HDFC Ergo
EquiCover
The EquiCover Plan from HDFC Ergo is a basic plan with a unique target audience - potential policyholders with disabilities (40% or more) & HIV/AIDS. Now, while this is a commendable stance from the stable of HDFC Ergo, the EquiCover policy has a long list of caveats, including - Room restriction (1% for Room, 2% for ICU) - 20% mandatory co-payment, no restoration perk, no bonus, no domiciliary coverage, sub-limits on cataracts coverage & modern treatment, and an extensive waiting Period: (2 years for Pre-Existing Disability and 4 years for PEDs other than HIV/AIDS and Disability). All of this, makes EquiCover a unique and yet not-recommendable policy, unless this comes off as a last resort.
What's good here?
HIV/AIDS & Disability Support
This is a specially designed policy for individuals diagnosed HIV/AIDS or having disabilities (40% or more).
This is a specially designed policy for individuals diagnosed HIV/AIDS or having disabilities (40% or more).
Pre & Post hospitalization expenses covered
No worries if the doctor had to run a host of diagnostic tests before or after hospitalizing you. The insurer has your back. They will cover this amount in full for a pretty reasonable duration - 30 days before you are hospitalized and 60 days after discharge. This includes the cost of medication by the way.
Covers Alternative Medicine
Think of getting Ayurvedic, Homeopathic or other alternative treatments to cure an illness? Your insurer will cover you fully, up to the sum insured.
Day Care treatments covered
If you’re hospitalized for less than 24 hours in lieu of a minor procedure, then the insurer will cover these costs too. Think dialysis, chemotherapy or minor surgeries.
What's bad here?
You will have to pay a portion of the bill
The policy will only cover 80% of the final bill. The rest is on you. They call this a co-payment.
The policy will only cover 80% of the final bill. The rest is on you. They call this a co-payment.
Restrictions on the rooms you can pick and much more
Your insurer won’t let you stay in a room whose rent exceeds 1% of the sum insured. If it’s an ICU they’ll bump it to 2% of the sum insured. And in the event you breach these limits, then you’ll have to pay a lot more - Read more here
Reasonable waiting period for pre-existing diseases
If you are already dealing with Pre-Existing Disability, you will be covered after 2 years. However, if you are dealing with other pre-existing diseases including thyroid and cardiovascular problems, then you’ll have to wait 4 years before they start covering these complications.
Has disease wise sub-limits
Your insurance cover won’t be fully available in case you are treated for Cataracts, Modern treatments and a few other diseases. Meaning the insurance company has a cap on the total amount they’ll pay out if you are treated for these specific illnesses.
No coverage if you are forced to hospitalize at home
The insurer will not cover the costs if you are forced to hospitalize at home due to a medical condition. In insurance lingo, they call this a policy with no domiciliary cover.
What's lacking here?
No Restoration Benefit
Some policies will tell you - Even after you claim part of the cover on one occasion, you will have the full cover restored, if you are hospitalized another time during the same year. So if you have a family cover and multiple members of the family are hospitalized in the same year, this feature will come in handy. Unfortunately, this policy offers no such benefit.
Some policies will tell you - Even after you claim part of the cover on one occasion, you will have the full cover restored, if you are hospitalized another time during the same year. So if you have a family cover and multiple members of the family are hospitalized in the same year, this feature will come in handy. Unfortunately, this policy offers no such benefit.
No Bonus for being healthy and not claiming insurance
Some policies offer you extra cover if you go an entire year without claiming your insurance. This policy, however, offers no such benefit.
Your insurer doesn’t provide free health check-ups
If you want to get a full-body checkup just to make sure you’re in fine working condition, be ready to pay for it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
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