Addressing Health Insurance Needs Of Senior Citizens Through Saarthi Service

India’s growing senior population requires a better insurance infrastructure that keeps in mind their growing needs and assists them accordingly.

Many individuals have the responsibility of looking after their parents, and accordingly, they take care of their needs, including their living expenses and medical care, and often buy insurance for their parents health requirement needs. This leads to parents becoming dependent on their children which has the possibility of increasing the financial burden on the children in instances where the parent is either underinsured or the claims are rejected or partially rejected. There’s also the problem of communication as the insurer is not in direct contact with the policyholder, but with their children who handle the policy on behalf of their parents.

Addressing Insurance Needs of Seniors

Insurance is vital for senior citizens. It allows them security during medical emergency and assurance that they are secured during times of emergency without having to pay out of their own pocket. Lack of a comprehensive insurance creates additional financial burden during a medical emergency.

As such, when buying insurance for seniors, it is important to take note of the inclusions and exclusions and the actual coverage. Seniors need extra and frequent care to maintain a dignified life and they need to take care of these aspects while buying an insurance policy.

Managing Insurance From Distance

Many senior citizens depend on their children to manage their insurance. However, this often leads to problems. Be it a non-resident Indian (NRI) or a son or daughter living outstation managing their parents’ insurance needs, there are always inconsistencies or restrictions that the elderly have to face.

As such, it is difficult to manage insurance when the person buying the policy themselves does not have much knowledge or understanding of their own policy, coverage and exclusions.

Tailored Support for Senior Citizens

Now, many insurers have come out with facilities to offer tailor-made services to senior citizens to help them with their insurance needs.

Policybazaar recently announced a step-by-step insurance concierge service initiative named Saarthi for seniors. It focuses on explaining and providing services throughout the health insurance and healthcare journey of senior citizens in India. The objective of this initiative, Policybazaar said in a press release, is to provide support during emergencies or even in daily health related tasks management to seniors.

Members will be assigned a 24/7 relationship manager to support elders across cities, allowing children who are living away from their parents to manage the latter’s insurance and healthcare needs. The initiative aims to address the lack of emotional support for senior citizens, which can lead to mental illnesses, such as depression and loneliness.

According to Policybazaar, Saarthi provides specialised sales and service advisors, a direct helpline for senior citizens, on-ground claims support, and senior-focused concierge services. It focuses on understanding the unique needs of seniors, coordinating with hospitals and arranging ambulances, and partnering with home healthcare providers and diagnostics centres, it added.