General Insurance Companies in India
Due to the unpredictability of life, one must always be prepared to face surprises, both good and bad. While the pleasant surprises are easier to handle, emergencies can be tough on you and your family without proper contingencies.
Thankfully, insurance companies offer financial assistance in almost all kinds of emergencies, provided you avail such coverage beforehand.
Insurance in India is divided into two parts – life insurance and non-life insurance. These latter policies are classified as general insurance plans, which comprise several different types of coverage.
While not every single individual requires all types of general insurance policies, owning the essential ones is highly recommended.
What is a General Insurance Company?
A general insurance company is an enterprise, which creates, markets and supports the various non-life insurance types to customers. Policyholders must pay the premium for a general insurance plan to such a company.
In return, these companies offer a financial benefit to these individuals when certain pre-requisite conditions are met.
These conditions differ based on the kind of general insurance policy one chooses. The most common types of general insurance include the following:
- Health insurance
- Motor Insurance (for Car, Bike & Commercial Vehicles)
- Travel insurance
- Insurance for consumer durable products
- Commercial insurance
- Property Insurance (for Home, Shop, Building etc.)
- Agriculture insurance
Each of these general insurance types is necessary for certain situations. Still, not everyone requires each one of them, barring health insurance.
Medical insurance is one of the most important insurance coverage that one should pick, regardless of their age, health condition and other factors.
List of General Insurance Companies in India
Company name | Founding year | Headquarter location |
National Insurance Co. Ltd. | 1906 | Kolkata |
Go Digit General Insurance Ltd. | 2016 | Bengaluru |
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2001 | Pune |
Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2001 | Chennai |
Bharti AXA General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2008 | Mumbai |
HDFC ERGO General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2002 | Mumbai |
Future Generali India Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2007 | Mumbai |
The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. | 1919 | Mumbai |
Iffco Tokio General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2000 | Gurugram |
Reliance General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2000 | Mumbai |
Royal Sundaram General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2001 | Chennai |
The Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. | 1947 | New Delhi |
Tata AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2001 | Mumbai |
SBI General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2009 | Mumbai |
Acko General Insurance Ltd. | 2016 | Mumbai |
Navi General Insurance Ltd. | 2016 | Mumbai |
Zuno General Insurance Ltd. (formerly known as Edelweiss General Insurance) | 2016 | Mumbai |
ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2001 | Mumbai |
Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2015 | Mumbai |
Liberty General Insurance Ltd. | 2013 | Mumbai |
Magma HDI General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2009 | Kolkata |
Raheja QBE General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2007 | Mumbai |
Shriram General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2006 | Jaipur |
United India Insurance Co. Ltd. | 1938 | Chennai |
Universal Sompo General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2007 | Mumbai |
Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd. | 2002 | New Delhi |
Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2015 | Mumbai |
Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited | 2012 | Mumbai |
ECGC Ltd. | 1957 | Mumbai |
Max Bupa Health Insurance Co. Ltd | 2008 | New Delhi |
Care Health Insurance Ltd | 2012 | Gurgaon |
Star Health & Allied Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2006 | Chennai |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the general insurance policies?
All forms of insurance plans, apart from life insurance, are categorised as general insurance plans. For instance, if you are buying a new vehicle, a policy to safeguard your financial interest in the same is a form of general insurance. However, this particular type of general insurance is known as motor insurance.
What is the difference between general and life insurance?
Life insurance is a policy, which offers a death benefit to the covered policyholder. Thus, after the death of the insured individual, a life insurance policy offers financial compensation to the insured person’s family members. However, general insurance policies do not offer any death benefits. Instead, the insured policyholder of such plans can claim compensation when certain conditions are met.
How can you pick a reliable general insurance provider?
You would need to consider several factors before picking an insurance company that is most suitable for your needs.
The first thing to verify is the reputation of the brand, which one can glean from ratings on Facebook and Google.
Next, assessing the claim settlement ratio should help you understand how easily one can acquire compensation from the company in times of need.
Lastly, the premiums for policies on offer should also influence your decision regarding the ideal insurance provider.