First-time health insurance buyer’s guide

Healthcare expenses are known to run up quite the bill, and this is where a health insurance cover proves to be essential. However, buying a healthcare insurance plan could be confusing, especially if it’s your first time. This is because there are numerous insurance companies that offer you different plans, so you should know what you are looking for.

To help you out, here is a guide that will help first-time insurance buyers like you in getting an ideal health insurance policy:

Make sure your policy covers pre & post-hospitalization charges

Hospitalization expenses do not just involve the medical bills for when you are admitted to a hospital. Before you go to the hospital, you may also have to incur pre-hospitalization charges. These include any medical tests for your blood pressure or sugar levels. Even the cost of medicines, vaccines, or your doctor’s consultation fees come under pre-hospitalization charges.

Post-hospitalization expenses include the follow-up with your doctor, medicines that you have to take once you are discharged, and so on. These expenses could be quite heavy on your pocket without coverage, and this is why you should buy a health insurance policy that covers pre and post-hospitalization charges.

Choose a health insurance company that has a cashless network of hospitals

In the case of a hospitalization, you are supposed to take care of all the medical bills, and later use your health insurance policy to make claims. This process is tiring, and this is where a cashless hospitalization could ease your burden.

Insurance companies have a list of hospitals that they are affiliated with. So, at the time of a medical emergency, you do not have to worry about any bills at these hospitals. They are directly settled between the hospital and your insurance company. So, always choose an insurance company that has a good network of hospitals.

Decide between individual health insurance plan or family floater

When buying a health insurance plan, you also have to take your family into consideration. With an individual health insurance plan, each family member will have their own specific coverage. The premiums for these would be as per each family member’s age and the sum that is insured.

When it comes to a family floater plan, all the family members are covered under the same plan. This means that any member of the family can avail the entire sum that is insured. These plans are beneficial for those who have do not have a history of major health issues. However, if you or one of your family members does have health complications, an individual insurance plan would be a better option.

Your insurance plan should have a lifelong renewal feature

It is natural for anyone to face health complications once they start growing old. Keeping this in mind, the lifetime renewability feature of a health insurance policy is quite important.

Getting an insurance cover is difficult once health problems start to kick in, and this is why you should pick a plan that offers lifelong renewability. This would ensure that you and your family members are always covered.

We hope this article helps you in getting a suitable health insurance policy. All the best!