As the current global trend towards a more integrated world tends to change, our understanding of advanced and better healthcare is also changing.
In the last few years, more and more people have decided to seek medical treatment outside India and the reasons for this increasing international mobilityare a galore.
While the affluent class of patients is seeking the highest and best possible quality of healthcare, other arelooking for less expensive treatment abroad. One must know that getting a treatment abroad can be a costly affair and having a policy that covers your global medical expenses seems to be a convenient option.
In order to address the rapidly evolving needs of the consumers, numerous health insurers in India have introduced policies that offer adequate global coverage. Apart from giving regular cover, these dedicated policies additionally cover you against any medical emergency while travelling abroad and even for planned international hospitalisation.
Before availing the service, you must check that you have opted for foreign treatment as a specific add-on or it is clearly specified in the policy.
Royal Sundaram – Lifeline Elite (Critical Illness)
Royal Sundaram’s Lifeline Elite plan provides best health coverage in India as well as abroad. The policy can be bought by any individual above 18 years of age and is available as an Individual plan as well as a Family Floater plan covering self, spouse and children. Under the policy, the insurer offers multiple sum insured options including Rs. 25 lakh, Rs. 30 lakh, Rs. 50 lakh, Rs. 1 Crore and Rs. 1.5 Crore. The various medical benefits offered under Lifeline Elite plan include coverage for critical illnesses, international treatment, severe medical conditions and accidents.Max Bupa’s Heartbeat Individual – Platinum (Critical Illness)
The policy offers medical coverage across the world for certain illnesses such as heart attack, certain cancers, stroke and certain brain conditions. For buying the policy, age of adult policyholder should be 18 years, while here is no upper limit. However, there is a pre medical check-up for people above 40 required. Most importantly, the treatment should be done in a network hospital for making a claim. The various benefits of the policy include pre and post hospitalization expenses, cashless treatment, emergency Medical Evacuation and Second Medical Opinion. However, the policy does not cover one for travel and accommodation expenses. The options for total sum insured start from Rs. 15,00,000 and be bought till Rs. 20,00,000, Rs. 50,00,000 and Rs. 1,00,00,000.
Cigna TTK – ProHealth (Emergency Hospitalisation)
Cigna TTK Health Insurance Company’s ProHealth Plan offers worldwide cover for emergency in-patient treatments. The service is only available if the policyholder is outside the country and is not in a position to return back to India for the treatment. For treatment abroad, a certification from a legal medical practitioner at the place of treatment that the case is one of emergency is required. The claim is only admissible in event of the required certification. However, under the policy,the insurance claim is paid to the policyholder on reimbursement basis as no cashless facility is available. The claim is settled in Indian Rupees and only once the patient returns back to India.
HDFC Ergo – Health Suraksha Global (Planned and Critical Illness)
HDFC Ergo’s Health Suraksha Global is yet another unique health insurance plan that provides optimum health coverage. This plan offers a health cover not only in India but across the globe. Under the Suraksha Global Plan, the policyholder is free to decide, where he/she wants to avail the medical treatment globally. Medical expenses under above covers are payable if treatment is taken abroad, however, a deductible of USD 100 applies for the covers, as per policy terms and conditions. The plan works best for planned hospitalisation and is available for sum insured starting from Rs. 25 Lakh to Rs. 2 Crore. While the minimum age of entry is 91 Days, there is no bar on the maximum entry age.
Apollo Munich – Critical Advantage Rider
Apollo Munich Health Insurance’s Critical Advantage is a critical illness rider that covers treatment for 8 major illnesses abroad and also covers the travel and accommodation of one family member. The rider can be bought along with a health insurance policy (Easy Health and Optima Restore) with sum insured at least above Rs. 10 lakhs. The Critical Advantage rider is offered on an individual basis and has two variants – USD 250,000(Rs.1.5 Crore approx.) and USD 500,000 (Rs. 3 Crore approx.). The various illnesses covered under the policyinclude neurosurgery, cancer, coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve replacement/repair, live donor organ transplant, pulmonary artery graft surgery, aorta graft surgery and bone marrow transplant.
(Views expressed in this article are a personal opinion of Amit Chhabra, Head- Health Insurance, Policybazaar.com)
