SQUARE THE DEAL, AT EASE

The insurance regulator has eased the claim filing process and plugged various gaps in the system to ensure that every genuine claim for Covid-related treatment is settled at the earliest

- Manik Kumar Malakar

Filing your insurance claim or seeking reimbursements against your insurance for a medical settlement is a challenge even at the best of times. The pandemic has made this challenging situation a nightmare.

In India’s duel with Covid, the government has put in place a host of guidelines to streamline the entire process of insurance claim settlement, while at the same time thwart any misuse of gaps in the rules.

“If you notice any symptoms that could be related to Covid-19, you should get your test done only at government-approved labs,” cautions Amit Chhabra, Head of Health Insurance at Policybazaar.com.

Covid claims are treated under the general health insurance system. There are two options for making a claim for expenses incurred in the treatment at a hospital. The first is a cashless claim that can only be utilized by the hospitals that have tie-ups with the insurance providers. Do note that the patient has to pay for any treatment that is not included in the health plan.

In case your hospital admission is planned, then do intimate your insurer in advance. If unplanned, you need to inform the insurance company within 24 hours of hospitalisation. For treatment in a non-listed hospital, you should inform your insurer within 48 hours of hospitalisation.