Last month, when Shweta’s father had a scooter accident, he was very worried, not just because of the injury, but also about the procedures to be followed at the hospital. Before leaving for the hospital, Shweta, who was away on a business trip, told her mother not to forget to bring the Health Insurance Card. She assured her elderly parents that all procedures would be smoothly carried out, and they should just focus on her father getting better.
Upon reaching the hospital, Shweta’s parents presented the card at the reception and were relieved to see how it escalated the entire process. Rather than going through tedious paperwork to get admitted to a network hospital, presenting the health insurance card was sufficient.
A health insurance card is like a credit card for your medical expenses. You can use this at a network hospital to get coverage as promised under your health plan. To streamline the entire claim procedure, its importance goes beyond. Read on to know more.
As debit or credit cards have replaced the need to carry cash, a health insurance card has replaced the need to carry bulky policy documents. It is issued by your insurer when you purchase a health plan. Your health insurance card includes several necessary details, such as your name, age, insurer’s name, policy number, policy effective and expiry dates, etc.
Depending on your policy type, there can be different types of health insurance cards, such as:
How does it work?
When you visit a network hospital, you can simply show your health insurance card to get a cashless claim settlement.
Note: The claim settlement process may vary depending on your policy type and the insurance company.
If you have a health insurance card, know that you have access to cashless claim settlement at a network hospital. Here are the steps to use your health insurance card.
At any network hospital, present your health insurance card to the relevant authority.
The hospital verifies your health insurance card with the respective insurance company before proceeding.
Upon receiving approval from the health insurance company, the hospital allows you to receive cashless treatment.
A health insurance card is crucial to get the coverage as promised under a policy. It is the ultimate proof of your health plan. Here are some benefits of a health insurance card that will help you better understand its importance.
Just as your Aadhaar card or any other card issued by the government serves as an identity proof, a health insurance card is proof of your eligibility to get medical coverage.
The sole purpose of purchasing a reliable health insurance policy is to easily get a cashless claim settlement, especially during an emergency hospitalisation. In such cases, your health insurance card bails you out to ensure that you get a cashless claim settlement at a network hospital.
A health insurance card has replaced the need to carry bulky policy documents and go through the entire tedious process of policy verification. This is a smart card with a chip that stores all the information about the insured and the insurer.
Health insurance cards make it easy to track the claim history. Since it includes your health insurance policy documents and the number of claims you have raised, it facilitates easy claim tracking.
Once you have purchased a policy, your health insurance card can be used across India or even globally, depending on your policy type. This facilitates convenient use of your health insurance policy.
There is no denying that a health insurance card is an essential tool for seamless hospitalisation, but there are situations where you may not be able to use it. Knowing these restrictions helps you stay prepared and avoid unexpected delays during treatment.
As per the new guidelines, Cashless Everywhere allows you to seek treatment even at a non-network hospital. However, your health insurance card will not work for instant claim settlement. Make sure to check the details with your insurance provider.
If your health insurance policy has expired or is awaiting renewal payment, you would not be able to use your health card. Even if you have the card, the insurer will decline cashless treatment until the policy is active again.
As a policyholder. It is your responsibility to know the inclusions and exclusions of your policy. If the treatment you seek is not covered under your policy, such as exclusions, waiting period illnesses, or cosmetic procedures, the hospital cannot proceed with a cashless settlement.
Errors such as mismatched personal details, incorrect spelling, incorrect date of birth, or outdated TPA information may also cause the hospital to temporarily reject the card until the details are corrected. When you receive your card from your insurer, make sure all the details are correctly aligned with your policy.
Losing a health insurance card can be stressful, and thus, it is crucial that you keep it carefully. If you lose your Health Insurance Card, the first thing to do is to inform your insurance company immediately. Most insurers have a 24/7 helpline where you can report the loss and request a duplicate card. This helps ensure that your card is not misused and that your claim records remain protected.
Most health insurance companies provide you with a health insurance card. This card is the ultimate proof that you have purchased the policy and are eligible for cashless claim settlement at a network hospital for specific types of coverage. It ensures claim validation, cashless payments, and much more.
Since a health insurance card plays a vital role in ensuring claim settlement, you must choose a reliable health insurance provider. This is where Jio Insurance Broking comes into the picture. Here, you get access to multiple health insurance companies and their policies under the same platform.