With the rising medical cost, health insurance has become indispensable. Today, costs of medical treatment has reached at an all time high and are expected to rise even further. Absence of health insurance can cause a major setback to your financial condition. Medical emergencies like accidents, sickness or disease which may lead to prolonged hospitalization can bring you in severe financial crisis. A comprehensive health insurance individual policy provides coverage against the expenditure caused by unforeseen medical emergencies.
When it comes to buy a health plan for yourself, there are two common mistakes that people generally commit:
1. Often people don’t purchase an appropriate health policy at the right time. When met with an accident or any other disease, they come to realize their mistake and to over-compensate it they buy too much of insurance, which may or may not be that much useful for them.
2. A majority of professionals are provided medical insurance plans by their organizations. Employees are very much dependent on such covers to counter their health emergencies and fail to evaluate their health insurance requirements.
Importance of Personal Health Cover
1. Insurance Cover Provided By Present Health Care Policy
Most of the companies provide a basic health cover to its employees which may cover individuals from minor illness, giving a decent amount of coverage. Often this amount is insufficient in times of a major emergency. So, it is necessary that individuals prepare themselves for any health contingencies and get an health insurance individual policy.
2. Validity Of Insurance Provided By The Organization
The insurance plan provided by the organization is valid upto the time you are associated with the organization and lapses once you leave it. In case of retirement, job change or job loss, individuals have no health insurance cover and have to liquidate their assets or savings to meet any medical emergency. This may also affect their budget and further financial plans.
3. Tax Benefit
Opting a health cover also helps in tax saving. The amount paid for insurance premiums are eligible for tax deductions. Individuals with 65 years or below of age can claim a deduction of Rs 15,000 against the insurance premium paid for themselves, or for their parents, spouse or children.
Early Benefits
Buying a health insurance individual policy while one is young is cost-efficient and free from medical complications. Getting an insurance cover at an early age requires less premium and offers comprehensive coverage when compared to a health plan purchased at a relatively older age. The cost of the cover increases as the individual grows older. Besides, if one develops health issues, the insurance company excludes pre-existing conditions which demolish the purpose of buying a personal health insurance plan.
In addition, there are several insurance companies that set an upper age limit for their policies. This means the individual will have access limited options after retirement. Further, if the individual renews the insurance plan without asking for any claim, he can enjoy the profits of cumulative bonus in the form of no claim benefit.
