Top 8 Add-On Covers You Must Choose with Parent's Health Insurance

To enhance the coverage of your parents’ health insurance, you can add riders or add-on covers. Read on to understand various add-on covers you can choose.

List Of Top 8 Must-Have Add-Ons For Your Parents’ Health Insurance Plans:

1. Hospital Cash

   During a hospital stay, there are many expenses other than medical treatment costs. To cover such expenses, this add-on provides a fixed daily cash allowance each day throughout the duration of hospitalisation. No bills are required to avail of this daily cash.

   Use: The hospital cash can be used for buying medicines, surgical accessories, for attendant’s stay or travel expenses, etc.

2. OPD Care Rider

   Most plans do not cover doctor checkups and diagnosis expenses unless it is within 30 to 60 days prior to hospitalisation. However, with old age, trips to the doctor for out-patient (OPD) consultations and tests become more common. This is where an OPD Care Rider comes in handy which covers the cost of OPD consultation, medical tests and diagnostics.

   Use: Doctor’s fees for OPD consultation, diagnostic tests and other recurring expenses can be met with this rider.

3. Critical Illness Cover

   Critical illnesses usually have expensive treatments and require immediate medical attention. Especially in old age, it becomes very crucial as any delay in treatment may worsen the case.

   Use: A critical illness rider provides a lump sum amount upto the sum insured on the diagnosis of any of the listed critical illnesses. The amount paid is irrespective of the actual expenses of the treatment so can be used for out-of-pocket expenses. The actual hospitalisation expenses would be met by the comprehensive health plan.

4. Room Rent Waiver

   Some health insurance plans have a sub-limit on room rent, especially the ones designed for senior citizens. If the actual rent is beyond the sub-limit, you would be required to pay for the difference amount along with all associated costs which arise for the same.

   Use:This rider allows you to have a higher sub-limit or completely waive it off. It is helpful for patients getting treated in metro cities where room rents are generally higher.

5. Co-Payment Waiver

   Most health plans for senior citizens come with a co-payment clause where a certain percentage of the sum insured has to be paid by the policyholder.

   Use: In case one of your parents has a serious illness, only your co-payment contribution itself could be high, as this is usually 10-30% of the total claim amount. To waive this co-payment, you can add a co-payment waiver to your policy.

6. Zone Upgrade

   Some insurers have divided certain cities into high expense zone as compared to others. For example:

   1. Zone A: Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Delhi and NCR.
   2. Zone B: Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, Ludhiana, Gujarat.
   3. Zone C: Rest of India except cities listed under Zone A and Zone B.

   This is especially helpful if your parents stay in say Zone B but opt to get your treatment done in Zone A for convenience. Under normal circumstances, you would be charged a co-pay of 10 to 20% as the policy is in Zone B (lesser premium) but treatment is done in Zone A.

   Use: To avoid this zonal confusion, you can opt for a Zone Upgrade rider so that you can avail the best treatment for your parents at your most convenient location without a hassle!

7. Surgical Benefit

   This add-on covers expenses related to surgery. The required surgery should be one of the listed surgeries in the plan.

   Use: It is an additional amount other than hospitalisation charges and comes in especially handy for older people.

8. AYUSH Benefit:

   If your parents believe in alternative treatments such as Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy and Siddha and the same is not covered under the comprehensive health plan for your parents; then it is important to opt for this rider.

   Use:Some plans do not provide coverage for alternative treatment, which can be paid using this rider.

7 Things To Consider While Buying Health Insurance for Parents:

1. Hospitalisation across a wide range of network hospitals
2. Additional Tax Benefit eligibility on premium payments
3. Cashless treatment and daily hospital cash
4. Annual health check-ups
5. Reloading of sum-insured
6. Domiciliary hospitalisation cover
7. Hasslefree policy renewal

Bottomline

With the help of these add-on covers, you can make your parents’ health insurance plan full proof. A comprehensive health plan is important to ensure that your parents are protected and get the best medical attention as and when needed.

Also Read: The Importance of Maintaining a Health Insurance Card