Good news for those who believe in non-allopathic treatment :)

As we are aware, most of the health insurance policies only cover allopathic treatment but other form of treatments like ayurveda, homeopathy, etc were not covered. And we all know that, now days people are moving to these so called ‘less harmful’ form of treatment esp when it comes to chronic ailments like spondilytis, arthritis and epilepsy but again even these treatments are not very ‘cheap’.

So for the relief of those, few insurance companies have included such alternative forms of treatment under their cover, especially ayurveda. Though it has been limited to individual or govt. scheme or corporate policy from company to company but yes the first step has already been taken. And ofcourse, there are limits on the amount which can be claimed.

Naturopathy treatments are excluded in all policies, while few cover unani and homeopathic. This is because other forms of treatments have no standard treatment protocols and highly varied costs thus making it difficult to actuarially compute the cost to be covered. Even under ayurveda, select procedures are covered to ensure people do not misuse a policy for a basic rejuvenation procedure.

It is important to note that there is no standalone cover available for covering alternative treatments. You will have to buy a standard health insurance cover from these select insurers and others who start offering the non-allopathic coverage.

Before you head for alternative treatment and make a claim, see whether the treatment is listed in the insurance policy document. Insurers are particular about the specific treatments covered.

Source: Economic times

Waiting period for Health Insurance

Did your claim got rejected because your disease was not covered in the first 2 years of the policy??

Are you suffering from some Pre Existing Disease and want to cover the same??

There are many diseases like Appendicitis, Hernia, Cataract, etc for which an individual can delay the treatment. Many people apply for a policy after discovering they are suffering from one of these diseases. So to avoid such intentional claims, the Waiting Period clause is there in All Health Insurance policies in India.

So, when you sign up for a new health insurance policy, it doesn’t get implemented with immediate effect. The policy comes into effect after a ‘waiting period’, which depends on the kind of insurance and factors such as

·         The nature of disease

·         Your medical history

·         The Insurance company

·         The Insurance Policy Chosen

In other words, the insurer is liable to entertain any claim amount filed only after this waiting period. If an individual undergoes an accident or undergoes hospitalization during the waiting period, the customer may not be covered for a loss.

 

As mentioned before, the concept of waiting period exists across different kinds of insurance policies, and the quantum of waiting period may differ depending upon the insurer and the nature of the insurance policy. However, following are the broad indicators of waiting period.

1)      There is an initial waiting period of 30 days during which no claims is entertained (except maybe an accident case where it has to be proved the accident happened after issuance of policy)

2)      There is an initial waiting period of 1-2 years for diseases like Appendicitis, Hernia, Cataract, Gall Bladder or Kidney Stone, Piles, Tonsillitis, etc

3)      Pre -existing diseases are normally not covered till 4 years of the policy. Previously pre existing was not covered at all. However, now IRDA has made in mandatory for Insurers to cover pre existing after 4 claim free years. In fact, some insurers are also covering pre existing after 1 year like the Varishtha Policy of National Insurance

4)      Diabetes and Hypertension can be covered in many policies from Day 1 on payment of extra premium. Else Diabetes will fall under the Pre Existing Clause

5)      Maternity can be covered in companies like Apollo DKV and Max Bupa after a certain waiting period too

A pre-existing disease refers to any medical condition of an individual prior to the commencement of the policy. Now the policy may be effective for any other ailments in the first few years of the policy. Buy any claim filed for illness related to the pre-existing disease will not be covered in the first 1-4 years of the policy as stated in the policy document. This feature is most common in insurance policies designed for senior citizens. Also, the insurers may insist that you stick with the same insurer if you want the cover to continue without further waiting periods in future.

However, when a corporate takes a Group Policy for all its employees, they can customize the policy to remove the “waiting Period” clause and even “pre existing” disease or “maternity” can be covered from the first Day of the Policy.

For more details, feel free to mail to our Health Insurance Help Desk at health@healthandinsurance.in or call at (+91) 98 30 01 23 88

Healthy lifestyle

It may be easy to forget the importance of living a healthy life when we’re going through the daily grind. It may be even easier to get caught up in what’s convenient instead of what’s good for us. However, the benefits you can enjoy with a healthy lifestyle are worth making healthy living a priority!

Here are three healthy living tips that can be used along with your adequate health insurance, to better your health, increase your happiness, and enjoy life to its fullest:

1.  Rest and rejuvenate. The biggest healthy living tip that many people overlook is the need for sleep.

Life can get hectic. When we don't have enough time to get things done, most of us opt to stay up late to make up for the lack of time. Or perhaps our busy minds prevent us from getting a restful sleep in the first place. However, getting less sleep is actually counterproductive to doing anything efficiently, effectively, or well!

·    Getting enough sleep enables you to work and pursue your passions vigorously. It rejuvenates your body, mind, and attitude. You should have an ergonomically correct mattress and pillow to ensure you get the best sleep possible.

2.  Eat nutritious food. Another healthy living tip is to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Many people believe that they don’t need to eat nutritious food or watch their diet because they don’t need to lose weight. This couldn’t be further from the truth! You should put only the best foods in your mouth no matter how much you weigh, what size you wear, or how fit you look.

·    What you eat affects your entire body, including your brain. By eating nutritious foods YOU CAN think clearer, feel happier, enjoy more energy and avoid illness and pay less medical insurance premium!!. Strive to eat more raw vegetables and fruits instead of processed or packaged foods.

3.  Affirm the positive. Having a positive mindset is the key to living a fulfilling life. Many people don’t realize the importance of living and thinking positively. As a result, they inevitably find themselves allowing negative things to rule their mind and body.

·    Your attitude is one of the most important contributors to both your happiness and health.

Like every other healthy living strategy mentioned, being positive all the time (or even most of the time) may take some effort. However, an easy way to incorporate positive thoughts into your everyday life is to use affirmations.

Many people use affirmations to help them think more positively as they go about their daily life. Positive affirmations are simply statements you can use to replace the negative thoughts running through your head.

·    A good affirmation encourages you to live the healthiest lifestyle possible and be the best that you can be.

Positive affirmations often remind you about how important it is to take care of yourself. An example could be, "I can neutralize bad habits with good food, exercise, and healthy living."

This is a simple way to be reminded of how important your body is, and how important your mental health is and hence how to keep it healthy. This is more relevant in country like India. Health insurance in India is yet to reach the mass.

Hence self help is the best way to protect your health.  

You have a whole toolbox and support system at your disposal to help make your life happier and healthier. All you have to do is take action!

Insurance Brokers ---- for you!

Not everyone is aware of the concept of brokerage in Insurance. Well, people are not even aware of benefits of insurance, that’s why only 3% of Indians are insured. Irony is that 2% are insured either by govt. or by employer. If we want to define Insurance in one line, it will be ‘Insurance is all about transferring your risks’. Wow! In an economy where health expenditure can easily make a whole in your pockets, if given a chance why will not anyone go for health insurance or mediclaim? Sometimes…in fact most of the times, we think….this is not the right time….we are healthy enough….but think again…are you really healthy enough and there is no probability that you will fall sick? We feel that adversity will never knock on your door before arriving.

Trust us…BEST TIME to buy a health insurance policy IS NOW! Most of the policies have waiting period of 3/4 years for pre-existing diseases and for certain other diseases; there is a waiting period involved. Think about your parents, your dependent children….giving them a healthy future is the perfect gift.

So, where brokers come in picture? Brokers are an IRDA (Insurance Regulatory Development Authority) accredited firm who deal with all the insurance companies. The basic difference between an insurance agent and a broker is: broker will represent a client to the insurance company as compared to an agent who represents an insurance company to the client. Brokers under the strict guidelines of IRDA should have sound technical employees to deal with the clients. Brokers take full responsibility for your policy documentation, renewal and claim settlement.

HEALTH INSURANCE IS OUR BIRTH RIGHT and we all should avail it. Taking few minutes out of our busy schedules to invest for a healthy future is not at all a bad bargain. 

Some health tips :)

I know, you all must have read lot of health tips...and trust me its necessary....definitely...so some of the tips which I follow:

1.        Green tea is very helpful for preventing tooth decay, foot odor, diarrhea, stress, depression, heart diseases etc.
2.     Vegetables should be sliced in bigger pieces so that its vitamin content remains intact...can tell your cook to do that
3.       Try and avoid excess sugar in your drinks like tea, coffee, fresh juice etc.....doable...very easily
4.       Mixture of lemon and honey not only helps in cough, but also lowers the cholesterol levels and keeps check on your waist line :) ....this one is the best one :P
5.       Including basils in your diet can be very effective for preventing many diseases like hepatitis, typhoid etc
6.       Dehydration is the worst we can do with our bodies since our bodies are made up of 70% of water, hence it’s important to drink sufficient water in order to keep your skin and body healthy... I always keep a water bottle handy
7.       Laughter is the best medicine as we all know, smiling on simple jokes relaxes your facial muscles.....life is too short to live....I can't afford to loose my time for stress, tension ...
8.       Try and take out some time for workout every day. This will not only keep you fit but also bring discipline to your body.....oh yeah
9.       The National Sleep Foundation recommends you switch to decaf--or nothing--at least six hours before bedtime to ensure your body is ready for rest
10.   Cigarettes contain strong stimulants that can keep you jittery for hours. And while you might feel drowsy after you have a drink or two, alcohol also has a stimulating quality that can keep you up at night
11.   Avoid escalators and lift whenever possible, take staircase instead....not when your office is on 15th floor....may be till 3rd floor take the staircase...then lift zindabad :)

Medicare Change Smooth So Far

One of the most significant savings envisioned in the new health- care law - limiting payments to the private health plans that cover 11 million older Americans under Medicare - is, so far, bringing little of the turbulence that the insurance industry and many Republicans predicted.

The law, which sets in motion the broadest changes to the U.S. health-care system in decades, will hold down the amount of money the government gives to Medicare Advantage plans, which are available to patients who prefer a managed-care version of the program. The savings is forecast to amount to $145 billion by the end of the decade.

Whether the payment changes are warranted was a contentious subplot in the protracted debate over the legislation. Democrats argued successfully that the private plans were being overpaid and could withstand the changes. Republicans warned that such plans would raise prices, lower benefits or cause defections from the program, stranding the elderly people who rely on them. 

New Rules Require Insurers To Spend More On Health Care

Here a radical idea: What if health insurance companies had to spend most of the money they collect in premiums to provide actual health care for people they insure?

As part of the health care reform enacted by Congress, new federal rules announced last week will require exactly that.

Beginning next year, insurers will have to spend at least 80 percent of every premium dollar on health care. Those selling large-group coverage will have to spend 85 percent on care.

Insurance companies refer to the amount they spend on your health care as their "medical loss ratio" Those that do not meet the new standard will have to give rebates to their customers. As many as 9 million Americans could receive such rebates in 2012.

For about 180 million Americans with private health insurance — everyone who gets insurance through his job or buys it on his own — the new rules are a very good thing.

That especially true for people in the so-called individual market. Most Missourians who buy insurance on their own are covered by companies that now do not meet the new standard.