Choosing the Best Health Insurance with OPD Cover
Updated On Dec 21, 2023
Table of Contents
In the inflation-hit age, having a reliable health insurance policy is imperative. So, if you still don’t have reliable health insurance, then it is time to buy one, and if you already have, then it is time to analyze its coverage. This is because, one may or may not know, that even a proper health insurance policy does not always cover you for a tooth filling or a broken finger. This is when health insurance plans with OPD cover come into the scene.
OPD or out-patient department treatments are those treatments and diagnoses that are done on a doctor or practitioner’s advice, by simply visiting the clinic. The treatment can also be availed at a multispeciality hospital. An important thing to note here is that there is no need of hospitalisation under OPD treatments.
There are health insurance plans in the market that you may not be aware of, that offer OPD cover to the insured. These plans cover you for diagnostic tests, medicines, medical equipment, preventive check-ups, etc.
Why should you Purchase Health Insurance with an OPD Cover?
Highlighted below are few points you should consider for buying health insurance plan with an OPD Cover:
- Health Insurance Policies that provide OPD coverage helps the policyholder to claim expenses in addition to the ones that were incurred during the hospitalisation. In simple terms, it offers coverage against the outpatient expenditure, which does not get covered by all health insurance plans.
- Health insurance policies with OPD cover have more tax benefits associated with itself in comparison to the basic health insurance policies. Tax exemption can be claimed by the insured individuals on the payment of premium towards these health insurance plans. Moreover, for claims, there is no tax deductible at source(TDS).
- In most of the health insurance plans with an OPD cover, the policyholder can claim reimbursement on expenditure as many times during the policy tenure. As outpatient healthcare involves a variety of services, therefore, more transactions are associated with it. Due to this, the financial value of health insurance plans with OPD cover is more in comparison to a normal health insurance policy.
- Reimbursement towards pharmacy bills is also offered in a health insurance policy with OPD Cover, making it even more optimum for individuals who incur pharmacy expenses regularly.
- OPD coverage is offered under a cashless scheme alongside additional premium by certain insurance providers.
- A fixed sum insured percentage can be carried forward in case the entire coverage does not get utilized during the policy tenure.
- The sum insured is decided depending upon the age of the policyholder under the OPD coverage health insurance policy. While in a family floater health insurance plan, age of the eldest insured individual is taken into account.
- Various expenses get covered under OPD health insurance plans like contact lenses, hearing aids, dentures, spectacles, crutches and many more that do not get covered under regular health insurance plans.
Best Health Insurance Plans With OPD Cover in India in 2021
To know more about the best health insurance plans with OPD cover in India, refer to the table below:
|
Name of the Insurance Company |
Name of the Insurance Policy |
Coverage Benefits |
|
Max Bupa Health Insurance |
Heartbeat Policy |
In-patient hospitalisation expenses, domiciliary hospitalisation expenses, OPD treatment and diagnostic tests, emergency ambulance, alternative treatments, daycare treatment, and pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation expenses. |
|
ICICI Lombard Health Insurance |
Complete Healthcare Policy |
In-patient hospitalisation expenses, daycare expenses, pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation expenses, etc. |
|
HDFC Ergo General Insurance |
Health Wallet Policy |
OPD cover, free annual check-ups every year, worldwide emergency coverage for up to 50% of the sum insured, etc. |
|
Max Bupa Health Insurance |
Go Active Policy |
Health coach option, alternative treatment, second medical opinion, health check-up coverage, etc. |
|
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance |
Tax Gain Policy |
Pre-hospitalisation expenses, post-hospitalisation expenses, in-patient hospitalisation expenses, daycare procedures, expenses for crutches from day 1 under OPD benefit, emergency ambulance expenses, etc. |
1. Max Bupa Heartbeat Policy
Max Bupa Heartbeat policy is a most comprehensive policy that offers OPD cover to the insured. The policy can be purchased on an individual or on floater basis. Available with sum insured options ranging between Rs. 5 Lakh and Rs. 50 Lakh, the policy offers several coverage benefits to the insured. These include in-patient hospitalisation expenses, domiciliary hospitalisation expenses, OPD treatment and diagnostic tests, emergency ambulance, alternative treatments, daycare treatment, and pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation expenses.
2. ICICI Lombard Complete Healthcare Policy
Complete Healthcare Policy offered by ICICI Lombard Health Insurance covers people aged at least 3 months. The good news is that there is no upper limit for entry under this policy. The policy comes with a wide range of sum insured options between Rs. 5 Lakh and Rs. 10 Lakh. Under the policy, you can purchase the add-on benefit of out-patient cover by paying an extra premium. Other add-on benefits that the policy offers are newborn baby cover, maternity benefit, wellness and preventive healthcare, donor expenses, critical illness cover, hospital daily cash, and convalescence benefit.
3. HDFC Ergo Health Wallet
Another reliable health insurance policy is HDFC Ergo’s Health Wallet. The policy is available for people aged between 91 days and 65 years for sum insured options starting from Rs. 3 Lakh. If covered under the policy, you can avail of several benefits such as OPD cover, free annual check-ups every year, worldwide emergency coverage for up to 50% of the sum insured, lump-sum recovery benefit of Rs. 10,000 if hospitalisation exceeds 10 days, 100% restoration of the sum insured if the coverage limit is used up in a policy year, etc.
4. Max Bupa Go Active Policy
Go Active Policy by Max Bupa is a revolutionary policy that offers cover for not only hospitalisation expenses, but also cashless OPD and diagnostic services. Other coverage benefits under the policy include a behavioral assistance program, health coach option, alternative treatment, second medical opinion, health check-up coverage, etc. The policy offers different sum insured options ranging between Rs. 1 Lakh and Rs. 25 Lakh, which you can choose as per your need.
5. Bajaj Allianz Tax Gain Policy
Another popular health insurance policy that covers OPD treatment is Tax Gain by Bajaj Allianz General Insurance. The policy covers people aged between 18 years and 75 years for sum insured options ranging between Rs. 1 Lakh and Rs. 3 Lakh. If covered under the policy, you can avail several benefits such as pre-hospitalisation expenses, post-hospitalisation expenses, in-patient hospitalisation expenses, daycare procedures, expenses for crutches from day 1 under OPD benefit, emergency ambulance expenses, etc.
Conclusion
As there are not many independent OPD insurance plans in the market, you must go for the one that offers OPD cover as an additional benefit. This does not only cover you against doctor consultations and minor treatments but also protects you through any unfortunate events such as accidents or other illnesses.
Also, don’t forget to check other factors when buying health insurance online. These include the list of network hospitals, sum insured options, coverage benefits, add-on benefits, premium, etc.
Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.
