Cover Story

Protect your health
As health care costs soar, medical insurance can be the difference between prosperity and bankruptcy.Before you buy your policy...What cover should you take?Hassle-free settlements

What cover should you take?
We look at the different types of health insurance plans on offer to help you decide what to buy, depending on your age, health and family composition.
Prescription for the future
Some years ago, it was unheard of for medical insurance to cover pre-existing diseases. Today, it’s a fact. What does tomorrow have in store?
Before you buy your policy...
...make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into and what you’re paying for, starting from premium and exclusions down to details like renewal bonus.
Hassle-free settlements
With the entry of third-party administrators, settlement of health claims is much easier than before, although there are always exceptions that make it to the news.

2008-06-26

Digital

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Stocks

Metal stocks perform well

The rise in commodity prices has helped metal stocks to post the highest returns in the past year.

Stock watch as on June 4

We tie up with Trisys research to identify stocks that aren’t in the limelight, but have high returns potential .

Crude way to shock markets

Leaving the two portfolios unchanged, Dipen Sheth reflects how and why better governance would have helped us bear the oil shock better.

Upfront

Handling the oil slick

Pondering whether the recent fuel price hike was really necessary or cursing the government for hitting our pockets when inflation is already running high is an exercise in futility.

In this MT Issue

Your world: currencies

Among all global markets, Indian stock price movements are most strongly correlated with Hong Kong’s followed by Japan’s.

Mutual Fund

Balanced equity funds in demand

In the past six months balanced equity funds have been hit by high equity exposure.

'Don't go by price of NFOs'

Invest in good funds and stocks for the long term. In case of new fund offerings, don’t go by their price or by what your agent tells you. Do your own research.

Expert View

Plan for a health cover

The absence of medical coverage can cripple other protection products and undermine retirement plans, even affect the life insurance policies.

Advantage group insurance

While the beneficiary of any health cover is always an individual, a group cheque ensures a red-carpet treatment.

Brokering an opportunity

JRG Securities serves the bottom of India’s financial pyramid. What better place to start than Kerala, which is an extension of West Asia on the financial parameter and the developed West when you consider literacy.

Eco-friendly investing

Given technological and regulatory uncertainties for the green sector, invest small amounts and gradually increase your exposure. Monitor closely and exit if things go wrong.

BASICS

Green: the colour of money

You’ve read how environment-friendly living is wallet friendly too . But the upfront costs of a ‘green’ lifestyle can discourage you from adopting it.

Real Estate

Better environment, better health, better savings

The concept behind green houses is to follow the three ‘R’s—reduce, reuse and recycle all possible resources.

Mumbai: Country's business capital

Some upcoming in the city can influence real estate prices in future.

Banking

Golden opportunity

If you need a personal loan in a hurry, it makes sense to pledge your gold jewellery with a bank.

Portfolio Doctor

Going wrong in the details

Kurnool-based Ramesh Babu G must streamline equity investments and thoroughly research financial instruments before investing in them.

Sector Scenario

Ride high on FMCG

Slowdown may affect demand in other sectors, but nobody is going to cut their grocery bills. R Sree Ram looks at the best bets.

Query Corner

What is the benefit of investing in mutual funds directly?

In most cases it is better to invest directly in a mutual fund than to do so through a broker. Every time you invest in an equity mutual fund you pay an entry load of between 2% and 2.5% of the invested amount.

Tax

Will I have to pay tax on insurance reimbursement?

Money received through a claim under a medical policy is a reimbursement of expenditure, it is not taxable.

New Business

Programmed for success

Right idea, right timing, right approach and solid family support helped literature graduate Abhimanyu Singh become a successful entrepreneur.

Careers

How to get what you like

Read about a salesman who studied software, accidentally discovered his passion for advertising, and overcame hurdles to set up his agency.

Now and Then

Flying low

The drive from home to office may have become costlier, but the flight to London (or anywhere else in the world) is now cheaper.

My Idea

Savouring success

In addition to running his software company, Sandeep Bansal, 35, wanted to open a restaurant. He finally hit upon the idea of home delivering sushi, a Japanese delicacy, to connoisseurs in Delhi and Gurgaon.

Investment

US-64 RIP

India’s oldest mutual fund scheme ended on May 31. We go down memory lane to track the fund’s chequered 44-year run.

Talk Back

I lost my debit cards; what to do

The first thing to do is get in touch with your bank, which makes it easier to prove the card’s unauthorised use. The bank can take up the case with the individual merchant establishments and if the matter is not resolved in 30 days.

Editor's Note

From the managing editor

On 'MT Blog', readers are not only debating and learning, but are now telling us as much as we tell them.

Cover Story

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