What is a waiting period in health insurance?⌄
(1) Initial waiting period: 30 days (all claims except accidents). (2) Pre-existing disease waiting period: 2–4 years. (3) Specific illness waiting period: 1–2 years. (4) Maternity: 9–24 months. We compare plans with shortest waiting periods for your specific needs.
What is cashless hospitalisation?⌄
Cashless means the hospital directly bills the insurance company — you don't pay out of pocket. Available at network hospitals (10,000+ across India). For non-network hospitals, you pay and claim reimbursement later. Always choose hospitals in the insurer's network for cashless.
What is the difference between individual and family floater?⌄
Individual: Separate sum insured per person. One person's claim doesn't affect others' cover. More expensive overall. Family Floater: Shared pool for entire family. More economical. Risk: one large claim can exhaust cover for the year.
Can I port my existing health insurance to another provider?⌄
Yes. You retain waiting period credit served in your existing policy. Apply to new insurer 45 days before renewal date. Portability is a right — insurers must accept requests subject to underwriting.
What is a critical illness plan and how is it different from health insurance?⌄
Health insurance: Reimburses actual hospitalisation expenses. Critical illness plan: Pays a fixed lump sum on diagnosis of specific conditions (cancer, heart attack, kidney failure) — regardless of actual treatment cost. Both are complementary — health covers treatment cost, critical illness covers income loss.
Does health insurance cover pre-existing diseases?⌄
After the waiting period (usually 2–4 years), pre-existing conditions are covered. Some insurers offer shorter waiting periods at slightly higher premium. Always disclose all pre-existing conditions honestly — non-disclosure can lead to claim rejection.
What is a no-claim bonus (NCB) in health insurance?⌄
If you don't make any claim in a policy year, your sum insured increases (typically 5–50% per year depending on the plan). This bonus accumulates up to a capped limit (often 100% of original sum insured). Your premium typically doesn't increase proportionally.
How is TPA involved in health insurance claims?⌄
TPA (Third Party Administrator) is a licensed intermediary that manages claims on behalf of the insurer. They pre-authorise cashless claims and coordinate with hospitals. Some insurers have in-house claim settlement which can be faster. We guide you through the claim process step by step.