What are Add ons in Health Insurance

1. What is an Add-on?

Add-ons, also known as riders or endorsements, are additional benefits that policyholders can opt for to enhance their standard health insurance coverage. Riders typically expand the basic coverage while add-ons create a more comprehensive coverage.

The base health insurance plan typically covers hospitalisation expenses, but with add-ons, you extend the coverage to various other medical expenses or offer additional services.

2. Why should I consider add-ons?

● Customisation: Add-ons allow policyholders to tailor their health insurance coverage according to individual requirements without buying an entirely new policy.

● Comprehensive Coverage: By opting for add-ons, policyholders can fill in gaps in their primary health insurance policy, ensuring comprehensive coverage for a broader range of medical expenses.

● Cost-Effective: While add-ons come at an additional cost, they can be cost-effective in the long run by covering expenses that might otherwise result in out-of-pocket payments.

3. Common Add-Ons in Health Insurance

A. Critical Illness Rider: Provides a lump sum payout upon diagnosis of specified critical illnesses such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke.

B. Maternity Cover: Offers coverage for maternity-related expenses including prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care such as hospitalisation, doctor consultations, and maternity-related tests.

C. Personal Accident Cover: Provides a lump sum payout or compensation in the event of a death, disability, or dismemberment due to accidents.

D. OPD Cover: Covers outpatient department (OPD) expenses such as doctor consultations, diagnostic tests, and prescription medications. It is ideal for individuals who require frequent medical consultations or treatments without hospitalisation.

E. Inflation Shield: Ensures protection against rising costs with the Inflation Shield, boosting your policy's base sum insured cumulatively every year based on inflation rates.

F. Consumables Cover: The Consumables Cover foots the bill for non-medical hospitalisation expenses like oxygen masks, gloves, and syringes, not typically covered by basic plans.

4. Points to be noted

● Terms and Conditions – Always read the policy documents thoroughly to understand the various terms and conditions of the add-ons to your policy to avoid claim rejections.

● Premium – Consider the additional costs of add-ons in the current health insurance premium to avoid exceeding your budget.

● Waiting Periods – Add-ons come with waiting periods too. Always review the waiting periods applicable to the add-ons before making the decision.

5. Key takeaways

● Add-ons cater to specific needs or provide extra protection beyond the basic policy.

● Add-ons ensure adequate protection for specific health concerns or medical needs.

● Add-ons do put additional costs on the base premium amounts.

Conclusion

Add-ons in health insurance aren't just about financial protection – they're about taking care of yourself and your loved ones in every possible way. Seek advice from subject matter experts to help make an informed decision and guarantee smooth claim settlements in health insurance claims and for any claim rejection-related issues. Add-ons are just like the cherry on top of your health insurance policy – they enhance the coverage and provide that extra layer of sweetness when you need it the most.