Which are the Most Suitable Add-ons for a Family Health Insurance Plan?

Family Health Insurance plans offer basic coverage like hospitalisation, injuries, pre and post-hospitalisation expenses for all the insured members of a family. These coverages can be enhanced with the help of add-ons. They provide holistic financial protection in case of medical events. In this article, let’s take a look at which add-ons are the most suitable for a Family Health Insurance plan.

Family Health Insurance plans offer basic coverage like hospitalisation, injuries, pre and post-hospitalisation...

Suitable Add-ons or Riders for a Family Health Plan

Riders in health insurance are additional covers that you can buy when you purchase or renew a health insurance policy. They amend the policy terms and conditions to expand the coverage and customise the insurance policy for your needs. Your insurance policy premium may increase with the addition of riders, but they offer much better financial security in times of need. Here are some add-ons that can help increase the coverage of your family health plan.

Critical Illness Rider

This is useful for senior citizens of your family. You get a lump sum payment in case of specific critical illnesses like a heart attack, stroke, or cancer. This payment can be useful in paying for immediate medical expenses that arise after the critical illness diagnosis. This can also be used to replace the income you may lose when you need to take time off work to recuperate during and after treatment.

Maternity Cover Rider

Helpful for a growing family. A basic insurance policy generally doesn't provide maternity coverage. Purchasing maternity cover when you are planning to start a family can be useful to cover prenatal, delivery, and postnatal expenses. This is one of the riders in health insurance that has a waiting period. So, ensure that you buy this cover even before you get pregnant.

Hospital Cash Rider

Some insurers offer a fixed daily allowance for every day you spend in the hospital for hospitalisation. Often, this applies when you are hospitalised for more than 24 hours. This extra allowance can be used for expenses related to a caretaker during the hospitalisation period.

Room Rent Waiver

Most insurance policies have a cap on room rent, and this room rent waiver removes that cap. With this rider, you can prioritise your comfort while choosing hospital rooms. You can even choose deluxe suites for ultimate comfort without additional out-of-pocket expenses.

Consumable Covers

It pays for consumables used during the surgery. Most of the base health insurance policies exclude the cost of consumables.

Accident Disability Rider

If you become disabled (partially or totally) due to an accident, this rider can offer financial compensation. The payout will depend on the severity of disability and the policy terms. It can be useful to replace the income lost due to disability.

Are Add-ons Worth the Extra Premium for a Family Health Insurance Plan?

Yes, even if they increase the premium, these add-ons can help you reduce the out-of-pocket expenses at the time of claim. Add-on covers offer broader coverage and flexibility, which is useful for those who need an all-round protection. A comprehensive insurance policy strengthens financial security during claims.

How to Add Riders to Your Family Health Insurance Plan

You can buy riders when you buy a new family health insurance plan or when you renew it. However, you can't add a rider in the middle of the policy term. If you wish to change insurance providers, you can do so at the time of renewal and explore rider options available with the new insurer through health insurance portability. Here are the steps to add riders to health insurance:

Review available riders.
Assess your health needs.
Use the online portal or app to add the desired rider to your base insurance policy.
Pay the additional premium and expand coverage.

Conclusion

Add-on covers empower you to personalise your family health insurance. Both, a basic family health plan and add-ons have specific functions that cater to your needs, depending on whether you need focused protection or wider benefits. Add-ons can be useful for adding more coverage to your base plan. Selecting the appropriate combination for your Family Health Insurance Plan is based on your financial needs, stage of life, and affordability. Check your coverage annually, determine your gaps in coverage, and pay only extra for what actually brings value. Smart customisation can keep you and your family financially protected against illnesses and injuries.

Frequently asked questions

Can you add riders in healthy insurance to an existing policy?

Yes, the riders can be added to an existing health insurance policy at the time of policy renewal. You cannot, however, add riders in the middle of the policy term.

What is the purpose of add-ons?

Add-ons offer additional coverage options to increase the base policy and meet specific needs, such as consumables or maternity costs.

How many riders can I add to my Family Health Insurance Policy?

There is no fixed number as it depends on your needs and the availability of such coverages. Check with your provider for options available. In general, you can choose multiple riders in health insurance to customise your policy.

Is maternity cover available as one of the riders in health insurance?

This depends upon the insurance company. Some may offer maternity coverage as a part of a Family Health Insurance Plan, others may offer it as an optional add-on. You can choose a plan as per your needs and availability.

Are riders in health insurance subject to waiting periods like base policies?

Yes, riders can have waiting periods independent of the base policy.

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!