Mediclaim Insurance
Mediclaim Insurance
The healthcare industry in India is constantly evolving, adding new-age technologies to improve services and treatment solutions. However, this growth has resulted in increased healthcare costs, making it difficult to manage finances in times of need.
With this industry transformation, the expenses linked to doctor visits, medicines, hospital services, etc., are at an all-time high today, making it crucial to invest in the right mediclaim health insurance plan.
With different types of mediclaim health insurance plans, choosing the best mediclaim policy based on a budget helps in navigating the healthcare facilities in desperate times, reducing financial vulnerability.
What is Mediclaim Insurance?
A mediclaim health insurance policy is categorised as a subset of health insurance that is designed solely to provide financial support to cover hospital expenses end-to-end.
From pre and post-hospitalisation charges to day-care procedures fees, ambulance charges, and hospital expenses, all these costs are covered under mediclaim insurance. It is an economical alternative to cover medical emergency expenses based on the sum insured.
Similar to other health insurance plans, the mediclaim policy premium is based on individual coverage needs. Most mediclaim insurance plans offer cashless procedure facilities in a list of network hospitals to increase policyholder convenience.
** Inclusions of Mediclaim Insurance **
All hospital charges - medicines, X-rays, MRIs, therapies, etc.
Room rent - intensive care unit fees, ward fees, OT fees, etc.
Ambulance charges - before and after the treatments.
Doctor fees for consultation, treatment, and follow-ups.
Hospital staff fees, if any.
** Exclusions of Mediclaim Insurance **
Pre-existing conditions and diseases until the waiting period is over.
Self-inflicted injuries.
Cosmetic treatments.
Ayurvedic or homoeopathic treatments.
Dental surgeries if no hospital visit is recorded.
Pregnancy complication treatments.
HIV AIDS
Types of Mediclaim Insurance
Mediclaim health insurance is a type of health insurance plan. Thus, it is essential to note that they are not the same. The different types of mediclaim health insurance plans include.
Individual Policy - Insures a single person for a set amount to cover all hospital expenses in case of emergencies.
Group Policy - A policy that allows employers or heads of big groups to provide all members insured together with the benefit of cashless hospitalisation or timely reimbursements on their hospital bills.
Family Floater Policy - All members of the family are insured together for a specific sum amount to cover hospital expenses. The entire sum can be used together by the family members or a single family member can also avail the entire sum when in need.
Senior Citizen Policy - For senior or elderly citizens, this policy category provides coverage for hospitalisation charges in case of any emergency.
Critical Illness Policy - Some mediclaim plans offer critical illness insurance coverage and provide a lump sum assured amount to the policyholder to help plan the treatment better at a hospital. This is only limited to a list of life-altering diseases and disability cases.
Benefits of Mediclaim Insurance Policy
Mediclaim insurance policies provide the policyholders with a financial safety net by covering hospital expenses in case of an emergency or other unforeseen circumstances.
According to Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, all mediclaim insurance premium payouts are eligible for tax deductions.
Policyholders can benefit from cashless medical treatments from any of the network hospitals in the region. However, the hospital network and other terms and conditions can vary for different insurance providers.
Mediclaim insurance plans are cost-effective as they reduce hospital costs without exhausting your savings.
Based on the policy you choose, you can opt for the lifelong renewability option.
Differences between Health Insurance and Mediclaim Policy in India
Health Insurance | Mediclaim Insurance | |
---|---|---|
Scope of Coverage | It extends coverage for all types of medical expenses. Additionally, it also provides financial support with a fixed sum amount for severe illnesses and other life-threatening diseases. | It extends coverage for only the hospital charges incurred due to an accident or illness. This includes procedure costs, ambulance charges, pre and post-hospital fees, etc. |
Add-ons | Offers high customisation flexibility with a wide range of add-ons to increase coverage based on individual needs. | Mediclaim plans do not offer any add-ons. |
Coverage Flexibility | Based on changing needs, policyholders can increase or decrease their policy cover. | Only the pre-decided financial cover is provided. |
Claim Limit | Multiple claims are permitted based on the insured amount limit and policy terms and conditions. | Multiple claims are permitted till the mediclaim amount is exhausted. |
Premiums | High as it offers extensive coverage and a range of add-ons. | Low as the coverage is limited to hospital expenses only. |
Hospital Claim Condition | For a claim, you do not have to prove hospital admission. | For claims, hospital admission proof is mandatory. |
Availability of Critical Illness Insurance | Most plans extend critical illness coverage for kidney diseases, cancer, etc. | Some plans offer critical illness insurance but only if hospital admission and expenses are required. |
How to Choose Between Mediclaim and Health Insurance Plans?
The choice between a health insurance policy and a mediclaim insurance policy depends on various factors. All the factors vary from person to person and take the family and past medical history into consideration.
These factors include the following -
Budget - If you are looking for an economical plan limited to hospital charges alone, buying the cheapest mediclaim policy that fits your budget is recommended. However, if you are flexible with your budget and want to benefit from broader coverage with guaranteed long-term value, a comprehensive health insurance plan is a better option.
Health Conditions - For people with pre-existing conditions or poor immunity requiring medical assistance frequently, a health insurance plan is better as it allows coverage customisation flexibility.
Lifestyle - If you are prone to frequent illnesses, comprehensive health insurance plans are better as they extend coverage for medications, hospital, and OPD expenses
Family Needs - Based on the number of family members and their age group requiring insurance together, choosing a family floater plan under comprehensive health insurance will be more beneficial than mediclaim family floater insurance due to broader coverage for a reasonable price.
In the end, the final decision depends on the factors mentioned above. Still, for a secure financial future in regard to all things health and wellness, a comprehensive health insurance plan is highly beneficial in the long run.
Why Choose Tata AIG Health Insurance Policy?
With the growing unpredictability of health issues and accidents, investing in a financial safety net to ensure your out-of-pocket expenses do not run out in times of urgent medical assistance is necessary.
One of the key benefits of health insurance by Tata AIG is that it allows you to customise based on budget, coverage needs, medical history, and much more, ensuring you get the best policy.
Whether it be critical illness insurance, OPD cover, in-patient treatment or any other medical expense, we provide numerous options to choose from. Our cashless claim facility makes it easier for policyholders to get the proper treatment without the constant stress of repayment after claim settlement.
You can visit our website to compare different plans and then buy health insurance online in a few steps. We also offer a hospital network of 8,000+ hospitals and promise a high claim settlement ratio, as customer satisfaction is our top priority.
How to Buy Tata AIG Health Insurance Online?
Visit our Tata AIG website.
Select “All Products” and click on “Health Insurance” from the dropdown menu.
On the new window, select who you wish to include in an insurance plan and click on “Get Plan” to proceed.
Now, enter the date of birth of the applicant followed by mobile number, email address and PIN code. Then click on “See Plan”.
Enter the OTP shared by email or text message.
Check the plans available for you and adjust the sum insured value and tenure period as required.
Once done, pay the premium and collect your policy.
Conclusion
Today, it is crucial to understand and acknowledge the need to secure your financial future for a healthier tomorrow.
Whether you choose a mediclaim insurance policy or a comprehensive health insurance policy, investing in this financial tool promises peace of mind in times of need. So, assess your needs and budget and purchase a suitable plan at the earliest.
Disclaimer / TnC
Your policy is subjected to terms and conditions & inclusions and exclusions mentioned in your policy wording. Please go through the documents carefully.
What is the co-payment option in senior citizen mediclaim health insurance?
What is the co-payment option in senior citizen mediclaim health insurance?
If you opt for the co-payment option for a mediclaim insurance plan, the insured is required to pay a percentage of the total cost incurred for medical treatment. The insurer covers the remainder based on policy terms.
How to choose the best insurance provider for health insurance?
To choose the best insurance provider, you need first to assess your coverage needs and budget constraints. Based on this assessment, you need to compare different plans and pick the one that meets your needs. Additionally, you should check the claim settlement ratio and overall online reviews to pick the best out of the lot.