Health Insurance
Usually, the first thought that comes to mind when entering a hospital is how much lighter your wallet will be when you leave. In a high-tech world, medicine is at the forefront, and technology comes with a cost. It's not uncommon for routine check-up bills to run into the thousands of dollars. A lengthy hospital stay will inevitably set you back hundreds of thousands of dollars. Having reliable comprehensive health insurance can save you a day and your wallet, at least if you're in the hospital for treatment.
What is health insurance?
If you choose health insurance, your medical expenses will be covered by your insurance company and you will instead have to pay an annual membership fee called a "premium". This can also be paid in monthly installments. Depending on which policy you choose and who provides it, health insurance protects your wallet by covering medical bills, hospital bills, ambulance bills, test bills, and other related costs. Some policies also cover lost earnings compensation.
Why should you have health insurance?
A WHO report outlines the need for expanded health insurance coverage in India, which is staggering as 68% of India's healthcare costs are out-of-pocket (OOP). Also, only 18% of urban and 14% of rural India have health insurance. Getting health insurance at a young age is a wise decision as premiums are much lower. Please note that many policies do not cover pre-existing illnesses or illnesses that occur within 30 days of obtaining the policy, except for accidents.
If you do not yet have health insurance or are considering it, here is a list of reasons why you should recognize the importance of health insurance.
• Cashless treatment: All major health insurance companies have many popular hospitals in their networks, so-called network hospitals. When you get treatment at one of these hospitals, all you have to do is present your health insurance card (or just your insurance number), fill out a few forms if necessary, and then you're all set. However, if you decide to go to an out-of-network hospital, you will have to pay for treatment and later apply for a refund. Cashless treatment is therefore one of the biggest benefits of health insurance. Because few people can arrange a large amount of money in a short period of time for medical purposes.
• Rising health care costs and illnesses: According to cancer statistics in India, there were 11,57,294 registered cancer patients in 2019. In the last 26 years, cancer incidence has almost doubled in India. Other life-threatening diseases such as tuberculosis and diabetes are also on the rise. With medical and treatment costs continuing to rise, look no further than why health insurance is a must.
• Free Health Checks and Additional Benefits: Many insurers offer their customers free health checks every year (but only if you haven't filed a claim in the last few years). Some companies do). You are also eligible to receive a No Claim Bonus (NCB). H. If you do not have insurance other than outpatient insurance during the insurance period, the insurance amount will increase by a certain amount. In addition, ambulance costs, pre-hospital and post-hospital costs are some of the other benefits offered by insurance companies.
• Tax Incentives: Section 80D of the Income Tax Act provides tax incentives for health insurance premiums. Under the age of 60, INR 50,000 for parents under the age of 60 (INR 25,000 for self-employed persons, spouses and dependent children and INR 25,000 for parents), for parents over the age of 60 can claim a deduction of Rs 75,000. (Self-employed person, spouse and dependent children Rs 25,000 for her and Rs 50,000 for parents). In total he can claim a deduction of Rs 1,00,000 if both the individual and the parents are above her 60 years of age.
• Peace of Mind: Well-planned back insurance can be a great peace of mind, especially when life-threatening diseases have increased at an alarming rate in recent decades. It can save you and your family during a medical emergency, and most importantly, one less thing to worry about in your busy daily schedule.
Now that you understand the importance of health insurance, let's take a look at what to consider when choosing health insurance.
Points to note when looking for health insurance
• As mentioned above, it is better to get health insurance when you are young. Insurance premiums tend to increase with age, as does the risk of health problems.
• Look for insurance that covers terminal illness. These are the things that weigh most on our finances, so it makes no sense not to include them in the covered list.
• Do not choose insurance with expensive copay clauses. Your copay is the part of your bill that you have to pay out of your own pocket in the event of a claim. The insurance company will pay the rest according to the terms of the policy.
• You may select passenger/additional features related to health insurance to contribute to the overall insurance coverage network.
Types of Health Insurance
•Compensation Plan: In this case, the patient pays a fixed amount for hospital expenses and the insurance company pays the rest of the bill. You can choose the doctor you want to see, and your insurance company doesn't have to decide which hospital or whether you need to see a doctor. But this autonomy is only up to a point. In an emergency, emergency room admission still requires insurance clearance unless you are incapacitated. If you choose a coverage plan, first pay the full amount out of your own pocket and then request a refund. is needed.
•Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO): Members of the EPO plan must use a defined network of physicians and primary care physicians (PCPs) who issue referrals to the network's specialists for treatment. However, this condition does not apply in emergency situations. You will also be required to make a small donation yourself.
•Point of Service (POS): Similar to EPO Pan, POS also offers PCP with a choice of network providers. In such cases, higher compensation is available. However, if you choose to go to an out-of-network hospital, you may be subject to a deductible (out-of-pocket) and have less insurance coverage. You may also need to prepay and then request a refund.
In summary, the importance of health insurance cannot be overestimated. Get health insurance for yourself, your spouse, your children, and your parents early.
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