Health Insurance: How to avail quick cashless facility during medical emergency? A step-by-step guide
health insurance can either emerge as a dependable 'knight in shining armour' or a ‘complex labyrinth to navigate’. Regrettably, in the aftermath of an emergency, individuals often develop a less favourable perception of both insurance and insurers. This perception primarily stems from a lack of understanding of the fundamental concepts related to health insurance and its processes at the time of an emergency.
Hence to ensure a seamless experience, it is crucial to grasp a few basic concepts before any unforeseen health emergency arises. This holds true even in the realm of employer-provided group health insurance, where the involvement of employees in determining coverage terms is generally limited. Taking proactive steps to familiarise yourself with key terms is the first stride toward preparing for any potential medical emergency.
A cashless claim means that the insurance company directly pays the hospital based on your policy terms with the hospital. Network hospitals, also referred to as network providers or cashless hospitals, are healthcare establishments that have entered into an arrangement with your insurer. This arrangement enables you to avail cashless services at these network hospitals.
The list of network hospitals undergoes periodic updates and can be conveniently accessed on the insurer's website or through toll-free numbers provided on your health card or insurance documents. Non-network hospitals do not have any pre-established arrangement with the insurer. In the case of non-network hospitals, you are required to pay the incurred expenses directly from your pocket and subsequently submit a claim to the insurer.
Read more on livemint.com
