Health insurance is
a medical insurance policy that offers financial coverage for medical expenses
when the policyholder falls ill or meets an accident which leads to
hospitalization. Health insurance companies provide the insured with the
facility of cashless hospitalisation at a network hospital or provide
reimbursement for the incurred expenses. Generally, insurance companies have
tie-ups with leading hospitals so as to provide cashless treatment to the
insured. In case the insurance company has no tie-ups, they reimburse the cost
of expenses incurred. Apart from private companies, the government also
promotes health insurance. Furthermore, health insurance cost is subsidized for
the insured in the form of tax exemption under section 80D of the Income Tax
Act, 1961.
a medical insurance policy that offers financial coverage for medical expenses
when the policyholder falls ill or meets an accident which leads to
hospitalization. Health insurance companies provide the insured with the
facility of cashless hospitalisation at a network hospital or provide
reimbursement for the incurred expenses. Generally, insurance companies have
tie-ups with leading hospitals so as to provide cashless treatment to the
insured. In case the insurance company has no tie-ups, they reimburse the cost
of expenses incurred. Apart from private companies, the government also
promotes health insurance. Furthermore, health insurance cost is subsidized for
the insured in the form of tax exemption under section 80D of the Income Tax
Act, 1961.
Now that we know
the importance of health insurances we also need to compare health insurance
plans in order to choose the best one to meet our healthcare needs. As there
are a lot of firms selling health insurance policies in India, selecting one
can become a really tedious task. Apart from various plans to choose from, the
policy wordings that the health insurance selling firms use add to the
confusion. Given below are some of the points that will help people compare
various health insurance plans and choose the best health insurance policy.
the importance of health insurances we also need to compare health insurance
plans in order to choose the best one to meet our healthcare needs. As there
are a lot of firms selling health insurance policies in India, selecting one
can become a really tedious task. Apart from various plans to choose from, the
policy wordings that the health insurance selling firms use add to the
confusion. Given below are some of the points that will help people compare
various health insurance plans and choose the best health insurance policy.
●
Efficiency of the claim process
The
simpler the claim process and faster the settlement of the claims, the better
it is for the insured. Because when a person is in an emergency and has been
hospitalised he will not be in a state where he can fight the insurer if the
claim has been rejected without proper justification. Therefore these are two
major factors one must keep in mind while selecting a health insurance policy.
The person should also ensure that the insurance company offers good customer
support.
simpler the claim process and faster the settlement of the claims, the better
it is for the insured. Because when a person is in an emergency and has been
hospitalised he will not be in a state where he can fight the insurer if the
claim has been rejected without proper justification. Therefore these are two
major factors one must keep in mind while selecting a health insurance policy.
The person should also ensure that the insurance company offers good customer
support.
●
Selecting the right insurance amount
Choosing
the right amount as the sum insured is one of the most important points one
must keep in mind while choosing a health insurance plan. Sum assured is the
maximum amount we get as coverage in a policy year. It is the basis of all our
claims. Before we select our sum assured, we should always keep in mind the
rising costs of hospitalisation and treatment. If the person is from a small
city then the aim of cover should at least be ranging from Rs.3 to 5 lakh
whereas if the person is living in a metropolitancity then the cover should not fall anywhere less than Rs.5 to 10
lakh. The person should also put into account his age, as younger the age of
the person lower the sum insured he needs.
the right amount as the sum insured is one of the most important points one
must keep in mind while choosing a health insurance plan. Sum assured is the
maximum amount we get as coverage in a policy year. It is the basis of all our
claims. Before we select our sum assured, we should always keep in mind the
rising costs of hospitalisation and treatment. If the person is from a small
city then the aim of cover should at least be ranging from Rs.3 to 5 lakh
whereas if the person is living in a metropolitancity then the cover should not fall anywhere less than Rs.5 to 10
lakh. The person should also put into account his age, as younger the age of
the person lower the sum insured he needs.
●
Health
insurance for family
When
a person is thinking of buying a health insurance policy for his family he
should keep in mind the family members and their ages. Before buying a health
insurance plan one must consider the present ailments of his family members and
also check on the family’s medical history.
a person is thinking of buying a health insurance policy for his family he
should keep in mind the family members and their ages. Before buying a health
insurance plan one must consider the present ailments of his family members and
also check on the family’s medical history.
●
Maternity benefits
Now that all
medical expenses have increased and pregnancy costs have also taken a high, it
is important, especially for a woman that she buys a health insurance policy
that offers maternity benefits as well. And for maternity benefits, one should
also check the waiting period applicable for claiming maternity expenses and
consider the sub-limit.
medical expenses have increased and pregnancy costs have also taken a high, it
is important, especially for a woman that she buys a health insurance policy
that offers maternity benefits as well. And for maternity benefits, one should
also check the waiting period applicable for claiming maternity expenses and
consider the sub-limit.
●
Pre/Post hospitalisation charges
Before a person is hospitalised he has to visit the doctor, buy
medicines and undergo various tests. And in the same way after hospitalisation
and treatments, there are expenses which include follow up with the doctor,
medicines and again various tests. These pre and post hospitalisation charges
are also quite huge. So, while selecting on a plan one should also keep in mind
that he chooses a health insurance policy that has these aspects.
medicines and undergo various tests. And in the same way after hospitalisation
and treatments, there are expenses which include follow up with the doctor,
medicines and again various tests. These pre and post hospitalisation charges
are also quite huge. So, while selecting on a plan one should also keep in mind
that he chooses a health insurance policy that has these aspects.
●
Network hospitals
This is also an important factor to consider if the person travels or
shifts to other cities. At the time of a medical emergency or hospitalisation,
the hospitals in the network offer a cashless option where the insurer settles
the medical bills directly with the hospitals. Therefore, one should always go
for insurers that have a higher number of network hospitals.
shifts to other cities. At the time of a medical emergency or hospitalisation,
the hospitals in the network offer a cashless option where the insurer settles
the medical bills directly with the hospitals. Therefore, one should always go
for insurers that have a higher number of network hospitals.
●
Free medical check-up
One should also
look for health insurance policies that provide the policyholders with free
medical check-ups. However, this does not affect the premium when thee policies
undergo renewal.
look for health insurance policies that provide the policyholders with free
medical check-ups. However, this does not affect the premium when thee policies
undergo renewal.
●
Lifetime renewal
Lastly, one must also look for health policies that offer lifetime
renewability because there is always a higher chance to suffer from diseases
when one is old compared to when one is young. Therefore, one should always go
for a health insurance plan that provides them with this facility.
renewability because there is always a higher chance to suffer from diseases
when one is old compared to when one is young. Therefore, one should always go
for a health insurance plan that provides them with this facility.
After considering
the above points the person planning to buy a health insurance policy should
ideally start by comparing plans from two or three preferred insurers. And one
should also consider the inclusions and exclusions of the most basic plan being
offered by them. The decisions should not be based only on the basis of the
premiums, instead one should prefer simple plans with fewer conditions and
restrictions. It is important because every member of the family, irrespective
of their age need health insurance policies to cover the unforeseen medical
emergencies that may arise anytime in the future.
the above points the person planning to buy a health insurance policy should
ideally start by comparing plans from two or three preferred insurers. And one
should also consider the inclusions and exclusions of the most basic plan being
offered by them. The decisions should not be based only on the basis of the
premiums, instead one should prefer simple plans with fewer conditions and
restrictions. It is important because every member of the family, irrespective
of their age need health insurance policies to cover the unforeseen medical
emergencies that may arise anytime in the future.
