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All You Ever Wanted To Know About Mediclaim Policy

Studies reveal that in spite of growing inflation rates clubbed with upsurge in healthcare costs, 70% of Indians are yet to opt for any sort of insurance cover protecting them against hospitalization expenses. It’s shocking to know that in a fast developing country like India, people are still being ignorant about the need to plan for a suitable arrangement to tackle any financial emergencies arising out of an accident or sudden illnesses.

What is Mediclaim Policy

The best and most economical way of being prepared for medical emergencies and protecting your savings is through a mediclaim insurance policy. It takes care of medical expenses following hospitalisation on illness or accident or even for any surgery required. The bills are taken care through either cashless treatment facility or reimbursement mode offered by the insurance company.

So, why is it important to invest in a mediclaim policy? The answer is simple – to safeguard your own financial well-being.

Why Mediclaim Policy

In simple terms, mediclaim policy comes to your rescue in case you are hospitalized due to an accident or any ailment. It covers you for nursing, lodging and treatment costs up to the coverage amount you choose while buying the policy. Most mediclaim policies also cover the treatment sought before and after hospitalization related to the reason/ailment you were hospitalized for. This time frame depends on the insurers and typically ranges between 30 days before and 60-120 days after hospitalization.

Features & Benefits of Mediclaim Policy

Can be renewed annually. Some insurers offer renewals every 2 or 3 years
Can be opted for Individual or Family Floater
For anyone between the age of 91 days to 65 years
Covered pre-existing medical conditions after a waiting period of 3-5 years
Can be bought online without any paperwork
Sum insured opted can be as much as Rs. 50 lakhs
Can be ported to different insurer at the time of renewal
Gives you a complete health cover and protects your savings.
Get higher cover at affordable premiums.
It is the most pocket-friendly means for adequate medical assistance.
Cashless hospitalisation ensures you don't have any out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Easy online buying process from the comfort of your home.
Get tax deductions on premiums paid under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

How Are the Premiums Determined?

Insurance companies consider a lot of factors while determining the premiums for the mediclaim policy. Age, sum insured, geographical location, any pre-existing medical condition, number of members to be insured, the extent of coverage, etc. are some of them. While the guidelines are set by IRDAI, health insurance companies take the final decision regarding premium calculation on the basis of your needs and requirements. The more comprehensive your requirements are, the higher will be the premiums to be shelled out.

What's Not Covered in Mediclaim Policy?

While your mediclaim insurance will cover most expenses related to hospitalization and related costs, there are certain exclusions that are NOT covered in the policy. The list of what's not covered forms an integral part of the policy document and should be referred for more exhaustive information. Below are a few of the aspects that are not covered in most mediclaim policies.

Non-medical expenses like administrative charges, service charges, toiletries, diapers, syringes, etc.
Diseases/ailments contracted within a specific time from the policy purchase
Any dental treatment except in case of an accident
Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV
Cosmetic surgery, circumcision or plastic surgery
Vaccinations
Medical condition resulting from the addiction of alcohol, smoking, drug abuse, etc.
Health conditions arising out of war, nuclear weapon, etc.

What Should You Consider While Buying Mediclaim Policy?

Investing in mediclaim is a great decision. Consider all the factors involved and accordingly choose the right policy. Below are some of the aspects you need to keep an eye on before purchasing the policy:

Sum insured (coverage amount): While choosing the sum insured or the coverage amount, it’s advised to consider factors like rising healthcare costs, rate of inflation, etc. to choose the right amount. Also, if you are living in one of the metro cities, your cost of hospitalization will be higher compared to rural areas. Similarly, if you are opting for the coverage of your dependants too, you might want to consider higher sum insured.
Individual or Family Floater: This decision entirely depends on you. If you are unmarried and looking to cover only yourself then you can opt for the individual policy. However, if you choose to cover your entire family including your parents then selecting a family floater plan is the ideal choice. Family floater plans are also a bit easier on pocket compared to individual policies bought for each family member due to the discounts offered by the insurance companies.
Sub-limit on Room Rent: Most mediclaim plans are tailor-made with room rent sub-limit. These limits might vary depending on the insurance companies. To make it simpler, let’s explain with an illustration. Mr. Kulkarni bought a plan that had room rent sub-limit as 1% of the sum insured. He had chosen the coverage for Rs. 2 Lakh. That means, every time Mr. Kulkarni wants to claim hospitalization on his mediclaim, the insurance company will compensate his expenses limited to the room rent of 1% of his sum insured i.e. Rs. 2,000 per day. The entire calculation of his claim disbursement will be carried out as per his room rent limit even if he opts for a room higher than the limit of Rs. 2,000. Hence, it’s wise to choose the policy with proper room rent limit to avoid any rude shocks during claim settlement.
Co-payment: Many mediclaim policies are in-built with co-payment clause. Co-payment is basically a percentage amount that the policy holder needs to bear when the claim is raised before the insurance company settles the rest. These co-payments can range anywhere between 10% and 30% depending on the insurance company. For example: If you have opted for a mediclaim with 20% co-payment, whenever you raise a claim, you’ll have to bear the first 20% of the total claim amount and the rest will be compensated by the insurance company as per the terms and conditions of the policy. Some insurance companies also offer to cover the risks related to pre-existing diseases with higher co-payments.
Exclusions: Every mediclaim policy is designed to cover your medical risks. However, there are certain exclusions that are either not covered or covered after a specific term. Conditions arising out of a suicide attempt, HIV infection, congenital diseases, addiction to alcohol or drugs, etc. are not covered by any policy whereas expenses related to maternity, hysterectomy, gall bladder surgeries, kidney stones removal, etc. are covered after a specific waiting period. Most insurance companies cover the risks related to any pre-existing diseases only after 3-4 years. Details of these exclusions are mentioned in the policy wordings of the plan and one should definitely go through the same before finalizing to buy.
Hospital Network: One of the biggest benefits of opting for a mediclaim policy is the convenience of cashless settlement of hospitalization expenses. Every insurance company has a network of hospitals and when you seek hospitalization in any of these hospitals, you are entitled for a cashless treatment if the hospitalization/treatment is within the scope of coverage. This works out to be a great financial relief at most crucial times. Hence, check out and be aware of the hospitals in your area that is in tie-up with the insurance company you wish to buy the plan from.
Reputation of the Insurance Company: Last but not the least, it’s always wise to check the credibility and market standing of the insurance company you wish to buy the mediclaim from. Apart from this, a little study of their claim settlement ratio will also prove to be useful while making the final decision.

Who Should Buy Mediclaim Policy?

Well, the answer is simple. Anyone who cannot possibly afford those sky rocketing hospitalization and related healthcare costs should definitely invest in a good mediclaim insurance. Considering the premiums you pay each year, the benefits you reap are much valuable. Along with a financial cushion to reckon, the peace of mind it offers makes it totally worth.

How to Claim on the Mediclaim Policy?

With an advancement in the insurance sector, claiming on your mediclaim policy has become quite convenient, hassle free and time saving. As you are aware, you can claim via two ways – Cashless & Reimbursement.

If you wish to opt for Cashless Treatment in a network hospital, you must contact the TPA (Third Party Administrator) help desk at the time of hospital admission. A claim form along with doctor’s reports have to be submitted to seek approval for the cashless treatment. If the request is approved, the insurance company/TPA settles the bills for the expenses directly with the hospital without involving the policy holder. This is the most convenient method of claiming on your mediclaim policy.

If, due to any reasons, you are unable to seek cashless treatment, you can opt for Reimbursement. Once the treatment is sought in the hospital and the amount settled, the claim form along with the discharge summary and all other related prescriptions and doctor’s reports need to be sent to the insurance company/TPA. The insurance company/TPA will then scrutinize the documents for correctness and check against the policy terms before taking the final decision on claim settlement. Typically, this process takes around 15-25 business days.

How Can Coverfox Help You Choose the Right Mediclaim Policy?

Convenient & Hassle-free application process clubbed with online platform for comparison and choosing the right plan.
Expert & Unbiased Advice for assisting you with the right decision as per your requirements.
Dedicated Customer Service Unit to tackle all your post-sales queries including expert claims handling.
Minimal Paperwork to ensure hassle free and pleasurable buying experience.

FAQs on Mediclaim Policy

How is TPA different from an insurance company?

TPA is a Third Party Administrator licensed by IRDAI to act as a service provider to all insurance companies. They facilitate the smooth functioning of health insurance policies by offering their value added services including claims management, dispatch of policy documents and health cards, post sales services, etc.

I have just bought a mediclaim policy for my family. My daughter is unwell and needs hospitalization. Can I request for a cashless treatment?

Most mediclaim policies have a compulsory waiting period of 30 days (except accidental injuries). If you have already exceeded this waiting period, you can very well request for a cashless treatment if you choose to admit your daughter in a network hospital of your insurance company.

Can I claim my expenses before and after the surgery I have just undergone?

Yes, you can. Most mediclaim policies cover expenses of 30 days before and 60-120 days after hospitalization. Kindly check the policy wordings of your insurance policy to check this clause.

Are there any limits on number of claims I raise on my mediclaim policy?

Well, no. You can claim as many times as the need arises during the policy period up to a maximum of your sum insured amount.

If I buy a mediclaim policy in Mumbai, can I claim on it in Bangalore?

Yes. Mediclaim policies are valid all over India and you can raise a claim for the treatment sought in any registered hospital in India.

Will I have to undergo any pre-policy medical checkup?

Honestly, this decision lies entirely with the insurance company. If they feel the need to do so, you will have to undergo the pre-issuance medical checkup at an authorized diagnostic centre suggested by them as per your convenience. Typically, a medical checkup is triggered for those above 45 years of age or anyone suffering from any pre-existing medical condition to evaluate the depth of risk involved.

Can I avail domiciliary treatment under the Mediclaim policy?

Yes, you can avail a domiciliary treatment. However, only domiciliary hospitalization is covered under the mediclaim policy. This treatment should be for any sickness/illness that requires home hospitalization due to the below reasons:

The patient is not in a condition to be moved to the hospital or the hospital itself lacks accommodation.
Pre and post-hospitalization expenses and treatments for diseases like Epilepsy, Asthma, Chronic disorders, Bronchitis, Cough, Cold, Hypertension, Influenza, Dysentery or Diarrhea etc. are not paid under the domiciliary hospitalization benefits.

Can I avail treatment at any hospital?

You can take treatment only under the network hospitals, empaneled with the insurance company. The hospital should fulfill the below conditions:

Hospital should have qualified doctors and trained nurses 24*7.
Hospital should have at least 15 in-patient beds.
Hospital should be fully equipped with a good operation theatre.

You can also avail the treatment at any Ayurvedic hospitals fulfilling all the conditions except the operation theatre criteria.

Can I avail tax benefits under the Mediclaim insurance policy?

Yes, mediclaim insurance policy offers you tax benefits. Though this shouldn’t be the sole motive of opting for the mediclaim insurance, it does give you a tax benefit on your health insurance under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.

You can avail tax benefit of Rs.15000 if you are below 60 years of age. However, if you are a senior citizen, you can avail a tax benefit of Rs.20, 000.
If you pay the mediclaim insurance premium for your dependent parents, then you are eligible for an additional deduction up of to a maximum of Rs.15, 000. However, if your parents are senior citizens, you can avail a total deduction of Rs.20, 000.

This means, if you are paying premiums for yourself as well as your parents, you can claim a maximum amount of Rs.35, 000 under the Income Tax Act.

What types of mediclaim insurance policies are available in India?

There are two types of mediclaim insurance policies.

Individual Mediclaim Policy – Only an individual or a single person is covered here. The premium here is calculated as per the age of the individual. The insured can claim the entire sum assured under this type of mediclaim insurance. If the sum assured is Rs.10 lakh, then you can claim up to Rs.10 lakh only. No amount exceeding Rs.10 lakh can be claimed.
Family Floater Mediclaim Policy – The entire family can be covered under this type of mediclaim policy. Here, the premium is calculated according to the age of the eldest member of the policy. If the sum assured is Rs.10 lakh then either any one person individually or all the entire family can claim the sum assured not exceeding Rs.10 lakh.

How are claims settled under the mediclaim insurance if I want to register one?

The claims under the mediclaim insurance are settled in 2 ways:

Cashless settlement – Here, the hospitalization expenses are collected from the insurance companies directly or from their Third Party Administrator’s (TPA’s). You simply need to get hospitalized under any hospitals empaneled with the insurance company and produce your health card issued by your insurance company.
Reimbursement settlement – Here, you will have to pay the hospitalization expenses directly to the hospital and then claim a reimbursement from the insurance company to settle the bills.

Is there any waiting period when my expenses will not be settled, in case of emergency?

In case the insured is hospitalized due to the accidental emergency, the insurance company pays the coverage as per the health plan. That is, accidental emergencies are covered from the date of insurance issuance.

Apart from that, to cover any medical treatment cost there is a 30 to 90 days of waiting period depending on the insurer. Moreover, there is specific waiting period for specific ailments.

It is advisable to check all the clauses related to the waiting period before the purchase of health plan and lodging a claim.

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