Coronavirus Health Insurance
Importance of Health Insurance
GET A QUOTE
What is Coronavirus?
The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets
generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or exhales. These
droplets are too heavy to hang in the air, and quickly fall on
floors or surfaces. You can be infected by breathing in the virus if
you are within close proximity of someone who has COVID-19, or by
touching a contaminated surface and then your eyes, nose or mouth.
The common symptoms of coronavirus include dry cough, fever, and
fatigue. The serious symptoms of coronavirus include chest pain,
shortness of breath, and loss of speech or movement. Elderly people
and others with underlying medical problems in the likes of cancer
and diabetes are susceptible to develop serious complications.
Coronavirus Symptoms
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Step-1 -
day-1 Patients experience fever and possibly also fatigue, muscle pain
and a dry cough
A few may have had diarrhoea or nausea 1-2 days before.
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Step-2 -
day-5 Patients who are older or have pre-existing conditions have
difficulty breathing.
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Step-3 -
day-7 Patients with breathing difficulties are admitted to hospital,but
most patients symptoms start to diminish.
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Step-4 -
day-8 Severe cases develop signs of acute respiratory distress syndrome,
where lungs can't provide vital organs with enough oxygen.
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Step-5 -
day-10 Patients with worsening breathing problems enter intensive care.
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Step-6 -
day-12 Fever usually ends but cough may linger on In survivors
difficulty breathing ceases after about 13 days, while the average time
to death is 18.5 days.
How to Protect Yourself from Coronavirus?
Stay at Home
Stay home if you feel unwell.If you have a fever, cough and difficulty
breathing,seek medical attention and call in advance.Follow the
directions of your local health authority.
Social distancing
Keep six feet distance with anyone who displays symptoms of coronavirus
such as coughing and sneezing.
Hand Washing
Use an alcohol-based sanitizer or soap and water to clean your hands 9-10
times a day.
Cover your mouth and nose
Keep wearing a face mask to cover your nose and mouth while out of the
home.
Use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth while cough and sneezing,
else, do so into your flexed elbow.
What is the Government’s Advice on Coronavirus?
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Follow lockdown guidelines by staying at home as much as
possible.
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Exempting medical, media, and essential services, resort to
working from home.
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Practice a physical distancing of two meters between fellow
humans while venturing out
- Do not visit friends, families, or hold large gatherings.
- Sanitize your hands often.
- Wear a face mask mandatorily when out of home.
- Eat a healthy diet to improve immunity.
What is the Aarogya Setu App? How Does Aarogya Setu Detect
Corona?
The Aarogya Setu is an application software designed to track COVID patients
to alert the healthy when they come in contact with the patients. To detect
coronavirus, the AarogyaSetu leverages the user’s mobile Bluetooth and GPS
services to locate the coordinates of the people with and without the virus.
This way, the healthy person is alerted when coming in contact or moving
towards a COVID patient.
What is Included in Coronavirus Insurance?
Inpatient Hospitalization
Inpatient hospitalization care refers to the twenty-four-hour
medication or more during which the patient is treated for COVID-19
or any other disease. If hospitalization does not extend for
twenty-four-hours or more, it will not be considered as inpatient
hospitalization.
Pre-hospitalization
All medical cares offered to alleviate a patient's COVID condition
and other illnesses before hospitalization refers to
pre-hospitalization. Expenses in the form of medicines,
vaccinations, medical tests, and the doctor's fee incurred during
this tenure will be covered under pre-hospitalization costs.
Post-hospitalization
After being discharged from the hospital, COVID survivors can procure
medical support in their homes. Any medical expense that occurs for
the next 45 – 90 days after the treatment of the diagnosed disease
can be counted as a post-hospitalization expense.
COVID-19 Health Insurance Policy
Coronavirus is covered under a health insurance policy, a policy must be
minimum 30 days old.
With the COVID 19 spreading so rapidly, the health and lives of people in the
country are constantly at risk. The numbers of infected people are rising
exponentially, and hospitalization is becoming imperative for all. The
medical industry experts are predicting that numbers will increase and
almost 60-70% of the population will be affected, which may include you too.
The question is; are you secured financially to cover those medical
expenses?
Yes, you are if you already have a health insurance policy. Your existing
policy, be it an individual health plan, family floater plan or a group
policy, acts as your COVID 19 health insurance. Even if you purchased a
policy before testing positive for coronavirus, you could avail the
insurance benefits, as your health insurance is meant to cover the viral
infections too.
Therefore, the medical expenses you incur for the treatment of coronavirus
infection will be reimbursed by your insurance provider. However, if you
purchase coronavirus insurance after getting tested positive for COVID 19,
then you will not be covered for the treatment as the policy comes in effect
only after a waiting period, like any other medical insurance in India.
You must note that only the necessary hospitalization expenses for
coronavirus treatment are met under your health insurance policy, which
includes ICU charges and diagnostic tests.
That said, some insurance providers are offering insurance for COVID 19 laced
with enhanced and specific features, which you need to buy as a shield
before you are tested positive.
The Key Aspects of Coronavirus Health Insurance Plans
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Waiting Period
Similar to most of the medical insurance plans, the coronavirus insurance plans propose a waiting period of 15 days.
However, some insurance providers choose a variable, and they offer 14-16 days waiting period for coronavirus health
insurance, for example, Star Health Insurance. We advise you to check the plans carefully for the waiting period
clause before you buy your health insurance for coronavirus.
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Sum Insured
You always have an option to go for a higher sum insured by paying a
little higher premium. With the current scenario, when COVID 19 is
claiming many lives, it is always advisable to opt for maximum
coverage to stay financially secure. When the insured is
hospitalized for twenty-four hours, he/she is eligible to claim 100%
of the sum. Moreover, while under the quarantine, the insured can
claim up to 100% of the assured sum but have to pay the loading
charges.
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Coverage
All coronavirus insurance plans cover the expenses of
hospitalization, ICU room rents, OPD charges, and ambulance charges
along with post-hospitalization care expenses.
Now you know how the insurance for COVID 19 gives you special coverage in
contrast to nominal health insurance policy. Let us also take you through
the best COVID-19 insurance policy available in the market to help you
secure yourself in this time of crisis.
COVID-19 Health Insurance
Key features of “Corona Kavach” are as under:
| Product Type |
Available on Individual and Family Floater Basis
|
| Type of Cover |
-
Base Cover on Indemnity Basis- Covid Hospitalization
cover
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Optional Cover on Benefit Basis- Hospital Daily Cash
|
| Sum insured |
Rs 50,000/- (Fifty Thousand) to 5,00,000/- (Five Lakh) (in
the multiples of fifty thousand)
|
| Waiting Period |
15 days |
| Policy Period |
Three and Half Months (3 ½ months), Six and Half Months(6 ½
months), Nine and Half Months (9 ½ months) including waiting
period.
|
| Eligibility |
Policy can be availed by persons between the age of 18 to
65 years.
Policy can be availed for Self, spouse, Parents,
Parents-in-law and Dependent Children up to 25 years of
age.
|
| Hospitalization Expenses |
Medical Expenses of Hospitalization on diagnosis of Covid
shall be admissible
|
| Pre Hospitalization Expenses |
15 days |
| Post Hospitalization Expenses |
30 days |
| Sub-limits |
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Home care treatment: Maximum upto 14 days per
incident.
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Ambulance Charges: Rs.2000/- per hospitalization.
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Optional Cover of Hospital Daily Cash: 0.5% of Sum
Insured per day subject to maximum of 15 days in a
policy
period for every insured member.
|
| Home Care Treatment Expenses |
Cost of treatment incurred by the Insured person on availing
treatment at home for Covid on positive diagnosis up to 14
days
per incident, which in the normal course would require care
and
treatment at a hospital but is actually taken while confined
at home.
|
| Premium payment |
Single Premium |
| Hospital |
For the purpose of this policy any set-up designated by the
government as hospital for the treatment of Covid shall also
be
also considered as hospital.
|
| Co-morbidities |
Any co-morbid condition triggered due to Covid-19 shall be
covered during the period of hospitalization.
|
| Sl. No |
Name of Insurer |
| 1 |
Acko General Insurance Ltd. |
| 2 |
Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 3 |
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co Ltd. |
| 4 |
Bharti AXA General Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 5 |
Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 6 |
Edelweiss General Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 7 |
Future Generali India Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 8 |
Go Digit General Insurance Ltd. |
| 9 |
HDFC ERGO General Insurance Co.Ltd. |
| 10 |
HDFC ERGO Health Insurance Limited |
| 11 |
ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd. |
| 12 |
IFFCO TOKIO General Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 13 |
Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 14 |
Liberty General Insurance Ltd. |
| 15 |
Magma HDI General Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 16 |
ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company Limited |
| 17 |
Max Bupa Health Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 18 |
Navi General Insurance Ltd. |
| 19 |
National Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 20 |
Raheja QBE General Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 21 |
Reliance General Insurance Co.Ltd. |
| 22 |
Religare Health Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 23 |
Royal Sundaram General Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 24 |
SBI General Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 25 |
Star Health & Allied Insurance Co.Ltd. |
| 26 |
Tata AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 27 |
The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. |
| 28 |
The Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 29 |
United India Insurance Co. Ltd. |
| 30 |
Universal Sompo General Insurance Co. Ltd. |
Best COVID-19 Group Health Insurance Policy
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GoDigit Insurance
GoDigit Insurance offers coronavirus insurance plans to protect
individuals afflicted by the virus. Upon filing the claim, the
insured can receive an assured 100% of the sum when he/she tests
positive for the coronavirus. People up to 60 years of age are
eligible to avail of this insurance. The waiting period is fifteen
days, and the sum insured is between INR 50,000 and INR 3,00,000.
Godigit also provide policy for the event of death due to
coronavirus.
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ICICI Lombard Health Insurance
ICICI’s coronavirus insurance is designed particularly for those who
have tested positive for the virus. It guarantees a 100% sum upon
diagnosis. People between the age group of eighteen and 60 are
eligible for this plan. It follows a waiting period protocol of 14
days, and the insured sum is INR 25,000 to 1,00,000
-
Star Health Insurance Coronavirus Insurance
To those who have been tested positive for the virus and have been
hospitalized, the Star Health Insurance Coronavirus Insurance
assures a lump sum benefit. To claim the sum, the insured need not
even undergo any medical testing or screening. Those between the age
group of eighteen and sixty-five are eligible to procure the offer.
It proposes a waiting period of sixteen days, and the sum insured
comes with two options of INR 21,000 and INR 42,000.
Another crucial aspect of insurance buying is to understand the inclusions and
exclusions. Coronavirus health insurances also reflect the same.
Inclusions
- Inpatient Hospitalization
- Pre-hospitalization
- Accidental Hospitalization
- Daycare Procedures
- Ambulance
- ICU Room Rent
- Organ Donor Cover
- Post Hospitalization
- Second Medical Opinion
Exclusions
- Quarantining at Home
- Non-listed or Non-recognized Quarantine Facility
- Pre-existing Diseases
- Pre and Post Natal Care
- Hospitalization without Doctor’s Prescription or Recommendation
Documents Needed to Avail Health Insurance for COVID 19
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Age Proof: You can use your birth certificate, or
voter’s ID or PAN card to produce a proof for your age
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Identify Proof: Your passport or Aadhar card or driving
license would do as photo identity proof
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Address Proof: Your ration card or electric bill would
serve as your address proof
-
Medical Reports: While buying coronavirus-specific, you
would be asked to submit your previous medical reports
Take all these documents with you while availing your health insurance.
In case, if you are wondering about your existing insurances fending
coverages for COVID-19, look into the following FAQ section and clear your
doubts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About COVID-19 Health
Insurance Policy
Life term insurance policyholders have clarified that deaths
due to the novel coronavirus are covered under the life term
policy. COVID-19 related deaths would be treated in par with
general forms of death. Insured can avail the sum only if
the insured was tested positive post the policy issuance and
the culmination of the waiting period of one year.
Nevertheless, COVID-19 deaths would not be funded by any
special terms and conditions.
According to the guidelines stipulated by the IRDAI
(Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India),
all funding claims concerning the COVID-19 are liable to be
covered under all standard health plans. All the features
you've procured under your regular health insurance policy
would apply to your COVID-19 treatments as well. However, to
fund your treatments with medical insurance, you should have
at least been hospitalized for twenty-four hours, during
which all your pre and post hospitalization expenses would
be covered for.
Yes, if you test positive for the virus and find it beyond
you to procure treatments and facilities, your insurance
service provider would supply you with evacuation and
repatriation benefits.
No. Preventive medical assistance is not covered by the
need-based COVID-19 insurances.
Ideally, your insurance provider must cover the road
ambulance charges. However, inclusions tend to vary from one
service provider to the other. So, it would be best to ask
your insurance provider about this.
As per the IDP benefit, when under the quarantine, all your
expenses would be covered for.
Under Section 80 C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, you can
avail tax benefits from coronavirus-specific insurance
plans.
In Conclusion
Although nominal health, medical, and life term insurance providers are doing
their best to cover COVID-19 related expenses, nothing compares to the
unique features of the coronavirus health insurance policy.
During these times of crisis, protect you and your loved ones with COVID-19
health insurance by shaking hands with trusted insurance aggregators like Cover 360. We make sure you get the
right policy perfectly suited to your needs.
