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How many women are aware of the family's medical insurance policies? Or know how to use them? Wake up before you receive a rude wake-up call.
How many women are aware of the family’s medical insurance policies? Or know how to use them? Wake up before you receive a rude wake-up call.
So I have not written for quite some time, you could say I was not particularly inspired to write or maybe it was sheer inertia.
But a couple of events happened in the last few days that woke me up from my slumber.
The first event – I received a frantic call and a message from a lady who was in her late 50s. Her husband had suddenly taken ill and was paralysed. So, very limited or no communication was possible. She received a call from her insurance agent about the renewal of an insurance policy. Furthermore, the agent mentioned that the premium amount also was increasing from this year. This poor lady had no clue about the policy details, the need for it or the process, so through a friend, she got in touch with me to seek guidance on it. Needless to say she was hassled and uncomfortable since she had never handled this before.
Second event – a friend’s husband met with a road accident. He had to be rushed to a hospital nearby and had to undergo an urgent surgery. Obviously the surgery and medicines needed immediate payment. So she withdrew from her savings and made the payment. Thereafter I asked her about their medical insurance policy, she had no idea about it. Obviously she could not ask her husband either. After a few days she dug out the medical policy, but had no idea what it covered, how to claim it or use it for further expenses. She had to rely on friends and family for guiding her through the process. Of course some hospitals have an insurance desk who help with it. But to go through this while being stressed about your dear one can be quite traumatic.
Both these incidents showed me how vulnerable we women are financially when such crisis situations happen.
So here is what I have to say to all women – be involved in the financial matters. Don’t ignore it thinking it’s complicated or too much hassle or just leave it to your partner. Firstly, it’s not complicated, secondly you never know when you may need to handle all of this. When you buy a medical policy, be part of the discussion, ask the agent which illnesses it covers, check to see if all major hospitals are covered, ask if the plan offers cashless payment facility. Lastly, ask about the claims settlement process. Keep all these papers in a place where it can be accessed by both of you and your family. In fact, I believe it would be a good idea to include your children (teenage and older) also in the process.
I wish no one needs to use these policies but there is no harm in being prepared for it.
First published here.
I have been in the finance and investment field for the last 15 years. I believe that women empowerment is incomplete without knowing how to handle your money. I educate women about money, finance and read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
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Rajshri Deshpande, who played the fiery protagonist in Trial by Fire along with Abhay Deol speaks of her journey and her social work.
Rajshri Deshpande as the protagonist in ‘Trial by Fire’, the recent Netflix show has received raving reviews along with the show itself for its sensitive portrayal of the Uphaar Cinema Hall fire tragedy, 1997 and its aftermath.
The limited series is based on the book by the same name written by Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, who lost both their children in the tragedy. We got an opportunity to interview Rajshri Deshpande who played Neelam Krishnamoorthy, the woman who has been relentlessly crusading in the court for holding the owners responsible for the sheer negligence.
Rajshri Deshpande is more than an actor. She is also a social warrior, the rare celebrity from the film industry who has also gone back to her roots to give to poverty struck farming villages in her native Marathwada, with her NGO Nabhangan Foundation. Of course a chance to speak with her one on one was a must!
“What is a woman’s job, Ramesh? Taking care of parents-in-law, husband, children, home and things at work—all at the same time? She isn’t God or a superhuman."
The arrays of workstations were occupied by people peering into their computer screens. The clicks of keyboard keys were punctuated by the occasional footsteps moving around to brainstorm or collaborate with colleagues in their cubicles. Most employees went about their tasks without looking at the person seated on either side of their workstation. Meenakshi was one of them.
The thirty-one-year-old marketing manager in a leading eCommerce company in India sat straight in her seat, her eyes on the screen, her fingers punching furiously into the keys. She was in a flow and wanted to finish the report while the thoughts and words were coming effortlessly into her mind.
Natu-Natu. The mellifluous ringtone interrupted her thoughts. She frowned at her mobile phone with half a mind to keep it ringing until she noticed the caller’s name on the screen, making her pick up the phone immediately.
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