What are the benefits of buying a health insurance policy?
In India, there are numerous benefits to having a comprehensive health insurance plan.
fulfills all OPD requirements : Your health insurance plan is designed to pay for all of your medical expenses, both minor and
major, including cashless routine diagnostic tests, pharmacy visits, and teleconsultations with
doctors.
Pre- and post-hospitalisation coverage : Coverage for medical costs incurred both before and after hospitalization is one of the main
advantages of having health insurance.
includes pre-existing conditions : A health plan will pay for a pre-existing condition after the waiting period specified in the policy
certificate has passed.
offers cashless medical care : You do not need to worry about making arrangements to pay your hospital bill with cash when
you are admitted to the hospital. If the hospital is in your health insurance network, your insurer
will handle the payment directly with the facility.
Allows you to claim a tax benefit : Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, of 1961 allows you to claim a tax deduction for health
insurance premiums.
offers a higher sum insured : Having good health has advantages of its own. As stated in the policy certificate of your health
plan, you are eligible for an increase in the sum insured for each year without a claim.
Why Buy a Health Insurance Plan?
Financial Protection : Financial security is one of the main advantages of a health insurance plan. Significant costs
associated with medical emergencies can upset a person's finances. A health insurance plan
relieves financial strain by paying all or a portion of these costs, acting as a safety net.
Access to Quality Healthcare : A health insurance plan gives people access to a large network of medical facilities and
providers. It guarantees that policyholders receive timely medical care without sacrificing the
standard of care.
Cashless Treatment : A lot of health insurance plans offer cashless treatment centers. Network hospitals offer medical
services to policyholders without requiring them to pay out-of-pocket. The process of
reimbursement is streamlined when the insurance company pays the hospital directly.
Types of Health Insurance Plans
Selecting the appropriate health insurance plan guarantees sufficient coverage and benefits.
There are numerous varieties of health insurance plans available in India, depending on an
individual's needs and preferences.
Individual Health Insurance plan : Individual Health Insurance plan policies provide coverage to a single person against medical
expenses. It offers financial protection for hospitalization, surgeries, treatments, and other
healthcare-related costs. The premium for an individual Health Insurance plan is determined
based on factors such as age, medical history, and sum insured.
Family Floater Health Insurance plan : The Family Floater Health Insurance plan covers the entire family under a single policy. It offers
a defined sum insured that any family member can utilize per their medical needs. The benefit
of shared coverage for every family member is included in the premium, which is determined by
the age of the oldest member.
Group Health Insurance plan : Employers or organizations offer their employees or members a group health insurance plan. It
provides coverage under a master policy to a group of people. Hospitalization, pre-existing
conditions, and other benefits may be covered, depending on the terms of the policy, and the
premium is typically less than that of individual policies.
Senior Citizen Health Insurance plan : These plans are intended for people who are older than a specific age, usually sixty or sixty-five.
These policies provide coverage for age-related illnesses, pre-existing conditions, and other
medical expenses, and they are tailored to meet the specific healthcare needs of senior citizens.
The increased health risks that come with getting older could result in a higher premium.
Critical Illness Insurance :Critical conditions like cancer, heart disease, kidney failure, and stroke are covered by critical
illness insurance. Upon diagnosis of a covered illness, the policyholder receives a lump sum
payment, regardless of the amount of medical expenses incurred. This kind of insurance helps
people manage the cost of expensive medical procedures and specialized care.
Maternity Health Insurance plan : Plans for Maternity Health Insurance cover costs associated with pregnancy, such as prenatal
and postpartum care, delivery, and caring for a newborn. These plans frequently include
benefits like pre- and post-delivery consultations, hospitalization costs, and newborn
vaccinations; however, there may be a waiting period before coverage can be obtained.
Top-up and Super Top-up Health Insurance Plans : Super top-up and top-up Plans for health insurance serve as extra coverage on top of an
existing policy for health insurance. These plans kick in once the primary policy's insured
amount is depleted. They help people improve their overall coverage and offer additional
coverage at a comparatively lower premium.
How Does Critical Illness Plan Work?
Insurance against critical illnesses Plans to provide policyholders who are diagnosed with a
covered critical illness during the policy term with a lump sum payout. Once the diagnosis is
verified and the policyholder has endured the predetermined waiting period—typically 30
days—this payout is normally made. This lump sum payment is available to the policyholder for
use however they see fit, including for household expenses, medical treatment, or other needs
related to the illness.
How to Choose Critical Illness Policy?
If you intend to purchase a critical illness policy and would like assistance selecting a plan,
Choosing a Policy : First, you need to select a critical illness insurance plan that meets your needs. The diseases
covered by a policy, the extent of coverage, and the premiums can all differ.
Payment of Premiums : Depending on your policy, you will be required to pay the insurance company regular premiums,
which may be due monthly or annually.
Diagnosis of a Covered Illness : If a covered critical illness is diagnosed during the policy term, you may be eligible to make a
claim.
Lump Sum Payout : If the insurance company can validate your claim, it will pay out in full. Usually tax-free, you can
use this money for anything you want, like paying off debt, paying for medical expenses, or even
treating yourself to a well-earned vacation.
Heart and Cancer Policy coverage
An essential insurance policy that is most popular in India is called a "Heart and Cancer Policy."
These two disorders can be expensive to diagnose and treat, and they are among the most
common causes of major health problems in the world. Typically, a heart and cancer policy provides coverage for:
Heart-Related Illnesses : These include heart attacks, coronary artery disease, and other cardiac-related disorders. The
policy may cover medical treatments, surgeries, hospitalization, and related expenses.
Cancer critical illness insurance plan : Coverage is extended to various forms of cancer, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate
cancer, and many others. It may cover the costs of cancer treatments, surgeries, chemotherapy,
radiation therapy, and other cancer-related medical expenses.
Premium in Critical Illness Plan
Age, amount of coverage, and pre-existing conditions all affect how much a critical illness plan
costs. In general, premiums are cheap, which means that many people can afford them.
Depending on the specifics of the policy, premiums may be paid annually or in smaller, easier-
to-manage installments.
Payout of Sum Insured in Critical Illness Plan
Upon the diagnosis of a covered critical illness, the sum insured under Critical Illness Plans is
paid out as a lump sum. The payout is typically tax-free and can be used at the policyholder's
discretion. This money can be used to pay for ongoing medical care, household expenses, out-
of-pocket expenses, or any other needs related to the illness.
How can I save on taxes with a health insurance policy?
- If you are under 60 years old, you can receive a tax exemption on your health insurance
policy premium of up to ₹25,000 under the Income Tax Act of 1961.
- The maximum tax deduction that senior citizens are eligible for is ₹50,000 for their policy
premium.
- The maximum deduction that can be made if the premium is paid for both individuals
and parents under the age of sixty-five is ₹50,000.
- The maximum deduction allowed is ₹75,000 if the premium is paid for parents over 60
but for an individual and family under 60.
- The maximum tax deduction of ₹1 lakh applies to the premium if both the individual and
their parents are over 60.
- An extra ₹5,000 can be deducted for preventive health examinations. This can't,
however, go over the ₹25,000 or ₹50,000 maximum deduction threshold, which varies
based on the insured person's health policy.
- The Income Tax Act of 1961's Section 80D permits these deductions.
What are the health insurance eligibility criteria?
- For the proposer to be eligible for health insurance, they must be older than 21.
- For a family floater policy, a child must be older than three months to be eligible for
health coverage.
- The family floater policy allows up to two adults and two kids at the most.
- You must have a medical examination at our designated center if you are older than 56.
Your eligibility for health insurance will be assessed based on your current state of
health and any prior medical conditions.
What should you consider before buying health insurance?
NCB or No Claim Bonus : The no-claim bonus, or NCB, is the amount of money you get from your health insurance if you
go an entire year without making a claim. You should choose a medical insurance plan that
offers the maximum No Claim Bonus/Cumulative Bonus for each year without a claim if you
want to increase your sum insured. The NCB Plans are offered by the No Claim Bonus on a
twice, three, five-, and ten-times sum-insured basis.
No Copayment : In the event of no copayment, the policyholder is protected by coverage that should serve as a
safety net to preserve their savings and is released from having to pay any emergency out-of-
pocket costs.
No room capping : As long as the amount stays within the predetermined sum assured, health insurance providers'
no room capping policy does not restrict the coverage offered for room rental charges. You can
claim the full amount of room rent paid under medical insurance, especially if you have been
admitted to an ICU or private room, which usually has higher fees.
When you are assigned a premium or deluxe private room, you can also avoid paying extra for
incidentals and medications if there is no cap on room rent.
Waiting period : The amount of time you must wait after obtaining health insurance before you are qualified for
benefits is known as the waiting period. It is recommended that you purchase health insurance
policies with no waiting period and that you submit a claim as soon as the policy is triggered.
You can also file a claim for unintentional hospital expenses as soon as you buy your policy.
Claim Settlement Ratio : The ratio of claims made to claims settled during the fiscal year is known as the claim
settlement ratio. It also aids the insurer in determining how well-equipped the insurance
company is to manage the client's claim. For this reason, you must review the claim settlement
ratio before purchasing any health insurance policies.
