Policybazaar Survey: Natural Disasters Drive Home Insurance Interest, but Confusion Hinders Purchases
A Policybazaar.com survey reveals that 41% of Indians are motivated to explore home insurance due to natural disasters. Other factors include ongoing home loans (31%) and theft concerns (30%). However, only 39% of those interested actually purchase policies. Barriers to adoption include difficulty understanding policies (27%), perceived lack of necessity (23%), and loss of interest (18%). Homeowners in standalone houses and housing societies are the primary purchasers, while renters show less interest. Despite growing awareness of risks like fire, gas cylinder blasts, and water leakage, low penetration persists due to lack of awareness and understanding of insurance products.

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A recent survey conducted by PB FinTech 's Policybazaar.com has shed light on the factors driving interest in home insurance among Indians, as well as the challenges preventing many from actually purchasing policies.
Natural Disasters: A Primary Motivator
The survey reveals that natural disasters are the leading factor motivating Indians to explore home insurance, with 41.00% of respondents citing this as their primary reason. This heightened awareness of climate risks underscores the growing concern among homeowners about protecting their properties from unforeseen events.
Other Key Drivers
While natural disasters top the list, other significant factors influencing interest in home insurance include:
- Ongoing home loans (31.00%)
- Concerns about theft (30.00%)
Purchase Rates and Property Types
Despite the growing interest, only 39.00% of those exploring home insurance actually follow through with a purchase. The survey found that homeowners in standalone houses and housing societies are the primary purchasers of home insurance policies. In contrast, renters show comparatively less interest in obtaining coverage.
Barriers to Purchase
The survey identified several key reasons why interested individuals do not ultimately buy home insurance:
- 27.00% struggle to understand and compare policies
- 23.00% don't see the necessity, having never experienced losses
- 18.00% lose interest due to lack of urgency or clarity
Additional Risk Factors
The survey, which analyzed people who explored home insurance in the last six months, also highlighted other risks contributing to homeowners' concerns:
- Fire
- Gas cylinder blasts
- Lightning strikes
- Voltage fluctuations
- Water leakage
- Terrorism
- Riots
However, these concerns often fail to translate into actual purchases, primarily due to a lack of awareness and understanding of insurance products.
Industry Perspective
Ashwini Dubey from Policybazaar commented on the findings, noting that home insurance penetration remains low in India despite the growing intent driven by climate risks and financial liabilities. Dubey emphasized the need to simplify insurance offerings and raise awareness to bridge the gap between interest and actual policy purchases.
Conclusion
The Policybazaar survey highlights a significant opportunity in the Indian home insurance market. While natural disasters and other factors are driving interest, the industry faces challenges in converting this interest into actual policy purchases. Simplifying policy terms, improving education about coverage benefits, and addressing the lack of urgency among potential buyers could be key strategies for increasing home insurance adoption in India.
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