Generally, a person’s treatment begins before hospital admission and extends beyond discharge. Pre- and post-hospitalisation covers plays a crucial role in easing the financial burden of an illness, allowing individuals to focus on getting better.

When searching for the ideal health insurance plan for yourself, you can explore different options and evaluate them on the basis of the benefits offered under the scheme. It is recommended that you look for a plan that provides pre- and pre-hospitalisation coverage for a substantial time period.

Keep reading to learn about the meaning of pre- and post-hospitalisation covers in insurance and their importance.

Pre-hospitalisation Cover

An insurance policy with a pre-hospitalisation cover provides financial protection for the medical expenses incurred by the policyholder(s) before their admission to a hospital. Some examples of pre-hospitalisation expenses are listed below:

1. Charges for diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasound

2. Cost of investigative procedures

3. Doctor’s consultation fees

4. Medication costs

Health insurance plans typically offer coverage for pre-hospitalisation expenditures for a period of up to 30 days before the hospitalisation date. However, this depends on your policy and insurance provider

Post-hospitalisation Cover

As the name suggests, post-hospitalisation cover in health insurance covers all expenses incurred by a policyholder(s) after being discharged from the hospital. Examples of post-hospitalisation expenses include the following:

1. Follow-up treatments

2. Medication

3. Diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and MRI scans, to monitor the progress

4. Consultation charges

Depending on your health insurance policy, you can get coverage for post-hospitalisation expenditures for up to 45−90 days after being discharged from the hospital.

How Pre- and Post- Hospitalisation Covers Work Together?

Pre- and post-hospitalisation covers in a health insurance plan complement each other to provide complete coverage for the insured person. When a person is admitted to the hospital, it generally follows multiple attempts to treat them at home with the help of medications and supplements that have not yielded the desired results. During hospitalisation, the doctor prescribes suitable medicines and orders necessary tests to diagnose the disease and devise a treatment plan to stop its progression. Conversely, after the individual is discharged and continues their care plan at home, the treatment journey persists.

While expenses incurred in hospitals amount to a fraction of the total treatment cost, the combined impact of pre-and post-hospitalisation covers is crucial in alleviating the financial burden on the policyholder.

In case your health insurance plan does not have pre- and post-hospitalisation covers, you can consider talking to your insurance provider about additional covers that provide you with the same or similar benefits. Alternatively, you can also consider switching your insurance policy to a better insurance provider if needed.

Importance of Pre- and Post-hospitalisation Covers

Medical bills often go beyond the expenses of hospitalisation. Apart from sudden injuries, a person will likely undergo several diagnostic procedures, take medications, and consult with various doctors. Additionally, after they are discharged from the hospital, they will need to revisit the hospital for follow-up procedures and ongoing medication to facilitate recovery. While all of these expenses may not seem like a big deal individually, they can become overwhelming really quickly when clubbed together.

While a health insurance plan covering expenses for hospitalisation and other medical procedures can be valuable, it is inherently limiting in nature. Thus, it is important for you to look for an insurance plan that provides coverage for expenses incurred before and after hospitalisation.

With pre- and post-hospitalisation cover, you can focus on healing rather than worrying about your finances. Such insurance plans make you better prepared to deal with a medical emergency and help you preserve your savings.

Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans

A good health insurance policy covers expenses incurred by its policyholders before and after hospitalisation to provide a comprehensive form of service and care. You can find a suitable insurance plan by using a health policy calculator. Additionally, there are many things to consider while investing in a health insurance policy, including pre- and post-hospitalisation cover, sum insured, premium rates, and the claim settlement ratio of the insurance provider.

With the Arogya Supreme Health Insurance policy, you can find the right solution for your healthcare requirements. This insurance plan provides 20 basic covers, and you have the option to choose from 8 additional covers. Anyone aged 18−65 years can invest in this health insurance policy to safeguard their future.

FAQs

You can claim expenses incurred before and after your hospitalisation by sending the necessary documents to the insurance provider’s office or opting for a cashless claim at one of the network hospitals of the insurance provider.

A health insurance plan that covers pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses offers the following benefits:

• Reduces financial burden
• Lowers stress
• Safeguards personal savings

A pre-hospitalisation cover provides coverage for medical expenses incurred before the policyholder is hospitalised, which includes lab tests and a doctor’s consultation. Expenses for follow-up treatments, tests to monitor the patient’s progress, medication, etc. are covered under a post-hospitalisation cover.

Generally, a health insurance policy covers up to 30 days of pre-hospitalisation expenses and up to 45–90 days of post-hospitalisation expenses. You are recommended to go through your policy details carefully or contact your insurance provider to learn about the clauses of your policy.

This depends on your policy and the type of coverage you have opted for. If you went through a medical procedure that required you to stay for a few hours in the hospital, it will be considered an outdoor-patient department (OPD) procedure. Insurance companies require a person to be hospitalised for at least 24 hours to consider their claim.