Health insurance is something that many of us take for granted. The cost of healthcare services in India has been skyrocketing over the past few years because people are delaying treatment until they get sick and need emergency medical attention. One way to avoid this problem is by getting an effective health insurance plan before something happens, instead of getting it after it happens!
Health insurance plans are categorized based on factors like age and needs. Health insurance for children differs from that for adults. Health insurance plans also differ in terms of coverage - some cover just hospitalization expenses while others cover all medical costs related to illness or injury suffered during the tenure of the policy period.
Choosing a health insurance plan can be overwhelming, especially if you are looking at multiple options available in the market without any guidance.
This article will guide you through your decision-making process so that by the end of it, you have identified which health insurance option is best suited for your needs.
Ideal health insurance as per age:
There is a lot of talk about health insurance these days, and for good reason. It seems as though every day there is a new study being released that either speaks about the benefits or the pitfalls of having coverage.
Every time you renew your health insurance policy, you have the option of selecting and upgrading your current plan. Continuous renewals receive cumulative incentives, reserve advantages and discounts and waiting periods vanish as well. This shows that consumers need easier options to encourage them to choose a health insurance policy that meets their needs.
The 20s
Graduating from college and heading out on your own can be a scary transition. You’ve been on your parent's plan so far, but soon you'll have to look out for yourself. One of the first things you should consider is health insurance coverage - it may not be required by law, but it will help keep you healthy and cover any accidents or injuries that may happen in the future. It's especially important as your parents are getting older and may not be able to financially help you that much. So, you could always swap roles with your parents at some point in the future.
This is the time in life when an individual health insurance plan is the best option for health insurance protection.
The 30s
If you are an individual in your 30s, then it's likely that you've already made life’s decisions and have your plan in place. But if you're part of a couple or family, then things can be more complicated. You will consider the needs of not only yourself but also your partner and children.
Individual health insurance is still the best option for you. It is possible, however, that you may need to reevaluate your claim amount and coverage. Maternity health insurance should be added to your basic plan if you are expecting a child. In addition to covering basic delivery costs, it also covers the newborn infant for 90 days following the birth. The waiting period for this add-on is two years.
The 40s & 50s
Getting the best health insurance plans for your family can be difficult. There are so many options, and you want to make sure that your family is taken care of in every way possible. The first thing you need to do is check all the doctors in the insurer's network to ensure that they have what you need. If one of your children attends college, it's important to get a plan with hospitals close by, so if anything happens while he/she is away in school, you'll know where he/she will be taken care of. It's also a good idea to find out which allergies or sports activities any members of your household participate in because this will help determine which type of coverage would suit them the best.
Individual health insurance is the greatest choice for you, once again. Other choices include Family Floater Health Insurance (FHHI) as well as Group Health Insurance (GHI). A group health insurance plan is similar to an individual health insurance plan. As opposed to individual health insurance, family health insurance covers all members of the family under a cumulative insured amount and the premiums are significantly lower. Choosing the latter option is great if you're single and want to start a business in the near future. It provides coverage to all your employees.
The 60s and above
Choosing health insurance coverage after retirement is a big decision. It can be difficult to make the best choice for your health and finances at this stage in life. You may not know how much health care will cost or if you’ll need it, but you want to make sure that you have enough money saved up just in case something happens. In order to choose the health plan that is right for you, consider a cost-to-benefit analysis before committing to multiple health insurance plans – especially if they are expensive ones!
At this stage of life, Senior Citizens Health Insurance is the finest option. Medications, hospitalization resulting from an accident or sickness, and pre-and post-treatment are covered. In addition, you may want to consider purchasing add-ons such as "Zone Upgrade" in order to keep up with city-based pricing increases. You may also want to explore Critical Illness Insurance to cover particular conditions with expensive treatment.
Conclusion
One of the most important health decisions you'll make is choosing a health insurance plan. It's not an easy decision, but it can be easier if you know what to look for. The solution is in knowing your needs and when they change.
As per Mr Vinod Gill co-founder of Tech Preview, the number of people looking for insurance plans online has surged in recent years. People can find the plan best suitable for their needs and compare different plans in terms of cost and coverage.