India has a growing and aging population. This, coupled with the increasing cost of health care, has made it important for people to have health insurance plans. These medical insurance policies offer various advantages and features that benefit policyholders. In this blog post, we will discuss all the advantages and features of health insurance plans in India.
Let’s get started.
What is a Health Insurance Plan?
A health insurance plan is a contract between you and an insurance company. It is a way to financially protect yourself and your family from the high cost of medical care. Many different types of health insurance plans are available in India, each with its advantages and features.
Features Of Health Insurance Policy
1. Coverage: A health insurance policy covers the medical expenses incurred by the insured individual in case of hospitalization due to an illness or injury. It also covers pre and post-hospitalization expenses and daycare procedures.
2. Sum Assured: The sum assured is the maximum amount the insurer agrees to pay in case of a claim.
3. Policy Term: The policy term is the duration for which the policy remains in force. Most policies have a tenure of 1 year, but some policies may have a longer or shorter policy term.
4. Waiting period: The waiting period is the period that must elapse before the policy benefits can be availed. The waiting period can be of different types like an initial waiting period, pre-existing illness waiting period, and a critical illness waiting period. The waiting period can usually range from 3- 30 days to 4 years for most policies.
5. Exclusions: Exclusions are certain conditions or expenses that are not covered by the policy. It is important to know the exclusions of a policy before buying it.
6. No Claim Bonus (NCB): NCB is a bonus given to policyholders who do not make any claims during the policy term. This bonus can be used to get a discount on the premium when the policy is renewed.
Advantages of Health Insurance Plans
The advantages of health insurance plans are:
- Covers Ambulatory Patient Service
Ambulatory patient care refers to a patient being treated without being admitted to the hospital. The treatment can include doctor consultation, various diagnostic tests and medicines. Insurance companies offer various plans which cover ambulatory patient service.
- Inpatient Care
The policy also provides inpatient treatment coverage, including room rent, ICU charges, cost of medicines, and other expenses incurred during hospitalization.
- Cashless hospitalization facility
Almost every health insurance plan offers a cashless hospitalization facility. This is one of the most essential benefits, as it offers financial support for meeting medical expenses during hospitalization. The insurance company will make the payment directly to the hospital, and you will only have to pay the deductible amount if any.
- Funds dental treatment
One of the significant benefits of having a health insurance policy is that it takes care of dental treatment. Dental treatment can be expensive, and not all policies cover it. It is important to check if your policy covers dental treatment before you purchase it.
The Bottom Line
Health insurance is an integral part of financial planning for both individuals and families. It helps protect you from high medical costs in an unforeseen illness or injury. There are a variety of health insurance plans available in India, each with its advantages and features. Be sure to research and choose a plan that best meets your needs.