Cashless Health Insurance

What is Cashless Health Insurance?

Cashless Health Insurance refers to a mediclaim policy in which the insurance company settles the medical bills of the insured directly with the network hospital. It provides cashless hospitalization facilities to the insured without paying upfront for the treatment obtained. A cashless health insurance policy helps the insured deal with medical emergencies efficiently by allowing them to focus only on the treatment while the insurer takes care of the hospitalization expenses.

Previously, cashless health insurance could be availed only at a network hospital of the insurance company. But with the cashless everywhere benefit, cashless treatments can be availed at any hospital across India.

Types of Cashless Health Insurance in India

Broadly, there are four types of cashless health insurance in India. They are as follows:

1. Cashless Individual Health Insurance

   Cashless individual health insurance allows only a single person covered in the policy to avail cashless treatments.

2. Cashless Family Health Insurance

   Under the cashless family health insurance policy, the whole family of the policyholder can avail cashless treatment under one policy.

3. Cashless Senior Citizen Health Insurance

   This cashless health insurance plan for senior citizens covers hospitalization expenses, ambulance charges, and pre-existing diseases of people above 60 years old as per their health needs.

4. Cashless Maternity Health Insurance

   Cashless maternity insurance plans cover the insured women's pregnancy and childbirth-related expenses along with the newborn baby's treatments and vaccinations.

Why is It Important to Have Cashless Health Insurance?

Cashless health insurance comes in handy in times of a medical emergency when the policyholder might be cash-strapped or not have immediate access to funds. Besides, arranging money or dealing with the hassles of bill reimbursement should be last thing on their mind during an emergency. Thus, cashless health policies are designed to eliminate any financial roadblock that delays the insured from availing medical treatments on time.

Moreover, cashless health insurance plans also allow people to avail the best quality medical treatment without worrying about arranging money to pay the hospital bills.

How Does Cashless Health Insurance Works?

Under cashless health insurance, insurance providers directly negotiate with hospitals to cover the treatment costs o the insured. They tie up with some hospitals, which are known as the network hospitals of the insurance company. But with the cashless everywhere facility, the insured can avail cashless treatments at both network and non-network hospitals of the insurer.

When the insured gets hospitalized, he/she does not have to settle the bill with the hospital at the time of discharge. Instead, the policyholder must file a cashless claim and get cashless treatment authorization from the insurer. Once discharged, the insurance company or their TPA (Third Party Administrator) will coordinate and settle the bill directly with the hospital.

Moreover, health insurance companies are now offering cashless OPD facilities to the insured. This means that patients do not need to be hospitalized for a minimum of 24 hours to avail cashless hospitalization services. They can also avail outpatient treatments, consultations, diagnostic tests and medicines on a cashless basis.

Benefits of Cashless Health Insurance Claims

Check out the key benefits of filing a cashless health insurance claim:

• More Convenient – Cashless claims are more convenient as the hassle of settling the hospital bill during discharge is taken care of by the insurance company.
• Immediate Access to Medical Care – By filing a cashless claim, the policyholder can avail emergency medical treatments on time even if they do not have immediate access to funds.
• Access to Quality Treatment – With cashless health insurance claims, the insured can obtain the best-quality treatment at any hospital across the country without worrying about paying upfront.
• No Extensive Documentation – Unlike reimbursement claims, cashless claims do not require policyholders to submit a long list of documents to get their money back. The TPA and the hospital take care of any documents required by the insurer.
• Pre-Approved Treatment – In case of planned hospitalizations, the insured can get approval for cashless treatment days before getting admitted to the hospital.
• Peace of Mind – Cashless claims provide peace of mind to people while obtaining treatment as they can rely on their insurer to settle the bills with the insurer.
• Stress-free Recovery – Cashless health insurance claims allow the insured to focus only on recovery instead of worrying about paying the hospital bill.
• Financial Security – Cashless claims provide financial security to the policyholder from sudden expenditures during a medical emergency.

How to File a Cashless Claim Under Health Insurance?

Policyholders can file cashless health insurance claims for emergency and planned hospitalizations. Take a look at the cashless claim process for both types of hospitalization:

1. Cashless Claims for Planned Hospitalization:

   Planned hospitalizations occur when the policyholder knows beforehand that they need to get hospitalized for a treatment/procedure in the next few days. In this case, they can choose a preferred hospital to avail cashless services. Follow the steps given below to file a cashless claim in case of a planned hospitalization:

   Step 1: Call on the toll-free number of the insurance company to inform them about your prospective hospitalization at least 48 hours in advance.

   Step 2: Take your health card to the hospital and ask for a pre-authorization form at the insurance desk. You can also download it from the insurer's website.

   Step 3: Submit your form at the insurance desk, which will be to the TPA or the insurer.

   Step 4: The insurer/TPA will verify the details and either approve or reject your pre-authorization request.

   Step 5: If your pre-authorization request is approved, then the TPA/insurer will send an authorization letter mentioning the sanctioned amount for the treatment.

   Step 6: Obtain the treatment and sign all medical documents at the time of discharge.

   The insurance company will settle the medical bill with the hospital.

2. Cashless Claims for Emergency Hospitalization:

   Emergency hospitalizations are sudden hospitalizations that are not planned. Take a look at the procedure to file a cashless claim for emergency hospitalization:

   Step 1: In the case of an emergency hospitalization, you need immediate medical care, and thus, you should inform the insurance company about your emergency hospital admission within 24 hours of hospitalization.

   Step 2: Show your health insurance card at the hospital, which will contain your policy number, the name of your insurance company and the type of health policy you holds.

   Step 3: Fill in the pre-authorization form and submit it at the insurance desk.

   Step 4: The hospital will submit the pre-authorization form to the insurer/ TPA for approval.

   Step 5: The TPA/insurer will crosscheck the details and approve or reject the cashless treatment request.

   Step 6: If approved, obtain the treatment and sign all the documents during discharge.

   The insurer will pay your hospital bills on your behalf.

   Note: Most insurance companies in India process cashless claim requests within 2-3 hours.

What is Not Covered in Cashless Health Insurance?

Some medical expenses are not covered by cashless health insurance plans. Take a look at them below:

• Attendant/Visitor fees
• Ambulance charges
• Toiletries
• Service charge
• Expenses for oxygen masks, diapers, nebulizers, etc.
• Documentation charges

Things to Keep in Mind When Filing a Cashless Health Insurance Claim

Here are a few things that policyholders must keep in mind when filing a cashless claim under health insurance:

• Cashless hospitalization facilities are available at network and non-network hospitals with the cashless everywhere benefit.
• It is the hospital's responsibility to give a justification to the insurance company for the treatment the insured is undergoing.
• Remember to keep a photocopy of all documents, including medical bills, lab reports, claim form and discharge papers, before leaving the hospital.
• Cashless insurance claims can also be rejected. Make sure that the information provided in the pre-authorization form is correct and complete to prevent rejection by the TPA/insurer.
• Remember to carefully read all the terms of the cashless health policy to know what could make the insured ineligible to avail cashless hospitalization.
• In case the medical bills exceed the sum insured, the policyholder will have to pay the excess amount on their own.
• Not all medical expenses are covered under cashless health insurance, depending on the policy terms and conditions.

Difference Between Cashless Claims and Reimbursement Claims

Check out the key differences between cashless and reimbursement claims below:

Top Reasons for Claim Rejection in a Cashless Mediclaim Policy

Given below are some of the top reasons for cashless health insurance claim rejection:

• Exclusions - If the illness/procedure for which the insured has been hospitalized is not covered by the insurance policy
• Sum Insured Exhaustion - If the policyholder has exhausted the entire sum insured for the given policy tenure
• Waiting Period - If the claim was filed during the waiting period
• Undisclosed PED - If the pre-existing diseases (PED) of the insured were not disclosed at the time of policy purchase
• Insufficient Information - If the information given in the pre-authorization form is insufficient to approve the claim
• Incomplete Details on PED - If the information provided on the pre-existing ailment is insufficient in the pre-authorization form
• Delayed Intimation - Delay in intimating TPA about hospitalization
• Incorrect Information - If incorrect information is provided by the policyholder to the insurer
• Expired Policy - If the cashless mediclaim policy has expired

However, according to a Bombay High Court ruling, the decision to reject or partially disallow health insurance claims can be taken only by insurance companies and not by TPAs who offer various services to policyholders on their behalf.

How to Avoid Cashless Health Insurance Claim Rejections?

Check out some essential tips to avoid rejection of cashless health insurance claims:

• Make sure to disclose your pre-existing diseases to the insurance company at the time of policy purchase.
• Inform the insurer about your planned or emergency hospitalization within the speculated timeframe.
• Provide factual and complete information about your disease/medical condition in the pre-authorization form.
• Check the waiting period of your mediclaim policy carefully before filing a claim.
• Read your policy terms and conditions carefully to know what your policy covers and does not cover.
• Make sure to renew your health insurance policy on time to avoid it from getting lapsed.

How Can Policybazaar Help to Choose a Cashless Health Insurance Policy?

By uncomplicating the complicated process of comparing various insurance plans, Policybazaar offers the best assistance in finding the right cashless health insurance plan. By entering basic details like name, age, annual income, etc., on Policybazaar.com, policyholders can get mediclaim quotes free of cost. Moreover, they can compare health policies from various insurance providers at Policybazaar.com and ensure the right coverage for themselves and their families.

Moreover, people can reach out to insurance experts at Policybazaar.com to understand various health insurance terminologies and select the most suitable plan. In fact, these experts can also pay a home visit to simplify the entire policy buying process.