What is Policy Schedule in Health Insurance

There’s a lot of paperwork involved when dealing with health insurance and it sometimes gets easy to get lost in it. That’s when a Policy Schedule comes to the rescue. It simplifies all the essential details of your coverage and gives you a quick overview of your policy all in one place. Let’s take a look at everything there is to know about a policy schedule.

There’s a lot of paperwork involved when dealing with health insurance and it...

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Policy Schedule in Health Insurance

Policy Schedule in health insurance is the official document issued to you by the insurance company once your policy is active. It provides you with a summary of all essential details and makes it easier for you to know exactly what you’re covered for, for how long, and the terms and conditions involved. It acts as a quick reference for you and also plays a crucial role at the time of claim settlement. Simply put, it’s like your policy's identity card. It captures the who, what, when, and how of your health insurance plan.

Why is it important?

Quick reference

It acts as a quick reference for when you need to know your sum insured or even the policy number. It’s all there in the policy schedule.

Proof of insurance

It serves as a legal document that confirms that you are insured.

Essential for claims

Insurance providers will ask for the policy schedule at the time of claims or for any pre-authorised process.

Makes coverage easy to understand

It outlines all the inclusions, exclusions, and any special terms that apply to you regarding your coverage.

What does a Policy schedule contain?

Policy number: This is your unique identification number for reference.
Insured person or persons: The names, ages, and relationship details of the individuals covered under the policy.
Sum insured: The maximum amount you can claim under the policy.
Policy period: This is the start and end date of your policy.
Premium amount: Total premium amount including GST and other charges.
Coverage details: Types of cover you’ve picked, for example, OPD, hospitalisation, day-care, etc.
Add-on covers: Any riders or optional benefits that you have chosen.
Waiting period: These are applicable waiting periods for certain conditions. For example, disease-specific waiting period.
Exclusions: Specific conditions or situations that are not covered under the policy.
Nominee details: Details of the person who will receive the benefits in case of your demise.
Date of Issue: The date the policy was officially issued.
Insurer contact info: Customer care numbers or claims contact numbers of the insurance company.

Policy Schedule vs. Policy Document

Is policy schedule and policy document the same? Not exactly. The policy schedule is part of the larger policy document. While the full policy document contains detailed terms, clauses, and conditions, the policy schedule highlights the most important parts in a summary format. Let’s look at an easy explanation of the difference between the two:

	Policy Schedule	Policy Document

Meaning	A summary of key details of your policy	Detailed legal document with terms and clauses
Purpose	Used as a quick reference	Used for in-depth information
What’s included	Policy number, insured names, coverage, etc.	Definitions, claim procedures, inclusions, exclusions, etc.
Length	Typically 1-3 pages	Typically 15-30+ pages depending on the insurer
Usage	Used during hospitalisation, filing taxes, or claims	Used to refer to for legal clarity or to resolve disputes

Things to double-check in your Policy Schedule

Since this is an extremely important document it is important to double-check:

All the names are spelled correctly
The sum insured matches what you applied for
Add-ons or riders are listed if you’ve chosen any
Policy period start and end date is accurate
The premium amount aligns with your payment

Conclusion

A policy schedule is more than just paperwork; it provides a snapshot of your health insurance policy. It’s the first thing you should review as soon as your policy is active and the first thing you need to pull out when you need to make a claim. You can store it digitally and physically and refer to it from time to time to stay informed about your health insurance policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my policy schedule online?

Yes. You can check your policy schedule online by going to your insurance company’s website or mobile app.

What if I don’t have a policy schedule?

Insurers are required to give policyholders a policy schedule, and it is usually included in the policy documents. But in case you don’t have one, you can request a copy from your insurance provider. It is essential during claims, so make sure you have your copy handy.

Is this document needed if I get hospitalised?

Yes. Hospitals ask for this document during claims so it is an important document for claiming hospitalisation expenses.

When I renew my policy will I get a new policy schedule?

Yes. Usually, every renewed policy will have a new policy schedule that outlines the updated details of your policy.

Can I get the policy schedule by email?

Yes, you can. Most insurance companies use digital policy schedules that are sent to you via email or through their apps.

Written by Roocha Kanade

2.5K Linkedin Followers

Reviewed by Dr. Harshita Dahiya

Health Insurance content enthusiast who turns complex topics into easy, binge-worthy reads—fueled by SEO, creativity, and way too much chai! Loves juggling multiple projects, cracking impossible deadlines, and sprinkling humor into the mix. When not geeking out over digital trends, you'll find her lurking on Quora and Reddit, planning the next getaway, or passionately decoding all things health and insurance!