Have Multiple Health Policies? Here’s How Claims Work
Having more than one health insurance policy is quite common today.
You may have employer-provided health insurance, a personal health policy, or even a top-up. But when a big hospital bill arrives, one question often comes up:
“Can I use more than one policy?” Yes — you can, subject to the terms of your policies.
Here’s a simple example.
Suppose your admissible hospital expense is ₹7 lakh. Your first policy settles ₹5 lakh. The remaining ₹2 lakh may be claimed from your other policy, provided that policy covers the expense.
But there’s an important rule:
You cannot receive more than the actual admissible medical expense. Health insurance is meant to cover your financial loss, not create a profit from a hospital bill.
Which policy should you use first?
There is generally no universal rule saying you must use your employer policy first. Under IRDAI’s rules, you can choose the policy you want to use, subject to its terms and limits. You may then approach another insurer for the balance, where applicable.
Before making a claim, check deductibles, co-pay, exclusions, waiting periods, sub-limits and coverage.
And don’t forget to tell each insurer about your other health policies and keep your claim documents safely.
The takeaway: Multiple health policies don’t mean double reimbursement. They can, however, give you an additional layer of financial protection when one policy isn’t enough.
(Contributed by Yogesh Gola, Sr Relationship Manager, Advisory Desk, Hum Fauji Initiatives)
👉 Two Health Policies. One Hospital Bill. What Should You Claim?
Can a short-term capital loss cut your long-term gains tax?
You made a Long-Term Capital Gain (LTCG) of ₹5 lakh from one investment. Sounds great!
But at the same time, another investment in your portfolio has fallen in value. If you sell it, you would book a Short-Term Capital Loss (STCL) of ₹2 lakh.
Now comes the interesting question:
Can this loss help reduce the tax impact of your gain? Yes, it can!
Under the income-tax rules, a Short-Term Capital Loss can be set off against both Short-Term Capital Gains and Long-Term Capital Gains.
So, in this example:
Long-Term Capital Gain: ₹5 lakh
Less: Short-Term Capital Loss: ₹2 lakh
Net capital gain: ₹3 lakh
But there is one important distinction to remember:
- 🔹 Short-Term Capital Loss (STCL) → Can be adjusted against both STCG and LTCG.
- 🔹 Long-Term Capital Loss (LTCL) → Can be adjusted only against LTCG.
This is why your investment decisions should not be based only on which investment is making money and which one is losing money.
Sometimes, a loss can have a useful role in tax planning too.
The key is to look at your overall portfolio and tax position, rather than viewing each investment separately.
Before making a sell decision, understand the tax impact. A little planning today can make your investments more tax-efficient tomorrow.
(Contributed by Prateek Agarwal, Financial Planner, HNI Desk, Hum Fauji Initiatives)
👉 Your Investment Loss Could Save You Tax. Know How
Foreign Money Is Fleeing India — Should You Actually Be Worried?
Whenever we hear that foreign investors are selling Indian stocks, it can sound alarming.
But should you really be worried? Not necessarily.
Let’s first understand who these foreign investors are. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) are large overseas institutions that invest in Indian stocks. When they sell heavily, markets can come under short-term pressure and become more volatile.
And yes, FPIs have been selling significantly. In the quarter ending June 2026, they recorded their largest-ever quarterly net outflow from Indian equities — around US$15.1 billion.
But here’s the part that often gets missed.
Foreign investors are not the only investors in India.
Indian mutual funds, insurance companies, pension funds and individual investors have become an increasingly important source of market capital. In fact, domestic institutional investors now account for around 19.5% of NSE-listed companies, while domestic mutual funds alone reached a record 11.6% ownership as of June 2026.
So, while foreign selling can create short-term ups and downs, it does not automatically mean that India’s long-term investment story has changed.
What should you do?
Don’t make an investment decision simply because you see a headline about FPI selling.
Stay focused on your goals, time horizon and overall financial plan.
Markets can react to what foreign investors do today. Your financial future should be guided by what you need tomorrow.
Stay informed. Stay disciplined. Don’t let market headlines make your investment decisions.
(Contributed by Harsh, Financial Planner, HNI Desk, Hum Fauji Initiatives)
👉 Foreign Investors Are Selling. Should You Change Your Investments?
What did our client ask in the last 7 days
Query –
My mother wants to encash her fixed deposits and gift the money to my wife. Will either of them have to pay any tax on this transaction? If my wife invests the gifted amount in RBI Floating Rate Savings Bonds, in whose hands will the interest income be taxable?
Our Reply –
When a mother encashes her Fixed Deposits and gifts the proceeds to her daughter-in-law, an important question arises: Is the gift taxable, and what happens to the income earned from it?
A genuine gift from a mother to her daughter-in-law is not taxable in the daughter-in-law’s hands, as a daughter-in-law is considered a specified relative under Indian tax provisions.
The mother also does not face any separate tax liability merely because she gifts the money. However, any FD interest accrued up to the date of encashment remains taxable in the mother’s hands.
But there is an important point to consider after the gift.
Suppose the daughter-in-law invests the gifted amount in RBI Floating Rate Savings Bonds. The interest earned on these bonds is taxable.
Under the clubbing provisions of Section 99 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, income arising from assets transferred to a son’s wife without adequate consideration is generally clubbed with the income of the person who transferred the asset.
So, even though the bonds are held in the daughter-in-law’s name, the interest earned from the gifted amount will generally be clubbed with the mother’s income and taxed at her applicable slab rate.
If the daughter-in-law subsequently invests that interest, the income from such subsequent investment will generally be taxable in her own hands.
The takeaway: A gift may be tax-free, but the income generated from that gift may not be.
(Contributed by Team Sukhoi, Hum Fauji Initiatives)
