[whitewing]

I recently switched my Super top - floater from ICICI Lombard to Acko. In the process was surprised to learn that there is no concept of porting for the top up policy. I has assumed that porting allied to all health insurance policies.

While the Acko policy does not have any waiting period, they have been waived off. In my case, we have no per-existing disease (PED).

However, would this approach of not having portability lead to vendor lock-in? Especially if one has a PED.

[kap04]

My wife had to undergo a procedure at a reputed hospital in Bangalore last week. We were told the total amount would be approx 1.1 lakhs, and they asked me to submit the documents to get the pre-authorisation from my wife's office insurance provider. It all went through fine and we appeared for the surgery the next day. We had to stay a night at the hospital and got discharged the next day. The total bill was 1.15 lacs and the insurance-approved amount was 1.11 lacs. We paid the rest of the amount and returned back home. And I looked at the bill, and I saw a huge amount of 6000/- against a prescribed medicine. I asked my wife what kind of tablet is this, and she showed me the strip, when i looked at the price it was only 300/- per strip. And they gave us only 1 strip as the doc prescribed. But they billed 20 strips, which is 6000/- . This amount was part of the sum that was approved by the insurer.

I had to visit the hospital today and I showed them this discrepancy. They said they would call. How do you think this might be resolved? Did anyone face this before?

[I_am_TSG]

I am in the market for a new health insurance policy with a family floater option. I am 37, my wife is 36 and our son is 9 months old.

Both of us have earlier running health insurance policies (mine is ICICI with a 5L cover and wife is covered with one of the PSU insurers - not sure which one, hers is carrying on from before we got married and I never bothered with the details except for knowing that she is covered).

Now with the arrival of our son, plus the stellar inflation in healthcare costs, I was wanting to go future proof and cover ourselves with a 1Cr family plan.

Have shortlisted Niva Bupa for now - but I am getting confused between the Reassure 2.0 plan vs 1Cr super saver (10+90). Hard to ignore the difference in their premiums - 48,000 vs 19,000.

While I understand that reassure 2.0 offers a locked premium until a claim is made and is perpetually unlimited in cover restoration so a 20-25L cover should be good, I'm not sure why should I be ignoring the 10+90 1Cr super saver.

Or maybe I should just go for the reassure 2.0 for 15L or so and buy another top up policy separately?

Would be grateful for any thoughts, experiences or recommendations. Open to consider another insurer as well

[saildrive]

My friend's dad underwent Cancer treatment a decade ago; he was 72 then. The company he works for does not provide insurance cover since he is 82 and above; his mother however is covered under the company insurance policy.

His dad now has to undergo another round of medical treatment and might even have to shift base to Mumbai from another city. I got to know that the cost of treatment will be upwards of INR 2+ lacs and am shocked that; though he works for a well known IT company, they do not cover parents who are 80 years an above.

I was told that these are rules / guidelines framed by the Health Ministry or Insurance Companies/Policy makers and there is nothing we can do as companies too adhere to such rules / regulations, employees have nothing but to accept such dictats.

My dad too is in his 80's and knowing that we (working class) pay all our taxes and all so called deductions that are done at the behest of 80D or any such superficial scheme/policy.

What good is it if and when I direly need insurance assistance for such hefty payouts?

Do let me know if there a forum or body or place where we can take such grievances.

It is quite frustrating knowing that we citizens are at the receiving end and policy makers / insurance companies laugh their way to the bank taking premiums till the elderlies are in their 79's. Quite Absurd.

Looking forward to some advice / direction.

[carboy]

One of my relatives (age 54) who isn't that well off has lost his job & thus his work health insurance. He has some preexisting illnesses & doesn't mind if those illnesses are not covered for a few years waiting period. Are there any health insurance companies which issue a policy without tests as long as he declares the illnesses. If not which one has the least amount of tests?

[SedateGuy]

Originally Posted by saildrive

I was told that these are rules / guidelines framed by the Health Ministry or Insurance Companies/Policy makers and there is nothing we can do as companies too adhere to such rules / regulations, employees have nothing but to accept such dictats.

Hogwash there are no such rules for age limitation. My FIL who is 90+ is covered by corporate insurance as well as private insurance. Someone is feeding you a truck load of ...

[sunilch]

Originally Posted by carboy

One of my relatives (age 54) who isn't that well off has lost his job & thus his work health insurance. He has some preexisting illnesses & doesn't mind if those illnesses are not covered for a few years waiting period. Are there any health insurance companies which issue a policy without tests as long as he declares the illnesses. If not which one has the least amount of tests?

Given the age, tests will be mandatory and most of the test are common. Based on policy on offer, existing conditions may either not get covered at all or for a period of 2-4 years at-least. Also, co-pay is likely to be high given what you have shared. Best approach would be to get a consult from a good agent and buy policy as well via them only.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by sunilch

Best approach would be to get a consult from a good agent and buy policy as well via them only.

I have never used an agent for any kind of insurance, so not sure how they work. Do they work for particular company - like LIC agents work? Or are they fee based?

[sunilch]

Originally Posted by carboy

I have never used an agent for any kind of insurance, so not sure how they work. Do they work for particular company - like LIC agents work? Or are they fee based?

They work for a particular company but these days, most of them cover multiple companies. Hence it will be best to get a trusted one that someone you know has used and is satisfied.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by sunilch

They work for a particular company but these days, most of them cover multiple companies. Hence it will be best to get a trusted one that someone you know has used and is satisfied.

Hmm, in Mumbai where this is needed, I don't know anyone who has purchased insurance through an agent.

Does anyone here know which companies do or don't insure 50+ with preexisting diseases?

[SedateGuy]

Originally Posted by carboy

Hmm, in Mumbai where this is needed, I don't know anyone who has purchased insurance through an agent.

Does anyone here know which companies do or don't insure 50+ with preexisting diseases?

I am from Mumbai. I can help you with some agents if you like. They are located in the western suburbs.

[aadya]

Originally Posted by I_am_TSG

While I understand that reassure 2.0 offers a locked premium until a claim is made and is perpetually unlimited in cover restoration so a 20-25L cover should be good, I'm not sure why should I be ignoring the 10+90 1Cr super saver.

Go ahead with 10+90, it should be fine for all use cases. In my opinion every upper middle class should have at least 50 lakhs coverage and this route helps us in achieving it at lesser cost. The catch would be renewal as Super top up might not be under the direct purview of irdai. I am not sure about that.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by saildrive

am shocked that; though he works for a well known IT company, they do not cover parents who are 80 years an above.

Forget 80+ year old parents. My son works for the software division of a well known multinational too, and they don't cover parents, period. Age does not matter. I am 62, and am continuing to renew the health policy I took over two decades ago. My former employer's group health policy covers me and my wife till I turn 70, but the cover is limited.

[kushagra452]

I bought the Yuva Bharat Health Policy from New India Assurance Co. today for myself and my spouse. Sum insured is Rs.25L and the premium paid is approx. Rs.27000/- It seems the insurance premiums have really sky rocketed over the past 6-12 months. I believe a similar policy would have cost me less than Rs.20000/- 12 months back.

This is my first time with New India Assurance. It will be helpful if BHPians can share their experience with this policy or company. Thanks!

[SedateGuy]

Originally Posted by kushagra452

This is my first time with New India Assurance. It will be helpful if BHPians can share their experience with this policy or company. Thanks!

I wish you had asked this question before you bought the policy.

Their cashless list of top hospitals is quite limited especially in the metros. At least this was the case when i ported out from then approx 5 years back.