How to Add Your Spouse to Your Health Insurance Policy?

To guarantee complete coverage, adding a spouse to health insurance requires many processes. Thinking about how to add a spouse to health insurance? Well, it involves carefully navigating insurance policies and workplace requirements, from eligibility verification to filling out required paperwork and documents. If you want to add your spouse to your health insurance plan, you must be aware of these procedures. Continue reading the following section to learn more about how to add your wife's name to your health insurance.

Ways to Include Your Spouse in Health Insurance Plan 

If you want to know how to add my spouse to my health insurance, make sure you follow the following guidelines-

1. The Family Floater Schem

• It expedites the newlywed girl's post-marriage enrolment in a family-floater health insurance plan. 
• The plan may be quickly documented and, depending on predefined terms and conditions, may replace previous coverage when it is ported.

2. New Health Insurance Cover

• If an individual was previously uninsured, obtaining individual health insurancecoverage should be given priority.
• Even with pre-marriage family-floater coverage, choosing an individual plan has advantages against premium increases, even though the monthly investment is larger.

3. Addition of Spouse to Current Plan:

• This feature enables the addition of a spouse to a current, all-inclusive health insurance plan. 
• Adding a spouse to the policy is made more accessible by submitting a marriage certificate and completing the required procedures. 
• Depending on their respective financial circumstances, both couples may split the due premiums, saving money.

4. Employer Health Insurance Plan

• Many government and corporate organisations provide health insurance to their employees, with an extension of coverage offered for their partners.
• You can contact the HR department at your office or talk to the insurance provider about adding your spouse to your health insurance plan.

Eligibility for Adding Spouse to Your Health Insurance Plan

While most health insurance policies allow the inclusion of spouses, it’s essential to meet specific eligibility criteria:

1. Marriage Status

   Proof of marital status is a basic requirement. Insurers usually require a marriage certificate as evidence.

2. Age Restrictions
   

   Policies often have age limits for dependents. Most insurers cover spouses up to a specific age, such as 65 or 70, though this can vary.

3. Policy-Specific Terms
   

   The terms of your existing policy will dictate when and how you can add your spouse. For instance, some policies allow mid-term additions, while others require you to wait until renewal.

4. Employment Status
   

   If your partner is covered by medical insurance from their employer, benefits of both your health insurance policies may be aligned or wavered.

Documents Required to Add Your Spouse

To add your spouse to your health insurance plan, you’ll need to submit certain documents. These typically include:

1. Address-cum-Identity Proof
   

   Government-issued IDs such as Aadhaar, passport, or driver’s licence for both the policyholder and the spouse and joint proof of residence in case of relationships or domestic partnerships.

2. Marriage Certificate
   

   A valid marriage certificate is required to confirm your marital status.

3. Photographs
   

   Recent passport-sized photographs of both the policyholder and spouse.

4. Income Proof
   

   Sometimes income proof such as salary slips are needed as proofs of joint income of both partners.

5. Proposal Forms and Nominee Declaration

   These documents provide all required information about the policyholder's spouse and act as proof of their eligibility for making claims.

Impact on Premiums and Coverage 

Adding your spouse to your health insurance plan can affect premiums and coverage. Here’s how:

1. Increase in Premium
   

   Including an additional member increases the overall sum insured and, consequently, the premium. The amount depends on factors like the spouse’s age, health status, and the type of policy.

2. Enhanced Coverage
   

   A family floater plan distributes the sum insured among all members. Adding your spouse ensures they are covered, but it also means the available sum insured will now be shared.

3. Tax Benefits
   

   Premiums paid for health insurance, including coverage for your spouse, are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.

Points to Consider Before Buying Coverage for Your Spouse

Before including your spouse in your health insurance policy, keep these factors in mind:

1. Compare Policies
   

   Assess whether adding your spouse to an existing policy or purchasing a new individual policy is more beneficial. Compare premiums, coverage, and terms.

2. Evaluate Coverage Needs
   

   Consider your spouse’s medical history and potential healthcare needs. Ensure the sum insured is adequate for the combined coverage.

3. Waiting Periods
   

   Review the waiting periods for pre-existing conditions or maternity benefits. If your spouse plans to have children soon, maternity coverage becomes an essential consideration.

4. Policy Renewal Terms
   

   Verify the impact on renewal terms, especially if your spouse has health issues. Some insurers may adjust premiums or terms during renewal based on the health profile of insured members. 

5. Plan for Future

   If you are planning a family, consider benefits such as maternity coverage while adding your spouse to your medical insurance. Consult your insurance provider to check if your policy includes coverage for your family’s future needs or can be updated later to include the same.

Conclusion

Even though it's not required, changing health insurance after marriage shows responsible money management. Marriage changes financial obligations and coverage. Thus, it should be considered for increased coverage. Insurance may be updated or modified to meet changing demands and provide sufficient coverage for both partners and their growing families. This is a prudent move that will pay off in the long run.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a certified medical and/or nutrition professional for any questions. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.