In this case, you will have to opt for the specifically designed senior citizens' policy. The common features of these policies are:
1. Diseases covered: These plans cover those diseases which are more common in aged people like that of heart attack, cardiac diseases, renal complications and surgeries.
2. Age of entry: Generally, age of entry or renewal age is fixed at a maximum of 60 years in individual policies. However, in senior citizen policies, the age of entry is higher and can go up to lifetime. The examples of lifetime renewal policies are Star Health Red Carpet, which lets you enter at a maximum age of 65 years and renewal till lifetime.
3. Domiciliary treatment: The medical treatment taken at home, if the patient is not in a condition to travel to hospital, is called domiciliary treatment. The expenses incurred during domiciliary treatment are usually reimbursed under senior citizen policies but not under individual health policies.
4. Special discounts: These plans do offer special discounts on disclosure of vital information. Discounts are offered on premiums are offered, if the certificates of ailments are produced. These ailments include BP report, sugar and blood urea report and other such reports. A discount of up to 10 per cent is given to senior citizens.
5. Pre-existing diseases: Usually, health insurance plans cover pre-existing diseases only after the completion of 3 or 4 policy years. But in senior citizen plans, the waiting period is usually 1-2 years.
6. Critical illnesses covered: One of the major advantages of senior citizen policies is that they cover the critical illness and individual does not have to buy a separate critical illnesses policy or rider for it.
1. Senior citizen policies are expensive as their premium is higher and therefore are little unattractive.
2. Also, the sum assured seems to be inadequate to cover medical costs that could prove more expensive for elderly.
3. Though the waiting period in these policies is smaller but it is still long for senior citizens as they are prone to diseases.
4. Exclusions would include non-allopathic treatment. However, elderly usually trust and go for non-allopathic treatments, amounting to expenses incurred by individuals.
5. Co-payment is the part of expenses that the insured person has to pay out of his pocket as a contribution towards health expenses incurred by him. Co-payment is higher in case of senior citizens. Since claims are bound to happen in case of senior citizens, insurers want to make sure that over-spending is not being done at their cost. To be safe, they raise the co-payment ratio in these policies to make the insured responsible for his health and expenses there on.
Despite these disadvantages, senior citizen plans come to your rescue when all other health plans decide to leave you in lurch when most required. These plans care for you when all others back out. So, it is good to invest in these plans as soon as you are eligible, so that by the time you actually need their services, the waiting period is already over.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Also, know how to buy mutual funds online:
Invest in DSP BlackRock Mutual Funds Online
Invest in Reliance Mutual Funds Online
Invest in HDFC Mutual Funds Online
Invest in Sundaram Mutual Funds Online
Invest in Birla Sunlife Mutual Funds Online
Invest in UTI Mutual Funds Online
Invest in SBI Mutual Funds Online
Invest in Edelweiss Mutual Funds Online
Invest in IDFC Mutual Funds Online
