Should I buy health insurance for my parents?

Keeping in mind the skyrocketing costs of availing healthcare facilities and constantly rising medical inflation in India, it makes sense to invest in a good health insurance plan for your parents. In the absence of the same, you may have to pay for the expenses out of your pocket in case of a medical emergency. This could result in the depletion of your entire savings.

Why is it better to opt for an early healthcare plan for my parents?

It is a known fact that health insurance premiums rise with the increase in the insured person’s age. Hence, it is better to opt for a healthcare plan for your parents at an early stage. It will keep the premiums in check. Also, many insurance providers put a cap on the maximum entry of the insured. Therefore, buy a health plan for your parents early on so that they are not denied for it later.

My parents have a pre-existing disease; Can I buy health insurance?

Yes. Many health insurance policies cover certain pre-existing diseases, albeit with a waiting period of two to four years. It means that these policies will cover the treatment of certain pre-existing diseases after the completion of the waiting period. Go for the policy with a minimum waiting period.

Is there any age limit while buying health insurance for parents?

It varies from one insurance company to another. Usually, every health insurance policy has certain age criterion. There can be a minimum and maximum entry age for the insured to avail the policy. Do check for these conditions with the insurer before buying a health policy for your parents.

Is there any medical test in health insurance for parents?

It depends upon the insurer. While some insurance companies may not require medical tests to issue a health insurance policy, some make it mandatory. Usually, if the prospect is above the age of 45, his/her pre-medical screening is necessary.

Can I cover my parents in my existing health insurance policy?

Yes. You can include your parents in your existing family floater plans. However, do check the maximum age criteria with the insurance provider before doing so. A wise option is to purchase a separate health insurance policy for your parents since including them in your family floater plan may shoot up its premium.

How Can I enhance my parents’ insurance coverage?

You can customise your parental insurance policy in multiple ways to enhance its coverage. For instance, you can opt for a higher sum insured at the time of policy renewal. Additionally, you can attach some add-on covers (available at additional premium) such as critical illness rider, personal accident cover etc. to your base policy to enhance its coverage.

Can I include my senior citizen parents in a family floater insurance plan?

Insurers generally do not allow the inclusion of senior citizens in a family floater plan. They tend to cover the members below the age of 60 only. What you can do is purchase individual health plans for your mother and father or buy a separate family floater plan for both of them.

Health Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions

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What is a pre-existing condition in health insurance?

A pre-existing condition or disease is any health issue, injury or illness diagnosed or treated by a doctor within 36 months before the start of the health insurance policy. In other words, if you have a particular ailment 36 months before you buy health insurance, it’s considered as a pre-existing disease.

What does waiting period mean?

The waiting period refers to the time until which you will not receive compensation from your policy for expenses incurred for your treatment, especially for pre-existing diseases and procedures. According to the policy's terms and conditions, this period can range from a few months to years. With us, there is a standard waiting period of 36 months for any pre-existing disease. However, you can you can reduce with an add-on.

Types of waiting periods under health insurance policy

The different types of waiting periods are:

1

Initial waiting period

The initial waiting period refers to the period applicable immediately after purchasing a health insurance plan. During this period, you will not receive coverage from your policy, except in case of accidents. This period is generally 30 days.

2

Specific waiting period

A specific waiting period is the period during which you will not receive coverage for a particular disease or procedure. Depending on the policy's terms and conditions, this waiting period can be up to 24 months or more. However, you can reduce it through an add-on.

List of pre-existing diseases covered in health insurance

Each insurer has its own definition of pre-existing conditions and a specific set of ailments that may be included or excluded from coverage. Before purchasing a health insurance plan, check with your insurer to understand which pre-existing diseases are covered, the waiting period applicable and any restrictions. Reach out to your insurer for specific pre-existing disease list.

Importance of disclosing pre-existing conditions

Pre-existing conditions and health insurance share a close relationship. Disclosing them is essential to:

Avoid claim rejection

If you hide a pre-existing disease and file a claim, your insurer can reject it. This can leave you without financial support when you need it the most.

Ensure proper coverage

Disclosing your pre-existing condition helps the insurer to offer you a policy that suits your medical needs.

Prevent disputes

Pre-existing disease disclosure upfront minimises chances of potential disputes with your insurer later.

Essential dos and don’ts for managing pre-existing diseases

Dos	Don’ts
Follow the treatment plan suggested by your doctor	Missing out on medicines prescribed by your doctor
Go for regular health check-ups to monitor progress	Tasks, food and activities that can aggravate the condition
Maintain a healthy lifestyle with balanced diet and exercise

IRDAI rules for pre-existing diseases(PED)

IRDAI recent rules for pre-existing disease mandate:

Bringing down the waiting period for pre-existing conditions in health insurance from 4 years to 3 years, provided the policy has been renewed without break
Non-rejection of a claim based on pre-existing disease 3 years after policy issuance
Moratorium period on the basis of non-disclosure or misinterpretation reduced to 5 years from 8 years

How do pre-existing diseases affect health insurance policies?

Pre-existing diseases can affect these aspects of your health insurance plan:

1

Premium

Pre-existing diseases impact the premium of your health insurance plan. If you’ve pre-existing diseases there are enhanced chances of hospitalisation and higher claim cost.

2

Waiting periods

Medical insurance for pre-existing conditions has a waiting period. Within this period, you can’t claim for expenses for treating treatment of such conditions.

3

Medical tests

Your insurer may ask you to undergo certain medical tests if you have pre-existing diseases before policy issuance. Based on the results, it may approve or reject your application.

How to buy health insurance with pre-existing conditions?

To purchase health insurance with pre-existing conditions:

Allows you to get your vehicle repaired without paying upfront at network garages
Simplifies the claims process as the insurer directly settles the repair costs, saving both time and effort
Reduces the financial burden in case of accidents or damages
Helps you avail quick service at authorised garages, ensuring quality repairs

Things to consider while buying medical insurance with pre-existing conditions

Consider the following factors before buying medical insurance with pre-existing conditions

Waiting period

Take special note of the waiting period for pre-existing diseases mentioned in the policy and check if your particular condition is included.

Premium cost

Check the premium you need to pay for the plan. As health insurance requires yearly renewals, ensure premiums don’t pinch your pocket hard.

Waiting period reduction

Check if there’s an option to reduce the waiting period by purchasing an add-on. Add-ons can reduce the waiting period significantly. This can cost a little extra but can be handy in the long run.

Coverage restriction

Find out if the policy has any coverage restriction in terms of sum insured, co-pay or sub-limit for treatment of pre-existing ailments.

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FAQs on pre-existing conditions

How do insurance companies check for pre-existing conditions?

Insurance companies ask policyholders to disclose their pre-existing conditions voluntarily in the proposal form. When you do so, you might be asked to undergo medical tests that help insurers better understand your pre-existing condition.

What is the IRDAI rule for pre-existing disease?

The recent IRDAI rule for pre-existing diseases has reduced the waiting period for such ailments from 4 years to 3 years if you’ve renewed the policy without a break.

What is the waiting period of 3 years for existing diseases?

This means you will not get coverage for costs incurred treating existing diseases and the ones accepted by the insurer for 3 years from the date of policy commencement.

Can I be denied health insurance if I have a pre-existing condition?

It depends on your insurer. If the insurer views you as a highly high-risk individual, you may be denied insurance. However, in most cases you can avail health insurance if you have a pre-existing condition by paying higher premiums.

Is the waiting period negotiable?

It depends on your insurer. There are add-ons through which you can bring down the waiting period.

Could my health insurance plan have the lowest waiting period for pre-existing diseases?

You need to compare different policies to find if your health insurance plan has the lowest waiting period for pre-existing diseases. Typically, all health plans have a waiting period for pre-existing ailments, which can vary from months to years.

Can a health insurance company refuse to cover a pre-existing disease?

It depends on the insurer’s policy and the type of pre-existing disease they cover. Check with your insurer to find out about a specific exclusion, if any.

Does a pre-existing illness have any impact on the amount of coverage?

Pre-existing diseases can impact the amount of coverage. It can reduce the coverage amount or there could be strict terms and conditions surrounding it.

What happens if you don't disclose pre-existing conditions while buying a health insurance policy?

You run the risk of claim rejection. If your insurer finds out later about non-disclosure, it can reject your claim. If it happens, your finances can take a significant hit.

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What is a pre-existing condition in health insurance?

What does waiting period mean?