Anyone who has ever experienced a medical emergency in their family knows what a blessing the right family health insurance plan can be. Since medical expenses can easily stack up and become quite a burden, the comprehensive coverage offered by a health insurance policy for your family ensures that dealing with bills doesn’t hamper the recovery process.
What is family health insurance? Essentially, family health insurance refers to a specific type of health insurance plan that covers the whole family. This usually includes the spouse and dependent children and may even include the policyholder’s parents. In most instances, there is only one premium and features a single insurance amount.
A family health plan is geared at providing families with enough coverage to reduce any additional costs incurred during a medical situation. This can include surgery, dental, and other medical expenses.
There are several reasons that highlight the importance of health insurance. The most significant are listed below.
It’s important to invest in a health insurance plan for your family because it provides financial assistance for medical eventualities. This refers to a wide range of medical issues that may suddenly arise and require funding.
Wondering how to save tax? Many of the best family health insurance plans in India boast tax benefits and rebates. Speak to your advisor or check online about the best options.
With an investment and savings benefit, the policyholder will be able to plan or save for future medical or health-related expenses.
Annual health checkups are among the basic benefits that health coverage provides. This will ensure that potentially life-threatening illnesses are detected early enough for adequate treatment.
An effective family health insurance policy offers high sum assured amounts that can easily beat inflation costs
More complex procedures such as dental treatments will also be covered in a family or individual health insurance plan.
There are also considerable benefits available for organ donation and AYUSH treatments.
Many family health plans also provide cover for alternative treatments such as Yoga, Siddha, Homoeopathy and Unani.
An indemnity health insurance plan is a health policy that reimburses the insured for the full costs of medical expenses as determined in the sum assured. It’s important to check with your insurance broker about the conditions associated with this type of health insurance policy.
A fixed benefit health insurance plan refers to a type of health insurance wherein the sum insured paid to the insured is pre-determined and fixed. This type of policy allows for a lump-sum amount to be paid out, irrespective of the hospitalization or treatment cost.
One of the top benefits of a health insurance policy is that it provides comprehensive coverage. This includes pre and post-hospitalization, ambulance costs and surgeries.
Having extensive health insurance in place ensures that you and your family will receive quality medical attention when it’s needed. The type of medical care received will be the determining factor in how successful the treatment is.
Health insurance plans allow easy access to annual health check-ups. This will help detect a disease or condition in its early stages, making it possible to receive proper treatment timeously.
Having a fixed family health plan ensures that you don’t have to deal with medical inflation with rising premiums. Your health plan will ensure that you always have access to the medication and treatment you need.
Another one of the more impressive benefits of family health insurance includes the various tax benefits on offer. This can be in the form of income tax deductions and rebates.
With a family health plan in India, you’ll be able to enjoy peace of mind knowing that a single policy protects your whole family in the event of a medical emergency.
There are several factors not covered by a health insurance family plan. These are listed as follows:
Review the table below for a side-by-side view of the key differences between individual vs family health insurance policies.
| Criteria | Individual Health Insurance | Family Health Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Health policies that only provide cover to the policyholder (the insured individual) | Health plans that cover the entire family under one single premium |
| Insurance coverage | Averages Rs 5 lakh | Averages between Rs 7-10 lakh |
| Payment premium | Averages between Rs 10,000-15,000 | Averages between Rs 15,000-20,000 |
The factors to consider when reviewing the different health insurance family policies are listed below.
Always check the total plan coverage as well as the period of coverage. Sometimes children or elderly people in the family require a special type of health care. So, plans that have comprehensive coverage for all family members irrespective of their ages should remain on the priority list.
Choose a Health Plan with Sum Insured Enhancement Feature Health plans with a sum insured enhancement features ensure that your loved ones are adequately protected against potential health expenses. The Mera Mediclaim Plan offers up to 150 % increase in Sum Insured as well as an automatic recharge.
The last thing a policyholder wants is to have to struggle with medical bills and tiresome claim procedures. Claim settlement should be a hassle-free experience for the policyholder. Read the policy terms and conditions carefully before choosing it finally.
Ideally, you want a family health insurance plan that will provide you with coverage for your whole life. Insurance plans with a longer age limit provide you with more flexibility and security for your family. In addition, go for a plan that offers coverage for your spouse as well.
Investing in a family health insurance plan will ensure that everyone - your spouse, children and parents can have the best options for medical care should it be needed.
Anyone under the age of 65 can qualify to purchase a family health plan in India.
Essentially, the documents required include the following:
In a reimbursement claim, the policyholder requests reimbursement after the procedure has been finalized and paid for. Bills, discharge summaries, doctor reports and prescriptions are among the types of documents that should be submitted for reimbursement.
For a cashless claim, the insurance company directly settles the bill with the hospital or healthcare facility. In addition to regular treatment, this process also covers cashless hospitalization. This requires pre-authorization from the insurance company.
The health insurance cost will depend on the number of family members who need coverage as well as the type of plan chosen. Additional factors such as age and medical history also determine the anticipated cost. On average a premium of Rs 10 lakh for a family of four can cost between Rs 858 per month to Rs 2769.
As with most health coverage plans, there may be a waiting period while claims are being assessed or submitted. While the insurance policy is valid from the day it’s activated, it’s essential to review the waiting period before a claim can be submitted.
Adding non-family members to your family health plan can be done under special circumstances. Speak to your specific broker for clarity on the types of circumstances where this is allowed.
Disclaimer:
The aforesaid article presents the view of an independent writer who is an expert on financial and insurance matters. PNB MetLife India Insurance Co. Ltd. doesn’t influence or support views of the writer of the article in any way. The article is informative in nature and PNB MetLife and/ or the writer of the article shall not be responsible for any direct/ indirect loss or liability or medical complications incurred by the reader for taking any decisions based on the contents and information given in article. Please consult your financial advisor/ insurance advisor/ health advisor before making any decision.
PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited Registered office address: Unit No. 701, 702 & 703, 7th Floor, West Wing, Raheja Towers, 26/27 M G Road, Bangalore -560001, Karnataka
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