Is your insurance taking care of your healthcare expenses?

How do you know if your insurance coverage is taking care of your healthcare needs and expenses? Reading the policy document and cross-checking what they claim and what is being offered on the ground is typically the route most policyholders resort to at the time of hospitalisation. It is always a good idea to do some due diligence before a medical crisis, and even better so, before buying a policy when you have the option to compare and check price, plans, benefits, and coverage. To ensure you are extracting the best benefits from your insurance policy, here’s what you should know first: inclusions, exclusions, and exceptions. It is always prudent to know if all hospital expenses are covered by insurance, or you’ll have to pay a portion of the charges. The majority of hospital expenses are either part of your deductible or not covered by your insurance at all.

Understanding What’s Covered and What’s Not Covered

Before we get into the nitty-gritties about what your insurance plan may cover and what it may not cover, let’s go over some basics.

Expenses covered by your insurance, either by law or by the contract, include doctor visits, prescription drugs, emergency services, hospital room and board, dental and vision care, physical and occupational therapy, specific home health services, ambulance services, etc.

Expenses not covered by your insurance typically include utilities other than a designated hospital allowance, and the attendant’s hospitality, like food, room and board.

What to Check in Your Policy: Inclusions and Exclusions

The new age health insurance plans cater to the most comprehensive insurance needs of the customer. Plans like the ManipalCigna ProHealth Prime Packages are the foremost players in the market and are rising above merely remaining just another health insurance.

The ManipalCigna ProHealth Prime Packages allow you to customise your health plans per your needs without any financial stress. It gives you better coverage in terms of cashless OPD care and zero deductions towards non-medical expenses.

It gives better control to the policyholder with policy features like the Switch off benefit, if you are travelling abroad, the freedom to choose/upgrade to any room as you wish and unlimited restoration of up to 100 per cent of your sum insured.

There’s also better care with the proactive approach from the policy provider that all policyholders must undergo an annual health check-up to stay in top health, not just in sickness, but also, for wellness’s sake. Also, the Wellness Program allows policyholders to earn reward points for completing wellness activities. As an incentive-driven activity, these reward points can be redeemed to get a discount on policy premiums at the time of renewal.

The ProHealth Prime Packages also cover expenses beyond hospitalisation, like the cost of OPD consultation, doctor’s visit, diagnostics like urine test, blood tests and any investigation to ascertain the presence/absence of any medical condition before and after hospitalisation and all pharmacy expenses besides some wellness offerings under the Wellness Program. They also cover non-medical expenses like costs of syringes, hand gloves and registration fees, which come under neither medicines nor consultancy or diagnostics but still make up for a significant portion of the overall cost.

What Does My Insurance Plan Cover?

The coverage of health insurance greatly depends on the types of insurers and the plans. A balanced policy will typically have the following:

Common Inclusions in Health Insurance Plans

  • Inpatient Hospitalisation - This includes room rent, nursing, ICU and doctor fees when staying in a hospital over 24 hours.
  • Day-Care Procedures - Surgeries that do not need 24-hour hospitalisation, such as cataract removal, tonsillectomy, dialysis, or chemotherapy.
  • Pre- and Post-Hospitalisation Expenses - Tests, octor consultations and medications that are taken in the time before or after a hospitalisation.
  • Ambulance Charges- Expenses for emergency transportation to the hospital.
  • Domiciliary Treatment- Treatment at home if hospitalisation is medically unsafe or impossible.
  • AYUSH Coverage - Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy treatments (varies by plan).
  • Restoration Benefits - Refills your sum insured if it gets exhausted during the policy year.

Exclusions You Must Know

  • Cosmetic procedures
  • Non-prescribed supplements
  • Trauma due to risky behaviour.
  • OPD costs (not under a special rider)
  • Unproven or experimental treatments such as athosets that are not supported by clinical evidence.
  • Suicide attempts or substance abuse treatment (except in cases of mental health benefits)
  • Treatment of dental and vision conditions that are not associated with an accidental injury.
  • Maternity and infertility treatment, unless done under special add-ons.
  • Congenital or hereditary illnesses which can be limited or uncovered by the policy.
  • Nursing or attendants of a specialised nature, rather than those that the insurer permits.
  • Registration fees, admission fees or non-refundable fees that are not reimbursed by the majority of the insurers.

Tips: Sub-limits, co-payments, deductibles, waiting periods, and non-medical consumables should always be cross-verified to ensure that there are not any out-of-pocket payments that will be incurred.

Better Coverage with ManipalCigna’s ProHealth Prime Packages

ManipalCigna’s ProHealth Prime plans are designed to fill common coverage gaps that most standard policies leave behind.

Key Advantages

FeatureBenefit
Cashless EverywhereAccess cashless treatment at any hospital, even if it’s not on the network.
Non-Medical Expense CoverCovers consumables like PPE kits, gloves, and masks, which most insurers exclude.
Unlimited RestorationAutomatically restores 100% of the sum insured for unrelated and related illnesses.
Enhanced OPD CoverCovers doctor visits, diagnostics, and pharmacy bills-ideal for frequent outpatient needs.
Health Check-ups from Day 1No waiting period for annual preventive check-ups.

These features give you more stability, fewer out-of-pocket costs, and greater flexibility to receive treatment wherever you prefer.

Benefits of Policy Features like Switch and Wellness Programs

ManipalCigna provides unique add-ons such as Switch, allowing policyholders to take better control of their coverage.

How Switch Benefits You

  • Let's you move between coverage modes (like choosing coverage only for major illnesses for a while).
  • Helps reduce premium expenses during financially challenging periods.
  • Allows you to reactivate full coverage when needed.

Wellness Programs

Wellness benefits reward you for staying healthy. You can earn wellness points through:

  • Steps or physical activity tracking
  • Routine health check-ups
  • Yoga or fitness class participation
  • Good health indicators (BMI, blood sugar, etc.)

These accumulated points can be used to get:

  • Discounted premiums
  • Additional coverage
  • Wellness vouchers or healthcare benefits

The Advantage of Better Control in Your Insurance Plan

Every policyholder deserves control over treatment, coverage, and cost. Plans like ManipalCigna’s put the power in your hands.

Why Control Matters

  • Freedom to Choose Hospitals Cashless Everywhere ensures treatment isn’t limited by network lists.
  • Control Over Premiums Features like flexible deductibles and the Switch option help customise premiums based on your needs.
  • Better Management of Chronic Conditions With disease management programs and preventive check-ups, you can track and manage long-term illnesses better.
  • Financial Protection for High Medical Costs Covers expensive procedures, consumables, modern treatments, and OPD-minimising surprises.

In short, control makes your health insurance plan more personalised, responsive, and aligned with your life stage.

Pre-existing Illnesses & How They Impact Coverage

Pre-existing diseases (PEDs) like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, or thyroid disorders significantly impact your policy terms.

How PEDs Affect Your Plan

  • Waiting Periods: Usually 2–4 years before coverage activates.
  • Higher Premiums: Due to increased risk.
  • Specific Sub-Limits: Caps on room rent or treatment costs.
  • Medical Check-ups: Many insurers require pre-policy medical tests.
  • Co-payments: Some policies may add mandatory co-pays for PED claims.

How ManipalCigna Helps

  • Disease management programs to support lifestyle conditions
  • Shorter waiting periods in select plans
  • Better coverage for modern treatments related to PEDs

Wellness and Care: Keep Your Health in Check

Health insurance should not only protect you during illnesses-it should help keep you healthy.

Why Wellness Benefits Matter

  • Early Disease Detection - Regular screenings help catch health issues early, reducing treatment costs.
  • Lifestyle Tracking- Wellness apps and reward programs motivate healthy habits.
  • Free Annual Check-ups- Many ManipalCigna plans offer check-ups from day 1.
  • Rewards and Discounts- Earn points to reduce premiums or upgrade benefits.

Wellness Checklist

ActivityBenefit
Daily stepsImproves heart health
Yoga or meditationReduces stress
Regular blood testsTracks sugar/cholesterol
VaccinationsPrevents major illnesses

A healthy lifestyle, supported by wellness programs, reduces claims and strengthens your long-term health.

What to Do if Your Insurance Doesn’t Cover Certain Costs

If you discover gaps in your health insurance coverage, here’s how to fix them effectively:

Practical Solutions

  • Add Riders or Add-onsPurchase OPD cover, room rent waiver, or non-medical expense cover.
  • Upgrade your Sum InsuredMove to a higher coverage amount to match rising medical inflation.
  • Switch to a Better PlanChoose a comprehensive plan with broader coverage benefits.
  • Use Cashless Everywhere OptionsReduce uncertainty during hospitalisation.
  • Maintain Medical RecordsHelps reduce claim rejections and ensure transparency.
  • Leverage Wellness BenefitsCut long-term health risks and prevent major illnesses.

Being proactive helps you stay financially protected during emergencies.

Portability and Pre-existing Illnesses

Portability allows you to switch insurers without losing continuity benefits. This is especially important when dealing with PEDs.

Why Portability Helps

  • Retains credit for waiting periods already served.
  • Let's upgrade to better plans with enhanced coverage.
  • Ensures continuity for PEDs, maternity cover, and critical illness riders.
  • Helps escape restrictive sub-limits or poor service from the existing insurer.

What to Remember

  • Apply at least 45–60 days before policy renewal.
  • Disclose all medical conditions honestly.
  • Submit previous policy documents for verification.
  • Choose insurers that offer comprehensive PED coverage (like ManipalCigna).

Portability is your right-use it to move to a plan that better supports your healthcare needs.

How to Ensure Full Coverage for All Medical Expenses

To achieve near-complete medical protection, you must take a structured approach.

Steps to Maximise Coverage

  • Choose a high sum insured (₹10 lakh–₹1 crore, depending on family size).
  • Add riders for OPD, non-medical expenses, and critical illnesses.
  • Opt for Unlimited Restoration.
  • Check for Cashless Everywhere for seamless treatment.
  • Assess policy on an annual basis to renew coverage.
  • Live a healthy lifestyle to prevent complications associated with PED.
  • Make sure that family members are all covered under a single or multiple policies.

An insurance framework, which is well planned, keeps you safe against medical inflation.

Conclusion

If you believe that your insurance plan does not cover certain expenses associated with your hospital stay or does not meet your desired insurance needs, you always have the option to port to a more complete insurance plan like the ManipalCigna ProHealth Prime Packages in terms of coverage and benefits.

FAQs

Does my health insurance cover outpatient costs like doctor consultations?

The majority of standard policies tend to exclude the OPD costs unless a particular OPD rider is taken. But plans such as the ProHealth Prime of ManipalCigna have greater outpatient benefits, such as doctor visits, diagnostics, and pharmacy costs, which make regular healthcare affordable.

How can I ensure that my policy covers all health risks?

Select a comprehensive plan, having a large amount insured, and necessary riders, examine the yearly coverage and learn about the exclusions. When your existing policy does not meet your needs, you can think of shifting to a more comprehensive insurance company with benefits such as OPD cover, restoration, and modern treatment benefits.

What are wellness benefits, and how can I avail myself of them?

Wellness benefits consist of rewards based on good health through step tracking, frequent check-ups, fitness or healthy biometrics. These points may be redeemed in terms of premium discounts or additional coverage. Most of the ManipalCigna plans will automatically monitor your activity using their wellness programs.

Are there any age restrictions for health insurance policies?

The majority of insurers provide policies to every age category, including infants and elderly people. Premiums do rise with age, but there is also comprehensive coverage even for the elderly. Lifelong renewability is also available with some of the plans, which guarantees protection throughout.

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