Get your health insurance queries resolved by expert

Here you can find all the health insurance queries, our expert has responded to readers of the Financial Express newspaper.

I was advised to buy a standard health insurance policy which is cheap and gives all the coverage. Should I?

The standard health insurance Arogya Sanjeevani policy was designed by Irdai and is available with all insurance companies. In this policy, maximum coverage is up to Rs 5 lakh and it has a sub-limit on the room rent. If you need policy up to Rs 5 lakh then this is a good option. However, you should always consider the growing inflation and be ready for it. The policy you opt for should be from a long term perspective— a policy whose coverage is not insufficient even when you are 65-70 years old. Look at coverages which don’t have any capping.
You have both the options. The advantage of a group policy is it doesn’t have any waiting period for its members. However, if your employer decides to stop the group cover for parents or asks you to bear the price for the same or you switch jobs and join a company which doesn’t have a parental cover, they may end up with no cover. Opting for retail fresh policy will be subject to the under-writing rules of the insurance company and may need medical tests as well. There will be waiting periods and an age co-payment as well. Ensure that you declare all present/past medical conditions and past hospitalisation history. In a retail policy, your parents will have a cover for themselves and there will be tax benefit up to `50,000 under Section 80D. You may go for a combina-tion of base plan and top-up plan so that you don’t spend a lot on the premium.
Both private and PSU companies are regulated by Irdai. The same rules apply to both. The premium structure varies from product to product and from company to company. You can apply for porting 45 days in advance to your current renewal due date and ensure the activity is completed well within time.
Renewal payment can’t be deferred by six months as grace period offered to renew a health policy is 30 days. Once the policy expires after renewal due date, the claims that arise during the grace period and beyond are not payable. If you are not in a position to pay the full premium at the moment, one way out is to request the insurer to offer you the monthly instalment payment option (if available) during the subsequent renewal.
Yes, you should. It is important you stay sufficiently covered for unforeseen exigencies and protect your hard earned savings. You should also evaluate if the group insurance policy that your wife holds from her employer, allows her to migrate to a retail cover from the same insurer with continuity benefits on the waiting periods served.
Yes, you can if the health policy covers these expenses under home treatment benefit. Generally home treatment covers the expenses incurred for a specific period of time, on account of nursing expenses, portable and surgical medical equipment such as special beds, oxygen cylinders, etc., if they are recommended at the time of discharge from in-patient hospitalisation.
HK Check with the insurance company on migrating this group employer employee policy into its retail individual policy with continuity benefits. In case it accepts the request of migration, subject to underwriting, then you can migrate yourself to the retail policy. However, if it does not allow migration, you will have to opt for a fresh retail policy and serve the applicable waiting periods.

This varies as per the product guidelines of the insurance firm. There are some who have a capping when it comes to procedures like cataract. There are some who apply a mandatory age-based co-pay at the age of 64 and there are some who honour the full claim without any co-pay. I would request you to refer to the terms and conditions document in your policy kit and understand the benefit better.

In case your policy is an individual policy with four members in it then your father-in-law can be added at renewals. In case it is a family floater, then you will have to purchase a separate policy for your father-in-law. Declare his pre-existing medical conditions while opting for this cover. He may be asked to undergo pre-policy medical check-up. Also check the applicable conditions like maximum entry age, co-pay, sub-limits.

This is kind of difficult as the maximum grace period generally allowed for renewing a health insurance policy is 30 days. In all probabilities you will have to opt for a fresh cover.

There are different kinds of co-pay such as mandatory co-pay basis entry age, voluntary co-pay, etc. The one which reduces premium is called voluntary co-pay where you agree to bear a per cent of the admissible claim and hence get the premium reduced as per the terms of the product. One takes a call on opting for voluntary co-pay, considering age, health status and possibility of claim etc.

As per the guidelines on Portability and Migration, all group insurance policy customers are eligible to migrate into a retail product offered by the same insurer. This migration, however, would be subject to underwriting. You should approach your HR team and establish contact with your group insurance provider and procure details at the earliest and continue to stay secured.

This is possible but subject to the product and underwriting guidelines of the insurer. However, in the current circumstances, where there is a chance of the whole family getting infected, continue with the individual policies as the coverage shall be available for every member.In floater plans the premiums are payable, generally basis the age of eldest insured member, which the younger insured may not find relevant.

Yes, you can pay your health insurance premium for a three-year term at one-go provided the insurance company has that feature available in their product. Whether paying for a two- or three-year term makes you eligible for a discount on premium depends on the product but in general, there is a long term discount available for two and three years policy tenure.

A family floater policy generally refers to self, spouse, two or three dependent children-. You can opt for a floater plan where your sister and her daughter are covered as insured members and your sister can be the proposer. You may also go for multi-individual policy where spouse, children, brother and sister, niece and nephew could be covered under the same policy with individual sum insured.

Yes. Portability is allowed under all individual indemnity health insurance policies issued by general insurers and health insurers including family floater policies. Wherein, the continuity benefits are offered on time-bound exclusion to the extent of the previous sum insured.

Usually, health plan bought in India do not cover any treatment outside India. However, there are a few high-end products which offer coverage outside India. Check the terms of your policy to see if treatments outside India are covered.

Discounts are based on the product you intend to buy. While many life insurance products offer discounts for online purchase given the long term policy nature, many health insurance products do not provide any discount.

This is a situation that is a byproduct of Covid-19 related logistic challenges. Irdai has taken steps to safeguard the policyholder’s interest. Hence, insurance companies cannot reject a claim merely on delay of submission of documents. In such a situation, the customer should give a valid explanation as to why the delay has happened. Based on it, insurer should honour the claim.

Of course you can. If coverage from one policy is insufficient to pay the bills then you can claim the remaining amount from another policy. The rule is that the same expense cannot be claimed twice from two different insurers.

It depends on the product / company where you and your family members are intending to be covered. Generally, in many products, the dependent children are covered till the age of 25 years. You may want to check with the prospective insurers and decide accordingly.

The child is mandatorily shifted into an individual policy when the child attains the age of majority as defined in the policy or if the child is no more dependent (becomes independent). Since the daughter is getting married, her dependence would shift from the existing family to the new family if the daughter is not earning. Continuity benefits are offered on such policies.

Employee group insurance does not have any pre-existing waiting period. So any hospitalization incidence would be covered from day one. In retail policy, a pre-existing waiting period is applicable. Retail health insurance can be renewed lifelong but group coverage ends when the employee exits the group and so the parents could be left without any insurance. Hence, take an independent retail policy for parents as well.

If there is any capping on certain procedures such as cataract, etc., the amount shall be paid as per the applicable sub-limits. However, super top -up which has no such sub limits and capping could be a good choice to cater to such out-of-pocket expenses.

Individual members including family members covered under an indemnity-based group health insurance policy have an option to migrate at the time of exit from group or in the event of modifica-tion of the group policy or withdrawal of the group policy, to an individual or family floater health insurance policy offered by the same insurer subject to underwriting. In this case, if you are currently not covered under any group health insurance policy, you may want to get you and your family covered under a new retail health insurance policy.

You may want to look at different covers for both of you as the age group and health issues are different. Some insurers have a restriction on entry age beyond 65 years. As you have been treated for a heart problem and your wife has a chronic condition, check with some insurers on acceptance as underwriting guidelines differ from insurer to insurer and product to product. Some insurers have certain plans for senior citizens with chronic health issues.

Policy premium depends on the features of the policy you have opted for. There are policies which offer room rent as a per cent of the sum insured, there are some which offer specific room category or even any room without any limitations as a per cent of sum insured. Policies which have capping on room charges also have optional covers to remove capping or enhancing the room category. It is better to have minimum restrictions even if it costs a little more premium.

It is important to opt for a health insurance plan at the earliest and not let any unforeseen hospitalisation claims eat up your hard-earned retirement savings. You should look for such plans where there are no restrictions on entry age. If you can afford the premium, considering your age, it is advisable to have a comprehensive cover with high sum insured. You can look for a plan which covers in-patient hospitalisation, day care treatments, pre & post hospita-lisation, ambulance, donor expenses apart from other health and wellness related benefits. Check for the sub limits and co-pay which can impact your claim pay-outs.

I would recommend a sum insured of Rs 10 lakh or more as a floater cover given the fact that in case one of you gets hospitalised then you have a sufficient cover at your disposal. Most insurers offer a restoration or recharge benefit in their core product proposition which works really well in a floater cover and acts as a backup for the family. Alternat-ively, you may increase the sum insured by purchasing top-up plan.

There are many plans available which gives the OPD cover. But while buying a plan, it is always better to go for compre-hensive cover which can take care of all kinds of health eventualities and not just dental or OPD related expenses. I have an office cover and a personal floater policy. Last month I had a bypass surgery and the total bill was Rs 5 lakh.

Of course you can. If coverage from one policy is insufficient to pay the bills then you can claim the remaining amount from another policy. The rule is that the same expense cannot be claimed twice from two different insurers.

Wondering how much coverage is enough to safeguard you and your family’s health?

Questions you should ask before making a financial commitment.

What am I buying?

Health Insurance is meant to protect your family’s financial future against uncertainty. It not only gives you a risk cover, but also empowers you to fulfill your various needs like:
1. Coverage against medical expenses -The main purpose of medical insurance is to receive the best medical care without any strain on your finances. You may, therefore, focus on your speedy recovery instead of worrying about such high costs.
2. Coverage against critical illnesses- Insurance providers nowadays offer critical illness insurance, either as a standalone plan or as a rider. This amount may be used to meet your illness-related treatment costs, daily expenses, and any other financial obligations.
3. Cashless claim benefit- Many insurance providers offer cashless claim facility.
4. Additional protection over and above your employer cover- You may be left uninsured in case of loss of job or change in employment. In order to protect yourself against such an event, purchase a health cover individually.
5. Tax benefits- Health care plans provide tax benefits. Premiums paid towards your health care policy are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Your cover is the extent of protection that your loved ones will receive, simply put it’s the funds that your family will need to maintain their lifestyle in your absence. A few simple questions can help you find out what is the right cover for you.

  • How much of the family income do you provide?
  • How many people are financially dependent on you?
  • What are your current liabilities?

You will need to pay premiums, the amount that you invest for your policy, regularly for a specific time period known as the ‘Pay term’ which depends on the type of policy you purchase.
You can have Single Pay which requires you to pay a one-time premium or Regular Pay where you need to make multiple payments. A regular pay term can be monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual. Your pay term is different from your Policy Term which is the tenure of the policy.
Do determine the policy term and the pay term before signing up. Only commit what you are comfortable committing on an annual basis over the long term.

The sales brochures and other promotional material can help you understand the benefits of your policy, always ask for the policy literature provided by the insurer.

Your policy benefits depend on the type of policy you chose such as term insurance, or a unit linked insurance product.
It’s always advisable to read and understand the risk factors, terms and conditions of the plan. When in doubt ask your advisor to explain the details or contact the insurer.

Verify all the policy details before signing up for your policy. It is in your interest to provide correct information regarding your personal, medical and contact details to ensure smooth policy processing and a hassle-free claim processing in the long run. While filling the form, always remember to:

  • Check and fill the necessary details yourself and only then sign.
  • Ensure that your details match the KYC documents submitted by you.
  • Complete the nominee details and inform your nominees.

Always keep in mind the following:

  • Do not fall prey to promises of guarantee unless specifically mentioned in the product material.
  • No insurer can offer rewards or discounts on a policy purchase
  • Always check the advisor license if he has not been referred to you
  • Inducement to purchase insurance is illegal, in case you come across such instances immediately inform the nearest police station and lodge a complaint against the person.
Medical costs are touching the sky gradually, and you never know when the uncertainty will hit you with severe health conditions. Health insurance helps you avail medical coverage that benefits you by sharing medical costs in case of any medical emergency. A comprehensive health insurance plan covers both pre and post-hospitalisation expenses, apart from the hospitalisation period. If by misfortune, if you meet an accident or are diagnosed with any critical illness where the medical costs levied are considerably high, a health insurance policy will allow you stay stress-free by offering sum insured as per the policy contract.
Yes. This is the right time to buy health insurance for yourself, considering you have crossed the threshold of your education and career. The cut-throat competition and lifestyle may lead to you inviting several severe illnesses and medical conditions. Hence, securing your financial future against medical expenses is always a good step. Health insurance helps you to cover all those medical expenses you have made towards your illness or accidental event. Your health insurance policy covers costs related to medication and hospitalisation. Furthermore, you also get pre and post-hospitalisation reimbursement once you submit all the valid proofs to the insurer. Comprehensive health insurance also offers x-ray, ambulance charges, etc., which becomes additional relief.
Well, considering the overall benefits you avail through the policy, health insurance is undoubtedly an investment. You pay the premium towards your health insurance policy and get covered with a particular sum insured for a specified tenure. If you meet any unfortunate event in medical situations, this policy is the only one to take all your financial hassles away from you. By opting for a health insurance policy, you save a considerable amount of money, which is likely to be spent on your medical expenses. In short, it is an investment.
If you are unmarried and looking forward to availing health insurance coverage at cheaper rates, individual plans may suit your needs. However, it is always advised to buy family health insurance which covers your loved ones along with you under a single umbrella. You pay a premium towards a single policy and get the other family members covered., it gives you considerable returns in terms of medical costs levied during a particular event of hospitalisation.
Yes, personal health insurance is necessary even if you have company health insurance. The reason behind this is that the company group health insurance is valid only till when you are an employee of that particular company. If the employer dismisses your employment or you resign from your position, the company health insurance terminates immediately. In such cases, the new organisation may have different norms about insurance. Furthermore, under the company's health insurance, not all the family members are covered. Here, having personal health insurance makes sense. Your, as well as your loved ones' medical cover, remains untouched with individual plans. Due to increasing health costs, it is advisable to have additional medical insurance plans that help reduce out-of-pocket expenses and cover the expenses in case they exceed your company's health insurance sum-insured amount.
There is no specific ‘right time’ to buy health insurance. The moment you decide to buy it is always justifiable. However, if you are planning to get it, don't wait too much. Most of the people are under the impression that they are not going to face any medical situation in their early ages of life. Life has become uncertain, and the cut-throat competition gives rise to several stressful events. Ultimately, any medical conditions burn a big hole to your pocket and disturb the entire budgeting. Thus, it is always better to buy life insurance as early as possible in your life.
Yes, you can. If you already have a health insurance plan for you, it is always better to get one for your parents. We are exposed to several illnesses and ailments along with increasing age. If your parents don't have any health insurance to date, you can get one for them. However, the premium charges will be a bit high due to their age. Also, they might have to undergo medical while buying the policy.
It is always better to get a health cover of at least 50% of your annual income. If not possible, the health insurance sum insured must be a minimum of Rs.5 Lakhs to cover the necessary treatment of any ailment. As a benchmark, your health cover should equal a coronary artery bypass cost. As this cost is considerably high, it gives you an estimate of what amount should be covered under the policy so that you will not face any financial crisis in case of any medical uncertainties in the future.
Today, we are living in the era of technology, and almost all the insurance companies are trying to sell their insurance policies online. This is beneficial for both the insurer and the customer. Health insurance policies are easy to buy, and unlike any cash-value life insurance policy, health plans have hassle-free processes. We, at ManipalCigna, help you get the best suitable health insurance policy online, as per your convenience.

Yes, of course, you can. Investing in multiple health insurance policies should be a calculated choice, as it may result in an additional premium amount paid unnecessarily for the same/common tenure. Instead, you can buy a comprehensive health insurance policy and opt for additional coverage/riders to ensure that your medical expenses are fully secured.

On the other hand, if you have a group insurance policy provided by your employer, you must have a personal health insurance policy. The group policy doesn't cover your parents. Furthermore, if you resign from the organisation, the policy coverage terminates for you. It is valid you work in the same organisation. This is where you must have a separate, personal health insurance policy.
The answer may be subject to the insurer's terms and conditions. Usually, the floater plan can cover a maximum of two adults.
Government and private health insurance are different. Private health policies cater to the urban population, that come with the coverage against several urban-lifestyle-related health issues. On the other hand, government health insurance provides a basic cover and is subsidised to make it affordable for low-income groups. The government promotes the National Health Insurance Scheme, designed for people who cannot afford to have private health insurance. The rural population with minimal income needs to pay the nominal premium and the rest is taken care of by the government. Here, all the facilities are provided along with admission to the private hospitals under the program. With this, the maximum number of citizens from rural and urban localities can avail the benefits of health insurance for the betterment of their health.
Yes, you do! There is a fundamental difference between health insurance and life insurance is that health policies cover you in case of any medical emergency and you survive the event. Life insurance is meant to provide death benefits on the demise of the insured person. Although many life insurance plans offer maturity/survival benefits, they can be availed only at the end of the policy tenure. Consider if you have a life insurance policy and unfortunately, you need to be admitted to the hospital for the treatment of an ailment. If you don't have any health plan, you will have to bear all the medical expenses. Ultimately, it costs more for you, and the life plan is of no use for medical emergencies until you get maturity benefits from it. Comprehensive health insurance covers you with pre & post-hospitalisation expenses, along with medication, diagnosis reports, ambulance and several other charges. The cashless hospitalisation doesn't even need you to pay bills from your pocket and then reimburse; the entire hospitalisation amount is paid directly to the hospital by the insurer.
Individual health insurance plans are meant to provide health coverage only for single Individual. Here, you are insured under the plan, and if any medical uncertainty occurs, resulting in hospitalisation for more than 24 hours, the insurance company will bear all the expenses. If the hospital where you admit doesn't fall under network hospitals of the respective insurer, the amount you pay from your pocket can be reimbursed fully. However, in any individual policy, your family members are not covered.
A family floater policy is designed to cover your family members along with you under a single health insurance policy. In this type of health insurance, you can cover a maximum of two adults.
Every country has its own insurance supervisory body. In India, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is the board formed under a legislative act of 1999. This body governs the entire development and supervision of the insurance sector in India, whether it is a public or private insurance company. Health insurance also falls under IRDAI, where every insurance company has to follow terms and conditions defined by the authority.
Yes, you can buy a floater policy if you want to cover your family under a single plan. It is always better to purchase a family floater plan instead of purchasing multiple individual policies because the floater amount functions as an umbrella fund for the entire family.
Yes, you can avail tax benefits by purchasing health insurance. Section 80D of the Income Tax Act allows you to deduct up to Rs.25,000 from the taxable income. Furthermore, depending on your parents’ ages (over or below 60), additional tax benefits up to Rs.50,000 can be availed under the same section.
Most of the time, the insurance company pays you cumulative bonuses instead of no claim bonus. The company may increase your sum insured for the next policy year or the premium amount may reduce. The increase rate of the sum insured may vary from 10% to 50%, subject to insurer's terms and conditions

Immediately check, to avoid surprises in the future!

What are the things I need to check immediately after receiving my policy?

Is my policy as per my expectations?

To ensure that you have received the policy that you expected, it is advisable to immediately review your policy document.
Check for some key benefits like Sum Assured, Policy Term, Premium amount & Pay term to ensure that it is as per your need. If you have any doubts, call the insurance company to enquire/confirm the same.

Accuracy makes for easy claim. Your policy document contains all your personal information, bank details, contact details and nominee details so do ensure that it is accurate and updated from time to time.
This will help avoid any confusion during the claiming process.

In case of an unforeseen circumstance, your family deserves utmost ease. Store your documents in a safe and accessible place and ensure that your nominees are aware of the policy details, benefits and all documents are easily accessible.
This helps in avoiding unnecessary delays and makes for a smooth claims process.

A few things that are important for you to practice are:

  • Keep a list of all the policies you own and standard claims practices along with your policy documents so that your nominees can find all information at one place.
  • Pay your premiums regularly; it will help you get the right benefit out of your policy.
  • Evaluate your cover every 5 years, just like your lifestyle – your cover needs an upgrade.
A health insurance application form asks for numerous details and documents. You need to keep in mind factors such as health issues and ailments, the coverage you are seeking, the age of every person being covered, the documents that you need to submit, etc. Each factor plays a vital role when you invest in a health insurance policy for yourself and your family.
The waiting period ranges from 90 days to 2-3 years. Make sure to ask the agent or the insurance company about the waiting period before buying a health insurance plan. Certain benefits under your health insurance plan may have a longer waiting period before they can be activated, make sure to check your plan accordingly.
You need to declare any pre-existing condition you have. Most health insurance plans cover pre-existing medical conditions but there is a waiting period involved before the cover comes into effect for these conditions.
Whether you buy from a broker or choose to take the online route, either option has its pros and cons. A broker will lay out the different options in front of you and you can do the same on an online aggregator platform. If you choose to buy health insurance online, the benefit is that you are in direct contact with the insurance company. All the details, costs, benefits, etc. are listed down on the website and if you have any questions, customer support is available. On the other hand, buying from a broker allows for face-to-face interaction so you can ask as many questions and solve all your queries.
ManipalCigna offers various health insurance plans, depending on the needs and requirements of individuals, groups, companies, etc. It can range anywhere from 0.5 lakhs to 5 crores.
Yes, you need to. This will help you and your insurance company/agent to choose a comprehensive plan for you. The purpose of getting health insurance will be defeated if you do not disclose your pre-existing health conditions and ailments.
Yes, you can. Depending on the cover you are opting and what is the term of the policy, you will get to avail discounts.
A Critical Illness policy is one that pays a sum equal to the sum insured on diagnosis of a life-threatening ailment such as cancer, coma, stroke or a heart attack. The sum takes care of the cost of care and treatment, recuperation expenses and even pay off any debt if taken. The amount paid to the insured can be a lump sum amount or it can be a staggered payout.
A health insurance cover takes care of your hospitalisation expenses but only that which has been incurred. A critical illness insurance plan pays the insured the cover amount in lump sum, or staggered payouts so you can easily begin your treatment and pay for ad-hoc expenses that occur during treatment.
Your critical illness covers lapses once the insurance agency pays the lump sum amount. But you can take multiple critical insurance covers. You can also get a joint critical illness cover where if one of you falls ill, you can claim the lump sum amount and have the funds to deal with the expenses.
Yes. Premium paid for the health insurance policy is eligible for income tax benefit under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act and any amendments thereon. If the health insurance policy term is more than one year, then the tax benefit can be taken for all the years separately.

After Buying Policy

What are the things I should keep in mind as a policy holder?

How can I ensure that I get maximum benefit from my policy?

Insurance benefits you only in the long-term. It is also important that you pay premiums regularly to enjoy benefits. Missing a payment may leave you without health insurance cover and also the benefit of tax saving.

If you lose your policy document, report it to the insurance company immediately. You can get a duplicate policy by complying with the formalities. The duplicate policy confers the same rights as the original policy document.
If you are unable to pay the premium in time, your policy may lapse. You can contact the insurance company through your advisor or directly for reviving it. It is always advisable that you revive your policy and continue to enjoy its benefits.

As a policy holder, you should know the following:

  • Your contact details must be updated with the insurer so that you can be reached for any service offerings and communication.
  • Your nominee details must be updated at all times so that the insurer can ensure a hassle free claims experience for your family.
  • In case your agent is not being responsive to your queries and requirements, you always have the option of contacting the insurer directly.
  • You must evaluate your protection cover every 5 years, as your cover needs to keep pace with your increasing responsibilities.

Don’t fall prey to temptation/inducements/hoaxes/threats without checking the truth behind calls/claims. Here are a few things you should know:

  • No insurer can offer rewards/discounts on giving up your policy for another one.
  • Surrendering your policy is never a good idea if someone is offering you a reward or inducement.
  • Cross - check any suspicious refund calls or policy replacement with your insurer.

Please note that IRDA or an insurer would never make calls for additional benefits, declaring bonus, surrendering policies etc.
Do not believe such fraudulent calls, always cross-check all scheme related information and benefits either on the company’s website or by visiting the branch.
In case you receive such calls, immediately lodge a complaint by calling your insurance service provider with the details of the caller (phone number, name of the caller etc.)

There is usually a waiting period that applies before you can claim your health insurance cover. This varies according to the plan selected.
You can get in touch on the toll-free number 1800-102-4462 (9:00 AM - 9:00 PM) or write to us at customercare@manipalcigna.com.
No, you will not be covered.
A health insurance policy is for providing financial cover when you or your loved one has to be hospitalised. Medical expenses and surgeries can be expensive and that's why a health insurance policy is a must. If you are admitted in a network hospital, you can avail the cashless hospitalisation facility. In case you exceed the limit, you will have to pay the difference from your pocket and then apply for a reimbursement claim once discharged.
If the primary insured person dies, the other people covered under the same insurance policy can choose to continue the policy as long as they have identified a new adult policyholder within 30 days of the initial policyholder's death. You need to file an application and if the insurance company accepts the same, the Policy shall be treated as renewed without any break in the cover being provided. Migration from a family floater to individual health insurance policy may be allowed on acceptance of the proposal by the company.
You can place a request to cancel your policy anytime during the policy period. The health insurance premium will be refunded on a short period basis for the single and annual payment modes. No refund will be processed for cancelling any policies with Premium Payment Mode as Half-yearly, Quarterly or Monthly.
All the covers under the Accident Care policy are available only on a benefits basis. The cashless facility cannot be availed under this policy.
In such a situation, the medical treatment and expenses get covered under the Day Care Procedure.
Irrespective of the cover - base or with additional plans, you will be treated equally at all the network hospitals. A higher cover does not mean you will be given preferential treatment in terms of hospitalisation and health insurance claim.

No such limit has been defined. You can stay in the hospital as long as it is medically necessary to provide safe and adequate medical care in scope, duration or intensity. Here are some points to keep in mind:
• Your hospital stay must be prescribed by a Medical Practitioner.
• You have to adhere to the professional standards that are widely accepted in international medical practice or by the medical community in India.

The insured is liable for paying the hospital for all the medical expenses incurred. In case the cashless facility is not authorized to you, the insurance company will reimburse you.
There are many situations where you can be denied the facility of cashless hospitalisation. If the information provided by the hospital is insufficient, the cashless facility can be denied. It can also happen if the illness or medical condition the policyholder has been admitted for in the hospital has not been mentioned or is not covered under the policy. When critical pieces of information are missing, you miss out on availing many benefits. But even if you are denied the cashless facility and have to pay from your pocket, you can submit your health insurance claim for reimbursement while being discharged from the hospital. You can also submit for reimbursement if you are admitted in a non-network hospital.
You need to call the Toll Free Helpline 1800-419-1159 or write to cigna@mediassistindia.com in the event of planned or emergency hospitalisation.
When you get admitted to a non-network hospital, you cannot avail the cashless claims, but are entitled to reimbursement claims.. After being discharged from the hospital, make sure you have all the required documents to submit to the insurance company for reimbursement of the same.
Yes, you can. If you are visiting a network hospital, then you can avail the cashless hospitalisation facility. If it's not a network hospital, then you will have to pay from your pock and then submit a health insurance claim for reimbursement.
Day Care Treatment does require a minimum of 24 hours hospitalisation for you to apply for a health insurance claim. Day Care Treatment is any treatment or surgery which requires less than 24 hour's hospitalisation due to advancement in technology and undertaken in a hospital/nursing home /daycare centre as recommended by a medical practitioner. But you must occupy a hospital for a few hours or an entire day.
Sometimes, your health insurance cover is not enough to cover all your health-related expenses. In such situations, it is suitable to get a top-up plan. A super top-up plan acts as a backup that comes in use when the medical expenses incurred is more than the Sum Insured limit. If you have a Super Top Up Plan, then no, you don't have to pay the difference between the actual expenses and the health insurance cover.
ManipalCigna will take care of the pre-policy medical check-up costs. In case we are unable to underwrite your proposal, we will reimburse/refund any health insurance premium that you have paid.
Your health insurance policy is in force all across India. You have the freedom to check into any of the network hospitals that are either around your residence or in the city you are currently in. At network hospitals, you can avail cashless settlement of claims. In case you are admitted at a non-network hospital, you can opt for the reimbursement mode of settlement. Apart from this, ManipalCigna also provides coverage in case of emergencies wherever you are in the world.
In the policy term, you can make an unlimited number of claims based on the health insurance cover and sum insured limit. There is a possibility that you will exhaust your sum insured in the first 1-2 claims but in such cases, there is a restoration benefit provided by the insurer, or you can secure a super top-up plan. In case of a critical illness insurance plan, you can make a health insurance claim only once and after that, the policy collapses.
Electronic claims typically take only 3-5 days to pay and can be processed in as quickly as 1-2 days.
If you do not disclose a pre-existing medical condition while purchasing your health insurance policy, it is a legitimate reason for the insurance company to reject your health insurance claim. A legitimate cause of claim rejection is the non-disclosure of a pre-existing medical condition at the time of purchasing the health insurance policy. The health insurance claim can also be rejected if the medical treatment is taken during the waiting period.
The health insurance claim is simply a reimbursement of the medical expenses incurred by the insured/policyholder. Since this is not profit or income for the insured person, this money is not subject to any tax.
You need to call the Toll Free Helpline 1800-419-1159 or write to cigna@mediassistindia.com in the event of planned or emergency hospitalisation.
Yes, you can cancel your health insurance policy and will be getting a refund for the same. You are required to write to the insurance company requesting them to cancel your policy and initiate the process to refund the premiums for the pending period. Your refund amount will be after deducting the stamp duty charges and the proportional risk charges for the days that you are being covered.
You can get in touch on the toll-free number 1800-102-4462 (9:00 AM - 9:00 PM) or write to us at customercare@manipalcigna.com.

You can renew the policy by any of the below methods:
● Making health insurance premium payments at the ManipalCigna local branches
● Making the health insurance premium payments online using net banking or using your Credit/Debit card