A mother's health or life insurance policy is more than just a safety net-it is the greatest token of appreciation and foresight.
Pooja Yadav, Chief Product Officer, Zuno General Insurance
In Indian homes, mothers occupy a space that is both emotional and operational. They are caretakers, decision-makers, and crisis managers rolled into one. Yet, when it comes to financial protection, particularly insurance, they remain one of the most underserved segments. According to the IRDAI’s annual report, a minuscule number of insurance policies are registered in the names of homemakers, despite them comprising over 70% of non-working women in India. Why this glaring gap? It stems from a flawed notion that insurance is only for those with income.
This gap in inclusion is even more critical in light of the Government of India’s ambitious vision of ‘Insurance for All by 2047’. To achieve this inclusive goal, we must bring homemakers, particularly mothers, to the forefront of the insurance conversation. Insuring, a mother means insuring a household. Her wellbeing directly impacts the emotional and financial stability of the family unit -it is a strategic necessity to achieve universal insurance coverage.
This Mother’s Day, Rethink the Gift of Protection
While we readily think of flowers, cards, and all things nice, the gift of security can indeed extend far beyond anything else. A mother's health or life insurance policy is more than just a safety net-it is the greatest token of appreciation and foresight.
There’s something profoundly powerful about a mother’s instinct. Long before risk management evolved into a professional discipline, mothers-silently and selflessly-practised it in their homes every day. From rationing resources to predicting illness, from stretching household budgets to preparing for unforeseen emergencies, mothers have always served as the first and most trusted line of defence for their families.
However, most of us overlook the immense economic and emotional value of a mother’s unpaid care work. When a mother is unwell-or worse, absent-the household often experiences a domino effect of disruption. Tasks such as childcare, eldercare, and household management are usually quickly outsourced or redistributed, resulting in significant emotional and financial costs.
Yet these risks, while deeply felt, are rarely insured against. The absence of formal recognition for this unpaid labour leads to the exclusion of mothers from systems designed to mitigate risk. This is more than an oversight; it is a structural blind spot that the insurance industry must actively address.
Innovating Insurance for Real-Life Needs
The solution begins with innovation. Products must integrate these aspects to meet the changing needs of women throughout their lifetime. Personalised health solutions, separate packages for maternity care, wellness supplements, and microinsurance with reasonable premiums make more sense for homemakers.
As with every effective product and service, availability is crucial, particularly in terms of onboarding and interfaces that are easy to understand and navigate for women in both urban and rural settings.
Reframing the Conversation around Insurance
How we talk about insurance reflects the kind of service we provide. Perhaps it is time to view insurance not only as protection for the breadwinner, but also for the backbone of the family-the caregiver, the planner, and the mother. Insurance is a genuinely compassionate act of care aimed at safeguarding the individuals who hold the household together.
Financial literacy plays a fundamental role here. While many women may not currently lead investment decisions, they often manage household budgets and expenses. Grassroot awareness programs-in local languages, on familiar platforms, and within trusted community networks-can make insurance conversations more relatable and accessible.
Insuring a mother means insuring a household
However, protection cannot be achieved solely through paperwork. It must be sentimental, involve all members of the household, and highlight and acknowledge the power of the unseen force that mothers possess. If we regard their instincts to protect and sustain as valid, then we must honour them with equally potent responses, including direction, resources, and motivation. Just as insuring a mother does not apply only to an individual but encompasses the entire family.
Authored by Pooja Yadav, Chief Product Officer, Zuno General Insurance
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
