Health Insurance
National
National Insurance, a public sector entity, is the oldest general insurance company dating way back to 1906, offering Health, Motor, Industrial and Rural Insurance. It has six health insurance policies covering Individual, Family and Senior citizens having a range of features. All the plans offer Health Check-up benefits and some even offer a decent Maternity benefit.
National Health insurance plans
National Parivar Mediclaim policy
National Parivar Mediclaim is an okay policy for the most part. But if you are looking for comprehensive coverage this policy doesn't cut it. Simply because family plans ought to have restoration benefits i.e. in the event multiple members in the family are hospitalized in the same year, you will want the insurer to restore your cover fully after the first claim.
National Mediclaim Plus policy
While the National Mediclaim Plus policy does impose some restrictions on the kind of room you can pick, it is pretty decent for the most part. Especially when you consider it even offers maternity benefits.
National Senior Citizen Mediclaim policy
National Senior Citizen Mediclaim is definitely a decent policy if you’re 60+, with pre-existing diseases. After all, they'll start covering these pre existing complications after just 2 years (as opposed to 3 years). But if you have other choices this policy could be a letdown considering they do have a few unsavoury conditions.
National Mediclaim policy
National Mediclaim policy is an okay policy for the most part. But if you are looking for comprehensive coverage this policy perhaps simply doesn't cut it, because it does have a few unsavoury conditions
National Super Top-up Mediclaim
While it is a decent super top up plan, you don't really get a disproportionately large cover with Super Top-up Mediclaim. The plan allows you to top up your base policy only by about 20 lakhs tops. So if you are ever hospitalized for a rare condition, then the cover might not suffice.
National Parivar Mediclaim Plus policy
The National Parivar Mediclaim Plus is a decent policy for couples planning a child as it offers Rs. 50k.However, the policy comes with some notable caveats -- It has a cover amount capped at ₹10 lakhs, which might not be sufficient for extensive medical needs. Apart from this, the room rent limit is restricted to 1% of the cover amount, which can lead to out of pocket expenses. The No Claim Bonus is not that impressive either. The insurer increases the sum insured by just 5% annually, capped at 50%, which is relatively modest. Coming to this insurer, they have a relatively high incurred claim ratio, indicating that they are paying out more in claims than they have been collecting in premiums.
National Health insurance claim process
National claims can be of different types based on the hospital in which you are getting the treatment. If it’s part of National's network hospitals, you can get a “Cashless claim” in which insurance company directly pays the bills to the hospital. But if your choice of hospital is not part of their network, then you have to pay the bills and apply for reimbursement claim. Here’s a brief process for both types of claims:
Cashless Claims
Inform the Hospital Desk
All network hospitals have an insurance desk. You can submit your policy copy (even soft copy works), ID proof, initial diagnosis report and the insurance desk will request the insurance company for “pre-authorization”. In case of planned treatments, you need to do this process 2 days before hospitalization
Insurer’s decision
Based on the provided documents, insurance company approve the claim and the hospital will start the treatment and they will co-ordinate with insurer for the treatment costs. In case of Cashless claim rejection, you can still go ahead with the treatment. In this case, you will need to pay the bills initially and can file for a reimbursement claim later
Discharge
If your cashless claim is approved, at the time of discharge, the insurance company will do the final settlement with the hospital and once that is sorted, you are good to go.
Reimbursement Claims
Inform the insurance company
For any planned treatments, you need to inform the insurance company 2 days before hospitalisation. In case of emergency, you can inform within 24 hours of admission. Insurance company will acknowledge the intimation.
Hospitalization
You need to submit a insurance claim form along with original copies of hospital bills, doctor consultation reports, and diagonstic reports.
File the claim
Within 30 days post discharge, you can initiate the claim online or at any of the registered offices of the insurance company. You need to fill a claim form and attach all the reports and bills.
Insurer’s decision
Based on the claim form and submitted documents, insurance company will settle the claims as per policy terms and conditions.
National Health Insurance Renewal
Firstly, if you’ve purchased the policy online, you’ll always receive an intimation e-mail from the insurer around 30 days before the renewal date. The e-mail will have a renewal link that will directly take you to the page where you can make the payment and check policy details. And it’s done. You’ll receive the policy document via e-mail.
However, in case you choose to do it on your own, here’s what you need to do:
Visit the website
Visit the National website and then go to the Renewal section here.
Enter details
You’d be asked to provide your current policy number which you can find in the policy soft copy. You may as well be asked to enter your mobile number, email ID, Date of Birth or policy expiry date.
Review and edit the policy details
Next, you’ll be able to see details of your new policy and the renewal premium you need to pay. Also, you’ll be given the option to make some changes related to sum insured, existing covered members, etc.
Complete the payment and it’s done
Once you confirm the details, you’ll be directed to the payment gateway. Once the payment is complete, you’ll receive your new policy soft copy via e-mail.
Few things to consider when renewing your National health insurance policy
- If you want to increase your Sum Insured, now is the time. You can’t do it anytime during the year.
- If you didn’t make a claim in the past year, make sure you have been given a no-claim bonus if your policy offers it.
- If you want to add members like your spouse or kids, you have the option to do so only at the time of renewal. So do give this a thought.
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