If you are single having parents as dependants or a family man with wife and children to take care of, one of the key things that you must have to protect yourself and your family is health insurance. In the event of a sudden hospitalization or even a minor treatment, the expenses can become a burden for the entire family. How will your family cope under such circumstances? You need health insurance to provide supportive financial assistance at such times of need. It will offer coverage for so many expenses that have to be paid as part of treatment.

What benefits are provided by health insurance?
A mediclaim policy in India offers coverage for a wide range of medical expenses. You can make a claim against the policy for medical treatment expenses borne towards hospitalization fees, payment for pre and post hospitalization expenses, domiciliary expenses and critical illness. There are many other sundry expenses that it will cover, but you can avail such coverage for an additional premium charge. When looking into a mediclaim policy, check out what kind of expenses it covers. It should cover different types of medical expenses because only then will your financial burden really come down. Payment for hospitalization or medical treatment alone is not enough.

There is a medical insurance plan available for every person right from a two-year old child to someone who is sixty-five years of age. There is no age constraint to apply for it. If you are fifty-five and below, there is no need to undergo any medical tests to get it. The policy has lifetime renewal and you can also use it to save on tax under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act. With the cashless hospitalization facility that your policy offers, you can get treatment at any network hospitals without bearing any cost from your pocket. If in case, you had to get admitted in a hospital outside the insurers coverage network, you can get a reimbursement by submitting your claim along with the original bills and documents to your insurance company.

The benefits of cashless coverage
If you have opted for comprehensive policy, you can avail cashless treatment. Having cashless health insurance is a big benefit because if you are suddenly hospitalized in your city or in another location, you can get treatment in any of the hospitals that falls under the insurers network without paying cash. The insurance company will directly pay the hospital for your medical bills. With this coverage, you do not have to take cash from your savings account or ask friend, relatives for assistance in paying medical bulls. Just walk into the hospital, show your insurance card, get treatment and walk out.

How to get health insurance?
Availing health insurance is easy. Just visit the insurance companys website and check out the policies that they offer. Find the coverage that is best for your needs along with the premium cost by using the online calculator. Fill their online application form and submit it. Your policy would be generated in minutes with the policy number. All policy documents will be sent by email or post. You can make \premium payments online. Policy renewal can also be done at the end of the term annually through the insurance companys website.