Coverage of Swine Flu by Indian Insurance Companies

This article has been created to educate the Indian public regarding the stand taken by Indian Insurance Companies vis-à-vis H1N1 virus responsible for Swine Flu spreading at alarming rate across the globe. This is essential to keep the Indian consumer informed beforehand regarding the deductions pertaining to the ailment.

Salient features

• Since the tablet Tamiflu is being supplied by Government of India free of cost, the expenses incurred on the medicament cost by consumption of Tamiflu either during or pre-hospitalization/post hospitalization expenses are not covered by Insurance companies. Expenses incurred on Tamiflu as part of H1N1 treatment are deducted accordingly.

• Fees billed by private hospitals i.e. consultation, hospital stay and diagnostic fees (eg. pathological tests) are covered under the health policy.

• If patient having symptoms which are likelihood of swine flu is admitted in a hospital for further diagnosis and relevant treatment and corresponding results are negative, then that particular claim is not re-imbursable by Insurance. If the results of the pathological tests are positive, then the claim can be acknowledged for re-imbursement.

• If the policy-holder has taken a fresh policy and contracts symptoms of swine flu during this period, then the exclusion clause of first 30 days holds good. In short, the claim cannot be re-imbursed by Insurance if the symptoms of swine flu are contracted during this duration.

The essence of this news is to convey to any layman is that one must not wait for any signs or symptoms of diseases to occur. It is prudent, pragmatic and a wise decision to avail a suitable Health Policy cover at the earliest based on the requirements of the individual, salient features of the insurance product and insurance services being offered by service providers.

Source-Medindia
SAM