A general insurance plan is anything apart from life cover. Among the different kinds of general insurance products is health insurance.
When we think of all the important investments we have to make in life, health should always take top priority. Just as it is important to exercise, eat healthy, stay active and live a stress-free life, it’s also crucial to invest in good health insurance plans that protect you when financially when you are ill. However, insurance providers offer a bouquet of different health plans and policies, each covering you against different health conditions. A good policy is one that provides all-round coverage. But even the best health policy will not cover all treatments. Here’s a list of what your health insurance plan doesn’t cover.
- Pre-existing medical conditions
While insurance providers provide special healthcare policies covering pre-existing treatments, a health plan will not offer coverage against pre-existing conditions. You need to invest in a pre-existing conditions policy separately and ride out the waiting period which could be anywhere between two and four years, depending upon the insurance provider.
- Cosmetic treatments
Cosmetic surgery is becoming increasingly popular today. Many people opt for face lifts, nose jobs and other such treatments meant to enhance their appearance. However, since these treatments are not usually for medical reasons, health insurance companies do not cover them. That said, if a medical professional recommends plastic surgery owing to an injury suffered in an accident, it will be covered by the policy.
- Alternative treatments
Most insurance companies do not allow you to file a claim for treatment sought via alternative therapies. This is because it’s difficult to determine the exact cost or coverage for such treatments. Also, most alternative methods of treatment, for instance naturopathy, ayurveda, acupressure, magnetic therapy and unani are generally unregulated and the costs associated with them are different too. If you want to file a medical claim, it has to be for allopathic treatments only.
- Injuries caused as a result of attempted suicide
Suicide or self-harm is regarded as an offence in India. No matter how grave the injuries as a result of an attempted suicide, victims are not eligible for insurance coverage at all. Doctors are obliged to inform the police in case of a suicide attempt. This information is also relayed to the insurance company, which can use its discretion and cancel the insurance policy of the individual attempting suicide.
- Fertility treatment, pregnancy and childbirth
Most health insurance companies also do not provide coverage against expenditure related to pregnancy and childbirth. Again, this is because pregnancy and childbirth do not qualify as medical conditions. Also, if a couple needs to seek fertility treatment or use the IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) method of conception, they cannot use their health policies to seek coverage under it.
- Dental, vision and hearing treatment
Dental treatments like teeth cleaning, extraction, and root canal have become common today. Since you need to follow up with your dentist every few days, dental treatment is not covered under health plans. Also, as you age, you may report vision and hearing loss, and may need cataract surgery and hearing devices as well. The cost of such treatments is not covered in general medical policies. That said, some insurance companies provide special policies for dental, vision and hearing treatment.
To conclude, before you buy a health insurance plan, you must ensure that you read all the terms and conditions mentioned in the policy document. Understand the inclusions and exclusions and familiarise yourself with the claim settlement process before buying the policy.
