Coronavirus (COVID-19) Insurance Policy Online in India
Coronavirus Health Insurance
The coronavirus pandemic has left the world in all sorts of crises – financial, social, and health. Among these, the pandemic has had the biggest adverse impact on healthcare, which has in turn made us realize the importance of being prepared for health crises situations. Never before has any incident made us realize the importance of health insurance.
The whole world is not just discussing coronavirus; it’s trying to cope with the healthcare needs that come with the virus. The rising cases and the level of vulnerability people face – old and young, healthy, and those suffering chronic ailments – have instilled fear in people. It has even brought about the worry of medical expenses related to the treatment of COVID-19.
The best way to be prepared during these times of coronavirus – health insurance. The Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI) has directed health insurance companies in India to cover coronavirus treatments under existing comprehensive health insurance plans. Besides, health insurers have introduced COVID-19 health insurance plans to provide coverage for coronavirus treatment medical expenses.
What is COVID-19 health insurance?
To understand health insurance concerning coronavirus, it is essential to note that two types of health insurance plans cover COVID-19: existing comprehensive health insurance plans and special COVID-19 health insurance policies (Corona Kavach and Corona Rakshak). Most health insurance plans that cover hospitalization costs would cover Coronavirus-related medical expenses.
To understand the effects of COVID-19 on India’s health insurance, it is essential to know the clauses and guidelines set by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). The IRDAI has allowed insurers to offer short-term health insurance policies of up to 3 months to 12 months to cover Coronavirus-related hospitalization. These can be individual health plans or family floater plans.
COVID-19 health insurance plans are especially useful for those who do not have any health insurance, while for others, a COVID-19 plan could be a useful top-up to their existing health plan. It should be noted that some existing health policies may have clauses that do not allow coverage for pandemics, and this is included in most policies. The lesson – it’s time to review your existing health insurance policies.
What is COVID-19 health insurance?
Types of Coronavirus Health Insurance
Corona Kavach Health Insurance Plan–
Designed to provide coverage for coronavirus-related medical treatments, the Corona Kavach health policy offers coverage towards hospitalization, home care treatment, ambulance cost, medicines, ICU charges, and more. The Corona Kavach health plan provides coverage of Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh. It can be bought for individuals or a family plan that covers the entire family.
Corona Rakshak Health Insurance Plan–
The Corona Rakshak plan is designed to offer coverage for COVID-19 medical expenses. The plan pays for coronavirus treatment expenses in cases where hospitalization is for 72 hours or more. The plan covers medical expenses towards oxygen cylinders, masks, PPE kits, AYUSH treatment, and more. The Corona Rakshak health plan offers coverage of Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. It can be bought for individuals or a family plan that covers the entire family. It can be bought for the age group of 18 years to 65 years.
Types of Best Health Insurance Plans in India
Health Insurance Plans that cover Coronavirus
Name
Features
Max Bupa Health Companion Family First
- In-patient hospitalization offers cashless coverage towards hospitalization expenses for all the members of the policy at network hospitals
- 30 days pre hospitalization and 60 days post hospitalization expenses covered.
- Room rent covered for select categories (suite and above excluded).
- Day care procedures including dental and ENT covered, among others.
HDFC Ergo My: Health Suraksha
- Entry at any age, which makes it suitable to insurance seekers of all age groups as well as ideal for family plan seekers
- Lifetime renewability ensures that policyholders can enjoy long term benefits, whether individual or family plan
- Sum insured ranging from Rs 3 lakhs to Rs 75 lakhs
- Air ambulance cover in an emergency ensures fast medical attention and quality hospitalization options
- Choose room rent capping, co-payment
- Avail of discounts such as family discount, long term discount and more
Manipal Cigna ProHealth Insurance Plan
- The plan allows alterations to the sum insured at the time of renewal. Sum insured ranges between Rs 4 lakhs and Rs 50 lakhs.
- The entry age for the plan is 91 days and there is no upper limit to the entry age.
- Flexible options for the amount of deductible – Rs 1, 2 or 3 lakhs.
- Option for waiver of copayment for senior citizens
- Critical illness additional coverage available for policyholders between the age of 18 and 65 years
Religare Care Health Insurance Plan
- Sum insured ranges from Rs 4 lakhs to Rs 6 crore.
- Pre-hospitalization 30 days and post-hospitalization 60 days.
- Organ donor treatment expenses Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakhs.
- No-claim bonus up to 150%
- Automatic recharge of sum insured
- Annual health check-up
Star Health Gain Insurance Policy
- It provides flexible premium options ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000
- It offers flexible sum insured options from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakhs
- This insurance plan caters to individuals as well as families
- It covers all day care procedures
- It has waiting periods: initial 30 days, specified diseases 24 months, pre-existing diseases 48 months
- Pre-hospitalization 30 days and post-hospitalization 60 days
- Entry age group: 91 days to 65 years
Is Coronavirus Covered Under Existing Claim Policy?
Comprehensive health insurance policies cover coronavirus-related medical expenses. The IRDAI has laid down guidelines for insurance companies, which direct all insurers to provide coverage for coronavirus related hospitalization expenses. Even though COVID-19 is a new disease, it is covered under existing health insurance plans.
If a policyholder tests positive before buying a health plan and if the waiting period specified in the policy is over, then the insured is eligible to receive a claim from the insurer. The existing insurance policy would pay towards hospitalization, ICU, ambulance, room rent, PPE kits and more. It should be noted that if a person buys a health insurance policy after testing positive, the insurer would not pay towards such claims.
Most health insurance plans that cover hospitalization costs would cover coronavirus related medical expenses. However, some policies may have clauses that do not allow coverage for pandemics. The lesson – it’s time to review your existing health insurance policies.
COVID-19 Health Insurance Inclusions and Exclusions
Every health insurance plan has a specific list of inclusions and exclusions – treatments and expenses that are covered and not covered in the policy. Every policy is different and hence it is essential to note inclusions and exclusions when purchasing a policy. This helps keep away surprises at the time of claims and reduces the risks of claims rejection, too. These are the standard inclusions and exclusions in COVID-19 health insurance plans:
Inclusions
Coronavirus health plans include:
- In-patient hospitalization: Severe coronavirus cases require hospitalization in hospitals that are COVID-19 centers. In most cases COVID-19 patients are hospitalized from between three days to 17 days or more. These in-patient hospitalization expenses are included by health insurance.
- Pre-hospitalization: A coronavirus infected patient might incur pre-hospitalization expenses such as diagnosis, tests, medicines and ambulance charges. These are covered by health insurance plans.
- Room rent: COVID-19 patients with severe cases might require to be admitted in hospitals for treatment. Health insurance includes room rent coverage.
- ICU charges: In cases that require treatments in ICU, health insurance policies offer coverage.
- Daily hospital cash: If a health insurance policy has a daily hospital cash, wherein the insurer receives a pre-specified daily cash allowance, the insurer pays.
- Post-hospitalization: Coronavirus might require post-hospitalization treatments and tests. These are covered by health insurance.
- Alternate treatment (AYUSH): Certain health insurance plans offer coverage for AYUSH treatments. If alternate treatment is used to treat coronavirus, it is covered by health insurance.
Exclusions
- Pre-natal and post-natal expenses
- Pre-existing diseases
- Hospitalization without doctor’s recommendation
- Home quarantine
- Non-recognized quarantine centre
How to claim health insurance for COVID-19?
There are two types of claims in health insurance: cashless and reimbursement.
Cashless claim
In the cashless claim feature, the policyholder does not have to pay any amount to the hospital; the insurer directly pays to the hospital on behalf of the policyholder. So if policyholders receive Coronavirus treatment at any of the network hospitals mentioned in the policy, they do not have to pay cash. This relieves money-related stress to a great extent, given the high costs of hospitalization related to Coronavirus treatment.
Reimbursement claim
Reimbursement claim process typically comes into the picture when policyholders receive treatments at non-network hospitals. In this case, policyholders have to pay the hospital bills, and then apply for claim to the insurance company with all the relevant documents and bills. The insurance company then verifies the bills and documents and pays the claim amount by way of bank transfer.
Coronavirus Health Insurance Features
-
Sum insured:
Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh (in multiples of 50,000)
-
Age eligibility:
Between 18 years and 65 years
-
Pre and post hospitalization:
15 days pre hospitalization and 30 days post hospitalization
-
Premium payment:
monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and annually
-
Waiting period:
15 days
-
Home care expenses:
covers COVID-19 treatment taken at home
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A lump sum insured would be paid upon the diagnosis of Coronavirus requiring hospitalization of at least 3 days
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The positive diagnosis of the policyholder has to be from a government authorised diagnosis centre only
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The plans cover:
hospitalization expenses, pre-hospitalization expenses, day-care procedure expenses, ambulance costs, ICU room rent, post hospitalization expenses, recovery benefit, among other standard covers.
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TThe Coronavirus policies offer the add-on facility of maternity benefit with newborn baby cover.
Why Should You Get a Coronavirus Health Insurance Plan?
To be prepared for the uncertainty around COVID-19
There are many uncertainties around the coronavirus. No one can be sure of being completely safe and not contracting the disease. The virus affects different people in different ways. If one can prepare for the adverse consequences of coronavirus, it is by having health insurance in place. With a proper health insurance plan with sufficient sum insured, one can be sure about being able to bear the expenses of this deadly disease.
Financial support in times of economic slowdown
The coronavirus pandemic has left the world in a financial crisis. With loss of jobs and unemployment, and economic slowdown, it is essential for everyone to be financially stable. Health insurance is one way to ease financial worries related to healthcare. No one knows how long we would have to face the risk of the virus. COVID-19 health insurance is one way to safeguard against the financial burden that comes with this disease.
Tax benefits
Health insurance plans offer tax benefits under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act. Tax deductions are based on the age of the policyholder. Families can avail of combined tax benefits of up to rupees one lakh.
Peace of mind
Unpredictability and ambiguity around coronavirus can increase stress. Add to it the ambiguity around jobs and employment and the fear of our loved ones contracting the disease. All this stress combined can be harmful to ones health. Health insurance can help reduce financial stress to a large extent. An insurance plan with sufficient sum insured can reduce the stress of expenses towards healthcare and coronavirus treatments.
Health insurance is a smart investment
Many people think of health insurance plans as an expense. However, if understood correctly, health insurance is a good investment towards ones future healthcare needs. With medical inflation at an all-time high and the increasing chances of contracting air-borne and vector borne diseases – think COVID-19 – a health insurance plan with sufficient sum insured is a good investment that can help meet financial expenses related to healthcare.
FAQ
Q. What are the types of insurance policies for COVID-19?
There are two types of health insurance plans that are specially designed for COVID-19.
Corona Kavach Plan which covers the costs of doctors’ fee, PPE kits, gloves, room rents, ambulance charges, in-patient treatment, ICU charges and more. The sum insured can range from INR 50000 to INR 5,00,000, depending on the policy you choose.
Corona Rakshak plan covers the costs of hospitalization due to COVID for more than 72 hours. The sum insured is much more and can range from INR 2,50,000 to 5,00,000. As long as you test negative for the virus before getting a policy and you check the waiting period, your policy should cover the cost of hospitalization due to COVID-19.
Q. Is it worth buying a COVID-19 health insurance plan?
A. A COVID-19 health insurance plan is beneficial for those who do not have any existing health insurance policy that covers hospitalization. Those who have insurance plans that provide hospitalization cover may not need to buy a special coronavirus insurance.
Q. Can you buy a COVID-19 health insurance plan online?
A. Yes, insurance companies are providing COVID-19 health plans online. The policy seeker has to share all the required details online. Every company may follow a different process, which is shared with the applicant upon sharing details online.
Q. Is there a waiting period in coronavirus health insurance plans?
A. Yes, most coronavirus health insurance plans have a waiting period of 15 days to 30 days.
Q. Is COVID-19 treatment expense covered in regular health insurance plans?
A. Yes, most regular health insurance plans provide coverage for hospitalization, which means hospitalization related to Coronavirus is also covered by regular plans. This is part of the standard instruction by IRDAI and applies even if pandemics are excluded from the clause of the health insurance contract.
Q. Does an Indian health insurance plan apply to hospitalization for Coronavirus outside the country?
A. Most countries have their own health insurance guidelines and typically insurance companies do not cover medical expenses incurred outside of India. You need to check if your travel insurance policy issued during your international travel covers such expenses.
Q. Is there a waiting period in Coronavirus health insurance?
A. Yes, generally there is a waiting period of a few days to a month depending on the type of plan and the insurance company’s clauses.
Q. Does COVID-19 health insurance cover the expenses related to quarantine?
A. Yes, coronavirus health insurance plans cover quarantine related expenses. However, the plan might not cover self and home quarantine expenses, only quarantine at recognized centers.
Q. Does COVID-19 health insurance cover the expenses related to home care?
A. Yes, coronavirus health insurance plans cover home care related expenses but only if the doctor has prescribed home treatment and if the policy has a clause that includes homecare treatment expenses.
Q. Do COVID-19 health insurance plans offer cashless claim facilities?
A. Yes, cashless facilities are available towards coronavirus treatment provided the standard health insurance policy has a clause of cashless claim.
Q. What are the inclusions and exclusions in COVID-19 health insurance?
A. The inclusions in COVID-19 health insurance are room rent, ambulance charges, in-patient hospitalization, pre and post hospitalization charges, PPE kit, ICU charges and more. The exclusions are prenatal and post-natal expenses, pre-existing diseases, non-recognized quarantine center, and home quarantine.
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Testimonial
Hiren Desai
I was very confused to buy Health cover for my parents, when IIFL approached me they offered me multiple brands with multiple features - staff even guided best plan for my parents and made me undertsood tax benefit also.
Hiren Desai
29, Businessman
Hira Nath
It’s been 20 years of togetherness but we never knew the importance of a family health insurance all thanks to IIFL to enhance our knowledge and getting us a family floater on our anniversary date.
Hira Nath
35, Private Job
Hiren Desai
I was very confused to buy Health cover for my parents, when IIFL approached me they offered me multiple brands with multiple features - staff even guided best plan for my parents and made me understood tax benefit also.
HHiren Desai
35, Private Job
Hira Nath
It’s been 20 years of togetherness but we never knew the importance of a family health insurance all thanks to IIFL to enhance our knowledge and getting us a family floater on our anniversary date.