What is a debt-fund?

A debt fund is a mutual fund scheme where the money is predominantly invested in fixed-income securities like government securities, debentures, corporate bonds, commercial papers, and other money-market instruments.  The issuer of debt instruments pre-decides the interest rate you will receive as well as the maturity period. Hence, they are also known as ‘fixed-income’ securities.…

Do you know the difference between a Top-up and Super Top-Up plans of medical insurance?

(This article analyses different scenarios where top-up or super top-up plans are useful) The Top-up plan of health policy covers hospitalization expenses when a single hospitalization claim exceeds the base policy. You cannot make a subsequent claim under the top-up policy when the sum available under the base policy is exhausted. In other words, the…

How your health insurance claim can be much lower than the actual hospital bill?

Of-late, complaints against health insurance companies have gone up largely on account of dissatisfaction with claim settlement. This is mostly because customers are unaware of common features in health insurance policies that relates to sub-limits. Normally, almost all health insurance policies have specific cap called sub-limits to the sum insured under which the insurer will…

Glossary of financial inclusion and other welfare schemes in India

Financial Inclusion refers to the process of financial access to all including those hitherto un-served poor population of the country. The major financial schemes launched by Government of India are Jan Dhan (PMJDY), Mudra loans (PMMY), Stand-up India, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY),…