A health top-up plan provides the financial backup you needed after your base plan is exhausted. For example, if your incur medical expenses of ₹7 lakhs, and your base plan covers only ₹4 lakhs, the remaining ₹3 lakhs will be covered by your top-up plan.

When opting for enhanced health coverage, consider if you want to opt for a top-up or a super top-up plan. Post carrying a cost-benefit analysis of both types of plans, you also need to consider the following factors before opting for a supplementary top-up.

In our present fast-paced life, most of us do not have time for ourselves. Physical and psychological stress overwhelms us and we hardly have any control over these. For this self deprecation, yoga comes to our rescue. While yoga has been around for a long time, it has gathered momentum only over the last few years.

Considered to be almost a health movement, yoga helps achieve a better state of physical, psychological and spiritual health. The main appeal of yoga lies in its ability to bring forth the unity of the mind with the body. In a world where we are detached not only from others but also from ourselves, yoga serves to be a way to connect with both while at the same time allowing us to reap benefits of physical and mental well-being.

The Popularity of Yoga

According to the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) survey, there has been a 30-40% increase in demand to learn yoga in India. The survey further reveals that 15% individuals in the age group of 30-70 years are adopting yoga in south India, as compared to other parts of the country.

In a situation of constant overdrive in modern life, yoga becomes like an anchor which you can hold on to. Here are some of the many ways how yoga helps improve your life:

Rejuvenates your Senses

Stimulation of certain brain glands that help reduce stress can be achieved through the practice of yoga. A study conducted in US had found that about 62.8 % of people in the 18-44 age group practice yoga and have reaped positive benefits for the same.

The body’s natural balance is maintained with yoga postures including stretching, breathing and twists. Healing the body through yoga goes hand in hand in with cleansing your mind.

Every once in a while you’ll come across an article or piece of publication that will jolt you into action. Or so a writer wishes. If only wishes were like….well you know it! But what if the end result is not just desired but also needed? Like knowing and discovering types of health insurance products you didn’t think you’d need. It’s also a fast track method of discovering innovations in the insurance industry. But before we take a look at the products themselves, let us first glance at the reasons old ways of the industry are being disrupted. By way of product innovation, insurers are now trying to come up with solutions and set up data pipelines that take care of the following:

• Engage consumers

Like all good relationships, the one between an insurer and the consumer can no longer just be a transactional one. The onus on insurers to engage with customers has never been greater. Whether it be timely reminders for renewals, updating them on product benefits and coverages, telling them about other products that they may need or just ensuring that they have access to important information regarding health specialists and hospitals – the byword is communicate!

• Simplify processes

Traditional insurance players are notorious for their lengthy and complicated processes reminiscent of ‘babudom’. That’s no longer the case. Customers want simplified, digitized processes like a touchless claim technology, right from the point of purchase to claim, at their fingertips.

• Expand coverage

It’s not enough to offer products that just cover traditional risks. Consumers are now looking for need-based solutions that are relevant to their lifestyles.

The consultancy firm Deloitte, in its report, Four Defining Insurance Industry Trends 2020, states “The insurance industry stands at the precipice of profound change. And this disruption is not just digital. Demanding customers, new competitors and a changing set of challenges are transforming the insurance industry.”

There are several types of insurance products that you may miss out on if you’re not an industry watcher or specifically looking for it.

Cyber Insurance

The product has been around for a while but the insurance industry is now taking a more customer first approach. Initially the focus of the coverage in a cyber-policy used to be on recovering financial losses and backing legal routes. It has now broadened to encapsulate occurrences such as cyber bullying and threats too. Recognizing that incidences such as cyber bullying and cyber extortion have mental ramifications on the victim the scope of cover, in some cyber products, now also includes consultations with psychologists and cost of relocation in case of serious threats.

Why it’s needed

We are increasingly becoming more reliant on digital. Right from our financial transactions to social interactions; our personal information is resting on devices, servers and databases. This leaves us vulnerable to hackers, extortionists and others with criminal intent. Having a policy that covers all these incidents, goes a long way in ensuring that someone’s got your back in cyber space.

Telematics Insurance

Blanket premiums may be a thing of the past. A smart insurance solution now being offered to car owners is telematics based insurance. A more personalized form of insurance, the premium for a telematics based policy depends on how many kilometers you drive, how you drive and various other parameters as specified by the insurer. Here’s how it works – a telematics device is attached to your vehicle, (think of it as a black box but for your car) which records certain statistics like what speed you drive at, how you take corners, etc. The insurer then reviews the data received and states the premium accordingly.

Why it’s needed

No two people drive the same so it helps to have a product that determines price based on consumer behavior. Aside from personalized premium, the consumer also receives regular updates regarding the health of the car. In case the vehicle is stolen, it can be tracked using the telematics device. For those drivers that abide by the law of the land and rule of the road this type of insurance spells *ka-ching*!

Income Insurance

When we mention insurance what’s the first thing you think of- health? Life? Most people only associate insurance with health or life policies. But we live in uncertain times and so we must be ready with firm measures to counter that uncertainty. Protecting your income with an insurance policy is sort of a safety net – should the ground be swept beneath your feet, there’s something to break the fall. Most income targeted insurance products will cover eventualities such as termination due to external economic factors, disability due to an accident etc.

Why it’s needed

Think of it as upping your financial planning to A-game status. If you’ve got responsibilities and bills to pay, insuring your income helps in alleviating some of the stress that economic turbulence brings.

COVID-19 Insurance

The pandemic has been challenging for one and all. For the insurance industry, it came as a challenge to its agility; for insurers to swiftly come up with a product that would answer their customer’s requirements. On the home front, we went full-steam ahead to ensure that our customers knew that complete health insurance. We set up certain measures to ensure that our customers would also have access to information such as covid-19 testing facilities and hospitals. We also set up processes to expedite COVID-19 claims. In record time, we came up with group COVID-19 cover

Why it’s needed

And by this we mean a health policy that offers wide coverage and prioritizes customer engagement (remember our point about ‘engaging customers’ at the beginning)
ICICI Lombard also provides health insurance plans like Family Health Insurance, Health Booster, Personal Accident Insurance, Arogya Sanjeevani Policy, Corona Kavach Policy which offers people with the much needed financial backup during any medical emergencies

Summing up

As a recent publication pointed out, “the insurance industry has a critical role in helping the world navigate a range of powerful forces and megatrends from globalization and demographic shifts to climate change and cybercrime.”

What is Cashless Mediclaim?

With the entire world going cashless in the form of debit cards, credit cards and cash cards, should not your insurance be cashless too? Cashless mediclaim insurance enables insured patients to avail hospitalization at select hospitals and get treated without settling the hospital bill. The expenses incurred during hospitalization are directly paid by the health insurance company to the hospital.

Benefits of Cashless Health Insurance

• No cash expenses
  Cashless mediclaim policy is unlike reimbursement claims where you pay the hospital, only to file for reimbursement of expenses later on. Here, the insured does not pay at all and hence does not have to arrange for short-term funds (from friends or relatives) to meet hospital expenses on an urgent basis.

• No hassles Hospitalization
  Cashless mediclaim enables the patient and relatives to have peace of mind so that they can focus on the treatment.

• Less administrative formalities
  Queries in the billing or any unjustified costs are directly taken up by the insurance company with the hospital. Thus, the patient stays out of unnecessary administrative formalities.

Arranging for the payment of treatment bills or hospitalisation charges are sure to dent the family finances and cause panic. To ease all these stressful situations, it is wise to buy a personal cover to tackle such unforeseen events.

When selecting a personal cover, care must be taken to ensure that the policy offers coverage for different types of accidents and their subsequent injuries. A careful search of different health insurance plans offers you numerous options to select from and buy the plan that perfectly suits your needs.

The personal protect plan offered by ICICI Lombard may offers sufficient coverage for different type of accidents. Compensation is offered to the insured individual in case of road, rail accidents, accidents due to natural calamities and arising out of terrorism or terrorist acts. The policy can be easily be purchased for any person who is between 18-80 years of age.

For the issuance of this policy, you may not need to undergo any medical check-up. Also the online mode of purchase further hastens the purchase of this policy and within a few clicks, you can ensure yourself against a variety of unforeseen events. Payment for this policy can also be fulfilled in easy installments which further enhances the convenience offered by this personal health insurance policy.

The sum insured of this policy may be easily customised and you can choose a minimum of Rs 3 Lakhs to a maximum of Rs 25 Lakhs sum insured as depends upon the plan opted. Coverage of this health insurance policy includes accidental death due to an accident within the policy period. The death of the insured individual makes the nominee (mentioned in the policy) eligible to receive compensation with the sum insured. This is sure to help the family of the deceased cope with the untimely loss and avert financial crises.

Over the last quarter of a century, the contribution of metabolic risk factors such as high blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol, and other related factors have doubled, according to recent research by the Public Health Foundation of India.

While the average lifespan of Indians maybe on the rise, our growing susceptibility to lifestyle diseases, especially amongst the youth is alarming. Simultaneously, the cost of healthcare has risen at a double-digit rate over the last decade – both in urban and rural India – according to the national survey on health conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).

These factors highlight the significance of health insurance for prudent financial planning.

What Are The Health Factors That Affect Financial Planning?

There are a number of factors that heavily affect your pocket, regarding health. These should be considered before investing in a health insurance policy:

• Critical Illness
  Health-related emergencies often require immediate treatment that takes a heavy toll on your pocket. In addition, recovery in case of critical illness may come at a significant financial cost that could impact you and your dear ones.

• Long-term Care
  Diminished physical or mental abilities demand substantial assistance in terms of monetary investments. One must consider the care required and expenses incurred in case of a severe unexpected accident at any age.

• Permanent Disability
  In case of a partial or complete disability, the patient may have to face numerous expenses with the additional risk of income reduction.

Health insurance is all set to be more buyer-friendly in the coming days

An effective risk mitigating tool that prevents out-of-pocket expenses during a medical emergency, health insurance is a modern-day need. A growing segment, the standalone health insurance market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30% in the next five years and will be worth Rs. 21,904 crore by 2022.

In what could further make health insurance more customer-friendly, transparent and boost the growth of the sector, a working panel constituted by insurance regulator IRDAI has proposed several changes. Read on to know the effects of these changes on your health insurance policy.

Clearer Definition of Pre-Existing Diseases

A major bone of contention in a health insurance policy is the interpretation of pre-existing diseases. The working panel has suggested a simpler and clearer definition of pre-existing diseases to weed out any anomaly over its interpretation and subsequent disputes.

According to the suggested definition, any disease, injury, condition or ailment diagnosed prior to buying the first policy for which medical treatment or advise was recommended or received from a doctor qualifies as a pre-existing disease.

With a simpler definition, as a policyholder, you would know about the conditions or ailments that qualify as a pre-existing disease which you need to disclose while filling up the proposal form to avoid rejection. The working panel has also asked insurers to take a lenient view in case a pre-existing disease is discovered later.

Insurers have been recommended by the working panel to put a waiting period on such diseases, instead of cancelling the policy. The option, however, will be available only during the moratorium period.

Lowering Waiting Period of Lifestyle Diseases

Lifestyle diseases have evolved as one of the biggest killers in India. As per studies conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and other institutes, estimated proportion of all deaths from lifestyle styles has gone up from 37.09% in 1990 to 61.8% in 2016. The high-treatment cost of lifestyle diseases can derail a family’s finances.

On most occasions, the waiting period of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiac problems range from one to four years. Waiting period refers to the time/duration during which you can’t make a claim from your Mediclaim insurance.

However, the working panel has suggested lowering the waiting period of lifestyle diseases up to 30 days (maximum), unless they are pre-existing.

Standardisation of Pre-Existing Diseases

The working panel has also proposed a standard list of 17 pre-existing diseases which could be excluded from a Mediclaim policy. The list includes diseases such as epilepsy, cerebral stroke, chronic heart and kidney diseases, HIV, AIDS, Parkinson’s, hepatitis B, loss of hearing and other physical disabilities.

It has also said that policyholders can’t be denied coverage for AIDS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and morbid obesity if diagnosed after the purchase of a policy.

This means if you contact the above-mentioned diseases after buying a health insurance policy, you will be entitled to receive coverage for them. To put it simply, the working panel has suggested all health conditions acquired after policy issuance to be covered. Experts believe that this standardisation will help in the smooth settlement of claims.

Easy Coverage for Individuals with Severe Health Conditions

People with severe health conditions such as epilepsy and physical disabilities find it difficult to avail a health insurance policy. Also, insurers are wary about extending cover to cancer survivors. They are usually denied coverage for procedures and diseases that may be completely unrelated.

If the proposals of the panel are accepted, it’ll become easy for such individuals to avail health insurance. However, no coverage will be provided for specific pre-existing diseases. Nevertheless, if you are suffering from a severe health condition and are denied a Mediclaim insurance, the road ahead might be a little easy for you.

Claims Can’t be Questioned After Eight Years of Continuous Renewals

Another proposal mooted by the panel is that insurers can’t question claims on basis of non-disclosure after eight years of continuous renewals, except in cases of frauds. It means if you’ve renewed your policy for straight years since its inception, the insurer can’t raise objections on your claims on grounds of concealing information.

This will ease your worries and concerns regarding claim rejection if you have paid all the premiums on time. However, it’s essential to note that the co-pay, sub-limit and all the other applicable clauses as mentioned in the policy document will remain in force.

Coverage for Advanced Treatment Procedures

The panel has also proposed setting up of a Health Assessment Technology Committee that will recommend inclusion of advanced and modern treatment procedures for which you will be offered coverage. Insurers will have to provide coverage for procedures listed by the committee.

The above proposals are set to be reviewed and expected to be implemented in the next year. If accepted and applied, these will help you make the most out of your health insurance policy.

Related Article:

Tips for First-Time Health Insurance Shoppers
Are Alternative Healthcare Treatments Covered by Your Health Insurance?

Healthy lifestyle changes for a healthy liver

According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report 2014, 2,16,865 or 2.44% of the total deaths in India were associated with liver diseases. Health experts and media sources say that India could become the world capital of liver diseases by 2025, owing to the rising sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking and alcohol intake.

The common diseases affecting the liver include fatty liver, alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhosis. Recently, non-alcoholic liver diseases have been on the rise and are considered a silent killer. If left untreated, the inflammation and damage can result in liver cancer.

Approximately 90% patients don’t realise that they have liver disease until it is too late, say medical practitioners. Out of the two lakh plus patients dying from liver disease, at least 25,000 can be saved through liver transplants. However, only 2000 liver transplants are performed annually in India, as per 2014 reports from Fortis Hospital.

The positive side is that with certain precautions, liver disease is one of the few diseases that can be prevented or its possibility of occurrence reduced. With the startling numbers and the potential of one in every five Indians being susceptible to the disease, it is best to adopt the following five lifestyle changes:

Exercise

An obese body is home to various diseases, in addition to liver ailments. Obesity is also the most common cause of fatty liver disease. Introduce exercise in your daily routine, and incorporate healthy eating and sleeping habits into your lifestyle to evade fatty liver.

Abstain from Alcohol Consumption

Excessive consumption of alcohol leads to liver cirrhosis, which can be fatal. Say no to a bottle of alcohol today rather than be at the mercy of saline and blood bottles in future.

Why? All for a stimulant called caffeine that is known to drive away drowsiness and energize people.

Besides tea and coffee, a variety of other foods also contain caffeine, for example, some soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolates and a few processed foods. So, how does caffeine affect your mind and body? And, why do health experts discourage people from consuming too much of it? Read on to decipher the 'caffeine code.'

Spring in Your Step

Caffeine is a psychoactive drug that stimulates the central nervous system. It increases the focus of our grey cells, enhances concentration of the work at hand and keeps the mind alert. Consumption of caffeine has also been known to boost the energy level, making it is immensely popular with those who work around deadlines. With so many benefits, it's no wonder why people look forward to their daily dose of this.

Did You Know? Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water.

Different People, Different Effects

The effects of caffeine aren't same for everyone. A moderately sized cup of coffee or tea can have a lasting effect on the drinker for approximately 4-5 hours. Though, the extent and length of time for which the body and mind experience a heightened sense of wellbeing depend upon the physique (including lifestyle and genetic factors) of the person who is consuming the drink. To cut a long story short, caffeine has varying effects on different people.

Finland's Love for Coffee Finland has the highest per capita consumption of coffee in the world, which annually works out to 12 kg per person. In contrast, India's coffee consumption is only 90 gm per person.

It is considered the first step to being afflicted with disorders like diabetes, some cancers, heart diseases, strokes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis and gout, among others, which could potentially necessitate coverage under various health insurance plans. Scientifically, anybody whose bodyweight is 20% higher than normal is considered obese. In terms of BMI (Body Mass Index), anything over 30 is considered obese. The most common cause of obesity in the current generation is the sedentary lifestyle we lead. Poor dietary and lifestyle choices lead to obesity and eventually towards the plethora of related illnesses.

How Can You Avoid Obesity?

We are always advised to "eat less" to avoid being obese. But we need to understand that "what" to eat is more important than "how much" you eat. A balanced diet consumed in limited portions at regular intervals throughout the day is the key to an optimal weight.

So, what are the foods you should avoid? Are there any "Don'ts" to follow? Let's take a look at them.

Refined Sugars and HFCS: Let's face it. Our body does not need white sugar. Our body needs carbohydrates, yes, but not in the form of refined white sugar or High Fructose Corn Syrup or HCFS (found in processed sweet foods, like soft drinks, breakfast cereals and bars, pastries, etc).

Our body can take up carbs from the grains and cereals that we eat. Simple sugars will result in a spike in insulin levels and give your body empty calories, sans the nutrients. In the absence of equivalent physical activity to burn up these extra calories, the carbs will be converted into fats and stored in the body.

The conventional method of our chasing an insurance policy requires time investment as you would have to meet several insurance agents. These insurance agents would provide insurance quotes and explain the policy features to offer a basic understanding of the benefits offered. Such a selection process requires careful consideration before you narrow your options and select a particular insurance policy.

This type of policy purchase is slowly being replaced by the quick and efficient online method. With the easy accessibility and widespread use of internet, many insurance companies are using the online portal to reach out to prospective buyers. Insurance providers in India have their official websites that not only offer information about the types of policies offered but also allow you to make an online insurance policy purchase.

Individuals interested in buying medical insurance plans online can easily log on to the website of their respective insurance providers. This online mode of purchasing is extremely beneficial to individuals who live on a tight schedule. With a few clicks of the mouse you can access different health insurance plans offered and carefully read policy features before you make a purchase. This medical insurance online policy purchase can be accomplished by setting aside a few hours from your day and secure your family’s health.

Many insurance companies, including ICICI Lombard, offer an instant digitised copy of the medical insurance plan which can be easily printed. This computer generated copy is considered valid if you have to make a claim till policy documents are processed. Another benefit of the digitised medical insurance policy is that you can access it from any computing device.

It is important to select a health cover which offers coverage for all of your family’s health requirements so that you are better prepared for any medical exigency. For these reasons, it is best to consider a comprehensive family health insurance as it offers extensive coverage so that you can rest assured that your family’s health is optimally secured.

It would be beneficial to opt for family health insurance covers from well-known insurance providers so that making claims or getting acceptance at health care facilities is stress-free. Nowadays, most health insurance providers have made their insurance policies available online. This gives quick access and better understanding of policy features and aids in choosing a correct insurance cover for your family. ICICI Lombard Complete Health Insurance has family floater health insurance option which allows you to secure a maximum of 5 family members (according to policy terms) with the payment of a single premium. With the availability of a larger sum insured and freedom to structure the premium according to your choice, this health cover offers optimal savings. Thus, you can secure your family’s health in one go and do not have to worry about keeping a track of individual health insurance policies.

The cashless hospitalisation feature of this comprehensive health insurance plan relieves you of the stress of shouldering hospital bills during an emergency hospitalisation. ICICI Lombard also has a tie-up with several premium health care providers across the country. The insured can avail of cashless hospitalisation at any of these network hospitals and gain access to optimal medical treatment without worrying about hospitalisation costs.

With this comprehensive family health insurance, the insured gets coverage for all medical expenses incurred as an inpatient during hospitalisation of more than 24 hours. This health plan also covers all medical expenditure 30 days before and 60 days after hospitalisation. Not just that, day care expenses for advanced technological surgeries and procedures such as dialysis, radiotherapy and chemotherapy (requiring less than 24 hours of hospitalisation).

This family floater health insurance plan also offers the option of purchasing additional covers which offer monetary benefits (according to policy terms) during hospitalisation. These additional covers can be purchased by the payment of a slightly higher premium and can prove extremely handy during several medical emergencies.

With all these benefits in mind, buying a comprehensive health insurance plan is the best way to secure your family’s health and your finances during any medical exigency.

Disclaimer - The article contains only an indication of the cover offered. For complete details on coverage, terms, conditions and exclusions, please read the sales brochure carefully before concluding a sale. This article is brought to you by ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation.

A health crisis - It is an emergency that may occur without any signs and symptoms. There's no time to get prepared for the treatment, expenses and making arrangements for various problems that tag along. Then, why not ensure security with a health insurance policy?

It is prudent to choose a right policy for a secure future. So, how to make the right choice? The key is to understand the claim game of health insurance in India.

What is a claim?

To be precise, the term 'claiming' as the process wherein the insured (who buys the insurance policy) approaches the insurer (the insurance company) for reimbursement or direct payment for the health care or medical costs incurred during treatment. This is subjected to the sum insured. The details are mentioned in the health insurance policy.

Medical emergencies need instant attention. Hence, the insured individual must keep their health ID card handy. The card consists of valuable details such as name of the insured, insurer name, period of policy etc.

However, these precautions alone cannot guarantee 100 per cent protection to you from health problems. You need to go for something that allows you financial protection if an unforeseen health emergency strikes.

So what should be done other than following a healthy lifestyle? Well buying a health insurance will solve your issue. It will ensure that you stay stress free . With individual health insurance you don't need to go too far to protect it. The insurance company usually collaborates with a network of medical centres and hospitals all over the country. Buying this insurance plan will help you get protection against the unforeseen health problems.

Buying an insurance plan is an action that you take towards preparing for the unforeseen. Just as you make plans for future by saving money to buy a vehicle, house or going out on a vacation, planning to stay healthy and facing a medical emergency is important.

In the event where you suddenly fall sick or suffer from an injury and require immediate hospitalisation, it is important to have something that helps you pay expensive hospitalization and medication bills. With prices of health care procedures rising high, it has become important to make arrangements in advance. Hospital bills can burn a hole in your pocket. All that you have saved from quite some time may vanish in day. Having an individual health plan is the best way to protect savings.

If you think medical emergency cannot strike you, think again! Physical injury and sickness is inevitable and unpredictable. No one knows what’s in store for the next moment. Unexpected sickness can lead to huge expenses. Buying an affordable health insurance plan will help you face these problems without having to break your bank.

Buying an individual insurance plan will ensure maximum protection for your health under all circumstances (as stated in the policy terms). Your personal health will be taken care of in case of an emergency if you own a individual health insurance policy.

These days, most hospitals are covered by reputed health insurance organizations. This is an attempt on the part of these organizations to make sure the insurance buyer gets the best treatment as per the demand of the situation without having to spend a lot of money from his own profit.

Reimbursement for Bills

Under this plan, the insurance buyer must pay insurance bills all by himself initially. Thereafter, he can claim for a refund from the insurance organization. In this case, he needs to present the bills.

Most insurance companies have a network with renowned hospitals all over the country. When an individual avails for cashless facility, he gets treatment at one of the network hospitals but does not pay the bills. The bill is settled by the insurance company. All the insurance buyer does is, shows the insurance card and the hospital offers the treatment without cash payment.

This actually depends on a number of factors including the following:

Age of the covered individual

Covered individual’s medical history

Past claims made by the covered individual

Benefits of Buying Health Insurance Plan for Individual

Cover against accidental death

Protection against total disablement in the event of an accident

Optional cover against expenses incurred due to accidental hospitalisation

Allowance for accidental hospital on a daily basis

Customised cover that facilitates individual to select from the following amounts:

i. 3 Lakhs INR

ii. 5 Lakhs INR

iii. 10 Lakhs INR

iv. 15 Lakhs INR

v. 20 Lakhs INR

vi. 25 Lakhs INR

Problems related to acts of terrorism

The insurance company also offers EMI (equated monthly instalment) facility for credit card customers.

It was found that traffic congestion (63%) and parking (56%) top the list of factors that cause high anxiety levels in Indian drivers. At least six out of every ten Indian drivers feel stressed due to these factors. These results have come to light when India has recorded the highest ever road deaths at 16 people per hour in the year 2014. According to K. K. Kapila, Chief of the International Road Federation, 'All these years we have been blaming drivers, and little has been done to find out what is the extent of road condition and driving atmosphere that are responsible for crashes as well.' This indicates a pressing need for health insurance for Indian drivers, considering the escalating road dangers. The other factors for stress, such as the fear of accidents and traffic fines, rated low. However, one of the key factors like honking on the road was not taken into consideration. Another fact that came out through this study was that the drivers feel relaxed by singing or listening to music. Almost 47% of drivers sing most of the time while driving.

During such times, getting optimal medical care is a top priority and not much thought is accorded to medical expenses and medical bills. It is at the time of settling bills that can cause stress as arranging for adequate finances at the last minute can get quite cumbersome or can affect your savings. Conversely, lack of adequate funds could come in the way of securing optimal health care for the ailing and can at times prove fatal. It is for these reasons that a health insurance policy is extremely essential so that you get optimal health care without endangering your savings.

Opting for a comprehensive health insurance would be beneficial as it offers extensive coverage. With a comprehensive health policy lends coverage for all hospitalisation bills, payment of doctor’s or surgeon’s fees, room rent, expenses incurred with the purchase of medicines etc. The coverage offered by a health plan differs from one insurance provider to another. Thus, it becomes important to read carefully the extent of coverage and any additional charges like deductibles or co-payments which may be applicable on certain medical services and coverage offered by your health insurance policy.

To buy an affordable health insurance comparing quotes is a must. An insurance quote gives you a fair idea about the premium payable for a particular cover. Based on this knowledge, you can easily narrow down on several insurance covers and select one which best meets your requirements and budget. The best health insurance would be one which offers the freedom to structure the policy premium as per the buyer’s convenience. For this reason, it would be beneficial to consider the Complete Heath Insurance plan offered by ICICI Lombard. This plan offers lifetime renewability and allows the option to structure the premium to your requirement.

This Health AdvantEdge policy (family health insurance)is a comprehensive insurance policy and can be tailored to cover an individual or a family. With the floater benefit, this insurance policy can cover a maximum of five family members (subject to policy terms) under a single premium which makes it affordable health insurance. You then do not need to purchase individual insurance policies for your loved ones. With such a policy, you need not fret about missing renewal and premium payment dates.

Several insurance providers offer the option of online purchase, payment and renewal which further simplifies the process of policy purchase. Thus, with a little careful consideration, buying the best health insurance is extremely easy to enjoy optimal medical and financial benefits.

Apply Now

Understanding how you can save tax from health insurance

Simply put together, a health insurance is an insurance policy that covers the medical expenses incurred for the treatment of an insured. The insured either pays the expenses from his own pocket and then obtains reimbursement or seeks cashless treatment wherein the insurance company makes the payment directly to the healthcare service provider.

The level or kind of indemnity against healthcare costs depends on the kind of health insurance cover and the level of sum insured opted for. The insured can claim medical expenses only on hospitalization if the insurance policy bought does not cover pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization expenses. If you want your insurance company to pay for pre-hospitalization as well as post-hospitalization expenses, then you must ensure these expenses are included when you buy the insurance policy.

You can also opt for a cover that includes offer of daily cash on hospitalization which takes care of petty cash expenses.

Premium Varies As Per Cover

Beware that the premium you pay for the health insurance cover will be higher or lower depending on the sum insured you choose and the healthcare expenses you choose to include in addition to hospitalization expenses.

The level of sum insured also determines the kind of hospital room you will be entitled. A lower sum insured will entitle you to a shared or general ward room and a higher sum insured can entitle you to a single bed room. The insurance company also links some of the other charges at the hospital to the kind of room you are entitled to. Actual expenses or charges at the hospital exceeding the sub-limits set by your insurance company are to be paid by you from your own pocket.

The Nipah Virus Infection (NiV) is a deadly viral infection that affects both humans and animals. Fruit Bats are the natural host of the virus, and it can spread from animals to humans and from humans to humans. Health insurance can provide crucial financial support for those affected by the virus, as the symptoms are similar to influenza but much more severe. Over 50 to 75 percent of those infected have died, making this a fatal disease. There is no known cure for it yet, but there are preventive steps you can take to stay safe.

Some preventive steps you can take to stay safe from the Nipah Virus

Don’t Eat Infected Fruits

Since the virus is primarily caused by Fruit Bats, it’s essential to take precaution when consuming fruit. Don’t pick up and eat fruits fallen on the ground, as they could have been bitten by fruit bats and could be infected. Even while buying fruits from the market, don’t have any that seem bitten or not whole.

Thoroughly Wash all Fruits and Vegetables

The Nipah Virus Infection is borne in fruits and since we can’t know which fruits are infected with our bare eyes, washing all fruits and even vegetables thoroughly is a must. Peeling fruits and vegetables before consumption is an even better precautionary measure. Only eat clean, well-cooked, home-made meals until the outbreak settles.

Don’t Consume Date Palm Sap

During an outbreak of the virus, there’s a high chance that date palms are contaminated and you should not consume date palm sap. Fruit bats gravitate to date palm trees and infect them with licking and other bodily secretions.

Stay Away from Infected Animals and Humans

A key precautionary measure is to avoid all contact with infected pigs, bats and humans. While human-to-human transmission of the Nipah virus infection is very uncommon, it’s not impossible. Stay away from those affected by the virus and in case you have to see them, wear a mask.

Maintain Strict Hygiene

In a situation of any virus outbreak, maintaining personal and home hygiene is a must. Wash your hands regularly, especially after coming from crowded public places and avoid using public washrooms. Keep your home surroundings extra clean and tidy.

Report Early Symptoms and Get Tested

The Nipah virus can develop without the infected person showing any symptoms. But in most cases the symptoms are evident and are very similar to those of influenza. Fever, muscle pain, headaches, vomiting, nausea, drowsiness, mental confusion and disorientation are common symptoms. If you start to notice any of these symptoms, don’t delay a visit to a doctor.

While these steps are effective, they are only precautionary. Due to the complicated way that virus infections spread, you can never be too sure. Getting health insurance cover is the ultimate safety step you can take.

Related Article:

Everything You Need To Know About Viral Fever
Causes of Molluscum Contagiosum
Symptoms of Influenza
How to Prevent Malaria during Monsoon

Different health insurance plans pay for all of these functions in differing amounts and the premiums differ as well. Often, individuals will get access to a health care plan through their employer, which sometimes provide assistance on premium payment. As long as the individual remains current on their health insurance premium, they can count on receiving coverage. Health insurance generally covers:

Routine care- Routine procedures generally include physical examinations, regular tests, vaccines, booster shots and care for minor illness. Visiting a doctor regularly is important to ensure that no serious conditions develop. In general, the earlier that a serious condition is diagnosed by a doctor, the better the chances for recovery. Depending on the level of health care offered by the insurance plan, there may be no, some or complete coverage for such routine visits within certain limitations.

Emergency care- Emergencies include sudden injuries, acute illnesses, drug overdoses and other unexpected medical calamities. The emergency coverage provided by health insurance typically exceeds for mare predictable illnesses because of the reduced chances of their occurrence. This usually means a higher maximum payment and a lower deductible specifically for emergency. Emergency coverage can cover ancillary cost like ambulance fees as well.

Chronic conditions- Chronic conditions often require repeated treatment,extensive intervention and continual testing. As long as it’s not a pre -existing condition, health insurance companies will usually cover the bulk costs associated with such medical issues.

Pharmaceuticals- Pharmaceutical treatments, as long as they are prescribed by a doctor, are usually covered in large part by insurance plans. The deductible for pharmaceuticals can be quite high depending on the plan. As pharmacology is critical to the practice of modern medicine, almost every health insurance plan provision for at least some pharmaceutical usage for insurance holder.

Health care is changed since the days of family doctors and house calls. Today the rising cost of everything from prescription drugs to diagnostic treatments has turning us to managed care networks for workable health care solutions. Times may have changed, but there are still number of good alternative insurance options to consider. Health plans can be broken down into four basic categories, HMOs, POSs, PPOs and Free- for- Service (indemnity) plans.

Health Maintenance Organisation- By choosing an HMO plan, you will be paying for your coverage in advance, rather than paying for each health related service separately. For the price of your monthly premium, your HMO will offer you a range of benefits from preventative care to dental or vision coverage.

Point Of Service Plan- POS plans are HMO’s that allow you to control your own health care, rather than insisting on referrals from your primary care physician. Whenever you have medical need you will have three “point of service” choices.

Preferred Provider Organisation- your PPO plan negotiates lower overall fee arrangements with an assortment of doctors.

A list of things for ‘Amdavadis’ to know before choosing a health insurance policy

Health is extremely important to do anything in life and when you live in a fast-paced metro city like Ahmedabad, you put it severely at risk. However, health insurance can be your saviour, if you know which policy to opt for. Be sure to consider these factors before deciding on which health insurance policy will be best for you.

Cover

The total cover or sum assured of your health insurance plan should meet your medical needs. So, it is important to account for inflation and the cost of health care in your area while calculating it.

In Ahmedabad, as in most major metros, the cost of health care is pretty high. Since, Ahmedabad is also a fairly ‘high risk’ area, there is a greater chance of needing to make a claim. It is therefore, advisable to health insurance plan with a higher cover amount if you live in the city.

Budget

Your budget for the health insurance plan, is the amount you’re willing to pay as premium. This should be decided only after putting away enough money for your basic cash flow, including bills, rent, fees (if any), etc.

The cost of living in Ahmedabad is fairly low, compared to other metros. Therefore, you may be able to afford slightly higher premiums depending on your income. However, it is still advisable to find a health insurance policy that meets your needs, without burning too big a hole in your pocket.

Claim Settlement

The claim settlement ratio is an important factor to note while deciding the insurance company you wish to buy the policy from. Companies with higher claim settlement ratios (or lower claim pending ratios) are more likely to be better and more efficient at handling claims. A few health insurance companies in Ahmedabad, have good claim settlement ratios. You can choose one from among them.