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10 things to know while buying health insurance for your children

Team AckoJan 30, 2024

Getting sufficient and comprehensive health insurance for your children is your best shot at safeguarding yourself against rising medical costs. It is imperative that you shop for the right child health insurance plan for broader coverage. Here are 10 critical aspects of health insurance that will assist you while buying health insurance for your children.

Things to Know While Buying Health Insurance for Children

Contents

10 important things while buying a health insurance plan for your children
- Takeaway
Frequently asked questions

10 important things while buying a health insurance plan for your children

Health insurance is not just for adults. Children are equally prone to suffering from health issues. From their early childhood to their preteens, kids need special medical care. Considering the spiraling medical costs, it is only wise to get suitable and broader health insurance coverage for your children. Follow the below tips to shop for the right plan.

Cover your children as early as possible
You must secure your children’s health at the beginning of their life. The only aspect you need to ensure is choosing the right type of health insurance plan based on your current financial conditions. Covering your children with health insurance as soon as they are born helps mitigate illnesses or diseases that newborns are easily prone to. Ensure that your children are covered under a health insurance policy throughout their life.
Choose the right plan
Not all health insurance plans are suitable for your children. If your children are between the age of 21 or 25, you can include them as a part of your family health insurance plan (Family Floater Health Insurance policy) instead of an individual plan. You need not buy separate Individual Health Insurance policies and pay different premiums for every family member. A family health insurance plan can cover all family members (spouse/children/parents). For children who have crossed the threshold including them in a Family Floater Insurance plan, it is advisable to choose the Individual Health Insurance policy. Such types of policies offer higher coverage but at a higher premium. While this age group might be less susceptible to illness, pandemics such as Coronavirus (Covid-19) have revealed that treating the condition can be expensive. Health insurance should be your fundamental safeguard for your children against unforeseen medical emergencies.
Consider the scope of coverage
Depending upon the number of family members and the medical condition of each member, you need to assess the scope of the coverage. Take your time when selecting your health insurance policy. Take into consideration factors such as room rent limit, co-pay, etc. Choosing a lower coverage since its premium is lower may affect you when you need access to quality healthcare. For example, if you wish to stay in a single room, you have to check the maximum coverage for the room rent. If you opt for the room rent higher than the allowed, your out-of-pocket expenses on the overall treatment will proportionately rise. Hence, choose the right amount of coverage so that all your family members, including your children, can have access to high-quality medical care without worrying about the cost.
Critical illness plan
If you think your children are vulnerable to critical illnesses, it is advisable to include critical illness cover along with the standard plan. Critical illness covers are designed to provide a one-time lump sum payment if you fall sick due to any of the stated critical illnesses.Extending the scope of the primary plan’s coverage through add-ons such as critical illness cover calms your apprehension about high medical costs to treat critical illnesses for your children.
Include them in your Group Medical Cover
If you are a salaried employee, you might have corporate health insurance or group health insurance offered by your employer. You can include your dependent children from the time they are born. The only aspect you need to keep in mind is that the plan will cease to exist when you cease to be an employee of your company. While this provides coverage for your children, it does not offer coverage at all times, especially when you are no longer a part of that organisation.
Include them in your existing family health insurance plan
If you have an active family health insurance, it is essential to include your children, especially if they are newborns. Failure to inform the insurer about the new addition to your family may result in non-coverage of medical costs for the child in case of hospitalisation, be it planned or unplanned. Ensure you inform the insurer as soon as your child is born so that the child will be covered from day one of birth..
Understand the exclusions under the policy
While it is crucial to secure your child with the right health insurance plan, it is essential to read and understand the non-coverage details or exclusions of the children’s health insurance plan. This way, you get to know what your liabilities are and the scope of the coverage. Include relevant add-ons that will increase the scope of the primary plan so that you are covered for liabilities that are not covered in the standard plan.
Be honest in your application
Disclose all information about your children’s health and medical conditions while applying for the health insurance plan. By not disclosing or not being honest, the chances of your claim getting rejected are higher. If your child has an illness or a medical condition, it is advisable to keep the insurer informed. The policy will be customised as per your need so that you get adequate coverage during hospitalisation.
Opt for plans that cover postnatal care
Most health insurance plans cover postnatal care and vaccinations. Choose the plan that provides coverage for postnatal care. This way, you can avoid expenses that arise after the child is born. Health insurance plans with coverage for postnatal care and vaccinations can help mitigate medical costs not covered under the primary health insurance plan.
Consider other unavoidable factors
Observe your children’s lifestyle and their progress when it comes to their health. Find out if they are prone to common illnesses. For broader coverage, it is advisable to opt for comprehensive insurance plans that provide all aspects of medical coverage along with the option to include add-ons. Apart from illnesses, there could be an outbreak of a pandemic such as the Coronavirus, etc. It is vital to keep your children protected with a broader health insurance plan right from birth from such unforeseen situations.

Takeaway

With rising medical costs, unforeseen virus outbreaks, and diseases, securing your children with a comprehensive health insurance plan with additional benefits will provide you the much needed financial protection. Secure your children with a health insurance policy as soon as they are born to protect them against unforeseen health conditions that demand high medical expenses.

Frequently asked questions

Here are a few questions about children’s health insurance policy.

How important is health insurance for children?

Your child’s illness or injury, if left untreated, can lead to severe health issues in the future. Even common diseases such as ear infections can result in severe hearing loss if not treated properly. Hence, you must secure your children with the right health insurance plan to avoid unnecessary medical costs.

Can I buy health insurance just for my child?

Yes, you can opt for the Individual Health Insurance policy that provides higher coverage but at a higher premium. However, if you have an existing Family Floater Health Insurance policy, it is suggested to add your children to the list of beneficiaries of the policy.

What is covered under health insurance for children?

Under the health insurance coverage for children, the plan covers various medical care expenses such as planned and unplanned hospitalisation, pre and post-hospitalisation costs, daycare treatment expenses, etc. It is essential to read the terms and conditions of the policy so that you are aware of the inclusions and exclusions of the policy.

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Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on industry experience and several secondary sources on the internet; and is subject to changes. Please go through the applicable policy wordings for updated ACKO-centric content and before making any insurance-related decisions.