Why is health insurance so important?

A health insurance policy is one of the most sought after insurance policies. There are many benefits of getting a health insurance quote which is why it is so important to get it. Uninsured people receive much less medical care and suffer from a fiscal burden.

The benefits of health insurance usually outweigh the costs for most people.  Furthermore, insured individuals benefit from improved access to hospitals and clinics. One cannot rely on safety-net clinics as they do not offer the best services and patients might not be able to get urgent treatment. 

What is Health Insurance?

It is an agreement wherein the insurance company agrees to guarantee compensation for medical expenses in case the insured suffers from an accident or falls ill, which would lead to the hospitalization being insured.

Normally, insurance companies have a relationship with the best hospitals in order to provide the insured with cashless treatment. In case the insurance company does not have a close relationship with the hospital, the cost of expenses that had been incurred by the insured would be reimbursed.

Governments throughout the world and in New Zealand promote health insurance and may even provide with a deduction from income tax depending on prescribed circumstances.

Importance of Health Insurance

Medical care can be very expensive, especially private care which is why purchasing a health insurance policy for you and your family is important.

Hospitalization could leave a dent in your wallet and derail your expenses. It would be even more difficult for the person who is hospitalized to be the bread earner of the family.

By simply paying a small annual premium, all of this could be easily avoided. Health insurance is vital to take care of any medical emergencies which might arise.  

A good health insurance policy could cover medical expenses such as ambulance charges, medical tests, doctor consultation fees, medicines, hospitalization costs and even costs post-hospitalization to a certain extent.

Advantages of having a Health Insurance Policy

Transportation

The insurance policy would cover the amount of money that would be paid to the transportation of the insured.

Pre and Post Hospitalization Charges

Normally, the insurance policy should cover pre and post hospitalization expenses for up to a period of 2 months, depending on the insurance policy that you have taken.

This is important because it’s not just the costs during the hospitalization that are incurred, but the charges before and afterward can add up to quite a bit! This includes various medications and other procedures that may have to be undertaken following.

NCB (No Claim Bonus)

If a claim has not been filed for any treatment in the previous year, then the insurance company is likely to give you a discount on your premium.

The more years you haven’t had a claim, the higher this discount is likely to be. It reflects the lessened risk that the insurer has taken on by having you in their policy. 

Room Rent

The insured would also get to avail room expenses depending on the premium that had been paid.

How to Choose the Best Health Insurance Policy

It might seem difficult to choose the best health insurance policy as many insurance companies provide a similar type of insurance policy.

Make sure to compare health insurance policies before you choose one. There are certain important points which would help anyone looking for an insurance plan.

• No Claim Bonus
• Inclusion and Exclusion
• Capping of Room Rent
• Renewability Clause and Minimum Age of Entry
• Sum Assured
• Other Benefits

Criteria for Eligibility

Now, the eligibility criterion varies from country to country. In certain places, people under 45 years of age do not need to undergo a mandatory health checkup when applying for a health insurance policy.

They are only required to disclose if they have ever had any pre-existing conditions such as high-blood pressure or diabetes.

Therefore, as a rule of thumb, people should get a health insurance policy when they are still young so as to pay less on premium.

Documents Needed to Buy a Health Insurance Policy

There are certain documents that are needed when buying a health insurance policy:

• Identity Proof: The first thing that is need is the person’s identity proof. This could be done by proving one’s citizenship such as by showing a Voter ID, Passport or Driver’s License.
• ·Age Proof: Once again, the identity proof should show the age. You can use a passport or a birth certificate will do. 
• Proof of Medical Examination or check-up: There is also a requirement to prove the health condition of the person through a medical examination. It is normally needed for the people who are over the age of 45 years.
• Address Proof: The permanent address of the individual should be shown through Passport, Driving License, Telephone Bill or Electricity Bill.

Types of Health Insurance

Individual Health Insurance

For this policy, the health expenses and hospitalization expenses of an individual would be covered if taken. The premium is determined according to the age of insured in this policy.

Family Health Insurance

For this policy, the individual will be allowed to include all of the family members against various diseases under a single cover. A fixed sum for the family members can be assured for the family health plan. 

Senior Citizen Health Insurance

The policy has been designed specifically for senior citizens who are of the age of 60 or more. It offers protection from health problems due to old age.

Critical Illness and Surgery Insurance

This policy is perfect if the insured required treatment against serious illnesses such as cancer, paralysis, kidney failure or heart attack.

The medical expenses of the treatments are considerably high and would be covered by the policy. However, the premium for such policies is also very high.

Maternity Health Insurance

For this policy, prenatal and postnatal care would be covered along with the child delivery expenses. The policy also covers for the newborn up to a specified period of time. Ambulance costs will also be covered.

Personal Accident Insurance

The policy would cover hospitalization expenses in case the insured gets into an accident.