Is there any waiting period applicable for viral infections like Ebola, H1N1, and now Coronavirus

Is there any waiting period applicable for viral infections like Ebola, H1N1, and now Coronavirus? 20^th April 2020

Every hospitalization insurance policy comes with a stipulated waiting period which signifies the number of days that must lapse before the policy coverage begins for specific health conditions. The exact duration of the waiting period varies according to insurance companies. Before you opt for any health insurance policy for family , the concept of this waiting period must be understood adequately as different coverage have different waiting periods and different rules. There are several cases where customers subscribe to insurance policies offering wrong details. To avoid losses caused by wrongful claims or misrepresented medical history, the concept of the waiting period was introduced by the insurance companies.

Types of waiting periods

The first is the Initial waiting period, which means that if a person gets hospitalized in the first 30 days from the start of the policy, they won't receive any claim benefit from the insurance. Only after the said waiting period has lapsed would the policy cover the specified health conditions; otherwise, no claim will be entertained by the company. Also, note that this 30 days waiting period is for illnesses but not applicable for injuries.

Second type of waiting period is the pre-existing waiting period. This waiting period id relevant only for specific health conditions that have been disclosed by the policyholder while subscribing to the policy. This waiting period is the type of waiting period that involves a condition within four years before signing up for health insurance. The length of this waiting period can, however, vary from 12-48 months. Thus, the pre-existing waiting period will be covered under the plan after the passing of the timeframe mentioned in the insurance policy.

Please check the specific disease waiting period, while taking a policy which applies to specified illnesses as listed in your health policy. In critical illness policy, there is a lump sum amount paid if the ailment is covered under the critical illness section in your policy. However, COVID-19 is not covered under critical illness, except for specifically designed products that were introduced in the market recently.

There are various questions raised as to illnesses like H1N1, Ebola, and the latest one being the Coronavirus are included in the health insurance and whether or not they have a waiting period associated with it. However, many of the policy providers mentioned that COVID 19 could be covered in the health insurance policy, which will ensure that there is no dent on your savings. It is advisable to check with your insurer about the terms, conditions and exclusions.

Health crisis can occur to anyone at any point in time, so it is wise if you take up health insurance plans to keep yourself and your family financially secure. Several companies offer different critical illness plan with different hospitalization, and so before you choose the

health insurance plans

health insurance for family, you need to research thoroughly to make an informed decision.