Make Health Insurance Attractive

While buying health insurance policy we generally look at the benefits like hospitalization cover, sub-limits, company history, claim settlement  etc. Surely these are important factors and first in priority for selecting a good health insurance scheme. But there are and with time insurance companies are introducing benefits which are beneficial  to policyholders. Since these additional benefits are not publicized by health insurance companies, health insurance buyers over look at them.  However, if you look at these features in detail during buying of the policy and avail them later, they may prove beneficial in keeping you not only healthy but also reduces probabilities of health issues.

Here are some of the benefits which are available in a health insurance policy and how they help you in keeping your family health at good :

1. Health Check Up

This is one of the benefit which is being offered at large in most health insurance companies. You can avail a free health check up with your health policy bearing the expense.  In some health policies this benefit is available at a specific interval  say 3^rd or 4^th year while some companies have started offering it every year. Whatever be the frequency the benefit helps you in regular health check up of your family which means you remain aware about your family health conditions and if any issues arises you can address it at right time.

2. Dental Treatment

This benefit, in general, is not available in health insurance policies and so you have to bear it yourself. One of the primary reason is that a dental treatment hardly requires 24 hours hospitalization. There are standalone OPD policies which cover these kind of treatment but the cost is too high to be considered. However, health insurance companies are providing dental treatment in their general health insurance policies. The feature is available only after a specific period of policy continuation say  only after three claim free years.

3. Second Opinion

This is being considered by companies in their health insurance schemes. Whenever you or your family member is hospitalized there might be a situation when the doctor may advise for bigger surgeries or longer hospitalization. In such instances there is always a consideration to avail a second opinion from a good doctor. One of the bigger reason for this consideration is that the two opinions may vary and many have benefited by a second opinion. But commonly this is quite hard to avail unless the situation is highly critical. Health insurance companies are trying to fill this gap by providing a second opinion feature in their policies. Currently some of the companies might have features like e-opinion in case of critciall illnesses but soon you will see second opinion being available. Features like these make your health insurance scheme more valuable.

4. Daily Cash Allowance

While you  or your family member is hospitalized there are additional expenses which gets incurred. These are related to expenses for food and other items on relatives/friends/well wishers who come to meet you our your family. In normal instance these expense may not look much but when you add up they might be substantial. Health insurance companies in their policies have been providing daily cash allowance benefit wherein they give you a lumpsum amount within a limit. In general 7-10 days allowance is given.

5. Domiciliary Treatment

There are many situations when its difficult to move the family member who is ill to the hospital. Then it becomes necessary to give treatment at home only. In general we perceive health insurance benefit only  for hospitalization expenses but with domiciliary treatment these policies extend the benefit to such special situations. There are conditions for claiming this benefit from health insurance policy which you should understand.

6. Other Treatments

Previously only Allopathy treatment was covered in health insurance policies. But other lines of treatment such as Ayurveda, Homeopathy etc.. have been proving good for many  but non-availability in health insurance claim was adding to the high medical cost in their expenses. This has been changed and with IRDA new norms treatments like Ayurveda, Homeopathy etc.. are getting covered now in health insurance.

7. Convalescence Benefit

From any illness post hospitalization it’s take time for you to recover. During this period you also incur expenses for the treatment. Health insurance companies provide benefits for claiming for such expenses which in general are called as post hospitalization expenses.  The scheme limit the period from 7-10 days and there might be limit on the amount of expenses which can be claimed. So read the policy wordings to know exactly the coverage features.

8. Donor Expenses

The expenses for any transplant are too high and many a times beyond a common man resources. One of my friends father got hospitalized and had to undergo a kidney transplant for which the expenses was almost R 25 lakh. Luckily he had coverage from employer through which he claimed 50% of the expenses. Had there been no employer insurance the expenses was beyond his reach. One of the major expense here is the donor expense. Health insurance companies cover donor expenses which you can claim. Know the conditions for it through the health insurance policy wordings.

There may be host of other benefits which are  not publicized by Insurance companies buy you may find in their list of features. Analyse them and see what can be beneficial to you. These additional features can also become one of the criteria for availing a good health insurance scheme.

Share your views in the comments section….