It’s a known fact that a large number of service-based businesses have moved their product offerings online. However, it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns that the general public started using these online services. The health insurance industry in particular received an increasing number of customers as people bought insurance policies online to protect themselves and their families against the deadly pandemic. Widespread internet access and increased awareness of the importance of health insurance were also important factors in encouraging potential customers to opt for online health insurance plans. However, a large portion of India’s population is still hesitant about buying insurance online, so let’s take a look at the right steps you can follow to buy a good health plan.
How to Buy Health Insurance Online
Here are the straightforward steps you can follow to buy health insurance policy online:
- Go to the ‘health insurance’ page of your preferred insurance provider’s website. Make sure you only choose a reputed insurance company to buy insurance from.
- On the form available on the health insurance page, fill in your details and other required information. Cross-check that all the information you have entered is accurate.
- Select a health insurance plan from the list of health policy options available on the website.
- Upload the necessary documents to buy your chosen health policy. Make sure you upload the correct documents and information, as providing incorrect data can lead to your claims being denied.
- Pay the online health insurance premiums for your chosen policy through the available means.
- Your health plan will be activated in no time.
Things to Keep in Mind While Buying Health Insurance Online
The following are some important factors you will need to consider at the time of buying health insurance:
- Maximum Sum Insured
You will need to determine how much coverage you will need from your health insurance plan and then decide the maximum sum insured accordingly. It is usually recommended that individuals should have a maximum sum insured of at least 50% of their annual income. For people who live in urban areas and large cities where healthcare is costly, an ideal sum insured of around ₹20 lakh to ₹25 lakh is recommended.
- Inclusions and Exclusions
Health insurance policies offered by different insurance companies will have different inclusions and exclusions. It is necessary to understand and remember what’s covered and excluded in the policy so that you are not blindsided. For instance, if you bought health insurance in anticipation of a specific disease, but it’s not covered under the policy, then your health plan and the money you spent are wasted. If you want insurance for a specific medical condition, make sure the coverage for it is included in the plan. F
- Compare Plans Online
A large number of reputed insurance companies offer their insurance services online, so you can visit different websites and compare their health plans. You can analyse the maximum sum insured offered, features, benefits, add-on covers, etc. You can compare the cost of the health plans and then choose one that offers the most value in your budget.
- Type of Plan
The type of plan you should buy will depend on whether you want insurance for yourself or for your family as well. For people who do not have dependents, individual health insurance is the preferred choice. However, if you wish to keep your family protected, a family floater health insurance policy is ideal. For the elderly, senior citizen health insurance plans are the most appropriate.
- Check Network Hospitals
Most health insurers offer the cashless network hospitals service where the policyholder can directly seek medical treatment without paying anything. The insurer settles the bills with the hospital, post treatment. It is important to make sure that when you buy your health policy, you buy it from an insurer that has highly reputed and dependable hospitals in their list of network hospitals. This will ensure that you get the best level of care during your medical treatment.
To Conclude
There are a variety of benefits of buying health insurance. Your safety and health matters, so it is important to have a health insurance plan handy. You can purchase your health insurance plan online in a matter of minutes and save money by avoiding the agent’s commission fees. Moreover, you have the freedom to check out different plans along with their features, and then decide which is the right choice for you. Most importantly, make sure you get a plan that provides adequate coverage for your and your family’s medical needs.
