
Healthcare costs are rising significantly in the country. Simultaneously, thousands of individuals are becoming vulnerable to lifestyle diseases.Thus, every person must accumulate funds for healthcare expenses that might arise at any time. However, such expenses can be exorbitant. Savings alone might not be sufficient in such situations. But by purchasing health insurance, policyholders can secure themselves from the significant medical expenses.When you purchase health insurance , the insurer can offer you financial protection against medical expenses. Hence, if you get insured, then you’ll be shielded from the high medical expenses that can disrupt your budget.While health insurance has become a necessity, many still avoid purchasing it as they think health insurance is expensive. However, not buying health insurance can be more costly.
The Affordability of Health Insurance in India
Without health insurance, people will have no protection against medical expenses. This can lead to a substantial financial burden.The most affordable way to get cover against healthcare costs is health insurance. While you’ll have to pay premiums to keep health insurance active, the cost of these premiums will be significantly lower than the medical bills.Furthermore, the cost of healthcare in India is lower compared to countries like the USA. Therefore, health insurance premiums are also affordable.Buying an affordable health insurance plan is easy in India. You can choose from a wide variety of policies. You can also compare different plans, check their benefits, assess the premiums, and select the one that fits your budget.
Types of Health Insurance Plans in India
Let’s take a look at the types of health insurance plans-
Individual Health Insurance Plan
Individual health insurance plan provides protection to one individual. For example, if you purchase the policy, then you’ll be covered under the plan. This policy tends to be the most cost-effective.
Family Health Insurance Plan
In case of family health insurance, the members of the policyholder’s family will be covered under a single plan. You can add your spouse, children, and parents to this plan. You can make a single premium payment to get cover for all your family members by purchasing family health insurance.
Factors that Impact Health Insurance Premiums In India
The factors that affect your health insurance premiums are-
Age
Age is one of the most important factors that insurance companies consider when determining the premium amount. Young individuals are less susceptible to health problems compared to older individuals. Hence, their health insurance premiums tend to be lower.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
In order to purchase health insurance, you need to provide your health record. If you have a history of a medical condition, then it’ll have a significant impact on the premium amount. You might have to pay a higher premium in such a case.
Profession
The insurer might charge you a higher premium if you have a high-risk job, such as a construction worker. The risk of injuries is high in such occupations. Therefore, the premiums will also be expensive.
No Claim Bonus (NCB)
If you don’t file a claim in a year, then the insurer will apply a No Claim Bonus to your premium amount. By availing NCB, you can lower the premium of your health insurance, oryou can keep the premium intact and increase the coverage amount. Thus, NCB can make health insurance more affordable for you.
Family Health Insurance Plan
If you have a family, then you should consider purchasing family health insurance because it can be less expensive than buying individual health insurance for each member. Also, managing one family health insurance plan will be easier than dealing with multiple individual health insurance policies.
Super Top-Up Health Insurance
With the help of top-up health insurance plans , you can increase the cover amount by paying a little extra premium. This plan is an affordable way to make your health insurance more extensive.
Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing an Affordable Health Insurance Plan
The Cover Amount
The cover amount has a direct impact on the premium. The premium will increase as the cover amount increases.But don’t opt for a lower cover amount to pay lower premiums. You need to select the right coverage amount to get sufficient financial protection. When determining the cover amount, you must consider your age, medical history, lifestyle, etc. This will help you select the right sum insured amount.
The Waiting Period for Pre-Existing Disease
The waiting period is a period during which you’re not eligible to file a claim. It starts when you purchase the policy and ends according to the regulations of the insurer.In case the waiting period of your policy is long, then the likelihood of you requiring to pay the medical bills from your pocket increases. Therefore, to make your policy more affordable, you must select a health insurance plan with the shortest waiting period.
The Claim Settlement Ratio
The claim settlement ratio refers to the numbers of claims an insurer has settled in a year compared to the number of claims filed. The higher the claim settlement ratio , the higher the likelihood of a claim getting settled. Ensure you select an insurer with a high claim settlement ratio.
The Premium
The premium is the amount of money you’ll have to pay to avail the benefits of a policy. It’s recommended to compare different policies based on their benefits before selecting. After that, you must check their premiums to find out the most affordable policy.
The Add-Ons
Add-ons are extra benefits that you can purchase by paying additional premiums. While add-ons can increase the premium amount, they also enhance the financial cover. Some of the add-ons that everyone should consider are- accidental death rider and critical illness rider.
The information contained herein is generic in nature and is meant for educational purposes only. Nothing here is to be construed as an investment or financial or taxation advice nor to be considered as an invitation or solicitation or advertisement for any financial product. Readers are advised to exercise discretion and should seek independent professional advice prior to making any investment decision in relation to any financial product. Aditya Birla Capital Group is not liable for any decision arising out of the use of this information.

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