List of Different Types of Non-Medical Expenses in Health Insurance

What are Non-Medical Expenses in Health Insurance?

Non-medical expenses are the expenses incurred on several items used during hospitalization that are not included in health insurance coverage. The Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (IRDAI) of India has excluded the coverage of such expenses under health insurance to prevent its misuse.

Therefore, your insurance company will not pay for your non-medical expenses during claim settlement and you will have to pay for them from your own pockets.

List of Non-Medical Expenses in Health Insurance

The IRDAI has categorized non-medical expenses based on hospitalization and the treatment taken. It has also listed some optional items that are also excluded from a health plan. Take a look at the different types of non-medical expenses as listed by IRDAI below:

Non-Medical Expenses Under Treatment Costs:

The cost of the following items used during the treatment is not covered:

• Registration/admission charges
• Disinfectant, spirit & hydrogen peroxide
• Infusion pump charges
• Nutritionists or dietician charges
• Urine container
• Diabetic footwear
• Antiseptic mouthwash
• Blood reservation cost
• Vaccination cost
• HIV kit

Non-Medical Expenses Under Hospital Room Charges:

The expenses related to the following items used during hospital room stay are not covered:

• Gown
• Hand wash
• Pulse oximeter charges
• Housekeeping charges
• Tissue paper
• Hot pack/ cold pack
• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Comb, slippers & caps
• Foot cover
• Buds

Non-Medical Expenses Under Procedure Costs:

The cost of the following items used during a surgical procedure is not covered:

• Surgical blades
• Bandages & cotton
• Disposable razors
• Arthroscopy and Endoscopy instrument charges
• Gauze blades
• Harmon scalpel blades
• Eye pad
• Hair removal cream
• Surgical drill
• Apron

Other Non-Payable Medical Expenses:

The following non-medical expenses are not covered:

• Needles, syringes & sterilized injections
• Medicine box
• Referral doctor’s fees
• Digestion gels
• Paper gloves
• Washing charges
• Barber charges

Optional Items:

The cost of the following optional items is also excluded:

• Thermometer
• Food (apart from hospital food)
• Mineral water
• Laundry/ attendant charges
• Baby food
• Nebulizer kit
• Belts/braces
• Carry bags
• Beauty services

Things to Remember About Non-Medical Expenses in Health Insurance

Take a look at a few things that you must remember about non-medical expenses:

• If you get hospitalized, any non-medical expenses will not be covered under your health insurance policy as per the guidelines of IRDAI.
• The IRDAI listed non-medical expenses are standard and can also be found in your policy documents.
• Make sure to check your policy document to know about the non-medical expenses excluded under your policy. This will help you to avoid any surprises during claim settlement.
• Knowing about non-medical expenses under your policy will help you to curtail your out-of-pocket expenses. It will prevent you from spending a lot on items that are not covered by your policy and thus, your out-of-pocket expenditure will reduce.
• Some health plans may cover non-medical expenses as an add-on cover. In such cases, you can buy this cover for an additional premium amount to eliminate any out-of-pocket expenses.

Summing It Up

Non-medical expenses are an inevitable part of every hospitalization. But unfortunately, you cannot claim these expenses under your health insurance policy. To reduce your out-of-pocket expenses and avoid any hassles, make sure to go through the list of non-medical expenses excluded in health insurance as per IRDAI.