Why Is It Important To Read Terms And Conditions Before Buying A Health Insurance?

Health insurance policies provide financial coverage against expenses arising due to medical emergencies. These help to account for hospital-related expenses, daycare procedures, room rents, doctor’s fees, nursing and boarding charges, ICU charges, etc. That said, all health insurance policies come with unique terms and conditions, and they vary among plans.   

With so many different policies having unique coverage, inclusions, and exclusions, people need to read their health insurance terms and conditions carefully. This will let them avoid getting their claims rejected and let them access financial assistance during times of great need. 

Why Read the Terms and Conditions Before Choosing an Insurance?

A medical insurance policy is like an umbrella providing financial protection during times of need. However, with so many choices of health policies available, it is important to make an informed decision before choosing a health plan.

Therefore, you should always check the health insurance terms and conditions to understand if they suit your needs. Another reason to read the policy documents is that people often forget about the specifics of clauses until they need to make claims. Knowing the terms early will avoid claims rejection in times of crisis.

Also Read – https://navi.com/blog/network-hospitals/ 

The following are some important terms and conditions that you should pay special attention to:

• Type of health insurance policy
• What the policy covers
• Scope of the coverage
• Standard exclusions
• Cost of the plan
• List of network hospitals
• Conditions of portability
• Discount (if available)
• Out-of-pocket costs and deductibles
• Maximum number of claims you can file in a year
• The clause regarding pre-existing diseases
• Restrictions on expenses

Additional Factors to look for in Health Insurance Terms and Conditions 

Look for these clauses in the terms and conditions before buying a policy:

Sum insured

When choosing a health insurance policy, you should select one with a sum insured amount that is enough to cover potential needs. For example, if you have pre-existing conditions, it may be worth paying a higher premium for coverage of specific illnesses.

Claim process

The objective of a health plan is to get paid for any legitimate claim during times of need. Therefore, you should choose an insurer that follows simple and fast claim processing and have good customer support.

Network hospitals

They allow you to get treatment without paying any cash as they are directly associated with the insurer. The more hospitals are included in the insurer’s network, the easier it is to get the cashless facility from anywhere, especially during an emergency. 

Waiting period

You have to wait before raising a claim under your health insurance policy. Make sure to choose the policy with the least waiting period to avoid being in a medical emergency with no health cover.

Co-payment clause

This clause in medical insurance policy refers to a certain percentage of the claim amount one has to pay out of pocket when making a claim. A higher co-payment decreases your out-of-pocket expenses but increases your financial burden during medical emergencies.

Lifelong renewability

Some health insurance policies offer the option to renew it every year. Choosing a health plan with a lifelong renewal facility is beneficial as it lets you avoid higher premiums due to age.

Type of Health Insurance Plan You Have Chosen

Health insurance products come in different types for different needs. Check the policy terms to know what type of health plan you are buying.

Individual health insurance policies

These plans cover medical expenses for injury, accidents, medicines, room rent, etc., for one individual only. 

Family floater health insurance policies

Instead of buying separate insurance policies for different family members, one can get a single-family floater policy covering the entire family. 

Group/employee health insurance policies

Employers of medium to large size enterprises buy these plans for their employees. 

Senior citizen health insurance policies

These health plans come with higher premiums but offer full coverage and high sum insured, ideal for senior citizens.

Critical illness benefit plans

These policies provide a high insured lump sum for certain life-threatening diseases such as cancer, heart attack, and kidney failure.

Personal accident insurance policies

These provide compensation for disablement, injury or death by unforeseen accidents.

Also Read – https://navi.com/blog/chief-minister-comprehensive-health-insurance-scheme/ 

Common Coverage of Health Insurance Plans

Depending on the insurer and the specific policy terms, a health insurance plan can offer the following coverage.

Hospitalisation expenses

It includes all medical expenses incurred after the patient gets admitted to a hospital for over 24 hours. For example, it covers room rent, medicine costs, diagnostic test charges, doctor’s fees, etc.

Pre and post-hospitalisation expenses

This includes medical charges for a specific number of days before admission and follow-up treatment costs after discharge.

Daycare expenses

Some medical treatments do not require the patient to get admitted for 24 hours. Daycare expenses include these advanced treatments.

Doctor’s fees

Health insurance plans cover the consultation fees of doctors, specialists, nurses, etc.

Room Rent

This includes rent for regular wards or ICUs (Intensive Care Units). Some do not have a cap on room rent, allowing you to rent the best rooms.

Maternity or newborn cover

This includes all medical expenses incurred during pregnancy and delivery along with any treatment costs for the newborn baby for up to 90 days.

AYUSH

Some health insurance plans cover medical treatment through the AYUSH school of medicines, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.

Medical check-ups

Some policies offer free preventive health check-up facilities at regular intervals.

Common Exclusions of Health Insurance Policies

• With the exception of a few health plans, most do not cover claims in the first 30 days of buying the policy.
• These cover pre-existing diseases only after a specific waiting period.
• Cosmetic procedures (plastic surgery, hormone replacement therapy, etc.)
• Dental treatment and eye surgery
• Self-inflicted injuries or suicide attempts
• Critical illness cover comes after a waiting period
• Injuries from adventure sports
• Injuries from war, terrorism or nuclear activity
• Sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS
• Non-medical expenses like service charges, toiletries, etc.
• Non-prescription drugs

The actual exclusions of your policy may vary depending on the insurer and health insurance terms and conditions. Make sure to read the fine print and know all the exclusions to avoid claims rejection during times of crisis.

Final Word

Choosing the right health insurance plan can be fairly difficult, but you can find the right one for you and your family with a little research. First, search and compare the health insurance terms and conditions of different plans to know which one offers the best coverage at affordable prices.

Navi offers a range of health insurance policies with coverage up to 1 Crore and premiums starting as low as Rs. 241 per month. Download the Navi App from the Play Store to get health insurance plans with comprehensive benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a health insurance plan if I am healthy? 

Yes. Even if you take good care of your health, unforeseen situations like a seasonal illness, accident or underlying medical conditions can affect anyone, anytime. Hence, it is advisable to have a health insurance policy to pay for expensive hospital bills.

How do I file a claim for a health insurance policy?

There are two types of claims process for health insurance policies: 

1. Cashless claims: The insured person avails treatment from a network hospital, and the insurer settles all bills directly with it.
2. Reimbursement claims: The insured person gets treatment from any hospital and files a claim for reimbursement with the insurer later.

Which documents do I need to buy a health insurance plan?

Following are some of the documents you may need to furnish to buy a health policy:

• Identity proof
• Address proof
• Age proof
• Medical reports
• Passport size photo

Is it possible to get coverage for pre-existing diseases?

Yes. Most health policies cover previously declared pre-existing conditions after a waiting period of around 2-4 years, depending on the insurer. So if you have medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney problems, etc., you should declare them before buying an insurance policy. 

Are there any health insurance plans that cover Covid-19 treatment?

Yes. IRDAI has introduced two standard health insurance products- Corona Kavach and Corona Rakshak policy to cover medical expenses for treating Covid-19.

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