Senior Citizen Health Insurance

Health Insurance policies for Senior Citizens offer coverage of medical expenses for people above the age of 60. These plans are specifically created to provide financial aid to senior citizens in case of a medical emergency. Most of these policies cover pre-existing conditions and critical illnesses.

Most senior citizens have health problems. Considering the inflation in medical expenses, it becomes vital to have insurance to cover medical expenses, which become inevitable with age. With health insurance for senior citizens, one can have a happy old age without worrying about hefty hospital expenses.

Key Features and Benefits

Here are the features and benefits of senior citizen health insurance:

• Pre-existing diseases coverage

  You can avail coverage for pre-existing diseases after the first year of the policy, depending on the policy you choose. Some plans offer the coverage value after the second or third year of the policy.

• Better savings

  Keep the savings or pension money intact as the health insurance pays for the medical expenses.

• Online facility

  You can apply or renew your policy online with a few easy steps.

• Cashless facility

  Cashless facility enables you to settle your medical claims without paying cash at the network hospitals.

• Pre-and post-hospitalisation coverage

  The policy covers medical expenses incurred before and after hospitalisation.

• Sum assured

  You can choose a sum assured of your choice.

• Tax-saving benefit

  Premium paid is exempted from tax.

• No claim bonus

  You can avail a no claim bonus while renewing the policy after every claim-free year.

• Transportation coverage

  You can avail coverage against ambulance charges.

Health insurance for senior citizens includes hospitalisation and health benefits ranging from domiciliary treatment to coverage of diagnostic tests.

Below are some key benefits of health insurance for senior citizens:

• Coverage of hospital expenses

Senior citizens’ health insurance covers various hospital expenses such as room charges, doctor fees, nursing fees, medicines and drugs, ICU charges, and fees of other medical staff such as anaesthetists, surgeons, consultants, and specialists.

• Daycare Treatments

Treatments that require hospitalisation for less than 24 hours, such as chemotherapy, dialysis, and physiotherapy, are also covered under health insurance. This benefit can vary from policy to policy.

• Cover for AYUSH Treatments

Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) treatments are alternative medical options available and preferred by many seniors. Many health insurance policies for senior citizens also covers AYUSH expenses.

• Other Medical expenses

Medical / Health insurance for senior citizens also covers other expenses such as medical appliances, blood transfusion, medicines, operation theater, pacemakers, stents, and various tests like x-ray, blood tests, or other expensive tests.

1. Pre-existing diseases are covered in the second year of the policy. In a few cases, it can be from the third or fourth year.

2. Non-allopathic medicines, cosmetic, aesthetic or related treatments are not covered.

3. Any disease contracted during the first 30 days of policy is not covered.

4. AIDS and related disorders are excluded.

5. Expenses related to self-inflicted injuries.

6. Any expenses due to the addiction to drugs, alcohol or any mental or psychiatric illness are not covered.

7. Few diseases such as hernia, piles, cataract, benign prostatic hypertrophy, etc. usually have a waiting period.

8. Joint replacement surgery (other than due to accidents) also have a waiting period.

9. Cosmetic surgery is not covered.

10. Injuries arising due to war are not covered

Here are the things to look at while buying senior citizen health insurance.

• Check maximum entry age

• Check for an offer of lifetime renewal

• Check benefits and premiums

1. Insured person should be above 60 years of age. In a few cases, the upper limit is 80 years.

2. The person will require a medical check-up before applying for the policy. This requirement may vary from policy to policy.