Don`t ignore day care surgeries while buying mediclaim

Saroj SatapathyIdeal Insurance Brokers

Sitting next to me my colleague looked stressed; I could understand his situation as his father was to undergo a surgery for cataract. However, after a brief conversation with him I realized more than the surgery what was bothering him were the medical and other related expenses. His father was back after the surgery on the same day, fit and fine, but the cost implications were lingering. I asked him had he not considered the insurance cover for the day care procedures. His answer was in the negative, he thought the health insurance cover was for only the prolonged procedures and not the short duration procedures! An unwanted problem caused due to lack of awareness and paucity of insurance cover.

It is widely believed by many that health insurance covers medical exigencies only during illness resulting in extended hospitalization and not for ailments requiring no overnight stay in hospitals for treatment. However, it’s about time that the myth is busted and masses are made aware about the need of a cover for day care procedures. The short term hospitalization or "Morning to Evening hospitalization" is termed as day care procedure. These day care procedures can make a large hole in one’s pocket as some of the treatment can result in an outgo of an amount more than the actual traditional surgery!

It is important to analyze your day care cover carefully; as you may come across some policies which clearly state the day care procedures covered by giving a "number" to the list of defined procedures. However, it is important to take a cover that has day-care surgeries with wider definitions. Thus it becomes important for you to read the policy document carefully for these wider approaches and identify the policy by carrying out a 'comparison' of the policies available in market.

There are ample health insurance policies today, which offer day-care services under the cover. So while choosing the health insurance plan one should keep in mind the importance of day care surgeries or procedures in terms of wider definition rather than the huge list of procedures stated in the document. It is also pertinent to note whether there are any limits or sub-limits under any specific procedure or the policy sum insured is available for the procedure.

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Saroj Satapathy

CEO|Ideal Insurance

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A health insurance cover these days normally includes the following under day-care procedures: • Any treatment that initially took more than 24 hours for procedure and recovery but now takes lesser time due to technological advancements. For instance, cataract surgery, removal of gall bladder stones and other such ailments including chemotherapy and dialysis.• Minor treatments that can be carried out with local or general anesthesia. One has to carry out due diligence before purchasing the product by getting it vetted by any knowledgeable intermediary. Fortunately, you can get quick comparison through internet as most of the service providers have their product features clearly stated in their web site.• It is central to make sure that several other factors like age limits, cashless facility, co pay and sub limits etc before buying a health insurance policy. The number of day care procedures listed in the policy wording should not be the only criteria while choosing your health insurance policy but the scope and definition carry equal importance. As most of the day care procedures are planned hospitalization, it is important to check on the cashless window to get immediate relief as the cost implications for such procedures are mostly defined.