Apart from your daily walks/jogs/runs and green diet, there is one habit and practice that is absolute to maintain a long-lasting healthy lifestyle: annual medical check-ups. This ensures that any ailment, in case acquired, is diagnosed at an elementary stage and treated at the earliest. Furthermore, this maximizes the chances of recovery and/or management.
Well, easier said than done!
Health check-ups are not economical, and the tests required in the process can burn a hole in one’s pocket. Under such circumstances, if you avail of a health insurance plan that offers a lucrative perk of free annual medical check-ups, your savings are shielded against the charges incurred.
So, what should you expect if you have health insurance with free medical check-ups? Take a look!
What is Free Annual Medical Check-ups in Health Insurance policies?
Much like the phrase suggests, free medical check-ups in health insurance means that a policyholder can go ahead for a health check-up, and the health insurance provider bears the charges. The frequency of this perk varies from one insurer to the other. However, with the best health insurance companies and a majority of their plans, this frequency boils down to once every year.
Now, there are variations across insurers and their plans regarding what kind of financial coverage is provided for this annual free medical check-up. Here is a look at the features of free medical check-ups in health insurance plans -
What are the features of Free Annual Medical Check-ups in Health Insurance?
Benefits of health insurance with free medical checkups
- Early diagnosis of treatments is ensured by annual medical check-ups. This helps with an optimum direction for the treatment.
- The unfaltering wellness check-up ensures an affordable premium across health insurance in the long run.
- Substantial financial savings considering the insurer pays off the cost of the check-ups.
Effect of health check-up tests on the premium of health insurance policies
A rising concern among policyholders is that the diagnostic test results from annual medical check-ups might have a dire impact on the premium of their healthcare plan. Well, it’s true. Based on the disclosure of your current medical diagnosis, your insurer may require an additional premium that would help cover your specific medical condition.
However, this nominal spike in premium is affordable compared to the cost of treatment it will cover over the recently diagnosed illness. After all, it’s not like if you don’t get the annual check-up and get diagnosed with the ailment with another doctor/medical facility; you can choose not to declare this to your insurer!
Ultimately, this becomes a pocket-friendly solution to ensure pristine health conditions!
- In most of the best health insurance plans, there is an upper limit to the funding the health insurer can offer under the free medical check-up perk.
- Policyholders should expect a minimum waiting period before enjoying the perk of a free annual medical check-up in their health insurance policy.
- Claiming the perk of a free annual health check-up in a health insurance plan
To ensure maximum insurance penetration across the country, the IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) has kept the claim process for free annual medical check-ups relatively simple in the case of health insurance.
All a policyholder needs to do is inform his/her insurer about the fact that they want to check in on their perk for a free annual medical check-up. Following this, the individual will get a proverbial nod via an authorization letter and a suggestion regarding the impaneled hospitals/medical centers where the policyholder can get the free check-up.
- If he/she approaches any of the suggested network medical facilities, the check-up can become a cashless perk.
- In case the policyholder walks into a non-partner hospital, he/she will need to pay it out of their pocket initially. The health insurance provider reimburses the amount after the policyholder submits the required invoices.
Ailments/Medical tests covered under the free annual medical check-up
Now, the diagnostic tests covered by the health insurance provider under their free medical check-ups differ from one insurer to the other. In general, however, there are a few tests that are covered by all insurers -
- Blood Pressure Tests
- ECG Tests
- Blood Sugar Tests
- Liver Function Test
- Lipid Profile Test
- Urine Analysis
- Kidney function tests
- Tests for Vitamin Deficiencies
- Lung function test
- Pap smears
Best health insurance plans with free annual medical check-ups
| Health Insurance Providers | Health Insurance Policies | Features of their Free Health Check-Up |
|---|---|---|
| HDFC ERGO | Optima Restore | For a sum insured of INR 5 lakhs - Free health check-up once in 2 years; Up to INR 1500. For a sum insured of INR 10 lakhs - Free health check-up once a year; Up to INR 2000. Settled only on a reimbursement basis. |
| Energy | Offers blood sugar tests (HB1AC) up to INR 750/year Settled only on a reimbursement basis. |
|
| Suraksha | Once a year No upper limits on the funding offered Tests can be done only in partner hospitals and can be claimed via a cashless facility. |
|
| CARE | Care - Care Plus | Once a year Can be availed after 31 days of purchasing the policy. Tests can be done only in partner hospitals and can be claimed via a cashless facility. |
| Care - Care, Care - Care Freedom Plan Care - Care Heart |
Once a year Can be availed after 30 days of availing the policy. Tests can be done only in partner hospitals and can be claimed via a cashless facility. |
|
| NIVA BUPA | ReAssure | Limit of INR 500/1 lakh in sum insured Individual health insurance: Maximum INR 5000 Family floater health insurance: Maximum INR 10000 Cashless benefits available |
| Health Premia Gold | Sum insured 10 - 20 lakhs: Maximum INR 2500/person Sum insured 30 lakhs: Maximum INR 5000/person Sum insured 50 lakhs: Maximum INR 7500/person Cashless facility available |
|
| Health Premia Platinum | Maximum INR 10,000/person Cashless facility available |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is health insurance with free medical checkups?
Health insurance with free medical checkups indicates a health insurance plan that brings a perk of a health check-up funded (up to the upper limit as specified in the policy) by the insurer.
Is an annual health check-up necessary?
Annual health check-ups guarantee the early diagnosis of any medical condition. This helps with choosing the right direction for the treatment, the coverage required for the same, and the necessary lifestyle changes that help with the recovery/management of the disease.
Who is eligible for health insurance with free medical checkups?
Any policyholder who has chosen a suitable health insurance plan and has covered the required waiting period can avail of the perks of a free medical check-up in their health plan.
What is the frequency of free medical checkups offered by health insurance providers?
The frequency of free medical checkups offered by health insurance providers largely depends on - the insurance provider, the health insurance plan and the coverage opted for.
Do all health insurance providers offer free medical checkups?
No, not all health insurance providers offer free medical checkups. So, before purchasing a health insurance policy, ask your insurance advisor/provider about the details of this perk.