How to buy the best health insurance

Health insurance expert Anil Rego in an online chat with readers answers health insurance queries.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Prashant Soni: Can I buy 2-3 policies and pay the final hospital bill by dividing the amount among these 2-3 policies? If YES, Is there any specific process do I need to follow?

Anil Rego: We cannot divide the amount among all the policies. The way it works is, use one policy fully and take the next policy and use it fully and move to the last one.

Manisha Satpute: What are the advantages of sticking to one Health Insurance company for a long time?

Anil Rego: There are few advantages: the most important one is once you have completed the exclusion period; you can cover all the health ailments. If you move to a new policy, you will have a waiting period.

You will also get additional discounts with the existing insurer (in some cases) towards premium. Many health insurers offer health free health check-up mostly after 2 years of completion.

Kashi Gupta: I have mediclaim policy for 1 lakh each individual for me and my wife i am 64 years and my wife is 62 years i want to increase to at least 5 lakhs each or 10 lakhs floater please suggest best policy?

Anil Rego: Since you and your spouse are senior citizen and assuming you have no pre-existing health conditions, you can go for Star Red carpet policy, which will have no medical check-up and guaranteed issuance. However this is an individual policy.

If you wish to go for a floater, medical examination is must for both.

You can select from Religare Care, ICICI Lombard i Health, Apollo Munich Optima Restore.

prasanta bora: I want to take health insurance policy for my family (2+1).age 49, 41 & 9...one adult member have diabetic suggest the best policy.

Anil Rego: You can look among from Religare Care, ICICI Lombard i Health, Apollo Munich Optima Restore. However, you need to disclose the diabetic condition of the family member while applying for the policy.

You must note that for the diabetic conditions, there will be certain waiting periods which ranges from 2-4 years depending on the insurer.

Jayateerth Managoli: Is it good to add cancer or critical illness with the health policies?

Anil Rego: Yes, it is always advisable as the person will get the lump sum amount where defined disease is detected. However, it will cost additionally.

harjit singh: When patient has been referred from periphery to cancer hospital for suspected malignancy. But insurance company don't allow under cashless for admission & say that first inform us final diagnose and treatment? How it is possible without investigation & what to do in this situation?

Anil Rego: It is a diagnosis test and you require 24hrs of hospitalisation of settlement of any claim. However, if the patient is hospitalised and treated, post the discharge, you can claim these expenses as pre-hospitalisation expenses (as reimbursement).

Sharmil Jain: I am leaving my job. Can I get my corporate mediclaim policy changed to personal mediclaim policy?

Anil Rego: No. It cannot be done. We suggest you to take an individual or family floater policy.

Kishor Sakpal: I'm diabetic, my age is 39, can I still get 100 percent mediclaim? Also, please suggest policy.

Anil Rego: Yes, however, there will be certain waiting period. You must also note that the policy issuance depends on the medical examination results and the underwriter's discretion.

Vinayak Tavade: Does Health Insurance cover everything from accident, surgery, normal hospitalisation?

Anil Rego: Yes. However, not self sustained injuries.

Nitin Deshmukh: Can a person get claim from his own company and spouse's company if they are covered under both companies?

Anil Rego: You can claim from one company only. However, the cost increases beyond the coverage, you can use other person's policy to the extent of health cover given.

Jenny Dsouza: Can NRIs take health insurance? Can they travel to India for treatment and claim? What about emergency situations?

Anil Rego: Yes, NRIs can take a health insurance policy. However, the coverage will be limited only for the treatment within India and typically paid in Indian Rupees.

Madhumita Gosh: Is it better to take accidental policy separately or mix it with term insurance as a rider?

Anil Rego: Better to take it as a rider as it will cost less.

susarla suryaprakasam: Why Autonomous health institutes like NIMS, NIMHANS etc. are not included for cashless, as it happened in my case with Medi claim - United India when I joined in NIMS, Hyderabad?

Anil Rego: The decision to be part of network hospital is at the discretion of the hospital. We must need to check the network hospitals while we go for a health policy. A health care policy which has higher no of hospitals, strong geographical presence and inclusion of well known hospitals and high claim ratio is better to go with.

Rahul Kulkarni: Which is best floater family policy for following criteria -age 43,38,9? One adult has hypertension; lifelong renewable4-6 lac cover no co-pay increasing cover each year critical illness cover waiting period 2-3 years annual health checkups ayurveda treatment cover

Anil Rego: You can go for ICICI Lombard i Health; it has two years of waiting period for the hypertension and ayurrveda treatment is covered.

subrata ghosh: What is the best mediclaim policy for my family having wife, daughter (age 2 years), brother and mother?

Anil Rego: You can go for Max Bupa family floater plans which can cover brother as well.

Nitin Deshmukh: Can a person get claim from his own company and spouse's company if they are covered under both companies?

Anil Rego: You can claim from one company only. However, the cost increases beyond the coverage, you can use other person's policy to the extent of health cover given. You can claim from one company only. However, if the cost increases beyond the coverage, you can use other person's policy to the extent of health cover given

Dr-Fayyaz Khan: I have Royal Sundaram policy for last 9 years and no claim but last year due to demonetisation premium was late and policy got cancelled they given me new policy. Can I switch to another company?

Anil Rego: Yes, you can switch from one company to another. However, premium may change.

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roshan kumar: My self 35 years diabetics' patient needs to buy mediclaim insurance with family. pls advise.

Anil Rego: Yes, however, there will be certain waiting period. You must also note that the policy issuance depends on the medical examination results and the underwriter's discretion. We recommend Star Diabetic plan may be well suited for your need.

Sharmil Jain: Would my corporate policy expire, if i leave the job or can i reap its benefits till its term completion?

Anil Rego: No. You need to take a new policy.

RAJESH SHARMA: I have a star Health Family Health Optima from 2012 onwards. May I know what is covered under this policy?

Anil Rego: Kindly check your policy document or speak to the customer care with your policy details. They shall provide you the details.

Praveen Asuthker: Why there is no benefit of NO CLAIM for Floater policy holder under new India assurance / family floater policy?

Anil Rego: You need to check that with the Insurer.