Health Insurance for Senior Citizen

Posted by sanam on June 28th, 2017

There was a time when old age was associated with wisdom and knowledge. It was not so much about taking care of the old, but treasuring the old. Things are different now. But what hasn’t changed is the physical discomforts and diseases that come with advanced age

Health Insurance Policies for Senior Citizens

Health insurance is of tantamount importance for the elderly due to the simple but unavoidable fact that with increasing age, vulnerability to health risks increases as well. But it is equally important to choose the right policy.

What are the things to be kept in mind while choosing a health insurance policy for senior citizens? One should watch out for the following terms/ features:

• Diseases covered – It is important to scrutinize which diseases are covered in the specific policy.
• Age of entry – For regular policies, age of entry is usually capped at 60 years. One has to look for specially designed policies for senior citizens, where the limits are more flexible.
• Pre-existing diseases – It is important to check whether/ from when pre-existing illnesses are covered. We will explore this point further in a bit.
• Discounts – Some senior citizens’ policies offer discounts, subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions

Advantages

Wide berth – Relaxed age limits. Available to anyone between 60 to 75 years old.

Immediate coverage – As mentioned before, most health insurance providers want the policyholder to wait years before getting any cover on pre-existing diseases. But Star medical insurance plans  Senior Citizen’s Red Carpet starts extends the cover to their customer after 12months of policy issuance. Least waiting period in the market for pre-exisiting diseases.

No Pre-Insurance Medical Testing – Most insurers insist on medical testing, which becomes quite a hassle, especially if the holder is aged. Travelling all the way to the laboratory, waiting for your turn – sometimes on an empty stomach – is no laughing matter for someone who is 60- plus and counting. Since Red Carpet doesn’t insist on any such pre-insurance testing.

Renewal – Policyholder gets lifelong cover

Discounted pricing – 10% discount is offered to those who furnish documents related to stress thallium, BP report, sugar, blood urea and creatinine. It is also applicable if the insured produces a self declaration that any surgery related to brain, heart or cancer has not been done in the past

Cashless hospitalization – Cashless hospitalization is available at more than 5400 network hospitals across the nation

Consultation – Free telephonic consultation with general physician is provided

Service – The company offers a 24x7 toll-free helpline by was of customer service

Scope of Coverage:

• In-patient hospitalization expenses (including ICU expenses, nursing expenses, surgeon’s and consultant’s fees, anesthetist’s and specialist's fees, cost of blood, oxygen, pacemaker, cost of drugs and diagnostic tests.
• Pre and post hospitalization expenses covered (up to a maximum of 7% of the hospitalization expenses) Emergency ambulance charges covered
• Domiciliary treatment covered
• Day care procedures covered
• Treatment at network hospitals 50% co-payment of the claim amount, for pre-existing diseases and 30% co-payment of the claim amount, for all other claims

Bajaj Allianz Silver Health

Bajaj Allianz covers hospitalization expenses arising out of pre-existing illnesses from second year onwards. The maximum entry age for the policy is 70 years. But the total coverage will be no more than 50% of the policyholder’s sum assured in a policy year.

Source : www.medimanage.com/health-insurance-experts-blog/post/2015/12/01/Health-Insurance-for-Senior-Citizens.aspx#.WVO4nJKGPIU