Things to know before buying health insurance

Change in lifestyle has increased the number of heart patients and not just heart disease but many other incapacitating illnesses are now common among the working age population. This has also increased the cost of healthcare. Looking at all this, it is very important to have a health insurance plan. However, there are many things to look at before getting one.
 
Add-on covers
It is good to have add-ons as it may benefit you in many instances. There are various add-ons available such as critical illness, donor expenses, daily hospital cash, etc. though these add-ons come with a cost, they are worth it.
 
Waiting period
No one wants to wait for anything in life, be it for submitting a form in the college or to buy movie tickets. So when it comes to health waiting is not acceptable at all. So it becomes important to check whether the policy comes with a waiting period for certain diseases.
 
Cumulative bonus
This is a kind of no claim bonus wherein for every claim free year your sum assured is increased by a specified percentage up to a certain maximum percentage. These percentages differ from one insurance provider to another.
 
AYUSH treatment
AYUSH means Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. This would cover the treatments done via Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy without any sub-limit. So it is important to check whether your policy covers inpatient treatment for AYUSH.
 
OPD coverage
There are certain health policies that offer outpatient treatment which does not require hospitalization of 24 hours or a waiting period of specified years if treatment is taken through their network medical practitioner or hospitals. The coverage generally is for consultation, diagnostic tests, dental treatment, spectacles or contact lenses and hearing aids, though the terms may vary for different products. However, you should check for the availability and terms of the OPD coverage in your policy.
 
Network hospitals
It is necessary to check the network hospitals as these give you convenience and smoother claim process along with the cashless claim settlement. It doesn’t mean you cannot take treatment apart from the listed network hospitals. But cashless facility can’t be availed for such treatments. You would need to furnish the bills to get the reimbursement.