Are you tired of the hassle and stress of managing medical expenses? Traditional health insurance policies often require you to pay for your medical bills upfront and then wait for reimbursement from your insurer. This process can be particularly challenging during emergencies or unplanned hospitalizations. That's where cashless health insurance comes in as a game-changer.

Cashless health insurance is a type of policy that offers a seamless experience. And, it provides cashless hospitalization services to policyholders at the network hospitals of the insurance company. With this type of coverage, you don't have to worry about arranging money upfront or going through reimbursement procedures later on. The insurer directly settles the bills with the hospital on your behalf.

• Convenience and Peace of Mind With cashless health insurance, you avoid the inconvenience of arranging funds at short notice during a medical emergency. Instead, you can simply visit any network hospital without worrying about immediate payment while receiving quality healthcare services.
• Access to Quality Medical Care Cashless health insurance ensures that policyholders have access to top-notch medical care at network hospitals. These hospitals are carefully selected based on their infrastructure, facilities, and track record in delivering exceptional healthcare services.
• Financial Stress Reduction Dealing with financial burdens during times of illness or injury can be overwhelming. Cashless health insurance significantly reduces your financial stress by covering your medical expenses directly through its network of hospitals. You can focus on recovering without worrying about managing payments.
• Streamlined Recovery Process By eliminating financial concerns, cashless health insurance allows you to fully concentrate on recuperation after an illness or injury. You can focus on getting back in good shape rather than being preoccupied with handling bills and reimbursements.
  It is important to understand that there may be certain limitations associated with cashless health insurance:
• Network Hospital Limitations Cashless benefits are available only at the network hospitals affiliated with your insurance provider. Before purchasing a policy, make sure to review and understand the list of network hospitals to ensure they are conveniently located for your healthcare needs.
• Exclusions and Caps Some expenses or specific treatments may not be covered by cashless health insurance due to exclusions or caps mentioned in the policy's terms and conditions. It is crucial to carefully review these details before making a claim.
• Pre-Approval Requirements For certain treatments or procedures, prior approval or authorization from the insurer may be necessary before availing of cashless benefits. It is advisable to reach out to your insurer for clarification on such requirements.
• Co-payment or Deductible Clauses Certain policies include co-payment or deductible clauses where you are required to contribute a certain percentage or amount towards your medical bills. Understanding these clauses is essential when comparing different policy options.

1. Compare and Choose Start by comparing different cashless health insurance plans available from various insurers online. You can use trusted platforms to compare benefits, coverage options, exclusions, and premiums across different plans. Consider both your healthcare needs and budget while selecting the most suitable plan.
2. Purchase Online After selecting a plan that aligns with your requirements, proceed with purchasing it online using secure payment methods such as debit cards, credit cards, net banking, UPI (Unified Payments Interface), etc.). Once payment processing is complete:
   • You will receive a confirmation message along with an email from the insurer.
   • Save the email containing your policy document securely for future reference.
3. Renew and Update It is essential to renew your cashless health insurance policy annually before its expiry date. Online renewal can be conveniently done through the same platforms you used during the purchase or directly on the insurer's website itself. Take this opportunity to review your coverage needs and make any necessary updates, such as increasing the sum insured or adding or removing family members.
   To ensure a smooth experience when using your cashless health insurance:
   • Keep your policy documents and card easily accessible whenever you visit a network hospital.
   • Inform your insurer promptly about any planned admissions or hospitalizations to streamline the process.
   • Check with both your insurer and the hospital regarding cashless facility availability and familiarize yourself with the approval process in advance.
   • Submit all required documents and proofs to support your claim promptly for smoother processing.
   • Read through your policy document carefully to understand its terms and conditions, exclusions, claim processes, etc.

Section 80D of the Income Tax Act of 1961, offers a deduction on health insurance policies which is additional to the INR 150,000 exemption provided under Section 80 C and explained above.

Individuals can avail this benefit for policies paid for self, spouse and/or children. In case of HUF, it’s applicable for the entire family.

As per Section 80D, premium paid for health insurance policies (individual as well as family-floater plans) is exempt from tax deduction. The extent of this benefit is INR 25,000 in the year, unless the policyholder is a senior citizen. In such cases, the exemption limit is INR 50,000. However, this is subject to rules. Please see the table below.