GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

We all can debate if mental health is as crucial as physical health. Because of our stressful lifestyles, it is necessary to stay both mentally and physically fit. Nowadays, doctors, fitness and wellness experts recommend equal attention to a person's mental health, which seems reasonable.

Is mental illness covered in health insurance? Any person who is buying health insurance would have this query in mind. The answer is "yes". The IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) has also made it mandatory for insurance companies to have policies with mental illness coverage. Every insurance company has to keep coverage for treating a mental illness in the same way they cover physical ailments.

We explain in this article how a health insurance policy can take care of financial emergencies arising out of any mental illness.

What are mental health and mental illness?

Characteristics such as psychological wellbeing, behaviour, emotions, cognition, and socialising make up a person's mental health. Each of these influences how we act, think, respond and feel. It also plays a role in our decision-making, interactions, and other functional activities. Mental illness refers to the situation when at least one of the characteristics mentioned above falls short in performing their role, and an imbalance occurs in a person's mind. It affects their thinking ability, decisions, behaviour, grasping, responses, memory, and the like.

Facts to know about mental illness coverage in health insurance.

Here are some factors you should know about mental illness and how it is covered in a health insurance policy:

- Just like any physical health insurance, mental health insurance covers your expenses of treatments, hospitalisation, medications, etc.

- Any person suffering from overthinking, moodiness, anxiousness, depression, loss of memory, coordination inability, and the rest is considered mentally ill and can opt for a mental health insurance policy

- Mental health insurance also gives you cashless services like comprehensive insurances

- Unfortunately, mental health insurance does not cover retardation

- The benefits and claim process may differ from one patient to another

- Illnesses resulting from the consumption of drugs or alcohol are excluded from the coverage

- It is more advisable to include mental health insurance in the initial stage with health insurance

Final thoughts:

As we lead a stressful lifestyle, investing in mental health insurance is undoubtedly a wise decision for every health insurance policyholder. We spend a lot of time discussing our physical wellness and weight loss plans, but not nearly enough about our mental wellbeing. Every third person you come across may be suffering from some kind of mental issue. Although there is still a taboo of mental illness being inferior and shameful, it is remarkable how IRDAI acknowledges this concern and makes it compulsory for insurance companies to cover mental disorders.

Though the policies have some exclusions and restrictions, it is only equitable for the insurance companies to provide you with the best available facilities even in emergency.

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In India, health care has become a major expense than ever before, with 15% annual inflation. Given the increase in lifestyle-related diseases in current times, long term health insurance is unquestionably the most cost-effective and viable choice.

Most people in their early 20s and 30s believe that they are healthy and nothing will happen to them ever. But a most concerning question flickers in our mind that as we grow old, "Is someone going to be our support system at the times when we will need them the most?" At this point, something like "Long-term Health insurance" kicks in.

Today, with higher awareness regarding health issues and well-being, a long term Health Insurance plan provides you hassle-free safety assurance. Consider these four questions to see the advantages of long-term health insurance and why should you buy it at an early age.

What is Long-Term Health Insurance?

Long-term Health insurance lasts for a long tenure, say about 2 to 3 years. Therefore, you can lock up your coverage for 2-3 long years rather than monthly or quarterly. It keeps the policyholder relieved from the medical expenses and acts as practical support against unannounced diseases.

Why should you consider and opt for Long-term Health insurance?

The most notable advantage for the policyholder is that you no longer have to renew your policy every year when you opt for a long-term insurance plan. Also, long term plans are likely to come with a discounted premium compared to other plans.

Who cannot take advantage of this plan?

Senior citizens cannot claim for this plan. Health insurance companies consider senior citizens at high risk. It is advisable to get long-term insurance during your younger and working days to secure your post-retirement life.

What are the other perks of long-term insurance?

Long-term health insurance provides more advantages over regular health insurance. Some of the benefits include –

1. You don't need to worry about renewals: The long-term policy helps avoid yearly renewals. Also, during the policy period, it covers unannounced diseases. It also provides a good discount on premiums in comparison to short-term policy plans.

2. An excellent tax waiver: Long-term insurance plans not only give you a shield for health but are also crucial for tax saving. If you get a health insurance plan for yourself or your family members, you can avail a tax exemption under Income Tax Act, section 80D.

3. Chance to cover pre-existing health issues: While many insurance firms do not cover the pre-existing diseases or health issues under the short-term policy, the long term insurance can provide you a solution here. The cost of the premium may vary depending upon the age of the policyholder.

Lastly, look at the different plans available and buy a 

health insurance plan

 which is the best fit for your needs. Medical expenses can drain a lot of money, but long-term health insurance can reduce the financial burden. Long-term health insurance is undoubtedly one of the best solutions to health expenses in the future.

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Skills like swimming, playing body-accelerating sports, and riding a cycle on their own are must-have skills for any kid entering their teen years. Although kids learn the most skills independently, they still require an instructor or parents to help them master many skills. And that is a brilliant opportunity for a parent to grab and spend quality time teaching them while also having fun.

Teaching a child how to ride cycle is a no-brainer for a parent, but implementing the following tips can smoothen the process, and your child will learn to cycle in no time.

1. Find a grassy location:
Although most people might look for a spot where the surface is smooth, it is crucial to know that smooth flooring can result in faster acceleration even without the child’s efforts, and the cycle might move at high speed. So, always look for a grassy surface; even if your child accidentally falls from the bike, the impact might not be severe.

2. Avoid holding their cycle all the time:
Usually, parents or any instructor teaching a child how to cycle, hold it from the back for support and balance. Although it can give the child a good head start, gradually, it can become a practice, and the child might look for your support now and then. Hence, slowly get rid of giving them balance and start over again if they lose balance.

3. Lower the cycle’s seat:
A cycle sold for kids comes with training wheels and a high lifted seat, but it isn’t going to help in any way for a child to learn how to cycle. Instead, lowering the seat reduces the child’s fear of falling from height and allows their feet to touch the ground directly.

4. Tell your child to look forward:
It is natural for a child to look at their feet when cycling to ensure that they are not missing a leg while pedalling. However, your child should know what is ahead of them to avoid collisions with obstacles. You can talk it out in their language, like telling them that you do not look at the remote but the screen when playing video games. Similarly, they should not look at the feet but the direction they are riding.

5. Teach kangaroo hops for balance:
Although kangaroo hops are done without using a cycle, these can be an efficient way to increase their balance while riding. For example, get your child seated on their bike and tell them to start giving movements with their feet touching the ground, similar to kangaroo hops.

6. Proceed with pedalling:
Once your child successfully learns to balance a cycle, they are almost there. A little push on teaching the technicalities of pedals to move the cycle can instantly get them to master the skill. Then, slowly, tell them to press one pedal after another and practice it for a while.

7. How to apply the brakes:
After pedalling, the only thing that your child needs to learn is stopping the cycle on their own. Have them ride around you for a while and instruct them on using brakes when necessary.

As a parent, you should also be aware of unfortunate events that might result in injuries during the process. But, despite numerous falls and failures, don’t stop your child from pushing themselves.

Let them grind, make them feel the urge to struggle, and motivate them to rise again and try with the same vigour. Never deprive or restrict your child from taking on adventures, trying new activities, and imbibing unique experiences due to the fear of getting injured. Instead, invest in personal accident insurance online and contribute to your child’s growth years with the layer of protection.

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Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Not many people are familiar with the term cooling-off period in health insurance. So let us take a quick look at what it means and how it affects you during Covid time.

The cooling-off period, also known as the waiting period in health insurance, is the time during which you are not eligible for claiming particular benefits of any insurance policy. This period lasts from about a few weeks to even months.

Recently, many insurance companies are initiating coverage for covid-19 related treatment, however, there is a “cooling-off” period for patients recovering from covid-19 and buying health insurance. Since some people may be asymptomatic and can later be diagnosed with the coronavirus, there is a waiting time of over three months before signing up for health insurance.

Why are companies choosing to opt for the cooling-off period?

- First, there is still not a completely accurate test for detection of the virus, and there have been cases where a contacted person tested negative and vice versa

- The after-effects are still unclear and give rise to complications to create a specific policy for the recovered/suffering patients

- The cooling-off period gives an adequate amount of time to assess a customer’s proper health, hence leaving time for an appropriate judgment for the insurance company

- It buys the company enough time to make preparations for all kinds of emergency services. But, of course, this impacts the policy’s claim in case of difficult situations

Can we avoid the cooling-off period?

You can try and avoid the cooling-off period with the help of the following instructions:

- You can purchase health insurance before the coronavirus infects you. This will help you enjoy the exclusive benefits of your health cover without any hindrance due to the cooling-off period

- Be sure to check all the terms and conditions while purchasing health insurance cover for Covid

- Do not keep any information that can later cause trouble in claiming the benefits

- Keep your health insurance policy up-to-date and renew it from time to time

To sum it up, getting a health insurance coverage policy and drawing the benefits of the cooling-off period before the coronavirus affects you is of great importance. To stay off from any troubles when claiming the benefits of your insurance cover, we suggest purchasing health insurance right at the time when you are healthy and show no signs of Covid.

Insurance companies presently offer various promising online health insurance plans. Looking at the current scenario, purchasing online health insurance might be the best option. People try to avoid visiting places and contact others, and being online just saves you from doing so.

Look for a suitable policy right away and secure your own and your family’s health to avoid a cooling-off period. Always disclose all the essential health information when buying the policy so that you can prevent any rejection of the claim later on.

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