Can the Consumables Cover in TATA AIG MediCare Select Reduce Your Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses?

Consumable in health insurance refers to all the non-medical supplies and equipment used during hospitalisation. These are usually one-time items which are discarded after a single use. While the insurance policies cover all the major hospitalisation expenses, consumables are excluded.

Many times, consumable expenses sum up to a big amount, leading to out-of-pocket expenditure. However, with the right health insurance online, you have the option to choose a consumables add-on cover. Once you include it in your health insurance policy, the consumable expenses are covered under the plan, up to the sum insured.

Thus, if the consumable expense is ₹50,000 and the sum insured of your insurance plan is ₹5,00,000, the entire consumable expense will be covered under the plan.

Now that you know what a consumable and consumable cover is, let us find out if it helps to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.

Yes, consumable cover in health insurance reduces the out-of-pocket expenses by providing for the consumable expenses through the add-on option. While the consumable cover is not a part of the base plan, you can include it as a rider to your TATA AIG MediCare Select health insurance online.

Let us understand this with the help of an example.

Mr Ramesh got admitted to the hospital for dengue treatment. He was hospitalised for 4 days and the total bill came up to ₹1,50,000. His medical bill also consisted of ₹25,000 consumable expenses.

Scenario 1: When there is no consumables cover

In this situation, while Mr Ramesh will get the hospitalisation expenses of ₹1,25,000 (1,50,000-25,000), he will have to pay the consumable expenses from his pocket, as it is excluded from the base insurance plan.

Scenario 2: When there is a consumables cover

When Mr Ramesh opts for a consumable add-on for his health policy, the entire amount of the hospital bill of ₹1,50,000, including the consumable expense, is covered by his insurance plan. Thus, he is not required to spend any money from his pocket.

Under TATA AIG MediCare Select insurance, the consumable expenses can be classified into different categories as mentioned in the table below.

Room Charges

Procedure Charges

Cost of Treatments

Note: The list mentioned above is not exhaustive; you can refer to your policy document for the complete list of consumables

Exclusions of Consumables Cover Under TATA AIG MediCare Select Plan

The following are excluded from the scope of consumables covered under the TATA AIG insurance plan.

• Baby food
• Carry bags
• Internet charges
• Mineral water
• Laundry charges
• Attendant charges
• Slings
• Birth certificate
• Medical certificate
• Courier charges
• Nebuliser kit
• Arm sling
• Ambulance collar
• Thermometer
• Gloves
• Oxygen mask, etc.

Helps to Save Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Health insurance covering consumables helps to save a considerable amount spent from the pocket. When the insurance plan offers consumable cover, all the expenses incurred on consumables during hospitalisation are covered under the policy. Thus, you do not need to spend anything from your savings.

Useful for Those with Chronic Illnesses

Individuals suffering from chronic illnesses may require extensive medical treatments, leading to huge amounts of consumable expenses. With the help of consumables cover, one can save significant sums of money, which would have otherwise been spent on consumable items.

Offers Comprehensive Protection

The inclusion of consumables in health insurance offers comprehensive coverage to the insured. Along with the hospitalisation and medicine expenses, it also covers the non-medical expenses, expanding the scope of your health policy.

Supports Medical Needs of Senior Citizens

Elderly and senior citizens may need frequent hospitalisation or medical attention due to age-related health issues, leading to significant expenses towards consumables. However, with consumable cover, they can avoid spending their hard-earned money and save it for the future. Thus, they can get their treatments done without worrying about the consumable expenses.

Choose the Sum Insured Wisely

Under TATA AIG MediCare Select, you have plenty of sum insured options starting from ₹5 lakhs up to ₹3 crores. Depending on your specific health requirements, you must choose the most appropriate sum insured. For example, if you do not have major health concerns, a lower sum insured may suffice. However, if you have any chronic illness, you must opt for a higher sum insured.

Take Advantage of Add-Ons

With this plan, you have access to multiple add-on covers that widen your coverage. Women can opt for women-specific add-ons, such as maternity cover, women's suraksha, etc. Besides, there are multiple other add-ons, like consumables cover in health insurance, cancer benefit, accidental death benefit, mental wellbeing, preventive healthcare rider and so on. These add-ons provide extra cushioning to help secure your health.

Select Network Hospitals for Smoother Claims

While cashless claims are prevalent at all the hospitals across the country, choosing a network hospital makes the claim settlement smoother and faster. You can look up TATA AIG's network hospitals and choose any of them to get the claim settlement quickly.

Choose Premium Savers

Reducing the premium can be an effective way to save on your out-of-pocket expenses. With TATA AIG MediCare Select, you have multiple options that help you save on premiums. For example, choosing a shared accommodation during hospitalisation, opting for aggregate deductibles, etc., can help you save money.

Use Discount Rewards

You can also maximise the benefits under the MediCare Select plan by availing the discount options. For example, salaried individuals can enjoy a professional discount of up to 7.5%. Similarly, you can also benefit from the long-term discount, family floater discount, young family discount and so on.

The concept of consumables cover in health insurance is an effective way to reduce your out-of-pocket expenditure. It is an add-on rider that does not cost a lot, but assists you in strategically aligning the individual health insurance with your requirements.

In times when medical costs are rising exponentially, consumables cover provides you with comprehensive coverage. It allows access to the best quality treatment without any compromise on health and without straining your finances.

Looking to buy health insurance to sail through emergencies smoothly? TATA AIG MediCare Select plan can lend you a helping hand!