MAM
Internet ad revenues in the US at $5.95b in 2002
NEW YORK: A slump in e-revenues in the United States was on the cards post the dotcom bust. A study conducted by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers showed that ad revenue in the United States was $5.95 billion in 2002 (down 17 per cent from 2001).
The study is based on data from the top 15 online ad sellers, which account for 80 per cent of online ad sales. The results of this revenue compilation are then extrapolated to calculate the total industry revenue figure.
The study also proved that Internet ad revenue fell by 9.8 per cent to $1.5 billion for the fourth-quarter 2002. However, Internet ad revenue rose 2.3 per cent in the fourth quarter from the third, the IAB reported.
IAB president and CEO Greg Stuart reasoned that the few predominant factors which contributed to the [year-over-year] revenue decline included the conclusion of some long-term advertising deals. He, however, added that the majority of online publishers continued to remain profitable and their revenues continue to rise year-over-year.
The increase in the fourth quarter Internet advertising revenue in the US reflected the first consecutive quarterly increase since the second quarter of 2000.
IAB’s Stuart was also quoted as saying: “The improved online advertising environment reflects a confluence of factors The publishers are offering a more manageable, uniform and understandable business proposition than ever before. The creative side has gotten smarter and is delivering compelling, entertaining content, which will only improve as the installed base of high-speed access users increases. This adds up to a fertile environment for the industry to right and propel itself.”
“The improved performance over the past two quarters reflects a stabilising online advertising market, highlighted by continued strength in paid-for-search results. The recent upturn, coupled with forecasts of continued expansion of broadband distribution, bodes well for a strong year in 2003” said PricewaterhouseCoopers New Media group chairman Tom Hyland in a statement.
Buying family medical insurance online in India has become a common option for individuals who want to secure health coverage for multiple family members under a single policy. However, many buyers are unsure about the exact steps involved in selecting and purchasing the right plan online.
In this guide, you will know the step-by-step process of buying family medical insurance online in India, along with the key factors to review before purchasing a suitable policy.
Step 1: Assess Your Family’s Healthcare Needs
Before buying online health insurance, check the healthcare needs of all family members. Check age, existing illnesses, regular medicines, and the likely need for hospital care later. This helps in selecting a suitable sum insured, policy type, and level of cover. It also reduces the chance of buying a plan that appears suitable but does not meet actual medical needs.
Step 2: Visit the Insurance Company’s Official Website
After understanding the family’s needs, visit the insurer’s official website and read the plan details carefully. Use the official platform to review eligibility, policy wording, waiting periods, cover details, exclusions, and renewal terms.
This step gives a clearer understanding of how the policy works before payment is made. It also helps avoid confusion caused by incomplete summaries on other pages.
Step 3: Compare Available Family Health Insurance Plans
A family medical insurance policy should be compared on factors beyond the premium. Review the sum insured, hospital network, room rent limits, pre- and post-hospitalisation cover, daycare treatment coverage, and waiting periods. It is also important to check treatment sub-limits and specific policy conditions.
Careful comparison helps determine whether a plan provides balanced coverage and whether its terms are suitable for the healthcare needs of the entire family.
Step 4: Choose the Right Policy and Start the Online Purchase
Once the options have been compared, select the policy that best fits the family’s medical needs and budget. Before starting the application, review the covered members, policy term, benefits, and main conditions again. This is an important stage because errors here can lead to the wrong cover amount, an unsuitable variant, or missing details that create problems during policy use.
Step 5: Calculate the Premium Using an Online Calculator
Use the online premium calculator before making the final choice. Enter the correct details, including age, city, number of insured members, and selected cover amount. The result helps in understanding the expected premium and whether the policy fits the annual budget. This step is useful because it allows cost and coverage to be reviewed together, instead of choosing a plan only because the premium looks lower.
Step 6: Fill in Personal and Medical Details
When filling in the proposal form, provide accurate details for each insured member. This includes name, date of birth, contact details, medical history, ongoing treatment, and previous insurance information if required.
Every answer should be complete and truthful. Incorrect or missing details can create difficulty later. Before you submit the form, read every section again and correct any mistakes.
Step 7: Make Payment Through the Secure Payment Gateway
After checking the form, go to the payment page and complete the transaction through the secure payment gateway. Review the premium, policy term, and entered details once more before confirming payment.
After the transaction is completed, save the receipt, reference number, or confirmation message carefully. Keeping this record is useful if you need to track the purchase or follow up on policy issuance later.
Step 8: Download and Keep Your Policy Document Safely
Once the policy is issued, download the policy document, schedule, and any related papers without delay. Read them carefully to confirm member names, policy period, sum insured, and major terms. Save a digital copy in a secure folder and keep a printed copy if needed. Proper record keeping makes future renewals, document checks, and policy servicing easier and more organised when information is required quickly.
Conclusion
Buying health cover online becomes easier when you handle each step with attention. From checking your family’s needs to reading the final document, every stage helps you make an informed choice. A careful approach can reduce mistakes, improve your understanding of policy terms, and help you choose coverage that matches your household’s medical needs, financial capacity, and long-term healthcare planning in a reliable way for your family over the long term.
