Property vs Casualty Insurance

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Business owners often face several types of risks apart from the risk of incurring a loss. As a result, it is crucial for owners to protect themselves and their business against any eventuality that can potentially compel them to shut shop. This is where insurance policies can come in handy. Property and casualty insurance policies are two of the most commonly opted-for insurance policies by business owners across the globe. However, to get the right coverage for you, it is important to understand the difference between property and casualty insurance policies. Property vs casualty insurance policies: What is the difference? Property and casualty insurance offer different forms of coverage and are used to serve distinct purposes. To help you gain a better understanding, here is a closer look at the differences between these two insurance policies: Coverage offered Property insurance provides financial cover for ’properties‘ that are owned by a company such as real estate (office building or factory), equipment, and assets present in the inventory. A property insurance policy covers the assets owned by the company against many natural and man-made calamities. Do note that a property insurance policy does not cover the damages that are caused due to the regular usage of the property On the other hand, casualty insurance covers you against lawsuits and claims that are made by a third party. For instance, if a third–party files a lawsuit against your business for causing them bodily injuries or for damaging their property, a casualty insurance policy can help you cover the expenses that are involved in fighting this lawsuit. It is important to note that casualty insurance will not cover the loss of your property Purpose served Assets owned by a business usually have a very high value. Hence, if they are stolen or damaged due to fire or any other such reason, it can be quite difficult for a business to bear such losses. Getting a property insurance policy can help you avail financial support in such dire situations and avoid business interruption while you fix the problem. While it is not compulsory to buy a property insurance policy, it is considered to be good practice to invest in one. You can opt for property insurance to protect commercial property as well as personal property Lawsuits can be quite costly to tackle as well. Whether they are made due to legitimate claims or not, paying the lawyer‘s fees along with a range of other charges can burn a hole in your pocket. This not only hampers your revenue but also tarnishes the image of your company. As such legal matters can arise without notice, it can be quite difficult to have enough money to help you tackle the lawsuit. This is where a casualty insurance policy can come in handy. Once your claim has been approved, the casualty insurance provider will pay the lawyer‘s fees, court fees, and any other charges that are a part of the lawsuit. Many loan providers present in the market today require businesses to have a casualty insurance policy in order to process their credit requirements. In fact, as per the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, it is mandatory for business owners to get a public liability insurance policy (a type of casualty insurance policy). If your business deals with customers or works on a contractual basis with other businesses, it becomes quite important to get yourself a casualty insurance policy What are the different types of property insurance policies? There are many different types of property policies available in the market today Fire insurance policy This is a type of property insurance policy that specifically covers damages that are caused to your assets due to a fire Burglary insurance policy This is a type of insurance policy that provides you compensation if the property owned by your business is stolen. Apart from the stolen items, this insurance policy will also provide you compensation for the damages incurred to your property due to theft or burglary All risks insurance policy All risks insurance policies provide you compensation for the loss of jewellery or moveable equipment Marine cargo insurance policy A marine cargo insurance policy offers financial coverage for the loss or damage of goods during transit by rail, road, air, water, registered post, or courier Mechanical breakdown insurance Mechanical breakdown insurance covers machinery that are used in your company against breakdown due to sudden physical damage(s). Renter‘s insurance policy Insurance covering your property against theft or damage caused to your belongings in a rented apartment is called a renter‘s insurance policy. It also provides compensation for the theft or damage of belongings that are kept in a storage unit What are the different types of casualty insurance policies? The various types of casualty insurance policies available in the market today are: Commercial general liability insurance policy A commercial general liability insurance covers you against lawsuits made by a third–party when they suffer a property loss or personal injury due to your business operations. It also covers you against employee injuries and casualties. Public liability insurance policy A public liability insurance policy provides you liability coverage against lawsuits that are filed against your business by a third-party who has sustained bodily injuries or loss of property in your business premises Pollution legal liability This is a type of casualty insurance policy that is recommended for chemical companies or industries that have a high output of waste. It covers clean-up costs, property damage, and environment-related liabilities Employee‘s compensation insurance policy The worker‘s compensation insurance policy covers a business owner against the compensation that they need to provide in case of a worker’s death, injury, or disability caused during the course of employment Points to keep in mind While property insurance covers the assets of a company, casualty insurance covers the owner of the company The extent of insurance coverage offered by property and casualty insurance policies can vary between insurers While property insurance can be bought by anyone, casualty insurance is typically only bought by business owners Since property and casualty insurance policies serve different purposes, it is better for a business owner to get both these insurance policies as it can help them to efficiently mitigate business risks Disclaimer: The above information is indicative in nature. For more details on the risk factor, terms and conditions, please refer to the Sales Brochure and Policy Wordings carefully before concluding a sale

Due to soaring property prices, most home buyers today prefer opting for a home loan. Home loan allow homeowners to pay for the property in affordable instalments over several years. However, in case, the borrower unable to repay the loan due to unforeseen circumstances, the burden may fall upon their family. Individuals can protect their family in their absence by investing in either term or home loan insurance. This article compares term insurance vs home loan insurance. Read on to know more. Term Insurance Vs Home Loan Insurance – Meaning Term insurance is a type of life insurance plan that provides coverage for a specific ‘term’ or ‘period’. If the insured passes away during the term, the insurer pays the policyholder’s nominees a death benefit. The sum insured secures the financial future of the deceased policyholder’s family, allowing them to bear expenses like education, marriage, debt repayment, etc. However, if the policyholder survives the policy term, they do not receive any maturity benefit. Home loan insurance is a type of insurance wherein the insurance provider protects the borrower and the lender if the borrower is unable to repay the home loan due to unfortunate circumstances like job loss, disability, or death. The insurer pays the remaining loan amount to the lender, up to the agreed-upon sum insured. This way, the burden of settling the home loan does not fall on the borrower’s family. Term Plan Vs Home Loan Insurance – Which Is Better? While both term and home loan insurance can help policyholder’s kin repay their home loans, there are a few differences between these insurance plans. Term insurance is considered the purest form of life insurance. The nominee receives a lump sum amount in their bank account, which they can use for any purpose. The insurance company usually does not intervene after settling the claim. Home loan insurance protects policyholders and their families, and also the lender. Typically, the home loan provider approaches the insurer to complete the claim settlement formality. The funds from the home loan insurance plan are only used to repay the loan and cannot be used for personal expenses. Home Loan Insurance Vs Term Plan – Tax Benefits Both home loans and term insurance come under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. As such, policyholders can claim tax deductions up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs (in total) if they invest in either or both of these insurance plans or investment options. However, if policyholders choose to add their home loan amount and make it a part of their Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs), they cannot claim tax benefits. Protect Your Home with Home Insurance Term insurance and home loan insurance cover loan EMIs in the event of the unforeseen demise of the policyholder. However, policyholders must also protect their home and its content by investing in a good home insurance policy. Home insurance provides financial cover against various natural disasters like accidental fires, explosions, earthquakes, landslides, floods, and human-made incidents like thefts, vandalism, riots, and terroristic activities leading to home damage or destruction. It covers the cost of repairs and replacing valuable items while protecting your financial interests. Disclaimer: The above information is indicative in nature. For more details on the risk factor, terms and conditions, please refer to the Sales Brochure and Policy Wordings carefully before concluding a sale.