List of Different Types of Non-Medical Expenses in Health Insurance

What are Non-Medical Expenses in Health Insurance?

Non-medical expenses are the expenses incurred on several items used during hospitalization that are not included in health insurance coverage. The Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (IRDAI) of India has excluded the coverage of such expenses under health insurance to prevent its misuse.

Therefore, your insurance company will not pay for your non-medical expenses during claim settlement and you will have to pay for them from your own pockets.

List of Non-Medical Expenses in Health Insurance

The IRDAI has categorized non-medical expenses based on hospitalization and the treatment taken. It has also listed some optional items that are also excluded from a health plan. Take a look at the different types of non-medical expenses as listed by IRDAI below:

Non-Medical Expenses Under Treatment Costs:

The cost of the following items used during the treatment is not covered:

Registration/admission charges
Disinfectant, spirit & hydrogen peroxide
Infusion pump charges
Nutritionists or dietician charges
Urine container
Diabetic footwear
Antiseptic mouthwash
Blood reservation cost
Vaccination cost
HIV kit

Non-Medical Expenses Under Hospital Room Charges:

The expenses related to the following items used during hospital room stay are not covered:

Gown
Hand wash
Pulse oximeter charges
Housekeeping charges
Tissue paper
Hot pack/ cold pack
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Comb, slippers & caps
Foot cover
Buds

Non-Medical Expenses Under Procedure Costs:

The cost of the following items used during a surgical procedure is not covered:

Surgical blades
Bandages & cotton
Disposable razors
Arthroscopy and Endoscopy instrument charges
Gauze blades
Harmon scalpel blades
Eye pad
Hair removal cream
Surgical drill
Apron

Other Non-Payable Medical Expenses:

The following non-medical expenses are not covered:

Needles, syringes & sterilized injections
Medicine box
Referral doctor’s fees
Digestion gels
Paper gloves
Washing charges
Barber charges

Optional Items:

The cost of the following optional items is also excluded:

Thermometer
Food (apart from hospital food)
Mineral water
Laundry/ attendant charges
Baby food
Nebulizer kit
Belts/braces
Carry bags
Beauty services

Things to Remember About Non-Medical Expenses in Health Insurance

Take a look at a few things that you must remember about non-medical expenses:

If you get hospitalized, any non-medical expenses will not be covered under your health insurance policy as per the guidelines of IRDAI.
The IRDAI listed non-medical expenses are standard and can also be found in your policy documents.
Make sure to check your policy document to know about the non-medical expenses excluded under your policy. This will help you to avoid any surprises during claim settlement.
Knowing about non-medical expenses under your policy will help you to curtail your out-of-pocket expenses. It will prevent you from spending a lot on items that are not covered by your policy and thus, your out-of-pocket expenditure will reduce.
Some health plans may cover non-medical expenses as an add-on cover. In such cases, you can buy this cover for an additional premium amount to eliminate any out-of-pocket expenses.

Summing It Up

Non-medical expenses are an inevitable part of every hospitalization. But unfortunately, you cannot claim these expenses under your health insurance policy. To reduce your out-of-pocket expenses and avoid any hassles, make sure to go through the list of non-medical expenses excluded in health insurance as per IRDAI.

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Disclaimer: The list mentioned is according to the alphabetical order of the insurance companies. Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by any insurer. For complete list of insurers in India refer to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India website www.irdai.gov.in