingly worried about another factor: climate change.According to Zillow, more than 80% of home buyers considered climate risks — including flood, wildfire, and hurricane — when shopping for a house.In particular, climate change complicates the homebuying process by sending <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-change-homeowners-insurance-premium-costs-crisis-skyrocketing-states-hurricanes-2024-10">home insurance premiums skyrocketing</a>. As storms and other natural disasters become more destructive, home insurance providers are raising rates or pulling out of certain states altogether, according to insurance company Insurify.According to Holden Lewis, a home insurance expert at NerdWallet, climate change is hitting states such as California, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska the hardest — and wildly disrupting these states' home insurance markets.If you're looking to purchase a house in these high-risk markets, here's what you need to know about rapidly rising home insurance rates.<h2 id="4ca151ec-b6df-44db-821b-3b925503bc08">How to navigate the insurance landscape when moving</h2>As climate change exacerbates the frequency and severity of natural disasters, homes are at higher risk of damage. Insurance companies in turn are raising prices to cover the higher costs of covering claims and reinsurance, or insurance for insurance companies.According to financial data firm Bankrate, the national average cost of home insurance is $2,285 a year for up to $300,000 of dwelling coverage. But in high climate-risk states such as Nebraska, Florida, and Oklahoma, average annual premiums range from $4,835 to $5,655.It might seem obvious, one step homebuyers can take to avoid surprises is consider home insurance costs early in the homebuying process, Lewis said. As insurance premiums increase, they can materially impact your monthly housing payments and push a home out of your affordability zone.Prospective buyers shopping for homes in a new state are especially prone to insurance sticker shock, according to Lewis. For example, if you're thinking of moving from Ohio to Texas, you might not be aware that the average homeowners insurance rate in cyclone-prone Texas is $3,916 a year — $2,600 more than in Ohio, Lewis pointed out.Still, climate-risk states remain popular. According to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uhaul.com/Articles/About/U-Haul-Announces-Top-Growth-States-Of-2023-30660/">U-Haul</a>, Texas and Florida received the highest influx of new residents in 2023.Many of these newcomers might not have done their homework on the home insurance market before moving to the state, according to Stephanie L., homeowner and lifelong Florida resident who asked not to use her full last name for privacy reasons.There's a lack of consumer awareness of the financial risk extreme weather brings, in Stephanie's opinion. "If you purchase a beautiful home on a river, you have to understand that with the way storms come in, you could be at risk," Stephanie told Business Insider in an interview.Even within climate-risk states, you can minimize your home's exposure to extreme weather and bring down insurance premiums by researching the local neighborhood.When Stephanie bought her house, she picked a location in the Jacksonville metropolitan area, which has less exposure to hurricane risk than other areas of the Sunshine state."We definitely looked for high and dry, not in a flood zone, and not in a hurricane evacuation zone," Stephanie said.Indeed, Jacksonville home insurance premiums are significantly lower than Florida's state average of $5,527, with homeowners paying an average of $2,705 a year for insurance according to Bankrate.Next, when it comes by a natural disaster, you want to ensure that the insurance policy can fully cover rebuilding costs. Many policies offer dwelling coverage limits in line with the market value of the house, but that's not always sufficient coverage, according to Lewis."The market value of the house the day before a fire or storm might be less than the actual cost to rebuild it to current building codes," Lewis said.For prospective homebuyers, Lewis recommends clarifying the dwelling coverage limit with the insurance agent and shopping around for available policies.Also important to note is that flood coverage often isn't included in standard homeowners insurance policies. This is an important consideration if you're looking to buy a house in an area prone to hurricanes."If water is rising, say from a river, or storm surge, then a standard homeowners policy will not cover that damage," Lewis said.Stephanie purchased flood insurance in addition to her regular homeowners insurance when she purchased a home."I also have a separate flood policy even though I'm not in a floodplain," she said. "When you're not in a flood zone, flood insurance is pretty affordable."Although Stephanie isn't at high risk for flooding, she still wants to be prepared for the worst. It's not a bad idea to go the extra mile and purchase extra insurance when it comes to buying a home in Florida, even if you're not directly in a flood zone.In addition to hurricane-prone Gulf Coast states, regions like western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and southern Virginia are flooding hotspots, according to Lewis.Lastly, homeowners also should consider how inflation will drive up home insurance costs, especially as concerns over inflation loom high in today's economy. An inflationary environment will increase the cost of building materials and construction, Lewis pointed out.As a result, it may be a good idea to review your coverage every year or two to evaluate the status of your coverage, Lewis said."Talk to the agent, maybe even talk to a general contractor just to find out, 'Hey, am I still covered? Do I still have enough coverage to pay to rebuild this home?'" Lewis suggested.For those considering buying a home in a state with high levels of climate risk, taking these precautions during the homebuying process can help you protect your investment.

Buying a home in one of these 9 climate-risk states? Here's how to deal with spiking home insurance rates from someone who lives in one

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Connected-car services might be sharing your data with insurance companies.</li><li>Drivers told The New York Times about massive reports on their driving habits.</li></ul>Your driving habits aren't as private as you think they are, according to a recent report from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/11/technology/carmakers-driver-tracking-insurance.html">The New York Times</a>.Internet-connected vehicles can gather data on driving habits, including hard braking and rapid accelerations, and share that information with the data broker LexisNexis, which works with insurance companies to create personalized coverage.One <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chevy-bolt-euv-cheap-electric-car-suv-price-2022-12">Chevrolet Bolt</a> owner who spoke with the Times said he uncovered a 258-page report on his driving habits when he inquired about a 21% increase in his insurance costs.Other owners in the story reported the same experience: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/best-car-insurance-companies">Insurance costs</a> skyrocketed, and when they inquired about what was going on, the insurance companies encouraged them to check their LexisNexis reports.General Motors' <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gm-follows-tesla-with-onstar-car-insurance-product-2020-11">OnStar</a> Smart Driver service is a focus of the Times report. Some drivers who were enrolled in Smart Driver told the Times that their insurance costs went up. GM has offered connected OnStar services for decades. It's historically been used to connect drivers to emergency services and navigation.<a target="_blank" href="https://media.chevrolet.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/bcportal.html/currentVideoId/4313843204001/pnId/1/typeId/c/currentChannelId/Most%20Recent.html">Smart Driver</a> is a newer offering within OnStar, launched in 2016. It allows drivers to track their driving habits and improve their safety through a gamified experience in which you can collect badges for braking gently and following speed limits.GM confirmed to The New York Times that it shared "select insights" with LexisNexis and pointed out that Smart Driver was an optional service that the owner could turn off.Some drivers who spoke with the Times insisted their insurance costs went up even when they weren't enrolled in Smart Driver. The Times cites a GM company manual that suggests dealer salespeople could receive a bonus for enrolling people into the service.GM told Business Insider Smart Driver is an optional service that requires customers to consent three times before data is shared, and said that customers can unenroll at any time.GM told the Times, "When a customer accepts the user terms and privacy statement (which are separately reviewed in the enrollment flow), they consent to sharing their data with third parties."If you own a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gm-hybrids-plan-good-for-car-dealers-and-shopper-2024-1">GM car</a> (Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, or GMC) with OnStar services, you can check whether you're enrolled in Smart Driver on your car's app — MyChevrolet, MyBuick, etc. Some drivers have shared on Reddit instructions for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/BoltEV/comments/1535ohe/psa_chevyonstar_automatically_opts_in_all_bolt/">unenrolling</a> from the service.Update: March 11, 2024 — This story was updated with a comment from General Motors.

Your car might be secretly recording every drive you take &mdash; and sending data to your insurance company

<keyword id="85462" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bajaj-finserv" source="Orion">Bajaj Finserv</keyword> on Monday posted a 42 per cent growth in its profit to ₹1,782 crore for the quarter ended 2022, against ₹1,256 crore in the year-ago period. The company's total income was ₹21,755 crore for the reviewed quarter, against ₹17,620 crore in the corresponding period the previous year, which is a surge of 23.46 per cent. According to the statement shared with the exchanges, finance costs of the company went up to ₹3,240.78 crore from ₹2,444.53 crore. Total expenses of the firm surged 17.10 per cent to ₹17,336.45 crore from ₹14,370.55 crore in the year-ago period. The company also said profit after tax of its subsidiary - <keyword id="111876" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bajaj-finance" source="Orion">Bajaj Finance</keyword> - for the third quarter increased 40 per cent to ₹2,973 crore, against ₹2,125 crore in the year-ago period, mainly led by robust assets under management (AUM) growth. higher net interest income and better asset performance. <keyword id="6358511" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="bajaj" source="Orion">Bajaj</keyword> Finance (<keyword id="144840" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bfl" source="Orion">BFL</keyword>)'s gross non-performing asset (NPA) and Net NPA as on December 31, 2022, stood at 1.14 per cent and 0.41 per cent, respectively, as against 1.73 per cent and 0.78 per cent as on December 31, 2021. BFL holds a management and macro-economic overlay in provisions of ₹1,000 crore as on December 31, 2022. Bajaj Finserv is the holding company for the various financial services businesses under the Bajaj group. Bajaj Finserv participates in the financing business through its 52.49 per cent holding in Bajaj Finance (BFL) and in the life, general and health insurance businesses through its 74 per cent holding in two unlisted subsidiaries, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited (BAGIC) and <keyword id="625416" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bajaj-allianz-life-insurance-company-limited" source="Orion">Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited</keyword> (BALIC). SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/cpp-investments-commits-205-mn-to-indospaces-new-fund-for-building-industrial-logistic-parks-in-india/articleshow/97438270.cms">CPP Investments commits $205 mn to Indospace's new fund for building industrial, logistic parks in India</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/adani-enterprises-fpo-subscribed-just-2-amid-allegations-by-hindenburg-research/articleshow/97437900.cms">Adani Enterprises FPO subscribed just 2% amid allegations by Hindenburg Research</a>

Bajaj Finserv posts 42% growth in Q3 net profit to ₹1,782 crore

Gina Papini honestly isn't sure whether she got taken for a ride on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/should-i-get-pet-insurance">pet insurance</a>, but it's pretty clear she didn't get much bang for her buck.Papini and her husband decided to add coverage for their two dogs and their cat when it was offered in 2021 as a bundle with their home-insurance plan. It seemed like a simple way to protect their pets' health. But the whole endeavor wound up being a headache. The pets' <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/what-is-an-insurance-premium-definition-cost">combined premiums</a> cost hundreds of dollars a month, she says, and the coverage proved far less comprehensive than they anticipated. The couple never really needed to use the insurance for their two younger animals, and for their older dog, Kato, the process was a mess. Whenever Kato wound up at the vet, usually with stomach issues, they'd pay the bill and then submit it to the insurance company, which would then balk at reimbursing them."We thought it would save us money in the long run if we got it, but then they would refute claims and say, 'Well, this could have been a preexisting condition,' and preexisting conditions aren't covered," Papini said. "You need extra vet paperwork to back up that it wasn't. And so then you just get to a point where you're jumping through so many hoops."Papini and her husband got tired of dealing with all the rigamarole and axed their insurance plan after a year. Despite paying thousands of dollars in premiums, they never saw a single reimbursement.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/half-owners-say-pets-equal-human-family-member-survey-2023-7">People love their pets</a>, and they're willing to do a lot for them, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/protect-finances-pets-likely-recession-2022-11">financially</a> and otherwise. The American Pet Products Association has estimated that Americans spent $147 billion on their animals in 2023, including $38 billion on their healthcare. This level of attachment has helped turn the pet insurance industry into a lucrative and rapidly expanding market. The North American Pet Health Insurance Association found that pet owners in the US paid $3.9 billion in premiums in 2023, a 22% increase from the year before. Some 6.25 million pets in the US were insured as of the end of 2023, per NAPHIA. That's still a small fraction of all the pets in the country, given that there are over 80 million pet dogs and 60 million pet cats, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. But it's growing.As pet insurance becomes more prevalent, so too do the questions about it. While some people swear by it, others think it's a scam. One thing is for sure: As the industry grows, pet insurance is becoming as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insurance-companies-get-you-to-pay-more-deny-claims-2023-10">confusing and messy</a> as health insurance is for humans. It's barely regulated, and deciphering what it does and doesn't encompass can be super confusing. Just like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-fight-rejected-insurance-claims-2013-11">regular health insurance</a>, coverage for pets often winds up being riddled with loopholes and fine print that allows insurers to deny claims, declining to pay for the very care that motivated consumers to buy the policy in the first place. Because consumers pay up front, they often don't realize they won't be reimbursed until it's too late. Pet insurance gets pricier over time, meaning many people can no longer afford to keep their coverage just when they might start to need it.In short, pet insurance isn't a grift — some people do end up using their benefits. But for many people, insuring their furry friends ends up being a money suck.Pet insurance isn't technically even health insurance; it falls in the property-and-casualty category. It's generally regulated pretty lightly by states. There are no broad federal regulations around it, and only a handful of states have laws and standards around it specifically. How it usually works is people pay a monthly premium, and after they've paid a vet bill, they submit it to the insurer to try to get their money back. Just as with human health insurance, there are also deductibles and copays and annual limits on how much the policy will pay out. There are three categories of pet insurance: accident only; accident and illness; and accident, illness, and wellness. Adding more coverage makes the policy more expensive. Accident and accident-illness policies cover costs only if something goes awry — Rover gets into a rough fight at the dog park or develops arthritis. Fancier, more-comprehensive policies also cover wellness visits and preventive care, like dental care and vaccines. No matter the policy you choose, insurance <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/average-cost-pet-insurance">can get expensive fast</a>. Premiums generally go up each year as a pet gets older. And <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/soaring-home-car-insurance-rates-hurting-americans-finances-us-economy-2023-11">as with many insurance products</a>, pet-insurance premiums across the board are on the rise because of inflation and the increasing cost of care."The big problem with pet insurance is it's just an expensive product," said Kevin Brasler, the executive editor of Consumers' Checkbook, a consumer watchdog group. "If you're going to be one of these plans, buy it when your pet's young, but just know your costs are likely going to skyrocket as time goes on."Even if a pet owner can find an affordable policy, they may have trouble deciphering what's covered. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/preexisting-conditions-in-dogs">Pet insurance almost never covers preexisting conditions</a>, and what <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-counts-pre-existing-condition-bcra-trump-obamacare-2017-7">qualifies as preexisting</a> can be quite broad and hard to parse. (It's wild that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/obama-jimmy-kimmel-healthcare-preexisting-conditions-2017-5">we used to do this for people</a>, by the way.) If you get a policy for your puppy before it has a chance to develop any problems, it might be a good deal. But if you have a 10-year-old dog with diabetes, that's a different story. I got some quotes from the website Pawlicy Advisor for my fictional dog, a mixed breed named Dan. When I changed the inputs to make Dan a six-month-old in optimal health, the platform recommended a policy starting at $28 a month. When Dan was 10 and had some issues, the first policy it suggested was $125, and some plans were about $350.Michael San Filippo, a spokesperson for the American Veterinary Medical Association, said in an email that the group endorsed the "concept" of pet health insurance, which can help keep vet costs down and save animals' lives, but he acknowledged that when the rubber hits the road, it can get hard to figure out."It's important that pet owners understand the scope of what their pet insurance does and does not cover, so they're not caught off guard by unexpected payments," he said.Even getting good advice on which pet-insurance policy is right for you can be a challenge. There are endless listicles recommending various policies, as well as websites dedicated to comparing insurers. The sheer volume of information can be hard to parse. It's also difficult to differentiate what is genuine advice and what's paid for. Many comparison tools get <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-earn-six-figures-with-affiliate-marketing-websites-2023-5">commissions for sales</a> made through their platforms, so what they're recommending may not actually be the best option — it's just the one <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-creators-discuss-new-affiliate-program-rates-features-2024-3">they'll make money off of</a>. (This is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-affiliate-marketing-report-how-mainstream-publishers-are-turning-performance-based-marketing-into-a-fine-art-2015-11">true for all sorts of platforms</a> that compare and recommend financial products, from credit cards to travel insurance.) The spread of these lists also points to another problem with the industry: the corporatization of pet insurance. Doug Kenney, a retired veterinarian who writes about the pet-insurance industry, said in an email that a decade ago, most pet-insurance companies were considered small businesses and were led by a founder/CEO with a vision for the company. Over time, these companies took on larger corporate structures, and some founders were pushed out by their boards. Nowadays, there are many large pet-insurance companies, some of which specialize only in pets, others of which are larger insurers that offer pet insurance, and many of which are publicly traded, meaning they ultimately answer to shareholders."This new structure has been a detriment to the industry with profit as the primary motive versus what is in the best interest of the consumer," Kenney said. "I used to say that pet insurance was a win, win, win proposition with the insurance company, veterinarians, and the policyholders and their pets all benefiting. I don't think that's the case anymore."Reporting this story, I fully expected to come down on one side or the other on whether pet insurance is good or bad. But I really didn't come up with an answer. I heard about a wide array of experiences with pet insurance, from awesome to mediocre to awful. One woman saved $4,000 on vet bills thanks to her insurance after her cat ate a pom-pom toy and the doctor had to fish it out. One man looked into getting coverage for his two cats after learning that both had extra teeth, but the minute they were documented, those overcrowded mouths became a preexisting condition. Another woman adopted a dog from Mexico with a "pretty wonky leg" that's "very noticeable." At her first vet appointment with the animal, the doctor told her to apply for pet insurance. She said she wouldn't note the leg on the dog's chart so the application would be approved — everyone agreeing to do a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insurance-fraud-artificial-intelligence-detection-2023-10">light amount of insurance fraud</a>. In a purely financial or economic sense, pet insurance seems pretty worthless for many consumers. There are too many exceptions, too many hoops to jump through, and little regulatory recourse if you think you got taken for a ride. Unless something goes really awry, people pay more into their policies than they get out of them. Brasler was pretty blunt in his assessment of the overall product."You really need to think carefully about 'What kind of pet owner am I?' No judgments," he said. "This is a really expensive product. It's not likely to save you money down the road, and if it does, you're an outlier."Ultimately, a lot of the value of this sort of insurance is emotional. It's possible to do some back-of-the-envelope calculations to figure out the lifetime cost of a policy, but the personal side of the equation is considering how much you're willing to spend on your furry friend. Maybe you feel like spending $10,000 over the course of your pet's life on insurance is worth it for the peace of mind. Or maybe you forgo insurance, figuring that if your companion has a serious health problem, you'll make the decision then to spend the money on them — or not. (Again, no judgments!)As for Papini, she's not getting back on the pet-insurance train. It was just too hard to deal with, and her husband is still cranky about the ordeal. She knows they're fortunate to be able to pay out of pocket for their animals' needs, which remain expensive. Kato now has cancer, and the treatments cost thousands of dollars. Would the insurance be worth it now? It's hard to know."Who's to say they wouldn't have been like, 'Well, he had diarrhea in 2017, so therefore it's a preexisting condition,'" she said. "Then we would've spent thousands of dollars for the insurance, never been able to use it, and still had to pay out of pocket on top of it."<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/emily-stewart">Emily Stewart</a> is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.

Pet insurance is booming. It's also mostly worthless.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Shanna Nasiri, 34, decided to leave her tech job when she no longer felt aligned with the work.</li><li>Earlier this year, she opened a natural wine bar in Williamsburg called With Others.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shanna Nasiri, the 34-year-old owner of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.withothersbrooklyn.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYikrw0VpjpCpAQ0ZvjvLvpFSaoADEXEYZSPsfVYegg3r5FJj2KHjPZ-Cs_aem_1Utqp3zKNtwMvha7MZMTkA">With Others</a>, a natural wine bar in Brooklyn, New York. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified Nasiri's salary.I grew up in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-san-francisco-worth-it-cost-of-living-negativity-2024-2">Bay Area</a> near Silicon Valley, and everyone I knew was in some variation of tech. I continued on that trajectory.My first job was working for the corporate ventures team at Qualcomm. After that, I worked in semiconductors for a few years. Then, I went back to business school and got a job in product marketing for a regulatory technology startup.I liked aspects of what I was doing. The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/big-tech-workers-pushed-limits-of-perks-benefits-pampering-over-2024-10">perks</a> were nice. I had full benefits. And there <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/left-big-tech-job-uber-entrepreneur-2024-10">was the salary</a>. I was making around $200,000 at the time I left, plus a bonus. I also got a lot of stock options.I was working for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/startups-to-bet-your-career-on-in-2024-2024-2">startup companies</a>, so I had the chance to be at the ground level, build teams, and craft messaging. I felt like I had an impact.But I wasn't creatively fulfilled. I didn't like what I was doing. It didn't resonate with who I am. I was kind of embarrassed to tell people I did product marketing for regulatory technology startups. I felt like I was speaking a different language.At the time, I compartmentalized. This is who I am at work, and this is who I am in my personal life. I just accepted my life for what it was and figured you could <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/happiness-at-work-employee-engagement-fulfillment-flexibility-four-days-2023-12">never be fully happy at work.</a><h2 id="ddbf58b0-8e32-403f-9d1f-46fdacdaa027">That started to change when I turned 30</h2>Around my 30th birthday, I started having these existential questions and ideas. I had recently moved from San Francisco to New York City. That was also right at the start of COVID, so I had a lot of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-the-pandemic-changed-my-career-2-years-stories-2022-3">alone time to reflect.</a>I was seeing this whole new world in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/san-francisco-new-york-london-tech-where-to-live-2024-8">New York City</a>, with so many diverse careers. In San Francisco, I knew a lot of tech founders. But when I moved to New York, I started to see that entrepreneurship could have a greater meaning beyond tech.<div type="image" title="A photo of Shanna Nasiri holding a bottle of wine next to a photo of Williamsburg" height="1500" width="3000" msid="115114938" hostid="261" sizebytes="438074"></div>I had always fantasized about opening a space, but it wasn't something I thought I would actually do.I moved to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-show-what-its-like-to-live-in-williamsburg-brooklyn-2021-5">Williamsburg in 2021</a>. It was still pretty desolate at the time. There were lots of empty storefronts. I would go on these long walks and start fantasizing about what I would do with the space.I've always been passionate about hosting. I love to curate an environment. I'm obsessed with the little details like glassware, music, lighting, and sparkling water choice. I grew up in a family where my mom and grandma would host huge parties all the time and I was the mini host. I'm Middle Eastern and I think there is a sense of Middle Eastern hospitality that's embedded within me.My <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/kitchen/types-of-wine">wine journey</a> started young. My stepdad collected limited-production Pinot Noirs. He introduced me to wine and taught me how to taste and the artisanship that goes into production.When I think about it now, it was pretty brazen to start a wine bar. But it was COVID, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-people-changed-careers-jobs-during-pandemic-2022-3">life felt so short and precious</a>. I wanted to prove to myself I could do itIt was either get stuck in this unfulfilling career trajectory and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/careerist-corporate-ladder-decline-promotions-work-ethic-american-dream-2024-10">climb the corporate ladder</a>, or try to be an entrepreneur. It was a huge leap of faith and required me to believe in myself 100%So, in the summer of 2022, I got a job at a wine bar in Brooklyn to see what it was like. I was so passionate about it.After that, I started pursuing my wine education and got my Wine and Spirit Education Trust certification, which is a globally recognized qualification. I got a job at a wine shop. And I fully committed to opening my own bar.<h2 id="49faa484-70c2-47b4-9558-670c2708ed17">My tech experience came in handy</h2>A lot of my past work was helpful as I was building the bar. I knew how to manage teams. I had always worked at the ground level, so I had experience juggling a lot of responsibilities and working with limited resources.I started asking everyone to introduce me to other entrepreneurs and asking about their contractors, their agents, and their plumbers.<div type="image" title="A photo of Shanna Nasiri posing at her wine bar next to a photo of Williamsburg" height="1500" width="3000" msid="115114935" hostid="261" sizebytes="153358"></div>I used my own money and opened the bar on a very small budget.It took me a year to find the space because I was only looking for places within a few blocks of my home. I wanted it to be really integrated with the community. I found the space in June 2023 and started construction in October 2023.We opened in March of this year. It's been incredible. It's beyond anything I could have ever imagined.It has quickly become the neighborhood spot. We have regulars that come in twice a week. And the coolest thing has started happening recently, where I have probably met 11 or 12 parents of our regulars.I've continually reinvested in the bar. For example, the backyard buildout happened three months after we opened. After that, I built out the basement and cellar. Then I invested in hiring a general manager and growing out the wine list.<h2 id="ac1863d1-953a-4300-b4ce-24a04c6e730e">It's been a major lifestyle change from tech</h2>I don't have health insurance. I'm working probably 12-hour days. There's just so much stuff to do in terms of maintenance. And I work service every single night.In tech, I could work from anywhere. I traveled a lot and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/working-remotely-feel-isolated-from-coworkers-quit-2024-7">worked remotely</a>. Now, I have a physical space. I haven't left a 20-mile radius since Christmas and have no plans to.But I feel so aligned with what I'm doing. It feels like what I was always meant to be doing. I work way more hours than I did in tech, but it doesn't feel as hard.I'm in such awe of what we've been able to create in such a short amount of time.

I left my $195,000 tech job to open a wine bar. I work 12-hour days and don't have health insurance, but I've never been happier.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Warren Buffett is the billionaire boss of one of America's biggest companies.</li><li>Yet Berkshire Hathaway's website looks like it was built in the 1990s and hasn't been updated since.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-warren-buffett-spends-money-net-worth">Warren Buffett</a> is one of the world's wealthiest people with a net worth of $144 billion, and his Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-trillion-dollar-valuation-2024-8">worth about $1 trillion</a>. Yet you could never guess that from its website, which looks like a relic from the early days of the internet.The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://berkshirehathaway.com/">landing page</a> of America's seventh-largest public company — which generates over $350 billion of annual revenue and employs about 400,000 people — is little more than a list of hyperlinks on a white background.Berkshire's "Official Home Page" also features its name and address, a text ad for Geico car insurance, and an invitation to submit feedback by snail mail to headquarters — with a warning the staff is too small to write back.<div type="image" title="A screenshot of Berkshire Hathaway's website" height="1028" width="1919" msid="114188176" hostid="261" sizebytes="56860"></div>Frankly, the website looks like a teenager slapped it together in the 1990s, and hasn't returned since. But it does get updated at least every three months with earnings reports, and occasionally Buffett will decide something warrants a fresh link on the homepage, such as his <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-unaware-microsoft-takeover-activision-blizzard-stock-2022-2">clarification</a> about Berkshire's investment in Activision Blizzard in 2021.Why has Buffett, who <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-defends-propublica-tax-rate-berkshire-hathaway-stock-dvidends-2021-6">cares deeply</a> about Berkshire's public appearance and reputation, never updated his company's antiquated website? He may see it as symbolic of Berkshire's culture."Berkshire Hathaway's bare-bones website reflects Buffett's belief in frugality and decentralization. With a small team in Omaha, it prioritizes efficiency over extravagance," Lawrence Cunningham, the director of the University of Delaware's Weinberg Center on Corporate Governance and the author of several books about Buffett and Berkshire, told BI."Anyone who's managed a website knows: less is often more."Buffett, 94, is famously loath to waste his or his shareholders' money. The billionaire grabs <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-diet-mcdonalds-coke-junk-food-soda-ice-cream-2023-4">breakfast at McDonald's</a> on his way to work, has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-annual-salary-compensation-40-years-2021-3">requested a $100,000 salary</a> with no bonus or stock awards for more than 40 years, and still <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/warren-buffett-homebuying-owning-home-quotes-berkshire-hathaway-investing-wealth-2024-7">lives in the same house</a> he purchased in the 1950s.<div type="image" title="Warren Buffett's house in Omaha, Nebraska." height="681" width="1024" msid="114188178" hostid="261" sizebytes="106700"></div>Berkshire is structured as a sprawling web of autonomous businesses such as Geico, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-dream-business-is-sees-candies-2019-7">See's Candies</a>, Fruit of the Loom, and the BNSF Railway. Its scores of subsidiaries are overseen by Buffett and a couple of dozen people at Omaha HQ, who focus on taking the profits the businesses generate, and allocating them within and outside the company.Berkshire's website has "everything an investor needs in one easy landing page," Chris Bloomstran, the president of Semper Augustus Investments and a longtime Berkshire shareholder, told BI.Bloomstran said he finds the website easy to navigate, and loves having access to decades' worth of financial reports, shareholder letters, news releases and links to subsidiary websites in one place."It goes to Berkshire's culture and minimalist staffing of the Omaha home office. No human resources at the parent. No unnecessary overhead or bureaucracy," he said.Berkshire shareholders "don't need a flashy website or pictures of Warren eating See's Candies in his Fruit of the Looms," Darren Pollock, a portfolio manager at Cheviot Value Management and another veteran shareholder, told BI.<h2 id="2b20deb0-54df-4fe3-bcdd-d1cc2dd220bb">Minimalist</h2>Pollock said the website reflects Buffett's perception of his shareholders as people who value hard numbers over glossy copy and substance over style. In his mind, they appreciate their managers <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-alleghany-acquisition-deals-negotiation-style-philosophy-2022-4">counting every cent they spend</a>, not splashing cash on an unnecessary website upgrade."Berkshire's site is minimalist amidst a sea of flashy web content but it's also just what investors want," he added.David Kass, a finance professor at the University of Maryland who's been following Buffett for nearly 40 years, echoed those sentiments."Berkshire's webpage is investor-oriented, efficient, and user-friendly," he told BI. "Warren Buffett is demonstrating how he minimizes cost at Berkshire. His automobile license plate in Nebraska used to be (and maybe still is) 'THRIFTY.'"

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