Health Insurance

Health Insurance is a type of insurance that covers the medical expenses of the insured due to an illness or accident in exchange for a premium amount. It enables the insurance company to provide medical coverage for hospitalization expenses, day care procedures, critical illnesses, etc. A health plan also offers multiple benefits, including cashless hospitalization and free medical check-ups.

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*Tax benefit is subject to changes in tax laws. Standard T&C Apply

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      What is Health Insurance?

      Health Insurance is a contract between the policyholder and the insurer where the health insurance company provides financial coverage to the insured up to the sum insured limit. It offers medical coverage for healthcare expenses incurred during an emergency or planned hospitalization. It also provides tax savings on the premium paid to the insurance company under Section 80D of the Income Tax, 1961.

      expert-advice-quotes
      Directly from experts

      When you buy from Policybazaar, you are ensuring your well-being is prioritized during the time of need. Our dedicated 50-member claims team exclusively deals with health insurance claims, offering support to individuals, families, and even the elderly living alone.

      We also offer on-ground claims support across more than 120 Indian cities, helping with every claim-related phase, including paperwork and coordinating with the insurer and the hospital.

      Our 'Claims Samadhan Diwas', a customer-centric initiative helps customers settle under process or rejected claims with their insurance company. You can be confident that you are getting more than just an insurance policy – you are getting a partner who will be with you at every step of the way.

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      Siddharth Singhal
      Business Head – Health Insurance
      Siddharth Singhal

      Health Insurance at a Glance

      Categories Specifications
      Sum Insured ₹50,000 to up to ₹6 crore
      Maternity Cover Available
      Pre & Post-hospitalization Expenses Covered
      OPD Cover Available
      ICU Charges Covered
      Free Health Check-ups Available
      Pre-existing Diseases Covered*
      Ambulance Cover Available
      Day Care Procedures Covered
      Tax Benefits Up to ₹75,000 per financial year

      *Pre-existing diseases are covered after the waiting period is over.

      Benefits of Buying Health Insurance Plans Online

      Buying a health insurance policy online comes with several benefits. Take a look at them below:

      • Easier to Compare Plans – It is easier to compare health insurance plans from different insurers online at websites like Policybazaar.com to make an informed decision.
      • More Convenient – It is more convenient to buy the policy online as you do not have to visit the branch of the insurance company or take an appointment to meet an insurance agent.
      • Online Discounts – It allows you to avail discount on premiums for buying the policy online.
      • Lower Premiums – Health plans are available for a lower premium online as insurance companies save a lot on operational costs.
      • Minimal Paperwork – The process of buying a health insurance policy online involves minimum to zero paperwork.
      • Policy Available 24x7 – A health insurance policy can be purchased online any time of the day, even on public holidays, which is not possible in offline buying.
      • Digital Payment Options – It allows you to avoid cash payments and use digital payments methods to pay the premium online safely.
      • Instant Policy Purchase – A health insurance policy is issued instantly when purchased online unlike offline buying.
      • Time-saving – It saves you a lot of time as the policy is issued within a few minutes of buying.
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      Health Insurance buying checklist

      Waiting Period

      You should buy a health insurance policy with a minimal waiting period. The lower is the waiting period, the sooner you will be able to avail coverage. You should go through the policy terms & conditions carefully and check the waiting period before buying a policy. Read more
      health

      Co-payment

      You should opt for a health insurance plan with no co-payment. Without co-payment, you will not have to make any out-of-pocket expenses for each claim. You can check the policy documents to know about any applicable co-payment before buying the policy. Read more

      Preventive Health Check-up

      You must choose a health insurance plan that offers free preventive health check-up facilities every year. With this benefit, you don’t need to pay for annual medical examinations. You can check the policy benefits while buying to know about preventive health check-up facilities. Read more

      Grace Period

      You should buy a health insurance policy that offers the maximum grace period. A bigger grace period gives you more time to renew your policy after the due date has passed. You can read the policy wordings to find the exact grace period available under the policy. Read more

      Restore Benefits

      You should purchase a health insurance plan that offers 100% restore benefits. With restore benefit, your sum insured amount will be fully restored as soon as it gets exhausted after a claim. You can check the policy documents to know if the restore benefit is available Read more

      No Claim Bonus

      You should pick a health insurance plan with the maximum No Claim Bonus/Cumulative Bonus for every claim-free year. The higher is your No Claim Bonus, the higher will be the increase in your sum insured. You must read the policy documents before buying to know about NCB Read more

      Sub-limits

      You should buy a health insurance plan that comes with no sub-limits. Without sub-limits, you will be free to raise a claim up to the sum insured amount. You can go through the policy wordings to find out about any applicable sub-limits under the health plan. Read more

      Network Hospitals

      You should choose a health insurance company with the largest network of hospitals in India. The more is the number of network hospitals, the more likely you are to avail cashless treatment in your locality. You can check the network hospitals’ list before buying a health policy Read more
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      Top Reasons to Buy a Health Insurance Plan

      Medical inflation is increasing every day making treatments expensive. If you get hospitalized for a critical illness or lifestyle disease, you may end up losing all your savings. The only way to afford quality medical treatment during a health emergency is by buying a health insurance policy. Take a look at some of the top reasons to buy a health insurance plan below:

      • Beat Medical Inflation - A health insurance policy can help you pay your medical bills, including pre and post-hospitalization expenses, today as well as in future despite the rising medical costs.
      • Afford Quality Medical Treatment - It helps you to afford the best quality medical treatment and care so that you can focus only on getting cured.
      • Fight Lifestyle Diseases - It allows you to pay for the long-term treatment of lifestyle diseases like cancer, heart attack, etc. that have been on the rise with the changing lifestyles.
      • Protect Your Savings - It helps you to protect your hard-earned savings by covering your medical expenses so that you can avail the required treatment without any financial worries.
      • Avail Cashless Hospitalization Facility - It allows you to obtain a cashless hospitalization facility at any of the network hospitals of your insurance provider by raising a cashless claim.
      • Get Tax Benefits - It enables you to save tax on the health insurance premium that you’ve paid under section 80D of the Income Tax Act for better financial planning.
      • Ensure Peace of Mind - It allows you to obtain medical treatment with peace of mind as you do not have to worry about paying the hefty hospital bills.
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      Key Benefits of Health Insurance Plans in India

      Health insurance plans offer a variety of health benefits to the insured depending on the plan. Following are the key benefits of buying a health insurance plan in India:

      benefits of health insurance plans

      • Hospitalization Expenses - A health insurance plan covers the medical expenses incurred on getting admitted to a hospital for more than 24 hours. It includes room rent, doctor’s fee, medicine cost, diagnostic test fees, etc.
      • Pre & Post Hospitalization Expenses - It covers the medical expenses that you may have incurred on an illness before getting hospitalized as well as follow-up treatment expenses incurred after getting discharged. The pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization expenses are covered up to a fixed number of days as specified in the policy document.
      • ICU Charges - A health insurance plan also covers the cost of availing treatment in an ICU  during hospitalization.
      • Ambulance Cost - It covers the cost of ambulance services availed to reach the nearest hospital during a medical emergency.
      • Cashless Treatments - All health insurance providers in India offer cashless treatment facilities at their network hospitals. You do not have to worry about arranging money to pay the hospital bills if you get admitted to a network hospital as it will be settled by your insurer under cashless claims.
      • Day Care Procedures - It also covers the cost of availing day care treatment that requires hospitalization for less than 24 hours.
      • Pre-existing Diseases - The best health insurance policy also provides coverage for pre-existing diseases after you have completed the waiting period. Usually, pre-existing diseases are covered after a waiting period of 2 to 4 years.
      • AYUSH Treatment - It covers the cost of availing medical treatment through AYUSH school of medicines that includes Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy, Siddha and Yoga.
      • Medical Check-ups - Most health insurance companies in india offer free preventive health check-up facilities to the insured at regular intervals depending on the policy terms and conditions.
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      Best Health Insurance Plans in India

      We at Policybazaar can help you to buy the best health insurance plan that suits your health requirements. Below is the list of health insurance plans offered by the top insurance companies in India. You can do an online comparison and find the best health plan for yourself.

      Health Insurance Plans Sum Insured
      (Rs)
      Network Hospitals Key Benefits
      Aditya Birla Activ Assure Diamond Plan Min – 2 lakh
      Max – 2 crore
      10500+
      • Pre-post hospitalization cover
      • In-patient hospitalization cover
      • Annual health check-ups
      • AYUSH in-patient cover
      • Domestic/international emergency assistance services
      Bajaj Allianz Health Guard Policy Min – 1.5 lakh
      Max – 1 crore
      8000+
      • Preventive health check-ups
      • Pre-post hospitalization cover
      • Maternity expenses
      • In-patient hospitalization cover
      • Convalescence benefit
      Care Health Insurance Plan Min – 3 lakh
      Max – 75 lakh
      21100+
      • In-patient care expenses
      • Annual preventive health check-ups
      • Maternity cover
      • Pre-post hospitalization cover
      • Global treatment cover
      Cholamandalam Flexi Health Supreme Plan Min – 5 lakh
      Max – 5 crore
      10500+
      • Emergency ambulance expenses
      • Maternity expenses
      • In-patient hospitalization expenses
      • Consumables cover
      • Global hospitalization cover
      Digit Health Insurance Plan Min – 2 lakh
      Max – 3 crore
      10500+
      • Hospitalization cover
      • Maternity cover
      • Complimentary health check-ups
      • Psychiatric illness cover
      • Worldwide cover
      Future Generali Health Total Policy Min – 3 lakh
      Max – 1 crore
      8000+
      • Maternity benefit
      • Hospitalization expenses
      • OPD medical expenses
      • Road ambulance charges
      • Medical treatment abroad cover
      IFFCO Tokio Individual Health Protector Plan Min – 50,000
      Max – 20 lakh
      7000+
      • Hospitalization expenses
      • AYUSH hospitalization cover
      • Domiciliary hospitalization cover
      • Critical illness cover
      • Emergency assistance services
      Kotak Mahindra Health Premier Policy Min – 25 lakh
      Max – 2 crore
      7000+
      • In-patient treatment cover
      • Annual health check-ups
      • Maternity cover
      • Home nursing benefit
      • Convalescence benefit
      Liberty HealthPrime Connect Policy Min – 10 lakh
      Max – 1 crore
      5800+
      • Hospital daily cash allowance
      • In-patient treatment expenses
      • Maternity & child care cover
      • Obesity treatment cover
      • Infertility treatment cover
      Magma HDI OneHealth Insurance Plan Min – 2 lakh
      Max – 1 crore
      7200+
      • OPD cover
      • Hospitalization expenses
      • Annual health check-ups
      • Maternity expenses
      • Psychiatric treatment cover
      ManipalCigna ProHealth Insurance Policy Min – 2.5 lakh
      Max – 1 crore
      8500+
      • Hospitalization expenses
      • AYUSH in-patient hospitalization cover
      • Maternity expenses
      • Medical check-ups
      • Worldwide emergency cover
      National Mediclaim Policy (Individual) Min – 1 lakh
      Max – 10 lakh
      6000+
      • In-patient hospitalization expenses
      • Ambulance charges
      • Modern treatment expenses
      • Mental illness cover
      • Hazardous sports cover
      New India Assurance Mediclaim Policy Min – 1 lakh
      Max – 15 lakh
      3100+
      • In-patient hospitalization cover
      • Mental illness cover
      • Day 1 baby cover
      • Hospital cash allowance
      • Treatment for congenital diseases cover
      Niva Bupa (Formerly Max Bupa) ReAssure 2.0 Plan Min – 5 lakh
      Max – 1 crore
      8600+
      • Day care treatment cover
      • In-patient care expenses
      • ReAssure+ benefit
      • Annual health check-ups
      • Booster+ benefit
      Oriental Happy Family Floater Policy Min – 1 lakh
      Max – 50 lakh
      3300+
      • OPD benefit
      • Hospitalization expenses
      • Mental illness cover
      • Maternity benefit
      • Teleconsultation cover
      Raheja Health QuBE Insurance Policy Min – 1 lakh
      Max – 50 lakh
      5000+
      • In-patient hospitalization cover
      • Domiciliary hospitalization cover
      • Organ donor benefit
      • Medical check-ups
      • Non-medical expenses
      Reliance Health Infinity Insurance Policy Min – 3 lakh
      Max – 5 crore
      9100+
      • Emergency ambulance
      • In-patient care expenses
      • Transportation benefit
      • AYUSH benefit
      • Day care procedures
      Royal Sundaram Lifeline Insurance Plan Min – 2 lakh
      Max – 1.5 crore
      10000+
      • OPD treatment cover
      • Emergency domestic evacuation cover
      • In-patient hospitalization expenses
      • Health check-up benefit
      • Worldwide emergency hospitalization cover
      SBI Arogya Supreme Policy Min – 1 lakh
      Max – 5 crore
      20000+
      • Hospitalization expenses
      • Annual health check-ups
      • Mental illness/psychiatric illness cover
      • Bariatric surgery cover
      • Domestic emergency assistance services
      Star Comprehensive Insurance Policy Min – 5 lakh
      Max – 1 crore
      14000+
      • OPD consultation cover expenses
      • In-patient treatment
      • Delivery expenses
      • Health check-up benefit
      • Second medical opinion benefit
      Tata AIG Medicare Premier Policy Min – 5 lakh
      Max – 50 lakh
      7200+
      • In-patient treatment expenses
      • OPD treatment cover
      • Accidental death benefit
      • Global cover
      • Maternity expenses
      United India Individual Health Insurance Policy Min – 2 lakh
      Max – 20 lakh
      3000+
      • Hospitalization expenses
      • In-patient Ayurvedic treatment expenses
      • Health check-ups
      • Day care procedures
      • Domiciliary hospitalization cover
      Universal Sompo Complete Healthcare Insurance Plan Min – 1 lakh
      Max – 50 lakh
      6000+
      • OPD treatment cover
      • Maternity expenses
      • Accidental dental treatment expenses
      • In-patient hospitalization cover
      • Health check-up benefit
      Zuno (Formerly Edelweiss) Health Insurance Policy Min – 1 lakh
      Max – 1 crore
      6000+
      • Day care treatment
      • Pre-post hospitalization cover
      • Maternity benefit
      • Ambulance cover
      • Hospitalization expenses
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      Disclaimer : *Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by an insurer.

      Types of Health Insurance Plans

      family health insurance plans

      Health Insurance for Family

      Family health insurance offers insurance coverage to entire family against a single premium. Under this health plan, a defined sum insured is divided among the members equally, which can be claimed by one or more family members during the policy term.

      senior citizen health insurance plans

      Health Insurance for Senior Citizens

      Senior Citizen health insurance plans offer insurance coverage to the age group of 60 years and above. The health insurance plan covers hospitalization expenses like in-patient, pre and post-hospitalization expenses, OPD expenses, Daycare procedures with tax-saving benefits.

      critical illness health insurance plans

      Health Insurance for Critical Illness

      Critical illness health insurance plans offer a lump sum amount in case the insured is diagnosed with a critical illness such as kidney failure, paralysis, cancer, heart attack, etc. Usually brought as a standalone policy or as a rider, the sum insured is pre-defined

      health insurance plans for parents

      Health Insurance for Parents

      Health insurance for aging parents refers to the senior citizen health plans that are designed for elderly people above the age of 60 years. It is essential for aging parents as they are more vulnerable to health risks like heart ailments, kidney ailments, and other critical illnesses.

      health insurance for coronavirus

      Health Insurance for Coronavirus

      Post COVID-19 outbreak, the IRDAI has also launched two Coronavirus specific health insurance plans i.e. Corona Kavach health plan and Corona Rakshak health insurance plan. Corona kavach is a family floater plan while Corona Rakshak is an individual coverage based plan.

      health insurance for diabetic petients

      Health Insurance for Diabetic

      Health insurance for diabetes covers hospitalization expenses for diabetic patients, who otherwise find it hard to get insurance cover. The policy can cover both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and related medical complications. Tax benefits on the premium can also be availed.

      personal accident health insurance plans

      Personal Accident Health Insurance

      Personal accident insurance is a health policy that reimburses the medical costs incurred on hospitalization due to death or disability caused by an accident. The insurance company pays a certain amount as per the nature of the disability.

      What is Covered in a Health Insurance Plan?

      Most health insurance companies in India cover the following medical expenses under a health insurance policy:

      • In-patient Hospitalization Expenses -The hospitalization expenses incurred during the treatment of an illness or injury are covered provided the hospitalization is for more than 24 hours.
      • Pre-existing Illnesses or Diseases - After the completion of the waiting period, you can file a claim for the expenses incurred on the treatment of any pre-existing illness or condition.
      • Pre and Post Hospitalization Expenses - Medical expenses incurred on blood tests, x-ray, and other medical check-ups that are required before hospitalization are taken care of by the insurance company. Similarly, the cost of medicines and preventive health check-ups that are done to ascertain your health after the discharge from the hospital is covered under the health insurance plan.
      • Ambulance Charges - Although the coverage amount varies from insurer to insurer, most medical insurance plans cover emergency ambulance charges.
      • Maternity Cover - Medical expenses incurred during the pregnancy and delivery are covered along with newborn baby expenses.
      • Preventive Health Check-ups - Regular health check-up facilities are also made available in some health insurance plans in India.
      • Day-care Procedures - Daycare treatments where hospitalization is not required for more than 24 hours are covered. It includes eye surgery, dialysis, and other common daycare surgeries as mentioned in your policy document.
      • Home Treatment Cover - It also covers the expenses incurred on getting medical treatment at home on the advice of a medical practitioner.
      • AYUSH Benefit - A health insurance plan also reimburses the medical costs incurred on Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, or Homeopathy treatment up to a specified limit.
      • Mental Healthcare Cover –All health plans in India cover mental illnesses as per the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. IRDAI has directed all insurers to amend health policies to cover the treatment of mental illnesses, like acute depression, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, etc. by 31st October 2022.
      Read More

      What is Not Covered in a Health Insurance Plan?

      The following medical expenses and situations are not covered in a health insurance plan:

      • Unless there is an accidental emergency, claims arising during the initial 30 days of buying a health insurance plan are not covered.
      • Coverage of pre-existing diseases is subject to a waiting period of 2 to 4 years
      • Critical illnesses coverage usually comes with 90 days waiting period
      • Injuries caused by war/terrorism/ nuclear activity
      • Self-inflicted injuries or suicide attempts
      • Terminal illnesses, AIDS, and other diseases of similar nature
      • Cosmetic/plastic surgery, replacement of hormones surgery, etc.
      • Dental or eye surgery expenses
      • Bed rest/hospitalization and rehabilitation, common illnesses, etc.
      • Treatment/diagnostic tests and post-care procedures
      • Claims arising out of adventure sports injuries
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      Note: It is recommended to check your policy wordings to get a detailed list of exclusions.

      Key Factors to Consider before Buying a Health Insurance Plan

      There are a few factors that you should consider closely to make the right decision while buying a health insurance plan:

      • Check the Scope of Coverage -The policy coverage and the sum insured amount will decide the type of illnesses and surgeries that you can claim during the policy term. Closely look at the benefits offered like hospitalization expenses, daily cash benefit, COVID hospitalization cover, critical illness cover, maternity cover, etc. while choosing a health plan.
      • Adequate Sum Insured - The sum insured amount is a crucial deciding factor in selecting a medical insurance policy. Looking at the ongoing inflation it is advisable to buy a health insurance plan with a minimum sum insured of Rs 10 lakh that can go up to Rs 1 crore. If it’s a family floater policy or senior citizen insurance, the higher the sum insured the better the coverage will be.
      • Policy Type - There are different types of medical insurance policies that are available in India. As per your requirement, you can choose to buy individual health insurance, senior citizen health insurance, family floater or critical illness plans. Moreover, you can buy Top up and Super Top up health insurance along with your existing health plan to enhance the coverage. This is beneficial in case your base sum insured gets exhausted during the treatment. You can choose this option at the time of policy purchase and renewal. 
      • Waiting Period Clause - Your health insurance policy only comes into action once the initial waiting period is over. If any claim is filed during the initial waiting period except for accidental hospitalization claims, the insurer can reject it. Moreover, the waiting period clause also applies to pre-existing diseases like thyroid, blood pressure, diabetes, etc.  It is also applicable to specific illnesses, treatments, and maternity cover. You can choose a plan with a minimal waiting period.
      • Co-payment Clause - Your medical insurance policy may have a co-payment clause, which means a certain percentage of the claim amount should be borne by you (insured). The co-payment option does not have any effect on the sum insured. It allows you to reduce your premium to a certain extent but certainly increases your out-of-pocket expenses. Only opt for this clause if you can pay off a portion of your hospitalization bills, that can be 10% and above without a financial burden.
      • Room Rent Sub-limits - A health insurance plan may have various sub-limits and the most common one is the room rent sub-limit. For instance, if your medical insurance policy comes with a sum insured of Rs 3 lakh with a sub-limit of 1%on daily room rent, then your room cost will be covered up to Rs 3,000 per day. Any additional amount on room rent will have to be paid from your own pocket. So, a health plan with no or minimal sub-limits is advisable.
      • Network of Cashless Hospitals - Check the list of network hospitals for an insurance company where cashless claims can be filed. The maximum number of network hospitals you have in your vicinity,the better are the chances of availing cashless hospitalization benefits.  
      • Lifelong Renewability Option - Medical insurance policies are usually renewed every year. When the policy term is about to end, in order to continue the insurance coverage, the insured has to pay the insurance premium at the time of renewal. When buying a health insurance plan, choosing a plan with a lifetime renewal option is beneficial in the long run.
      • Premium Loading Factor - Premium Loading is the additional amount that is charged to a risk-prone policyholder in the premium, especially in senior citizen health insurance plans. Choosing a medical insurance plan with no loading will save you from paying an extra premium. Some insurers also charge a claim loading. This aspect, though ignored in the beginning, usually increases your out-of-the-pocket expenses at the time of claim.
      • Check the Claim Settlement Ratio - This is an important criterion to assess the credentials of an insurer. You should always go with a company with a good claim settlement record. A claim settlement ratio above 80% can be an ideal choice.
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      Health Insurance Riders

      Riders in health insurance are the additional coverage that you can purchase to avail extra benefits and make your health policy more comprehensive. The cost of the health insurance rider depends on your age, sum insured, type of coverage, etc. Take a look at the five most common riders that you can consider buying under your health insurance policy:

      • Maternity Cover Rider- The maternity cover rider can help you to get your maternity expenses covered, including childbirth, pre and post-natal expenses, etc. Some insurers may offer coverage for newborn baby expenses until the end of the policy tenure. However, this rider comes with a waiting period that may range from 2 years to 6 years depending on the health insurer.
      • Critical Illness Rider- The critical illness rider will ensure that your health insurance policy covers critical illnesses, such as heart attack, cancer, etc., diagnosed for the first time during the policy tenure. It will provide you with a lump sum benefit amount irrespective of the actual medical expenses incurred during the treatment. It comes with a waiting period of 90 days & a survival period of 30 days and covers about 10 to 40 critical diseases depending on the insurer.
      • Personal Accident Rider- The personal accident rider can help you get compensation from your insurer in case an accidental injury leads to your disability or death. It will pay you the entire sum insured in case of permanent total disability but only a part of the sum insured depending on the nature of the injury in case of partial disability. It is also known as the double indemnity rider as your family will get an additional death benefit in case of accidental death.
      • Hospital Cash Rider- The hospital cash rider enables you to get a fixed daily cash allowance from your insurer to cover incidental expenses that you may incur during hospitalization for an injury or illness. It offers twice the coverage amount for a specific number of days in case you are admitted to the ICU. The daily cash amount may vary as per the policy terms and opted coverage. However, you need to be hospitalized for at least 24 hours  to activate this rider.
      • Room Rent Waiver- The room rent waiver ensures that your health insurance policy covers the rent for the hospital room of your choice during hospitalization. It ensures that no cap on room rent applies to you and thus, allows you to opt for a room with higher sub-limits or no sub-limits without paying extra money from your pockets.
      Read More

      Does Your Health Insurance Policy Cover Coronavirus (COVID-19) Treatment?

      Yes, your existing health insurance policy covers the cost of COVID-19 treatment. Several health insurers and general insurers have already launched health insurance plans for coronavirus that cover the medical expenses incurred on the treatment of coronavirus. After the IRDAI guidelines, two special standard health insurance products, namely Corona Kavach policy and Corona Rakshak policy were launched and are being purchased by a lot of people already. Lets’ check out these two COVID insurance products and how they are different from basic health plans.

      • Corona Kavach Policy

        It is an indemnity based health insurance plan that covers COVID hospitalization expenses, home treatment, and AYUSH treatment costs. The cost of masks, gloves, ventilators, oxygen cylinders, PPE kits, is also covered.

      • Corona Rakshak Policy

        Corona Rakshak policy is a benefit based product that provides a lump sum payment for hospitalization (minimum 72 hours) expenses upon the diagnosis of coronavirus during the policy term. The minimum policy term is 3.5 months and the maximum is 9.5 months.

      Eligibility Criteria to Buy a Health Insurance Plan

      The eligibility criteria to buy a health insurance plan depends on a number of factors such as the age of the policyholder, pre-existing diseases, etc. In most health insurance plans, the following eligibility criteria should be met:

      Criteria Specifications
      Age Criteria for Adults Entry age for Adults: 18 to 65 years
      Age Criteria for Dependent Children Entry age for Children: 90 days to 25 years
      Pre-medical Screening Above the age of 45/55/60 years
      Pre-existing Disease waiting period 2 years to 4 years

      Age Criteria- The entry age criteria for adults and children varies and can range from 18-65 years and 90 days to 25 years respectively. The actual age can vary from one medical insurance policy to another.

      Pre-medical Screening- Pre-medical examination is required for applicants mostly above the age of 45 years or 55 years. However, most of the senior citizen health plans require pre-medical tests before policy issuance.

      Pre-existing Diseases- Any pre-existing illness is covered after the completion of the waiting period i.e. 2-4 years. Most health insurers ask the applicant if they are going through any medical conditions like blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, kidney problems, etc. at the time of buying a health insurance plan. If you are a smoker or an alcoholic, then you need to disclose it to the insurance company.

      Do not keep it as a secret as it may cause problems at the time of claim settlement. It can even lead to rejection of you claims. Based on this criterion the insurance company decides to offer medical coverage to the applicant.

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      Why Compare Health Insurance Plans Online?

      Comparing health insurance quotes online helps you in choosing the best health plan to suit your healthcare needs. Sometimes, it can also get confusing to select the best health insurance plan as so many insurers offer different health insurance products with impressive features.

      Thankfully, Policybazaar.com understands the confusion of the customers and hence, offers a platform where you can compare different health insurance plans’ features, sum insured and quotes online. Here are some of the major advantages of comparing and buying a health insurance plan online:

      • Access to Accurate Information: It offers easy access to every medical insurance policy available in the market. It also saves the buyers from dealing with the insurance agents who are known to provide unreliable and biased information most of the time.
      • Easy Comparison of Different Health Plans: Comparing different health insurance plans online is both time-saving and convenient. You don’t have to keep meeting with the agents to compare and choose the best plans. Additionally, several tasks, such as paying premiums, renewing the health insurance plans, etc., are also easier via online mode.
      • Find a Policy with Suitable Premiums: If a customer buys a health plan online, he/she will be able to compare the premium and opt for the one that fits in the budget. Also, no brokerage or agent fees are levied and hence, the buyer ends up saving a significant amount of money.
      • Availability of Provider/Plan Reviews: You can check an insurance company’s ability to meet your claim requests by comparing the Claim Settlement Ratios online on our website. Doing so will help you get an overall idea of an insurer’s reputation, enabling you to make an informed decision.
      Read More

      *All savings are provided by the insurer as per the IRDAI approved insurance plan. Standard T&C apply.

      Some Myths about Health Insurance

      Before buying a health insurance policy, you must be aware of how it works. Mentioned below are some popular myths that most people believe about health insurance:

      • I am Healthy, and I Don't Need Medical Insurance

        Despite taking good care of your health, there are numerous unforeseen circumstances, like seasonal illnesses, dengue, malaria, or an accident, that can hit anyone anytime. Nowadays, hospitalization expenses are not easy to pay off. Even 2 days of hospitalization would cost you somewhere between Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh and even more (depending on the type of illness and hospital). A medical insurance plan provides financial assistance to pay for expensive hospitalization costs.

      • My Health Insurance will Cover all the Medical Expenses

        As per the IRDAI regulations, all health insurance plans come with a set of exclusions/limitations. It is advised to check all the policy details and the coverage mentioned in the plan. The insurer will only compensate for the expenses that are covered in the policy and up to the sum insured limit.

      • Declaration of Pre-existing Diseases

        It is essential to declare all your pre-existing diseases in the proposal form. You must mention pre-existing diseases clearly before buying a health insurance policy. Inadequate information can lead to rejection of the claim and can cost more than the expected amount.

      • Smokers are not Eligible to Buy a Health Insurance Plan

        As per a survey, nearly 49% of the applicants who consume alcohol are perplexed to buy a health insurance policy. But there are health insurance companies that offer medical insurance coverage to them as well. Taking into consideration the risks, alcohol consumers, and smokers would need to undergo a stringent pre-medical examination and pay a higher premium to get health insurance coverage.

      • Medical Insurance will only Cover Hospitalization Expenses

        Though most health insurance plans cover medical expenses for hospitalization of more than 24-hours, there are plans that have a capping on the duration of hospitalization as well. Most insurers these days cover daycare procedures as well, where it is not required to be hospitalized for at least 24-hours. It includes cataract surgery, varicose veins surgery and similar medical procedures.

      • I am Covered Under a Group or Corporate Health Insurance Plan!

        Most people rely on the health insurance plan that is provided by their employer. It is important to know that a group health insurance policy comes with a set of limitations. It will not offer coverage to your family members in most of the cases, the sum assured will not be sufficient, or it will not cover critical illnesses. Also, getting health insurance coverage after retirement or losing a job can prove to be an expensive affair.

      How to Calculate Health Insurance Premium?

      In order to keep the policy in force, regular payment of a fixed premium is essential. Did you ever think about how this premium is calculated? There are certain factors that affect health insurance premiums such as the medical background of your family, sum insured, cumulative bonus, your personal medical history and so on.

      Based on that, you might want to calculate your premium to figure out how much you would have to pay for the policy. It can be done through a health insurance premium calculator. A premium calculator is an online tool that calculates the premium to be paid as per the information provided by you, such as the preferred sum insured, age of the insured, etc. At Policybazaar.com, you can calculate your health insurance premium online easily.

      Which Factors Affect Health Insurance Premium?

      With the advancement in medical facilities, health care costs have also increased. The main benefit of health insurance is that it takes care of healthcare expenses. It offers financial security to you and your family in the event of an unanticipated serious illness or accidental injuries that could drain all your savings. Here is how the cost of your insurance premium is determined:

      • Medical History: Your medical history is one of the major determinants of the health insurance premium. Almost all health insurers in India make pre-medical tests mandatory (after a certain age) before buying a health insurance policy.

        While some insurance companies don’t make medical screening mandatory, they do consider your current medical conditions, lifestyle-related health risks and the medical background of your family. That is why medical insurance premium for smokers is higher than other people.
      • Gender and Age: Age is another important determinant of the medical insurance premium. The premium varies based on the age of the insured person. That is why it is recommended to buy a policy at a young age because the cost of the premium is low for young applicants.

        Elderly people are vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases, and other critical illnesses such as cancer, kidney problems, etc. For this reason, senior citizens' medical insurance premium is usually on the higher side. Also, the cost of the premium for women's health insurance is lower in comparison to the male candidates due to the lower risk of stroke, heart attack, etc.
      • Policy Term :The premium for a 2-year health insurance plan will be higher than a 1-year plan. However, almost all insurance companies offer a discount on long-term medical insurance plans.
      • Type of Health Insurance Plan: The type of health insurance policy you select also affects the cost of the premium. The higher is the coverage, the higher will be the premium. With the help of an online health insurance premium calculator, you can compare the premium for different health insurance plans before buying.
      • No-Claim-Discount: If you have not made any claim during your previous policy term, then you can earn NCB or No Claim Bonus discount. Also known as a cumulative bonus, the savings on premium ranges from 5 to 50 percent depending on the number of claim-free years. It is also one of the most important factors that are taken into consideration while calculating the cost of the premium.
      • Lifestyle: If you drink or smoke regularly, chances are high that you will be charged more premium amount. In some cases, the insurer can also reject your medical insurance policy request.
      Read More

      *All savings are provided by the insurer as per the IRDAI approved insurance plan. Standard T&C apply.

      How to File a Health Insurance Claim?

      Health insurance plans come with additional benefits of cashless treatment and expense reimbursement by the insurer. One can file a claim for expenses incurred as per the sum insured limit of the health insurance policy. Following are the two types of claim processes:

      1. Health Reimbursement Claims

      For the treatments availed in the non-network hospitals, the policyholder can file a claim for reimbursement of the treatment charges. Once the treatment is completed, the insured needs to settle the bill, collect all the documents, and then file a claim with the Insurer or the TPA for reimbursement. 

      2. Cashless Claims

      If the treatment is availed in a network hospital or cashless hospital, then the policyholder will be eligible to avail cashless treatment services. Once the treatment is completed the insurance company settles the bill directly with the hospital.

      For both cashless and reimbursement claims the procedure for planned and emergency hospitalization may vary as given below:

      In Case of Planned Hospitalization

          • In case of planned hospitalization, you need to inform the insurer at least 48-hours before the treatment.
          • Once you get the approval from the TPA, you can then file for reimbursement and cashless claims on submission of the claim form
          • Also, submit other related documents like medical bills, reports, discharge summary, etc.
          • Once the approval is provided, the claim amount is paid to you by the insurer in case of reimbursement claims.
          • In the case of cashless claims, the hospital bill is directly settled by the insurer 

      In Case of Emergency Hospitalization

        • In case of emergency hospitalization, you need to inform the insurer within 24hours of getting hospitalized.
        • Showcase your health card at the hospital
        • Submit the pre-authorization form to get TPA approval for emergency hospitalization for cashless claims
        • If approved, the insurer will settle the claim amount directly with the network hospital
        • If you fail to get TPA approval, you would need to file for reimbursement later.
        • Submit all the required documents like hospital bills, discharge bills, etc.,
        • The claim amount will be paid to you.
      Read More

      Documents Required for Health Insurance Claim Reimbursement

      In the event of a hospitalization, the policyholder needs to submit certain documents as mentioned below:

      • Discharge card issued by the hospital/network hospital
      • In-patient hospitalization bills signed by insured for authenticity
      • Doctors’ prescriptions and medical store bills
      • Claim-form with insured’s signature on it
      • Valid investigation report
      • Consumables and disposables prescribed by the doctors with complete details
      • Bills of doctors’ consultation
      • Copies of the Insurance policy from the previous year and the current year/copy of ID Card of TPA
      • Any other document(s) asked by the TPA

      How to Buy Best Health Insurance Plans Online from Policybazaar?

      Buying health insurance can be easy if you approach the right channel. Having said this, Policybazaar.com can be a good platform for choosing the right insurance policy. Policybazaar Insurance Broker Private Limited has made the process of comparing & buying a health insurance policy easier in comparison to earlier days. A person has easy access to complete details of almost all health insurance plans available in the Indian insurance market at a competitive price.

      Policybazaar.com helps you to compare numerous health insurance plans and zero down on the plan that best fulfills your needs. Moreover, the post-sale services are extended to the customers online as well even at the time of medical insurance claim.

      Steps to Buy a Health Insurance Plan Online from Policybazaar

      To get insured from the comforts of your home, you can buy health insurance online from Policybazaar Insurance Broker Private Limited. No medicals are required and payment can be made online. Steps to buy a health insurance plan online from Policybazaar are listed below:

      Step 1- Select Male/Female and enter your full name

      Step 2- Enter your correct phone number, and click on view plans and select your age

      Step 3- Click on continue and your city where you are living in and the pin code

      Step 4- Click on Yes or No, if you take any medications

      Step 5- Select the best health insurance plan from the options that are displayed. Choose ‘Get Free Advice’ if you want suggestions or help

      Step 6- Select and compare the different health insurance plans on Policybazaar.com. You can choose the personalized plans options as well.

      Step 7- Once the plan is selected, you can pay the premium or speak to our customer care representative to take you through different options.

      Step 8- Make an informed decision and pay the premium. Once all the steps are completed, the policy will be emailed to your registered email-id.

      Read More

      Documents Required for Health Insurance

      Take a look at the list of KYC documents required to buy or renew health insurance in India:

      • Aadhaar Card
      • Driving License
      • Passport
      • Voter ID Card
      • Letter by the National Population Register with demographic details
      • Job Card NREGA signed by a state government officer
      • Any other document notified by the central government in consultation with the IRDAI

      *All savings are provided by the insurer as per the IRDAI approved insurance plan. Standard T&C apply.

      Common Health Insurance Terms

      Take a look at some of the most common health insurance terms that you may across:

      AYUSH Treatment

      AYUSH treatment refers to medical treatments taken through Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy system of medicines. Several health insurance plans cover AYUSH treatment costs.

      Bariatric Surgery

      Bariatric surgery or weight-loss surgery refers to the surgery performed to treat obesity or reduce the weight of a person. A lot of health insurance policy offers coverage for bariatric surgery.

      Claim

      Claim refers to the request made to the insurance company by the policyholder to pay the medical expenses incurred on an illness or hospitalization under the health insurance policy. In the absence of a claim, you will have to pay for the medical expenses on your own.

      Co-payment

      Co-payment refers to a fixed percentage of the claim amount that the policyholder has to pay at the time of claim settlement. Opting for a co-payment can help to reduce your premium amount.

      Coverage

      Coverage refers to the extent of benefits available under a health insurance policy. The wider is the coverage, more will be the benefits offered under the policy.

      Cumulative Bonus

      Cumulative bonus refers to an increase in the sum insured amount without a hike in premium as a reward for not raising a claim in the previous policy year.

      Day Care Procedures

      Day care procedures refer to those medical procedures and surgeries that are performed using advanced medical technology and require hospitalization of less than 24 hours. Almost all basic health insurance plans offer coverage for day care procedures. For example, cataract surgery.

      Deductible

      Deductible refers to a fixed amount that the policyholder agrees to pay towards the incurred medical expenses before raising a claim with the insurance company. It is a part of the total claim amount. Once the deductible is paid, the insurance company will pay for the remaining medical expenses.

      Dependent

      Dependent refers to the family members of the policyholder who can also be covered under the same health insurance policy. It usually includes your legally wedded spouse, children, parents and parents-in-law.

      Domiciliary Treatment

      Domiciliary treatment refers to the medical treatment taken at home under the supervision of a medical professional in case hospital admission is not possible. This treatment is covered by health insurance plans under domiciliary hospitalization.

      Entry Age

      Entry age refers to the age at which a person can buy a health insurance policy. Most health insurance plans come with an entry age of 91 days to 65 years.

      Exclusions

      Exclusions refer to the conditions or circumstances that are not covered under a health insurance policy. Any claim arising out of an excluded medical expense or circumstance is not payable by the insurance company.

      Grace Period

      Grace period refers to a fixed period that begins after the due date of a health policy. During this period, the policyholder can pay the due premium amount without losing the continuity benefits, such as waiting periods. Grace periods are usually of 15 days or 30 days.

      Family Floater

      Family floater refers to the type of coverage where a single sum insured amount is shared by all the insured family members on a floater basis. A family floater policy is more affordable than buying an individual policy for each family member.

      Free Look Period

      Free look period refers to the first 15 days of buying the policy where the policyholder can change the insurance company or cancel the policy without paying any cancellation fee. If the policy is cancelled during this period, then the premium amount is refunded to the policyholder.

      Indemnity Plan

      An indemnity plan is a type of insurance policy where the claim amount is paid based on actual medical expenses incurred. Under this type of plan, the policyholder has to submit the medical bills to the insurance company so that they pay the claim amount equal to the total bill amount.

      Insured

      Insured refers to the person who is eligible to receive medical coverage under a health insurance policy.

      Insurer

      Insurer refers to the insurance company that is responsible to pay for the medical expenses of the insured under a health insurance policy.

      Network Hospitals

      Network hospitals refer to the empanelled hospitals of the insurance company that offer the cashless hospitalization benefit to the policyholders. All insurance companies in India have a network of cashless hospitals.

      No Claim Bonus

      No Claim Bonus is a renewal premium discount offered by insurance companies to policyholders for not raising a claim in the previous policy year. This discount can be accumulated up to 50% for five consecutive claim-free years.

      Portability

      Portability refers to the procedure of changing the existing insurance company or health insurance policy without losing any continuity benefits like the waiting period. This facility is beneficial for people who are unhappy with their current insurer or policy.

      Pre-existing Diseases

      Pre-existing diseases refer to the diseases or medical conditions that the applicant was diagnosed with up to 4 years before buying the health policy. Most health plans cover pre-existing diseases after a 2 to 4 years of waiting period.

      Premium

      Premium refers to the cost of an insurance policy. It is the amount paid by the policyholder at regular intervals to get insurance coverage and enjoy the benefits available under a health insurance policy.

      Preventive Health Check-up

      Preventive Health Check-up refers to a series of medical tests that are undertaken to assess the health of a person and take suitable measures to prevent the occurrence of a disease.

      Restoration Benefit

      Restoration benefit refers to the facility of refilling your sum insured amount before the policy renewal date in case the original amount gets exhausted on raising one or more claims.

      Riders/ Add-on Covers

      Riders or add-on covers refer to the additional covers that the policyholder can buy on payment of an extra premium amount to expand the coverage of a basic health insurance policy. For example, PED waiting period reduction, etc.

      Room Rent Limit

      Room rent limit refers to the limit up to which the insurance company will pay for the hospital room charges incurred by the policyholder. If the hospital room charges are more than the room rent limit, then the additional amount will have to be borne by the policyholder.

      Sub-limits

      Sub-limits refer to the limit set on the coverage amount of a benefit under a health insurance policy. Eg: room rent limit. In case a coverage benefit comes with a sub-limit, the insurance company will only be liable to pay up to that limit and any additional amount will have to be paid by the insured.

      Sum Insured

      Sum insured refers to the maximum coverage amount that the insurance company will pay in a policy year. The sum insured is ascertained at the time of buying or renewing the policy.

      Top-up Plan

      Top-up plan refers to a type of health insurance plan that offers a higher sum insured and can be bought to enhance the medical coverage of a person. However, a deductible amount needs to be paid under all top-up insurance plans, which makes its premium affordable.

      Underwriting

      Underwriting refers to the process where an insurance company evaluates the application of a person. The underwriting team evaluates the medical history and personal details of a person to determine whether the policy should be issued and how much premium must be charged.

      Waiting Period

      Waiting period refers to the time period from the commencement of the policy during which the policyholder is not allowed to make any claims. Any claims raised during this period will be rejected by the insurance company. For example, the PED waiting period, critical illnesses waiting period, etc.

      Read More

      FAQs About Health Insurance

      General
      Coverage
      Premium
      Claims
      Renewal
      • Q: What are the discounts available in Policybazaar in health insurance policy?

        Ans: Health insurance plans available at Policybazaar offers various kinds of discounts to people. You can avail family discount, long term discount, loyalty discount as well as online discount while buying a health insurance plan on Policybazaar depending on the policy terms and conditions. Moreover, you can also avail cumulative bonus during policy renewals at Policybazaar if you had not raised any claims in the last policy tenure.
      • Q: What is the right age to buy health insurance?

        Ans: There is no right or wrong age to buy a health insurance policy. However, it is suggested to buy it as early as possible to keep your premium low. The earlier you buy health insurance, the lesser would be the premium because you have a lesser risk of health issues at a young age as compared to someone who is in their mid-50s or 60s as they are more prone to critical illnesses. Therefore, if you get health insurance in your 30s, you will be able to avail maximum insurance benefits that too at a lower premium.
      • Q: Is a medical test mandatory to buy a health insurance policy?

        Ans: Medical tests are not mandatory before buying a health insurance policy. However, most health insurance companies in India require medical test reports if the age of the applicants is above 45 years. The type of medical tests required can vary depending on the age of the applicant and the insurer’s requirement.
      • Q: What does cashless hospitalization mean in a health insurance policy?

        Ans: Cashless hospitalization means that the in-patient treatment charges availed by the insured are paid by the insurance company directly to the hospital. All insurance companies in India have a tie-up with a large network of hospitals where the insured/policyholder can avail cashless treatment for an illness or accidental treatment.
      • Q: At what age can I include my children in my health insurance plan?

        Ans: You can include your children in a family floater policy from day 1. In some health plans, children are covered from 91 days onwards. Nonetheless, you are advised to go through the terms and conditions of a health plan carefully to know about the entry age for children.
      • Q: What is a free-look period in health insurance?

        Ans: A free-look period in health insurance refers to the period of the first 15 days of the policy commencement. During this period, you can review your health insurance policy features, coverage, etc. and decide if you want to continue with it or not. You can also opt for add-on covers during this period. If you decide to discontinue the policy during this period, you will not attract any cancellation fee.
      • Q: What is the sum insured in health insurance?

        Ans: Sum insured refers to the maximum amount that the insurance company pays to the policyholder in case a claim is raised due to an illness or accidental injury. It is the maximum claim amount that the insurer will pay under your health policy to cover your incurred medical expenses. It is also referred to as maximum coverage under health insurance.
      • Q: What are pre-existing diseases or conditions?

        Ans: Any health problems or illnesses diagnosed prior to buying a health insurance policy is called pre-existing diseases. Insurance companies are reluctant to cover such diseases as it is a costlier affair for them. Therefore, pre-existing diseases are covered mostly after a waiting period of 2 to 4 years. Besides, every insurance company has its own terms & conditions regarding such illnesses. While some firms prefer to check a person’s entire medical history to know pre-existing condition status, other insurers look for medical records over the past four years
      • Q: Can a person have more than one health insurance policy?

        Ans: Yes, you can buy more than one health insurance policy in India. For example, if you are covered under a corporate health plan then you can get an individual or family floater health insurance policy as well. Similarly, if you already have individual health insurance, you can get another top-up health plan or a senior citizen health insurance plan for your parents.
      • Q: I have my employer's group policy; do I need to buy a separate health insurance plan?

        Ans: Yes, you must buy a separate health insurance policy in addition to your employer’s health insurance policy for better coverage. The sum insured under an employer’s health insurance is usually between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, which might not be sufficient under the current medical inflation. To cover the various expensive treatment costs, it is important to have a separate health insurance plan of a minimum of Rs 10 lakh.
      • Q: How to add my family members to my existing medical policy?

        Ans: You can add your family members to your health insurance policy at the time of renewal or at the time of purchase. You, your spouse, dependent children, parents and parents-in-law can be covered in a family health insurance plan as per its terms & conditions.
      • Q: What are the documents required for purchasing a health insurance policy?

        Ans: There are no documents required as such for purchasing a health insurance policy. You may only have to undergo a pre-policy medical check-up if you are a senior citizen. However, you must have valid proof of your identity, address, age, etc. when you need to file a claim with your insurer.
      • Q: Can my friend buy a health insurance policy if he/she is not an Indian national but living in India?

        Ans: Yes, foreigners living in India can apply for a health insurance policy. However, the coverage will be applicable within India only.
      • Q: What if I already have a health insurance policy, but just want to increase my sum insured?

        Ans: If you want to increase the sum insured of your existing health insurance policy, you can do so at the time of policy renewal. In case sum insured enhancement under your ongoing policy is not possible, you can buy a top-up plan or another health policy to extend the scope of coverage.
      • Q: What are pre and post-hospitalization expenses in health insurance?

        Ans: Pre-hospitalization expenses refer to the medical expenses incurred before getting admitted to a hospital. Post-hospitalization expenses refer to the cost of follow-up tests and consultation treatment charges incurred after getting discharged from the hospital. Health plans in India mostly cover pre-hospitalization expenses up to 30 to 60 days and post-hospitalization expenses up to 60 to 90 days, depending on the plan.
      • Q: Which diseases are not covered in health insurance?

        Ans: A health insurance policy usually does not cover HIV/AIDS treatment except for a few companies. Any claims arising out of congenital disorders, venereal diseases, general debility, sexually transmitted disease and dental treatment/surgery (unless required as a part of treatment) is excluded from health insurance coverage. But do check your policy wordings to know more about the detailed list of exclusions in a health insurance plan.
      • Q: Does my health insurance policy cover healthcare expenses related to COVID-19?

        Ans: Yes, health insurance plans cover COVID-19 hospitalization expenses. You can also buy COVID-19 specific health plans like Corona Kavach and Corona Rakshak if you want coverage for COVID-19 treatment, including the cost of the consumable items like PPE kits, ventilators, etc.
      • Q: How much health insurance coverage do I need?

        Ans: You need to decide the medical insurance coverage you need based on your lifestyle, pre-existing health conditions, medical background of your family, annual income, age, health risks and the premium that you can afford to pay.
      • Q: Do health insurance plans cover diagnostic charges like X-ray, ultrasound or MRI?

        Ans: Health insurance plans cover diagnostic charges like X-ray, ultrasound, blood tests or MRI, only if a patient stays in a hospital for at least one day. Any diagnostic test which doesn’t lead to a treatment or has been prescribed to outpatients are not covered.
      • Q: Will I get coverage for pre-existing diseases?

        Ans: Yes. Most health insurance plans provide coverage for pre-existing diseases. However, they are covered only after a waiting period of 2 to 4 consecutive years. You must check your policy documents carefully to know about the waiting period for pre-existing diseases.
      • Q: Do health insurance covers robotic surgery & modern treatments?

        Ans: Yes. Several health insurance plans in India cover the cost of robotic surgery and modern treatments. You are advised to go through the policy wordings to check if it covers robotic surgery and modern treatments.
      • Q: What is a Cumulative Bonus in a health insurance plan?

        Ans: A cumulative bonus in health insurance implies monetary benefits that the insurer provides you as a reward for not filing a claim during the previous policy year. For instance, discount on premium or sum insured enhancement. It is also called a No Claim Bonus similar to that in car insurance. However, the policy benefits differ from one health insurance company to another.
      • Q: Can I cancel my health insurance? If yes, will I get my premium back?

        Ans: Yes, you can cancel your health insurance. A free look period of 15 days from the date of policy receipt is available to you to review the terms and conditions of the policy. If you are not satisfied with the terms of the policy, then you may seek a cancellation of it. In such an event, the insurance company allows refund of premium paid after adjusting underwriting costs, cost of pre-acceptance medical screening, etc.
      • Q: How does smoking affect health insurance premiums?

        Ans: The cost of getting a health insurance plan can be significantly higher for those who are regular smokers or tobacco users. This is because smoking predisposes an individual to various diseases like heart complications, hypertension, respiratory issues, cancer, etc. Although more number of men smoke, women smokers are also prone to osteoporosis. As a result, the premium for health insurance is higher for smokers and tobacco users than for those who do not smoke.
      • Q: Under what conditions is my policy premium likely to increase at renewal?

        Ans: There are several reasons why your health insurance premiums can increase during renewal. They are:
        • Medical inflation
        • Increase in your age
        • Claims raised in the previous year
        • Alteration in coverage benefits
        • Diagnosis of a disease recently
        • Policy lapse
      • Q: What if I forgot to pay my health insurance premiums?

        Ans: If you forget to pay your health insurance premium or did not renew your policy by the due date, your policy will cease to exist. As a result, your insurance company will not be liable to cover your medical expenses and you will have to pay for the treatment cost for any injury/illness from your own pockets.
      • Q: What are the modes available for the payment of premiums on Policybazaar?

        Ans: Policybazaar allows its customers to pay the premium for a health insurance policy through various modes, including credit cards, debit cards and internet banking.
      • Q: What happens to my health insurance policy after a health claim is filed?

        Ans: When you file a health insurance claim with your insurer, they will verify your submitted documents with your policy coverage. They might ask you to submit a few additional documents if required. Once all the documents have been received and verified, the insurer will either accept or reject the claim and inform you about the same.
      • Q: What do you mean by No claim bonus in health insurance plans?

        Ans: No claim bonus (NCB) is a discount on the base premium offered if no claim on the health policy is made during the previous policy term. This bonus is usually given in the form of a premium discount or enhancement of the sum insured amount.
      • Q: What if the insurance company refuses to settle my claim and I want to file a complaint?

        Ans: In order to monitor the grievances of policyholders, IRDAI has implemented the Integrated Grievance Management System (IGMS). It is a platform where policyholders can register their complaints with insurance companies first and if required, it can be escalated to IRDA Grievance Cells. You can reach IRDA Grievance Call Centre (IGCC) by calling on the toll-free number 155255 or by sending an email on complaints@irda.gov.in
      • Q: What to do if I am admitted to a non-network hospital?

        Ans: If you are admitted to a non-network hospital then you can avail of the treatment and file a reimbursement claim after getting discharged. The health insurance company will reimburse your medical expenses up to the sum insured limit.
      • Q: Does every network hospital provide a cashless facility?

        Ans: Yes, all network hospitals of your insurer will provide cashless facilities to you as they have a tie-up with your insurance company. Therefore, the bill amount is settled directly with the hospital.
      • Q: What is the procedure for reimbursement settlement?

        Ans: The process for reimbursement claim goes as follows:
        • Inform the insurer about your hospitalization and submit the filled-in reimbursement claim form within the prescribed time period from the date of your discharge from the hospital
        • Submit all the original and duly stamped medical reports, medical bills, hospital bills and hospital discharge card with the claim form
        • Doctor’s follow-up prescription along with other required documents should also be submitted to the insurer. Keep copies of all submitted documents for future reference and retain them all
        • The insurer will verify your documents and contact you in case any clarification is required.
        • Usually, a health insurance claim is settled within 2-3 weeks of receiving all the documents
      • Q: If I do not make a claim within a policy period, can I get a refund of my money?

        Ans: If you do not raise a health insurance claim during the policy year, you cannot get a refund on your paid premium. This is because the premium was paid to ensure coverage to you throughout the policy tenure irrespective of whether you raise a claim or not. The only situation where you will get a refund on your health insurance premium is when you cancel your policy during the free look period.
      • Q: What is the maximum number of health insurance claims allowed in a year?

        Ans: The maximum number of claims allowed under health insurance during a policy year varies from one plan to another. While some plans allow you to raise only one or two claims per policy tenure, a lot of plans do not come with any limit to the number of claims that you can file during a policy year as long as the sum insured is not exhausted. You can contact your insurer to know about the number of claims that you are permitted to file during a policy year.
      • Q: What to do if my health insurance policy renewal date is missed?

        Ans: If you have missed the renewal date of your health insurance policy, you must renew your policy as soon as possible. You can renew it during the grace period preventing the policy from getting lapsed. But if you renew your policy after the grace period, it will get lapsed and you may have to undergo a medical test or pay a higher renewal premium.
      • Q: Why should you avoid policy renewal during the grace period?

        Ans: You should avoid renewing your health insurance policy during the grace period as your insurer will not provide coverage during this period. As a consequence, you will have to pay for your medical expenditure from your own pockets in case of an illness or an injury. But if you renew your policy before the due date, you will get continuous coverage from your insurer at all times.
      • Q: Do I get a discount on the renewal of the policy with the same health insurance company?

        Ans: You may get a discount on your health insurance premium in the form of a No Claim Bonus if you renew your policy with the same insurer, provided you had not raised a claim during the previous policy tenure. You can also avail long term discount and family discount on your premium if you opt for long term policy tenure or include your family members under the same policy respectively.
      • Q: Can a health insurance policy expire if it is not renewed on time?

        Ans: Yes. Your health insurance policy will expire if you do not renew it on time. An expired policy will not cover you against medical emergencies forcing you to pay for your expenses on your own. Hence, you must ensure to renew your policy before the expiry date and ensure continued coverage.
      • Q: What if I miss the health insurance policy premium renewal date?

        Ans: If you miss the renewal date of your health insurance, your policy will get expired. Your insurer will not be legally liable to cover your medical expenses in case of an expired policy. As a result, you will have to pay for your medical expenses on your own unless your policy is renewed.
      • Q: Can I increase my health insurance cover during renewal?

        Ans: Yes. You can increase your health insurance coverage at the time of renewing your policy.
      • Q: Is there a grace period for health insurance renewal?

        Ans: Yes, all health insurance plans come with a grace period of 30 days for policy renewal. In case you are unable to renew your policy before the policy due date, you can renew it during the grace period. If you do not renew your policy even during the grace period, your policy will lapse.
      • Q: Can I transfer my health insurance policy without losing renewal benefits?

        Ans: While transferring your health insurance policy from one insurance company to another, you don’t lose the benefits that you have accumulated during the policy term. As per IRDAI’s new regulations, the benefits remain intact. Earlier it resulted in losing out on benefits accumulated in health insurance policies, like the waiting period for covering Pre-existing Illnesses.
      • Q: What happens if my medical policy lapses during hospitalization?

        Ans: If the policy lapses during hospitalization you won’t be able to avail the insurance benefits. Therefore, it is recommended to renew your policy timely if you want to avail continuous policy coverage benefits.
      • Q: Do I get any discount on the premium at the time of my health insurance policy renewal?

        Ans: It is not necessary that you will get a discount on the premium at the time of renewal. However, if you renew it online from Policybazaar you can save between 7.5% and 12.5% on the premium.
      • Q: If I increase my sum insured during policy renewal, will a waiting period apply?

        Ans: If you increase your sum insured at the time of renewing your health insurance policy, your insurer may apply a fresh waiting period depending on the policy terms. It is best to check with your insurer if a fresh waiting period will be applicable in case of sum insured enhancement.
      Disclaimer: Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by an insurer.
      Average Rating
      (Based on 1129 Reviews)

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      Health Insurance Reviews & Ratings
      4.6 / 5 (Based on 1129 Reviews)
      (Showing Newest 10 reviews)
      Tanaya
      Gurgaon, September 19, 2022
      Low Premiums
      I visited Policybazaar to buy an affordable health insurance policy for my parents and we did find several good plans within my budget. I compared different plans with each other to find the best policy for my parents. I paid the premium amount online and received the policy on the same day.
      Soma
      Gurgaon, September 18, 2022
      Cashless Treatment
      I have a health insurance policy that I had purchased sometime back from Policybazaar.com. Recently, I was supposed to get hospitalized for a surgery and so I contacted the customer care team to raise a claim. A customer executive from Policybazaar visited the hospital within 30 minutes and took care of all the formalities for my cashless treatment. Thanks to him, my surgery and hospitalization was smooth and I did not face any document issues.
      Shashi
      Nashik, September 18, 2022
      Multiple Plan Options
      I came to Policybazaar to buy a good maternity insurance policy for my wife. After I entered her details, I got a list of several maternity plans from top insurance companies in India. We went through the policy benefits and chose the best policy within our budget. Once I paid the premium amount, the policy document was sent to my email id in no time.
      Shaili
      Ludhiana, September 17, 2022
      Great Customer Experience
      I had purchased a family health insurance policy from Policybazaar last month and my experience was great. After I logged into the website, I connected with their customer care team to get the best deal. The team discussed the health needs of my family patiently and suggested a suitable plan for myself within my budget. I bought the policy easily without facing any hassles.
      Shakeela
      Agra, September 17, 2022
      Easy Renewals
      My due date of my critical illness insurance policy was nearing and so I visited Policybazaar.com to renew it. The procedure to renew the policy on the website was very simple. All I did was enter the details of my policy and was able to see a wide range of plans. I selected the policy that I wanted to renew and paid the premium online. My policy was renewed instantly.
      Sareek
      Patna, September 15, 2022
      Affordable Premiums
      I have a family health insurance policy that I purchased from Polciybazaar.com. Not only my experience was pleasant but also pocket-friendly as the health plans were really affordable. I shortlisted a few plans as per my needs and compared them with each other to pick the best one for myself. I even paid the premium online with no hassles at all.
      Amar
      Visakhapatnam, September 14, 2022
      Good Place to Buy
      I wanted to buy a health insurance policy and my friend suggested I buy it from Policybazaar. On the website, I found a wide range of health plans with different benefits and available for different premiums. I compared these plans with each other and chose a good plan within my budget. Once I paid the premium, the policy was issued in no time.
      Naman
      Bhopal, September 14, 2022
      Affordable Premiums
      I was looking to buy a health insurance policy but did not want to spend a lot on premiums. When I checked on Policybazaar, I was pleasantly surprised to see how cheap the plans were as compared to other websites. I chose a good policy for myself and paid its premium online. The policy was issued and sent on my email on the same day.
      Monisha
      Indore, September 13, 2022
      Claim Support
      My parents have a health insurance policy from Policybazaar. Recently, my father raised a claim by getting in touch with the customer care team. We were really impressed by the customer executive as he was very helpful and told us about the claim process. He made sure that we raised the claim correctly and submitted all the documents.
      Nalin
      Thane, September 13, 2022
      Online Comparison
      I wanted to buy a maternity insurance policy and so, I visited Policybazaar.com. The website offered me maternity plans from a lot of top insurance companies in one place. But the best part was that I could compare the plans with each other so that I could pick the best policy for myself. I compared a few plans, chose the most-suitable one and paid its premium online.
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