Health Insurance

Why Health Insurance Matters When You Need It Most?

Do you remember the time when you received a phone call about a family member being sick and admitted to a hospital? It not only disturbs your peace of mind, but also your savings.

At this moment, all you care about is for the family member to get well at the earliest. You do not have time to calculate the treatment cost or think about the money the hospital would charge. Even if you have saved money, it can fall short in a medical emergency.

This is exactly why you need health insurance. Not because illness or injury may happen any time, but to ensure that when they do, you do not have to worry about arranging money and can focus on the treatment.

Health insurance gives you the confidence to fight the fears that accompany a medical crisis. Let us look at how buying health insurance can be beneficial:

Your Family Needs Your Presence, Not the Stress of Hospital Bills

Health insurance lets you focus on what truly matters — your family's care, not treatment costs.

When Your Parents Require a Surgery

Be beside them and not at the billing counter

Treatment Without Delays

When Your Spouse Needs You

Spend your time comforting them, not arranging money

Be There. Stress Less

When Your Child is Hospitalized

Focus on your child's health and not the hospital bill

Peace of Mind for You

• Choose a Hospital without Worrying About the Cost

  At the time of a medical emergency, you can rush to any top network hospital without worrying whether it is in your budget since medical costs will be covered by health insurance.

  Health insurance allows you to get quality medical treatment at top hospitals. You do not have to worry about whether you can afford treatment, you just have to think about where to get the best treatment from.

• Save Lakhs of Rupees for a Treatment

  A knee replacement surgery in 2026 can cost you anywhere between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹6 lakh. Without health insurance, you will have to pay the entire amount from your own pockets and can lose your hard-earned savings at the time of a health crisis.

  An average health insurance claim settled for bone-related problems in the last five years is approximately ₹2.3 lakh*. This means you could save nearly ₹2 lakh for a knee replacement surgery with health insurance.

  A health insurance policy provides financial protection against unpredictable medical expenses. It doesn’t just pay hospital bills, it helps protect your savings meant for your child’s education, your own retirement or other life goals.

How Much Health Insurance Coverage Do You Need?

Getting health insurance is one thing; getting health insurance that is enough is another. Unfortunately, most people realize this only when they are standing at the hospital’s billing counter.

Imagine you bought a policy of ₹5 lakh for your father.

Your father gets hospitalized for a bypass surgery.

You think you have health insurance, so everything is covered.

But the hospital tells you the treatment would require ₹7.5 lakh.

Now, you will have to arrange an additional ₹2.5 lakh from your savings or investments or you may even need to borrow money while your father is still in the ICU.

At this moment, you would regret not buying enough health insurance coverage.

This is why deciding the ideal coverage amount is as important as buying health insurance.

The right health insurance coverage differs for each person and should be tailored to your individual medical needs. To decide the ideal sum insured for your health insurance plan, you must consider the following four factors:

• Your city of residence (i.e., tier-1, tier-2, or tier-3 city)
• Your age or life stage
• Existing health conditions
• Future healthcare costs
• Plan type (individual or family floater)

Health Insurance Coverage Based on Your Life Stage

Your healthcare needs at 25 are entirely different from what they look like at 50. This is because, as you age, health risks and healthcare needs change significantly.

Health insurance coverage is often decided by the stage of life you are in.

For instance, the coverage required by a married couple planning to start a family is entirely different from that of a senior citizen suffering from multiple illnesses.

Health Insurance Coverage Based on Your Location

A treatment that costs ₹3 lakh in a smaller city can cost ₹6-8 lakh in a metro city. This directly affects the amount of health insurance coverage you need.

List of Best Health Insurance Plans in India

The right health insurance plan depends on your age, medical history, location, family size and budget. Comparing factors like sum insured, network hospitals and policy benefits along with insurer's financial stability and claim experience can help you choose the policy that best suits your needs.

Check out the list of health insurance plans in India offered by various insurance companies below:

*Disclaimer: The list mentioned is in alphabetical order of the insurance companies. Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product. This list of plans comprises insurance products offered by all the insurance partners of Policybazaar. For a complete list of insurers in India, refer to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India website www.irdai.gov.in.

How Health Insurance Works in India?

Let’s understand how health insurance works with a real-life example.

Step 1: Karan, a 26-year-old from Lucknow, has no pre-existing diseases. But he wants protection against future medical expenses.

Step 2: He purchased a ₹10 lakh health insurance policy for a premium of ₹426 per month.

Step 3: After 3 years, Karan was diagnosed with dengue and was hospitalized for a week, generating a bill of ₹5 lakh.

Step 4: Since Karan had opted for cashless hospitalization, his insurance company paid his hospital bill.

Step 5: Karan still has ₹5 lakh left in his sum insured limit and can raise another claim up to this amount before renewals.

Hence, as seen in the example above, health insurance in India works by providing financial protection to the insured against medical crises in exchange for a small premium. It is a great way to keep yourself and your family covered against the rising cost of medical expenses.

What are the Key Benefits to Buy a Health Insurance Plan?

With the rising healthcare costs and increasing lifestyle diseases at an early age, 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.

1. Fight off Medical Inflation

   Increasing medical costs make healthcare treatments expensive. The cost can rise more than you estimate, creating a financial burden at the time of a health crisis. A health insurance policy can help you easily pay your medical bills, despite the rising medical costs.

2. Protect Your Savings

   If you get hospitalized for a critical illness or lifestyle disease, you may end up losing all your savings in one go. A mediclaim policy helps you to protect your hard-earned savings by covering your medical expenses so you can stay financially protected.

3. Avail Cashless Hospitalization Facility

   A health insurance policy allows you to obtain a cashless hospitalization. This means you can focus on obtaining medical treatment rather than arranging the finances.

4. Get Quality Medical Treatment

   It helps you to afford the best quality medical treatment and care at top network hospitals, which could be costlier without a health insurance plan.

5. Fight Lifestyle Diseases

   It allows you to manage expenses for the long-term treatment of diseases like cancer, heart ailments, etc., that have been on the rise with the changing lifestyles.

6. Get Tax Benefits

   You can save tax on the health insurance premium that you have paid under section 80D of the Income Tax Act for better financial planning.

7. Ensure Peace of Mind

   It allows you to obtain medical treatment with peace of mind and focus on recovery rather than worrying about paying hefty hospital bills.

Why Should you Buy 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 payment methods to pay the premium online safely.
• Time-saving - It saves you a lot of time as the policy is issued within a few minutes of buying.

What is Covered in a Health Insurance Plan?

Most health insurance plans in India cover the following medical expenses:

• 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-rays, and other medical check-ups required before hospitalization are covered. Similarly, the cost of medicines, and diagnostic tests and follow-up consultations after discharge from the hospital is also covered.
• 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 under most health insurance plans.
• Preventive Health Check-ups - Regular preventive health check-up facilities are also made available in most health insurance plans in India on an annual basis.
• Day-Care Procedures - Day care treatments, including eye surgery, chemotherapy, dialysis and tonsillectomy, that require hospitalization of less than 24 hours are covered.
• Home Treatment Cover - It covers expenses incurred on getting medical treatment at home on a doctor’s advice that would have otherwise required hospitalization.
• AYUSH Benefit - A health insurance plan also pays for the hospitalization costs incurred on availing Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Yoga or Homeopathy treatment up to the specified limit.
• Mental Healthcare Cover - All health plans in India cover mental illnesses as per the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. IRDAI had directed all insurers to amend health policies to cover the in-patient treatment of mental illnesses, like acute depression, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, etc., by 31st October 2022.

What is Not Covered in a Health Insurance Plan?

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

• Injuries Caused by War/ Nuclear Activity - It does not cover treatment of injuries caused due to terrorism, war-like situations and use of nuclear or biological weapons.
• Self-inflicted Injuries - Illnesses or injuries arising from self-harm or suicide attempts are not covered in health insurance.
• Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery - A health insurance plan usually does not cover expenses incurred on plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures, unless medically necessary.
• Treatment for Alcoholism or Drug Abuse - Treatment for addiction of alcohol or any other substance or their consequences is not covered.
• Unproven Treatments - Expenses incurred on treatments whose efficiency have not been proven through medical documentation are not covered.
• Injuries due to Adventure Sports - It excludes the treatment of injuries resulting from adventure sports activities, like mountaineering, rafting, horse riding, etc.
• Infertility Treatment & Sterility - Assistive reproductive treatments, like IVF and GIFT, gestational surrogacy and sterilization are usually not covered under health insurance plans.
• External Congenital Anomaly - Expenses incurred on evaluation or treatment of physical abnormalities present from birth, such as cleft lip and clubfoot, are not covered.
• Investigation & Evaluation - It does not cover expenses for hospitalization done only for the purpose of investigation or diagnostics, without any medical treatment being done.

Note: It is recommended to check your policy wordings to get a detailed list of exclusions.

What are the Key Factors to Consider Before Buying a Health Insurance Plan?

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

• Scope of Coverage - The policy coverage 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.
• 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 ₹10 lakh. If it’s a family floater policy or senior citizen health insurance, the higher the sum insured, the better the coverage will be.
• Policy Type - There are different types of medical insurance policies 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.
• Waiting Period Clause - Your health insurance policy only comes into action once the initial waiting period is over. This means that a claim will be accepted only after the initial waiting period is completed except for accidental hospitalization claims. 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. Ensure to 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 (policyholder). It allows you to reduce your premium to a certain extent but certainly increases your out-of-pocket expenses. Thus, opt for this clause only if you can afford to 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 ₹3 lakh with a sub-limit of 1% on daily room rent, then your room cost will be covered up to ₹3,000 per day. Any additional amount on room rent will have to be paid from your own pocket. So, choosing 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 higher is the number of network hospitals 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, the policyholder has to pay the insurance premium at the time of renewal in order to continue the insurance coverage. Thus, when buying a health insurance plan, choosing a plan with a lifetime renewability option is beneficial in the long run.
• Premium Loading Factor - Premium loading is the additional amount that is charged to a risk-prone customer in the premium, especially in senior citizen health insurance plans. Choosing a medical insurance plan with no loading will save you from paying a higher premium. Some insurers also charge a claim loading. This aspect, though ignored in the beginning, usually increases your out-of-pocket expenses at the time of claim.
• Check the Claim Settlement Ratio - Claim Settlement Ratio 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.

What are 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 with 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 9 months to 6 years, depending on the health insurer.
• Consumables Cover Rider - The consumables cover rider pays for non-medical expenses incurred by the insured during hospitalization, such as cotton, bandages, prescriptions, thermometers, syringes, registration charges, gloves, masks, etc. These expenses account for approximately 10-20% of the total hospital bill but are usually not covered by insurers. With consumable cover, policyholders can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses while obtaining the best quality treatment.
• Critical Illness Rider - The critical illness rider will ensure that your health insurance policy covers critical illnesses, such as heart diseases, 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. Most plans cover about 10 to 40 critical diseases, depending on the insurer.
• Personal Accident Rider - The personal accident cover 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 a 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.

Current Health Scenario in India

Lifestyle diseases, like hypertension, diabetes, cancer, etc., are growing at an alarming rate in India. This surge is largely driven by poor lifestyle choices, environmental factors, stress and genetics. Moreover, these diseases, which were previously seen mostly among people in their 50s and 60s, are now affecting young adults above 30 years!.

Did You Know???

• With a 90 million diabetic population, India has been ranked as the second-largest country (in 2024) for Diabetes. (Source: 11th Edition of the IDF Diabetes, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology)
• Hypertension affects about one-third of adults (28.5%) in India. (Source: National Noncommunicable Disease Monitoring Survey (NNMS) 2017-18)
• 100 out of every 1 lakh people in India were diagnosed with cancer in 2022. (Source: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)
• According to WHO, India accounts for one-fifth of total deaths due to heart diseases globally, especially in the younger population. (Source: National Library of Medicine, 2020)
• India has the highest prevalence of tuberculosis in the world, accounting for 27% of all global cases. (Source: Global TB Report 2023)
• According to the 2015-16 National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), around 15% of adults in India suffer from mental illnesses. (Source: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)
• In 2024, 14.1 million dengue cases were reported globally, with over 2.3 lakh cases reported in India alone. (Source: National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control)
• Approximately 2,00,000 joint replacement surgeries (registered and unregistered) were performed in India in 2020. (Source: Journal of Orthopedic Case Reports, 2025)
• According to the CMIE-CPHS report, Indian families spent more than 120 billion on medical and healthcare services in FY 2022. (Source: Forbes)

Benefits of Buying Health Insurance at an Early Age

Here are some of the reasons why you should buy health insurance at an early age:

• Lower Premiums – Insurers charge a lower premium at a younger age, as you are less likely to have an pre-existing disease and file a health insurance claim.
• Easy to Serve Waiting Periods – It is easier to serve the waiting periods at an early age, as you are less prone to falling severely ill, resulting in a claim.
• No Pre-Policy Check-up Required – Most mediclaim policies may require you to undergo a pre-policy medical check-up if you are above 45 years, making you more prone to discovering a medical condition.
• More Plan Options – When buying medical insurance at an early age, you have more plan options and can access wider coverage, as not all plans are available to elderly people.
• Build No Claim Bonus – If you buy health insurance at an early age, you can easily earn No Claim Bonus (NCB) as you are less likely to file claims frequently.

What are the Eligibility Criteria to Buy a Health Insurance Plan?

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

• Age Criteria - All adults above 18 years can buy health insurance. However, the entry age for children can range from 90 days to 25 years. The actual entry age can vary from one medical insurance policy to another.
• Pre-medical Screening - Pre-policy medical check-ups are required for if you are above the age of 45 years or 55 years. However, most senior citizen health plans require pre-medical tests before policy issuance.
• Pre-existing Diseases (PED) Disclosure - Any pre-existing illness is covered under health insurance after a waiting period of 1-3 years. All insurers will ask you about any existing medical conditions, like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, etc., at the time of buying the policy.

All pre-existing diseases must be disclosed during policy purchase. Keeping it a secret may cause problems at the time of claim settlement and can even lead to rejection of your claims. Even if you are a smoker or an alcoholic, you must disclose it to the insurance company.

Based on these criteria, the health insurance company decides to offer you medical coverage.

Why Compare Health Insurance Plans Online?

Comparing health insurance quotes online helps you in choosing the right health plan to suit your healthcare needs. Sometimes, it can also get confusing to select a good 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 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 all medical insurance policies available in the market. It also saves the buyers from dealing with insurance agents who may provide unreliable and biased information to achieve their professional goals.
• 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 health insurance plans, etc., are also easier online.
• Find a Policy with Suitable Premiums: If a customer is looking to buy a health plan online, he/she will be able to compare the premiums of different plans 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 Ratio and customer reviews online. Doing so will help you get an overall idea of an insurer’s reputation and customer service, enabling you to make an informed decision.

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:

How to Calculate Health Insurance Premiums?

In order to keep a mediclaim policy in force, regular payment of a fixed premium amount is essential. The average health insurance cost ranges from ₹304 per month to ₹2146 per month, depending on your age, gender, city, medical history, sum insured, coverage, etc. These factors vary from one person to another, thereby affecting the health insurance premiums payable by different people.

Naturally, you might want to calculate your health insurance price to figure out how much you would have to pay for a policy. Well! You can do that through a health insurance premium calculator. A premium calculator is an online tool that calculates the premium to be paid as per the information you provide, such as the preferred sum insured, the age of the insured, the city of residence, etc. At Policybazaar.com, you can calculate your health insurance premium online easily and free of cost.

Which Factors Affect Health Insurance Premium?

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

• Medical History: Your medical history is one of the major determinants of your health insurance premium. Almost all health insurers in India make pre-medical tests mandatory after a certain age for 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 premiums for smokers are higher than other people. That is why medical insurance premiums for smokers are higher than other people.
• Gender and Age: Age is another important determinant of medical insurance premiums. The premium increases as the age of the insured increases. That is why it is recommended to buy a policy at a young age because the premiums are lower for younger 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 premiums are usually on the higher side. Also, the cost of health insurance for women is lower in comparison to the male candidates due to the lower risk of stroke, heart attack, etc.
• Policy Term : 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 your premium. The wider 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 Bonus: you have not made any claim during your previous policy term, then you can earn an NCB or No Claim Bonus discount. With NCB, you can save 5% to 50% on your renewal premium, depending on the number of claim-free years. It is also one of the most important factors that is taken into consideration while calculating the policy premium.
• Lifestyle Habits: If you drink or smoke regularly, chances are high that you will be charged a higher premium. In severe cases, the insurer can also reject your medical insurance policy request.

How to File a Health Insurance Claim?

Health insurance plans offer two types of claims – cashless and reimbursement. Cashless health insurance claims allow the insured to get a treatment without any need to pay the medical bill upfront. However, in a reimbursement claim, the insured must initially pay the medical expenses themselves and later get the expenses reimbursed from the insurer.

Traditionally, cashless claims at network hospitals of the insurance provider. However, with the 'Cashless Everywhere' feature, you can file a cashless claim at non-network hospitals up to the sum insured limit of your health insurance policy.

Common Reasons Why Health Insurance Claims Get Rejected

Here are some of the common reasons due to which health insurance claims can get rejected:

What are the Documents Required for Health Insurance?

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

How to Buy the Right 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 as it has made the process of comparing & buying 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.

Moreover, the post-sale services are extended to the customers online as well as at the time of a 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. by comparing numerous health insurance plans and making online payments. Here is how you can buy a health insurance plan online from Policybazaar.com:

Step 1- Choose the family members to be insured along with their age.

Step 2- Enter personal details, including city, full name and phone number and pre-existing diseases.

Step 3- Compare different health insurance plans on Policybazaar.com, and choose the one that best suits your requirement.

Step 4- Once the plan is selected, pay the premium or speak to our customer care representative.

Step 5- After you buy the health insurance plan, the policy copy will be emailed to your registered email ID.

How Policybazaar Helps NRIs with Health Insurance Plans?

Policybazaar offers health insurance for NRIs to cover the medical expenses incurred by Non-resident Indians and their families in India. Policybazaar provides an exclusive NRI Care Program that provides:

• 30 minutes on-ground claim support in 120+ cities
• 24x7 emergency assistance
• Priority concierge services
• One-click emergency, hospitalization & ambulance support
• Dedicated relationship manager
• Home care and teleconsults
• Comprehensive healthcare management services to the families of NRIs living in India

Policybazaar provides easy comparison of multiple mediclaim policies for NRIs and their families from different insurers online to find the policy that best fulfils their health requirements. Moreover, it provides premium elderly caregiving to the parents of the NRI in partnership with EMOHA Elder Care and provides OPD and wellness services with their Visit app.

Common Health Insurance Terms

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

1. 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.

2. Claim

   Health insurance 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.

3. Co-payment

   Co-payment in health insurance 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.

4. Coverage

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

5. Cumulative Bonus

   Cumulative bonus in health insurance 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.

6. 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.

7. Deductible

   Deductible in health insurance 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 claimed by the policyholder.

8. 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..

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Exclusions

    Exclusions in health insurance 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.

12. 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.

13. Free Look Period

    Free look period in health insurance refers to the first 30 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.

14. Grace Period

    Grace period in health insurance 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.

15. Indemnity Plan

    An indemnity health 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.

16. Insured

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

17. Insurer

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

18. 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.

19. No Claim Bonus

    No Claim Bonus in health insurance 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.

20. Portability

    Health insurance 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.

21. 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 2 to 4 years of waiting period.

22. Premium

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

23. 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.

24. Restoration Benefit

    Restoration benefit in health insurance 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.

25. Riders/ Add-on Covers

    Health insurance 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.

26. 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.

27. Sub-limits

    Sub-limits in health insurance 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 policyholder.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. Waiting Period

    Waiting period in health insurance 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.

Why Should You Choose Policybazaar for Your Health Insurance Needs?

Policybazaar makes your health insurance journey simpler, easier and more convenient. Whether you want to buy a new plan, port your health insurance policy, initiate a claim, or track claim status, we provide constant support at every stage. Our customer-first approach helps you get the required support when you need it most.

Here is how Policybazaar helps you with your health insurance needs:

• 30-minute Claim Support: Our aim is to truly support you during a medical crisis. We provide claim support within 30 minutes of your request.
• On-ground Support: Our team of experts helps you with filling forms, contacting the insurer and managing complex hospital processes.
• 24/7 Customer Assistance: Get your health insurance queries solved at any time with our 24/7 customer support
• Buy Policy under 2 minutes: At Policybazaar.com, you can buy or renew health insurance online by following just a few simple steps.
• Compare Multiple Plans Simultaneously: You can compare plans from different insurers in one place to understand their coverage, premiums and additional benefits.
• Dedicated Relationship Manager: You get a dedicated relationship manager (RM) who exclusively handles your requests and queries.
• Personalized plan recommendations: Our insurance advisors recommend plans based on your specific healthcare needs and budget.
• Policybazaar exclusive plans & discounts: You can also avail additional discounts and get customized plans designed specifically for Policybazaar customers.