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Insurance Expert - Answered on Jun 10, 2022

Sanjib Jha is the CEO of Coverfox Insurance. His expertise includes health and auto insurance. He has over 22 years of experience in the financial sector. He has completed his post-graduation from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.... more

Question by THANGAVELU on Jun 10, 2022Hindi

My family is covered under Ex-serviceman Contributory Health Services (ECHS). She is having health insurance coverage from three other insurance entities. Still continuing. So, there was no pre-existing conditions.

Two and half years back, we have opted for claim re-imbursement only for blood transfusions during the pre-diagnosis period.

Later, her medical condition was diagnosed and the same was falling under IRDA exclusions. She was treated once in-patient and afterwards as outpatient. All claims for admission and medicine re-imbursement were availed from ECHS. (Once I have opted for enhancement of insurance coverage from one insurer and the TPA has refused under these clauses).

Now, after two and half years, she has recovered better (Even Doctor's perception). But she is continuing medicine with lessor dosage. Presently, her condition is fine.

My questions are:

1. Can I avail insurance facilities from insurance companies for the same issue in future?
2. Can I avail insurance facilities from the insurance companies, for other issues than the specifically excluded?
3. Can I prefer ECHS for any eventualities for the specified issue to the extent admitted, and remaining expenditure from other insurance companies?

Please guide.

Ans: Hi Thangavelu, good to know that your wife is doing better. Coming to your questions, yes you can avail the insurance facilities for the same ailment in future from your existing insurance companies. However, if you purchase a new insurance policy from another company, then whether you get the coverage or not will depend on the ailment and the insurer.

For other ailments, at the time of issuance an insurer analyses the risks, given the ailment of the insured. Accordingly, the insurer takes a decision whether the policy can be issued or not, there are few insurers in the market that will keep the pre-existing diseases excluded or will have a waiting period for it. However, if your ailments have developed after the policy issuance then you can avail insurance facilities for those ailments.

Answering your third question, yes you can prefer ECHS for this specific issues and the remaining expenditure can be claimed from other insurers.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.

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Question by S - Jun 21, 2022Hindi

Dear Sir, Greetings of the day. I have got a health insurance of family floater type from Tata AIG for a sum of four lakhs. Recently, I got hospitalised and full four lakhs was paid by Tata Aig. But my hospital bill was six lakhs and sixty two thousand. So there was a shortfall of two lakhs sixty-two thousands. I have an Aditya Birla health Policy of family floater type for 45 lakhs. But it will come in to effect after 5 lakhs expenditure. So I myself paid one lakh from my pocket. And for rest one lakh sixty two thousand only I applied for cashless to Aditya Birla .But they denied it. Finally I paid that amount myself and came home. Afterwards I kept continuous follow up with them. Reconsideration and reminder letter was sent by TPA and Treating doctor. But again it was rejected. Now Aditya Birla employee is saying apply for reimbursement. When Tata Aig is clearing full amount, how come Aditya Birla is denying it? And how can I bridge the gap one lakh between two policies? Tata Aig says you have taken full claim so we cannot make your limit from four to five lakhs this year. Pls advise suitably. Best Wishes

Ans: Hi Mr. Tripathi, greetings to you. To answer your first question as to why Aditya Birla won’t provide you with cashless claim as opposed to TATA AIG is because the policy you bought from Aditya Birla is a ‘Super top up plan’ which basically means it is an addition to your base policy which in your case is your TATA AIG policy.

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The one lakh gap, unfortunately, cannot be filled at this point. However, while renewing your policy you can opt for increased sum insured with TATA AIG. The insurer will ask you a set of questions and schedule medicals to analyse your risk profile. Post that based on your reports, the insurer will take a decision on increasing the limit.

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Insurance Expert - Answered on Jun 21, 2022

Question by THANGAVELU - Jun 21, 2022Hindi

My family (aged 54 years) is covered under ECHS (Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Service) for the last thirty years. I have family floater health hospitalisation policy in two different insurance companies. Three years back, she had some issues related to her blood disorders. During the blood transfusions, we have made claims in the insurance cover. It took few months to diagnose the issue. Finally it was diagnosed as 'a type of blood disorder'. I have availed the hospitalisation and treatment facilities from ECHS. Now she has recovered (and under medication) for the last two years. She is leading normal life. My query is: Can I declare and have Critical illness included coverage in the health insurance? (Earlier I was denied as permanent exclusion -IRDA). Can I continue the existing health coverage from the insurance from other than Critical illness? (I can get ECHS facility, but there are limitations). Since she is alright, will the insurance companies accept? We are ready for relevant medical tests as required. We seek your advice.

Ans: Hi Thangavelu, good to know that your wife is doing well. To answer your first query, yes you can declare your critical illness and avail the rider for it. Another option is to purchase a new plan for critical illness from an insurer of your choice. The insurer will ask a set of questions and based on that the coverage will be provided. However, most of the insurers will keep the PED in the Permanent exclusion list. As far as your query on continuation of policy is considered, you can continue with the existing health policies you have.

Any medical condition which arises after the waiting period of the policy will be covered in the health policies. Which is why check for the waiting periods associated with different ailments in your policy document.

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Question by Gautam - Aug 03, 2021Hindi

If you can kindly tell something on 8-year clause by IRDA. Can the health insurance claim be rejected even after 8 years of paying continuous premium without any claim taken?

Ans: The clause is termed as ‘Moratorium Period’ and according to this after the completion of 8 continuous years no health insurance claim shall be contestable for non-disclosure of relevant information at the time of policy issuance except for proven fraud and permanent exclusions specified in the policy contract.

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Question by Gora - Nov 24, 2022Hindi

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Ans: Hi Gora Lal Gargi, to solve your query I will need more information. Firstly, please do check if your sum insured value was exhausted in the first claim.

If yes, then check the policy document to know if your insurer provides claim for same person, same illness on the second claim i.e. restoration benefits.