Health insurance cover has become one of the most vital needs of life. It is as basic and essential as food, house and clothes. Along with the growing rate of inflation in India, medical expenses are also going up. A health insurance cover is, thus, important to cope with high health and medical expenses, nowadays. It is even more necessary for elderly people and your parents.
Their growing age put them to higher risk of illness and greater need for medical attention than younger people. So, in order to provide the best health care and medical facilities to your parents, it is important to have them insured with the best senior citizen health plans available.
Chief Features of Senior Citizen Health Insurance Cover
Before choosing the best healthcare plan for parents, you should be aware of the features that should be present in health insurance plans for elderly people above 60. Senior citizen health plans work differently from general health insurance plans. Here are the chief features that should be present in senior citizen health insurance plans:
Hospitalization – The healthcare plan for elderly people should be able to cover the expenses related to the hospitalization of the insured. It is the most vital feature of a senior health plan. The plan should provide cash-free admission of senior insured patient and should also cover the expenses of medical treatment and hospital room charge.Ambulance – The medical insurance should cover the cost of emergency ambulance facility. Since, elderly people are more prone to medical emergencies, it is absolutely necessary that their health care plan should cover the expenses of ambulance services.Expense of Day Care – Due to advanced medical technology and superior treatment facilities, nowadays, you may not need to hospitalize the insured patient for the entire day. Senior health plan for your parents should be equipped to provide cover at such times.Pre-Existing Health Condition Cover – While choosing the best health plan for your parents, it is crucial to choose a health insurance that covers pre-existing health conditions also along with insuring their future health issues and medical treatments. Such insurance coverage facility may vary from one insurer to the other.Greater Insured Amount – Make sure that the insurance policy for senior citizen should allow high insured amount for the elderly person. This, too, varies from one insurance provider to the other.No Compulsory Health Screening – While some insurers prefer medical screening of the insurance proposer before issuance of the policy, some insurance providers do not demand medical screening of the senior policy proposers. Choose health plans for your parents keeping their comfort in mind. They may not be comfortable with some of the health screening processes.Co-Payment – Many senior healthcare plans come along with co-payment options. Co-payment option of senior health insurance plan suggests that the insured person has to pay a certain portion of the total medical expenditure. The share of co-payment varies from one insurer to the other.Existing Disease Cover Waiting Period – Check for the waiting period of existing disease in the senior health insurance plan for your parents before buying a policy. Senior people may require immediate medical assistance due to existing health conditions.Best Healthcare Plans for Senior Citizens and Parents in India
Check out some of the best healthcare plans provided by various insurance companies in India for senior people:
1. New India Assurance Senior Citizen Mediclaim
New India Assurance Company provides Senior Citizen Mediclaim plan for elderly people between the age of 60yrs and 80yrs. This policy could be availed up to the age of 90yrs if renewed without a break.Expenses of pre-hospital admission up to 30days and post-hospital admission up to 60 days are covered within the plan.The plan starts covering the expenses related to existing health conditions after 1yr and 6 months from the inception of the policy.2. Start Health Senior Citizen Red Carpet Insurance Plan
This Red Carpet Senior Citizen plan is available for elderly people above the age of 60yrs up to the age of 75yrs.No medical screening is required to be done for buying the policy.This plan provides day care facility with minimum 24 hour hospital admission.Ambulance cost and pre and post hospital admission costs are covered by the policy.3. Oriental Hope Health Plan for Senior Citizen
This healthcare senior citizen plan is available for individuals above the age of 60yrs.The plan covers the expenses of medical bills, treatment, nursing, room rent, ambulance, etc.The plan also covers the charges of intensive care unit up to 2 percent of the amount assured for each day.4. United India Senior Citizen Health Insurance
This health plan for senior citizen is available for individuals above the age of 60yrs up to the age of 80yrs.It covers all the medical expenses including expenses of surgeries, major ailments and also the charges of ICU, hospital room rent, nursing, etc.It provides day care facility and cash-free hospitalization in India.
About the Author
Prateek is a seasoned independent writer. His explanatory and creative writing style helps understand the subject matter easily and offers tips, tricks and expert suggestions for Star Health Insurance polices..