Outlook Money
Health insurance has significantly changed before and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 promoted a re-evaluation from both health insurance companies and policyholders.
Pre-pandemic health insurance primarily focused on standard features such as cumulative bonus, waiting periods, and room rent capping.
Modular plans in health insurance have marked a departure from the traditional bundled packages that offer fixed benefits and coverage options.
Before Covid, waiting periods were the norm with most plans imposing a four-year wait for pre-existing conditions and certain treatments. After the pandemic, a significant shift has been witnessed where many policies provide Day 1 coverage if the customer opts to pay an additional 10-15 per cent premium.
Before the pandemic, health insurers provided a maximum NCB of up to 150 per cent for policyholders who remained claim-free throughout the policy year but now bonuses can reach up to 10 times the original value.
Earlier, mental health coverage was frequently excluded from numerous insurance policies. However, now there is a growing acknowledgement of the significance of mental health, leading many insurers to broaden their coverage for mental health treatments.
People are now seeking health insurance coverage for diseases that were once considered incurable to support the hospitalization expenses.
Compiled by Syed Muskan