With rising medical costs and an increase in lifestyle diseases, it is critical for everyone to have health insurance. A good health insurance policy will usually cover doctor consultation fees, medical test costs, ambulance fees, hospitalisation costs, and, to some extent, post-hospitalisation recovery costs.
In this article, we will go over all the different expenses that health insurance covers.
What is health insurance?
Health insurance is a type of insurance that covers the cost of medical and surgical expenses incurred by a policyholder. If the policyholder is involved in an accident or is diagnosed with a serious illness, they can pay for the expenses out of pocket and later be reimbursed by the insurance company, or the insurance company can bear the expenses directly.
What expenses does health insurance cover?
Hospitalisation Expenses
Medical conditions that require immediate hospitalisation are covered under a standard health insurance policy. However, these claims are only accepted if the disease had not been diagnosed before the insurance policy was availed.
Hospitalisation expenses incurred in the following circumstances are covered under the health insurance policy:
- Treatment against critical illness: Some insurance companies provide a substantial amount that may be equal to or greater than the sum insured to cover any underlying expenses for the treatment of critical diseases. Most insurance companies cover medical costs, including hospitalisation, diagnosis, and medication.
- Accident-related hospitalisation coverage: Hospitalisation expenses that arise due to accidental injuries or illnesses are also covered under the health insurance plan.
Pre and Post Hospitalisation Expenses
Pre-hospitalisation expenses are the costs of all medical expenses incurred before admission to the hospital. It may include medical examinations and diagnosis to assess the overall condition.
Post-hospitalization expenses are the charges that must be paid after the patient is discharged. These include expenses for follow-up visits, routine check-ups, injections, and so on.
Day Care Procedures
Sometimes a patient’s disease or symptoms necessitate hospitalisation for less than 24 hours. Few medical procedures even allow patients to go home the same day they have minor surgery. These daycare procedures or minor surgical procedures can be counted as outpatient features, allowing patients to obtain maximum benefits at a reasonable cost. Procedures include ENT treatments, radiology therapies such as an MRI scan or an X-Ray, and more.
Ayush Treatments
Expenses under ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha, or homoeopathic treatments received from a recognised institute or under the supervision of an authorised doctor are included in a health insurance cover. Some examples include surgical and therapeutic procedures.
Recovery benefit
Recovery benefit is the financial support provided if the policyholder stays in the hospital longer than expected. The health insurance coverage helps meet the miscellaneous expenses while the patient recovers.
Cash Allowances
Daily cash allowance is a unique feature that is provided by stipulated institutions, allowing individuals to make up for the loss of pay during hospitalisation.
Therefore, having health insurance coverage ensures that medical treatments do not put a family in financial jeopardy. By paying a small premium, one can avail benefits of health insurance that serves as a safeguard for both savings and healthcare.