Wrong Insurance Agent? Your Claim Pays the Price

Picking an insurance policy is only half the job. The agent who sells it to you decides whether your claim actually gets paid. Here's what most Indians get wrong when buying insurance.

Here's what happened: Insurance agents earn upfront commissions (up to 35% of first-year premium for life policies) creating conflicts of interest that may not favour your best coverage.. Most claim rejections in India involve non-disclosure of pre-existing conditions — a gap agents should flag but often skip to close the sale faster.. Once a policy is issued through an agent, switching agents mid-policy is structurally difficult — you're often locked in for the policy's full term..

What you should do: Before buying, ask your agent directly: 'What are ALL the disclosures I must make?' — and get the answer in writing via WhatsApp or email.. Check your agent's IRDAI registration number on the official IRDAI website (irdai.gov.in) before signing any proposal form — unlicensed sellers are common.. Compare the same policy on an aggregator (PolicyBazaar, Ditto) AND through a dedicated agent — if the premium differs, ask the agent to explain exactly why..

Pro tip: A fee-only insurance advisor charges you ₹2,000–₹5,000 upfront but earns zero commission — their advice is genuinely unbiased. Search IRDAI's registered advisor list to find one near you.