Senior people are often more susceptible to disease than young and therefore they need to be aware of the various features and benefits of the health policies so that they can use them when they need them most. The features and benefits of health policies may vary from each other depending on the policy size, type of policy and the terms and conditions of the policy provider. However, here are some of the common features offered under the health insurance schemes that can be highly beneficial for senior citizens.

Cashless Treatment And Domiciliary Hospitalization

Cashless treatment means the patient is not required to make a payment for the treatment and the entire payment is settled by the insurance company. Senior people who are hospitalized in critical situations or if they live alone may find it difficult to arrange money for the treatment. With a cashless insurance policy, they can get the treatment done at any of the hospitals which are in the network hospital list of the insurance company.

In domiciliary treatment, the insurance company pays a claim for the treatment done at the patient’s home. In some cases, the senior’s health is not in such a state that they can be taken to the hospital and in such cases the doctors perform the treatment at their home. In such cases, the insurance companies accept the claim and reimburse the claim amount based on the actual bills raised for the treatment.

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Both the feature, i.e., cashless treatment and the domiciliary hospitalization cover air ambulance and OPD.

Air Ambulance Cover

The health condition of a senior patient may deteriorate faster so they require urgent medical assistance. For some ailments, the treatment may not be available at local hospitals and seniors have to undergo treatment at hospitals in other cities. In all such cases, an air ambulance can offer big support in saving the life of the patient. The cost of an air ambulance can be huge. In the absence of health insurance that covers the air ambulance cost, seniors have to bear it on their own, thus putting extreme financial stress on them. So, having a health policy with the feature of an air ambulance cover can be highly beneficial for senior people as it can save their lives.

OPD Cover Feature In A Health Policy

Some health insurance policies come with the feature of covering the OPD charges. As seniors are highly susceptible to health issues, they may require frequent visits to doctors and medication. Under OPD cover they can get the claim for payment towards doctor consultation fees, medicine bills, health check-ups, etc. Usually, claims for such charges are not covered in a health policy without OPD cover.

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Apart from the points mentioned above, seniors should prefer policies with features such as zero or minimal capping on various treatments, lifetime renewability of policy, unlimited restoration of sum assured after a claim, etc. You may compare the various policies available in the market and choose the policies that offer the best features as per your needs while also considering aspects like premium amount, claim settlement record, etc.

The author is an independent financial journalist.