When buying a health insurance plan for parents in India, you should look for the following features in the plan:
With the increase in nuclear families and having jobs outside of one’s hometown, even abroad, we are often worried about our parent’s health. Healthcare is expensive today and often times, due to the rising costs, our parents happen to delay their treatment and procedures. However, this only results in advanced health problems. While a parental health insurance is an option, it may not cover regular healthcare expenses which are very important. Therefore, it is best if you go one step ahead and invest in a complete parental health insurance package.
A specialized parental health insurance plan is a plan that is carefully crafted to cater to your parents and senior citizens health needs. It includes and covers regular health expenses like doctor consultation fees, lab tests, preventive health check-ups so that parents can stay on top of their health. It should also cover pre-and post-hospitalization care expenses. It will also have an option to opt for AYUSH or alternative treatment therapies. Additional benefits are ambulance assistance, no claim bonus, pre-existing disease cover and so on.
When looking for the right parental health insurance package, you should consider the following points:
Helps you beat medical inflation:This health insurance plan should cover end-to-end health cover costs so that you don’t have to pay anything from your pocket.
Waiting period:It is better to invest in a parental health insurance before your parents turn senior citizens. This is because the waiting period will be over by then and they can avail all benefits.
Premium Affordability : The premium you need to pay for the parental health insurance should be easily affordable to you.
Coverage for Life Support & Life Saving Treatments : Old age brings many health complications. Your insurance plan should include cost of cataract surgery, dialysis, organ transplant, other implants, etc.
Critical Illness Cover : Yes, if your parents are diagnosed with a critical illness like cancer, liver cirrhosis, etc. this plan should have provision for the same.
Age Limit of Primary Policy Holder:In order to avoid co-payment clauses, the primary policyholder should be between the ages of 18 and 65 when applying for coverage.
Nationality:The policyholder needs to be an Indian citizen.
Maximum age of enrollment:For most medical insurance plans, the maximum age of enrolment is between 60 and 80 years of age.
Health Insurance is a must for any individual or family who are looking to secure their health and financial future. Owing to medical inflation in the recent years, the cost of medical treatment and procedures often drains one’s lifetime savings and acts a burden. However, getting a health insurance means adding a fall-back cushion to safeguard savings as well as get tax benefits.
As you apply for a health insurance plan, the insurance providers do a thorough check/assessment of your health. Basis your health status, they offer a premium amount for the plan.
Your age is a major factor on which the health insurance premium will be decided. Most companies follow this mantra – the higher the age of the insured, the higher the premium to be paid. This is because older people are prone to illnesses. It is advisable to buy a health insurance plan when you are younger to enjoy more benefits and pay a lower premium.
Your occupation or the nature of your work will also determine the health risks you may be exposed to. Given our hectic lifestyles and sedentary jobs, you will be prone to stress, anxiety, etc. which will lead to other health issues. So, for example, if you have a high stress job, your premium will be higher.
Medical history plays a vital role too in deciding the premium. If you have a chronic illness, or have suffered from any past major illnesses, or if family history points to any pre-existing illnesses, your health insurance premium will go up.
If you have a co-pay feature in your health insurance plan, then your premium will be lower as a certain percentage of the medical costs will be borne by you and the rest by the insurance provider..
Habits. Yes, your habits matter a lot. For example, if you are a smoker, you are at risk of serious illnesses like cancer. If you drink regularly, you are at risk of chronic diseases. So, your premium will be higher.
Duration of your policy will also affect your premium. If have a longer duration for your policy, you will pay less premium.
Your BMI or Body Mass Index also affects your premium. If your BMI is high, then you are at a higher risk of chronic or lifestyle illnesses. This means you will pay a higher premium.
Location If you stay in locations where food, water, air quality is an issue, it will lead to serious health issues and therefore, your premium will be higher.
Your plan type affects your premium amount.
At Bajaj Finserv Health, the parental health insurance policy is not like any other health insurance policy that kicks in during pre-and post-hospitalization care before an ailment, illness or a treatment. With Bajaj Finserv Health’s Parental Health Insurance Policy, your parents can focus on wellness and health together. This means they can avail cashless doctor consultations, get lab tests at top labs, avail FREE preventive health check-ups and teleconsult doctors on the Bajaj Finserv Health platform from the comfort of their homes. Plus, they can avail hospitalization benefits too as the requirement arises.
You can claim a tax deduction under section 80 D for health insurance premiums you pay for your parents. If you pay the premiums for yourself and your parents below 60 years of age, then you are entitled to a tax deduction of Rs 50,000. The limit is raised to Rs 75,000 if your parents are older than 60 years. Depending on tax regulations, the limit may vary.
You can avail all your health insurance benefits PAN India. Explore our vast network partners.
You can avail all your health insurance benefits PAN India. Explore our vast network partners.
An Easy, Hassle-Free And Quick Procedure
Most health plans only includes children and spouse as dependents, if you’re looking for a policy that will cover medical emergencies for your parents you should go for a separate health insurance plan for your parents.
The best way to ensure your parents receive the best medical care is through a health insurance policy. These policies provide coverage for unexpected medical expenses well into the sunset of their lives.
Tax benefits for health insurance premiums are available to parents above 60 years of age.
Pre-existing conditions can be covered by health plans as long as the plan you choose specifies a waiting period. Try to choose a health insurance plan with a short waiting period.
Each medical plan has a certain age requirement. Be sure to check it before purchasing an insurance policy for your parents.
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