Health Insurance in Chennai

 

Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, is a busy metropolitan city and a popular commercial hub. The city is also well known for various government-aided and private hospitals offering medical care.

It is quite challenging to lead a healthy lifestyle here because of the continuous rise in pollution levels. The costs of treatment are quite high and a single hospitalisation may take away your savings. Hence, it’s a good idea to choose the best health insurance in Chennai.

Choosing the best medical insurance in Chennai will help you avail quality healthcare with ease. Continue reading this blog to gain detailed insights into health insurance plans available from HDFC Life for the residents of Chennai. 

Significance of Health Insurance in Chennai

If you are residing in Chennai, your financial planning is incomplete if you do not have a health insurance plan. Chennai is well known for its tradition and rich culture, silk, food and seaports. At the same time, it is also the most populated city in the state. Because of its environmental challenges and fast-paced life, pollution in this city is quite high (as in other metro cities) and many people suffer from infectious diseases. 

All these create a significant impact on the health of people in Chennai. The cost of treatment is high and here comes the importance of health insurance. By opting for the best health insurance in Chennai, you can manage treatment costs and get the right treatment at the right time. 

Reasons to Buy Online Health Insurance in Chennai

You can purchase health insurance in Chennai primarily through two modes, namely, the offline and online modes. However, it is recommended to opt for the online mode because of its following advantages:

• Convenience

By opting for online health insurance, you can purchase a policy from any insurer hassle-free and quickly renew it through your mobile phone. Purchases can be made at any time and from anywhere. When purchasing online medical insurance in Chennai, you can enter the necessary details digitally and skip the time-consuming paperwork.

• Low Pricing

Purchasing online health insurance is more cost-effective than offline procedures. The primary reason behind this is selling insurance plans online helps to save operational costs. Thus, the health insurance policy of Chennai can offer health policies at affordable rates.

• Comparison of Insurance Options

If you purchase your health insurance online, you can then make a thorough comparison of the health insurance plans available on the internet. Thus, you can choose a suitable policy that meets your budget and insurance requirements and opt for the same.

• Hassle-free Health Insurance

When purchasing health insurance via the offline mode, you need to undergo several documentation procedures and visit the health insurance company several times. But with digital insurance, you can do everything from your home. From gathering information to calculating your health insurance premium, you can do it in just a click. This makes your purchase of health insurance online smoother and hassle-free.

Advantages of Health Insurance in Chennai

Here are the benefits of medical insurance in Chennai:

• Cashless Claims

Health insurance plans offering cashless claims allow you to get treatment without the trouble of having to arrange funds. You do not need to be involved here; the bill gets directly settled between the health insurance company and the hospital.

• Offers Extensive Coverage

Health insurance policies cover your additional medical expenses including costs of ambulance, room rent, pre and post-hospitalisation and more.

• Daily Allowance

The daily allowance is the most common benefit you can avail from the best health insurance in Chennai. It offers you financial assistance every day during any medical emergency.

How Much Health Insurance Coverage Do You Need in Chennai?

If you are residing in Chennai, your health insurance policy sum insured must be at least half of your annual income. This however will vary for family health insurance. To meet the necessary medical expenses in the city, people must purchase health insurance of at least Rs. 10 lakhs. 

However, if you are looking to purchase health insurance plans for the entire family, opt for health insurance in Chennai with coverage of at least Rs. 30 lakh. On the other hand, because older people are prone to diseases such as high blood sugar and diabetes, it is recommended to opt for insurance coverage of at least Rs. 20 lakh for a single person. 

Things That Are Covered in Health Insurance Plans in Chennai

Health insurance plan in Chennai covers the following things:

• Pre and Post Hospitalisation

This includes all medical check-ups and laboratory tests that occurred before or after the hospital stay of the patient

• In-Patient Hospitalisation

Under this category, costs of treatment, medical costs, hospital room rent and costs of medical practitioners are included

• Other Expenses

Here, the health insurance in Chennai covers costs such as free health check-ups, ambulance costs, domiciliary expenses, daycare treatment, etc. Some policies can also provide coverage for maternity expenses, organ donor expenses and others.

Things That Are Not Covered in Health Insurance Plans in Chennai

Following are the expenses that most health insurance plans in Chennai do not include:

• HIV AIDS

• Pre-existing diseases (during the waiting period)

• Dental and cosmetic treatments

• Any war or riot injury

• Self-inflicted injury

• Diseases from alcohol consumption or smoking

• Congenital diseases 

Things to Consider before Purchasing Health Insurance in Chennai

There are several things to give priority to purchasing health insurance in Chennai. You must keep the following things in mind before purchasing a health insurance policy online:

• Make a thorough comparison of several health insurance policies available online in Chennai. This will let you discover the best medical insurance in Chennai at the lowest premium rate.

• To purchase a health insurance plan online in Chennai, make sure to visit the official online portal. This will give you several options in your hand. You will be free to choose from several health insurance companies.

• Make sure to conduct background research on the health insurance company from whom you are purchasing the medical insurance. Always go for the companies that have maintained a high claim settlement ratio and short turnaround time over the years.

Reasons to Buy Health Insurance in Chennai

Following are the reasons you should consider purchasing medical insurance in Chennai from HDFC Life:

• Coverage of medical expenses going beyond basic hospitalisation

• Availing the option of customisation of your health policy through different add-ons or riders

• Coverage of other expenses beyond hospital bills including pre and post-hospitalisation medical expenses, day-care treatments, maternity expenses, OPD expenses, ambulance costs 

• Tax deductions under Section 80D^* of the Income Tax Act on the premium paid in a financial year

• Increase of the sum insured upon renewal of policy for availing the benefits of a claim-free year

Tips for Finding the Best Health Insurance Policy in Chennai

The below tips and suggestions can help you find and choose the best health insurance policy in Chennai:

• Opt for Maximum Coverage

Always opt for maximum coverage health insurance plans in Chennai, especially when you are in doubt about which policy to choose.

• Claim Deductions

With a health insurance plan in Chennai, you can avail tax benefits under Section 80D^* of the Income Tax Act. Under this section, you are eligible to avail tax deductions up to Rs. 25,000 and 50,000 (for senior citizens) for paying insurance premiums. 

• Keep an Eye on the Network of Hospitals

Many health insurance companies in Chennai offer cashless hospitalisation. However, you can avail this offer only under the insurer’s network. Hence, it is advisable to check the required list of network hospitals in Chennai.

• Examine Your Needs

It might be an arbitrary decision to purchase just any health insurance in Chennai. Thus, make sure to examine your needs before purchasing any health insurance plans. It is recommended to analyse your lifestyle habits, age and medical history to determine your medical plan coverage.

What is The Claim Procedure in Chennai?

The main objective of a health insurance policy in Chennai is to provide financial assistance to insurers as and when needed. There are two claim procedures that you can follow to file a health insurance claim:

• Cashless Claim

For cashless claims, the insurer settles bills with the network hospital directly. You need to get admitted at any of the nearest network hospitals to get cashless treatment. However, it is necessary to provide a claim intimation within 48 hours from admission on an emergency basis or 72 hours before admission in hospital planned wise. 

Also, it is mandatory to contact the insurance desk as soon as you get admitted. After this, the administration will send you a claim form, pre-authorisation form and all relevant documents to the insurer. Upon successful review of these documents, the insurer approves your claim if it obeys all the terms and conditions of the policy. Instantly, the insurer also settles the bill with the network hospital.

• Reimbursement Claim

Here, you can choose your preferred hospital to obtain medical treatment. The only difference that lies here is you need to pay the bills first and then you can proceed to file claims for reimbursement. The claim intimation needs to be provided to the insurer within 48 hours of an emergency or three days from a planned hospitalisation (depending on the insurer).

After discharge, you need to submit all the details of the hospital bill along with the prescription of the doctor and reports to the insurer. After successful verification of the documents, the insurer works on reimbursing your claim within 10-15 working days. Note that the time limit can vary among insurers. 

Cashless Claim Processes

Here are the steps to avail the cashless treatment with HDFC Life:

Step 1: Select your hospital from any network hospital in the city.

Step 2: Inform us within the provided time about your hospitalisation.

Step 3: Fill out the pre-authorisation form and submit it at the hospital desk.

Step 4: Provide the hospital with all necessary documents and the health card.

Step 5: The entire management team will verify all documents and send them for approval. If there is any error, the team will raise a query.

Step 6: Once solved, we will settle all your medical bills according to the terms and conditions of the policy.

How to Renew HDFC Life Health Insurance in Chennai?

The health insurance renewal process varies from one company to another. With HDFC Life, if you are a resident of Chennai, you can renew your health insurance with ease by following the steps below:

Step 1: Login into the official portal of the health insurance company and click on the 'Renew Policy' tab.

Step 2: Enter all your necessary policy details.

Step 3: Verify the details along with the premium amount.

Step 4: Select the desired mode of payment (net banking, mobile wallet or debit/credit card) and make the payment.

What Are the Types of Health Insurance in Chennai?

Here are the different types of health insurance in Chennai that meet the needs of insurance buyers:

• Group Health Insurance

Group health insurance serves the needs of numerous individuals. Most corporates opt for this plan to raise the satisfaction of employees.

• Family Floater Health Insurance

A family floater health insurance plan in Chennai caters to the health insurance needs of the family. This package is quite a budget-friendly option. Thus, families prefer this insurance plan rather than purchasing several health insurance plans for each family member.

• Individual Health Insurance

Individual health insurance caters to the health insurance needs of a single person. The premium paid for individual health insurance is determined by the medical history, lifestyle habits, and age of the insured person, among other factors. 

• Senior Citizen Health Insurance

Most health insurance plans do not meet the specific needs of senior citizens. Thus, senior citizen health insurance is specifically designed for individuals aged 60 and above to manage their healthcare costs efficiently.

Summing Up

If you are a first-time buyer of life insurance plans, it can be confusing to choose from the numerous options. Make sure to consider important factors like the sum insured, premium, inclusions and exclusions to get the best health insurance in Chennai. This will safeguard your financial well-being and will provide you with quality medical care. 

Before finalising your healthcare plan, go through its terms thoroughly to find out what's included and what's not. At the same time, make sure your chosen medical plan is covering the majority of your medical expenses and making your medical treatment smoother and easier. For affordable plans with comprehensive coverage, you can choose HDFC Life.

FAQs on Health Insurance in Chennai

1. Which health insurance is best in Chennai?

The health insurance providing you the best coverage as per your needs is the best health insurance in Chennai. Additionally, the health insurance plan with a minimum period of waiting, high claim settlement ratio and no sub-limits suits the best. 

2. Is Rs. 2 lakh health insurance enough in Chennai?

To meet the necessary medical expenses in the city, an individual should purchase health insurance with a sum insured of at least Rs. 10 lakh. 

3. What is the right age to buy health insurance in Chennai?

The right age to purchase health insurance in Chennai is between 20 to 30 years. At this age, you will have no financial obligations and your health will also be in good condition. 

4. How can I calculate health insurance quotes in Chennai?

To calculate health insurance quotes in Chennai, it is ideal to use an online health insurance premium calculator. This will help in the proper estimation of health insurance premium payments for any coverage. 

5. What will happen if I get treated in a non-network Chennai hospital?

Getting treated in a non-network Chennai hospital will exclude you from availing cashless treatment. You need to pay yourself for the treatment and claim reimbursement. 

6. Is there a single health plan covering my family and me in Chennai?

Yes, with the ‘Family Floater Plan’, you can opt for a single health plan covering you and your family in Chennai. Here, all the members involved in the plan are eligible to share a common sum insured.