These days, people are becoming more aware than ever before about the importance of health insurance. This awareness has led to a boom in the insurance market with a wide range of policies from different providers. Yet, with so many companies vying for 5-minutes of your attention, choosing a single health insurance plan from the many can be a tough task. You might wonder whether you have researched enough or simply missed out on anything.
The best way to know that you are getting the right coverage is by putting across the right questions. With that in mind, here are 5 things to ask your health insurance provider prior to purchasing a plan.
Table of Contents
What does the coverage include?
When you search for a health policy, the premium cost is not the only thing you need to ask about. Remember that the policy inclusions vary between providers. A cheap premium may be attractive but the insurance plan may not really offer much. A good health insurance policy should ideally cover you for pre-and post-hospitalization costs, ambulance charges, as well as alternative treatments like Ayurveda and Unani.
What is the waiting period for pre-existing diseases?
The waiting period for pre-existing illnesses may vary between 2 to 4 years between insurance companies. Be sure to look into the waiting period with your current provider – it makes sense to choose the policy that has the lowest period.
What are the sub-limits?
Health insurance policies sometimes have sub-limits placed on certain aspects of your treatment. For instance, hospital room rent might have a sub-limit on your hospital room rent. This means that if your room rent fees exceed the capping limit, the rest of the costs come from your own pocket. Make sure to check the sub-limits in your health insurance plan and opt for the one that offers maximum coverage so that you do not need to dip into your savings.
What happens on admission to a non-network hospital?
Most health insurance provider allow you to enjoy the benefits of cashless hospitalization at any of their network hospitals. Yet, there may be instances when you need to seek treatment at a healthcare center that is outside the network list. Therefore, while purchasing a policy be sure to ask the agent what happens if you need to be admitted in a non-network hospital. You do not want to be caught unawares later on.
What is the geographical extent of my policy coverage?
Most leading health insurance providers allow you to enjoy the benefits of your plan from anywhere in the country. However, it is always better to just ask them to confirm this rather than just assuming it is true. It would also help to have a list of network hospitals of the city you are planning to visit.
When purchasing health insurance, do make sure that you read the terms and conditions of your policy. Compare the plans offered by a few providers and choose the one that meets your needs. All the best!
