Here's what you should know about the insurance while scheduling a surgery 21st December 2022
Health insurance in India covers the costs of hospitalisation, medicines, and doctor consultation fees that can arise from any illness, disease, or accident. It has become more of a necessity because of our eating habits, the lifestyle we lead, and the risks of accidents. Such insurance removes the sudden financial burden you may face due to an accident or the need for expensive surgery.
However, not all is good, even if we have insurance coverage. Here's what you should know about insurance while scheduling surgery.
1. Coverage and limit:
The cost of surgery depends on its type and complexity. While a knee-replacement surgery will cost us around 1.5-2 lakh rupees in India, a more complex surgery such as a bypass surgery can cost upwards of 5 lakh rupees. You should first consider the total insurance coverage you have, keeping in mind the type of surgery you plan to undergo.
Your insurance policy will only cover the policy amount insured. You will have to bear any additional cost incurred in the surgery over the limit prescribed by your policy. Hence, you should be financially ready and arrange the funds accordingly.
2. Waiting period:
Any insurer does not provide cover from the first day your policy starts. The insurance company prescribes a waiting period, after which they will start providing you with the coverage benefits. This waiting period is not specified by any government agency. It depends on the individual company and the illness.
For example, the waiting period for any surgery arising can range from 1-2 years. The waiting period can be as high as four years if you declare a serious pre-existing disease when purchasing the policy. The insurance company will not reimburse you for any surgery scheduled during the waiting period.
3. Surgery insurance plan:
Insurance companies nowadays provide specific "surgery insurance plans," too. You can buy such a plan in case you intend to schedule surgery in the near future. However, you should first check the list of surgeries that your policy will cover.
Next, make sure your sum insured is adequate to cover all the costs related to the surgery. This includes the cost of surgery, hospitalisation, medicines, doctor fees, etc. You should also confirm the waiting period and the exclusions under your policy and assure yourself that your surgery will be covered under it.
4. Cashless claim:
A cashless hospitalisation facility settles your hospital bill without having to pay any cash at the time of discharge. Insurance companies tie up with hospitals and directly settle your bill with the concerned hospital.
Whenever you plan to schedule surgery, make sure the hospital you choose is one of the network hospitals of the insurance company. You can enjoy a cashless treatment facility there. You will not have to worry about paying the hefty bills and getting them reimbursed by your insurance service provider later.
Health insurance in India is extremely helpful when planning a necessary and expensive surgery. It removes the stress of arranging immediate finance for the surgery when you are already reeling under the stress of getting it done.
You should always go for the best health insurance in India available in the market. Its terms and conditions regarding the coverage and payout must be clear. The insurance policy should act like your saviour in difficult times. It should not be an additional burden on you when filing the claim during surgery is delayed or difficult. Also, it should be economical to fade away your financial stress.
Click HERE to buy the best health insurance in India policy to keep you and your family safe from health adversities.
Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.