Key Factors to Keep in Mind When Purchasing Health Insurance

As precaution is better than cure, it is always advisable to consider health insurance plans for you and your family as there are no alerts for health emergencies. Health insurance plans work as a product which safeguards you from medical and surgical expenses. This can include various medical bills, hospitalisation cost, treatments and sometimes even dental care.

Nowadays health insurance plans in India cover not only deadly diseases but also take care of your doctor’s appointment fees. It works as a seatbelt on your bad days. As the Indian market is flooded with insurance companies claiming their insurance products as “the best insurance plans in India”, it is hard to choose the right one. This article will guide you in taking an informed decision.

Factors to Consider While Buying Health Insurance Plans

There are few considerations which can affect the buying decision of an individual in the health insurance market. One should not ignore the following factors as doing so can cost you a lot in terms of health and money:

Claim Settlement Ratio (CSR) of The Company

This ratio makes you aware of the percentage of claims settled by any insurance company in a year out of total claims it received. You can have access to this data on the official website of Insurance Regulatory And Development Authority Of India (IRDAI).

Network Hospitals in Your Health Plan

It is a list of hospitals covered by the health insurance company where you can be treated and ask for claims. One has to make sure that all the major hospitals are covered in the list so that you can be treated by the best doctors.

Diseases Covered in the Health Plan

It is highly recommended to check what all diseases are covered in the family insurance plans you are looking for. It must cover the major diseases which require more money for the treatment.

Room Rent Limit in Health Insurance Plan

The room rent limit indicates the maximum amount of room rent you can claim. If the insurer chooses a room with a higher price than mentioned in the policy, he will have to share an amount proportionately of the entire hospital bill.

List of Best Health Insurance Plans in India

Here is the list of trusted brands in the health insurance market which are serving their customers for years and have proved to be among the best service providers:

Niva Bupa Health Companion Plan

Niva Bupa is leading the insurance market when it comes to providing the best health insurance plans in India. Companion plan offers an individual or family floater option to the people. It has three variants of cover starting from ₹2 lakhs to ₹1 crore.

Key features:

• It covers pre hospitalisation expenses up to 30 days and post hospitalisation charges up to 60 days.
• It covers hospital accommodation costs without any upper cap.
• This plan also covers alternative treatments.

Aditya Birla Active Assurance Diamond Plan

Aditya Birla Active assurance diamond plan is among the best health insurance plans which can cater to your insurance needs very well.

Key features:

• The plan covers pre hospitalisation expenses for 60 days and post hospitalisation expenses for 180 days.
• It also covers alternative treatments.
• An insured can get up to 150% (maximum ₹50 lakhs) for hospitalisation due to unrelated illness.

Apollo Munich Optima Restore Health

It is a plan which caters to the needs of your family and provides the feature of automatic restoration of the policy in case it is exhausted by any family member.

Key features:

• The plan covers pre hospitalisation expenses up to 60 days and post hospitalisation expenses up to 180 days.
• The claim will be applicable after 24 hours of hospitalisation.
• It also offers a discount if the insurer completes the targeted walking daily monitored through its app.

Niva Bupa Go Active 

The plan serves both, the individual and the family and takes care of daily treatment needs which does not require hospitalisation. It covers up to 10 OPDs a year. With its special features, it is among the best health insurance plans in India.

Key Features:

• The cover ranges from ₹4 Lakhs to ₹25 lakhs with a premium as low as ₹13,352 per year.
• It offers cashless diagnostic tests.
• It offers a 10% lifetime discount if you avail before or at the age of 35 years.

One should analyse his needs before buying the insurance plans. It is extremely important to consider the above mentioned points before making the decision as it will help you opt for the best insurance plan for your family.

FAQs

1. What is the Claim Settlement Ratio (CSR), and why should I check it?

   The CSR indicates the percentage of insurance claims a company has settled in a given year. A higher CSR reflects better reliability and efficiency in claim processing. This data is available on the IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) website.

2. What are 'network hospitals' in a health insurance plan?

   Network hospitals are those with a tie-up with your insurance provider, allowing you to receive cashless treatment. It’s crucial to ensure that reputed hospitals in your vicinity are part of the insurer’s network.

3. Are all diseases covered under health insurance plans in India?

   Not necessarily. It's important to review the list of illnesses covered by a plan. Ensure that it includes major diseases that typically require costly treatments.

4. What is the 'room rent limit' in a health insurance policy?

   The room rent limit defines the maximum room cost your policy will cover. If you choose a room that exceeds this limit, you may have to bear a proportion of the total hospital bill, not just the difference in room rent.