Every individual must buy a health insurance policy. With age come uncertainties. It is always wise to be prepared for the worst. Individual health insurance is excellent as it is a defense against a much-unwanted health-related surprise that life might throw at you. A health insurance policy provides you protection and allows you to enroll your entire family and offer them health protection at an affordable cost.
A group health insurance policy is different from an individual one; read ahead to know more:
Difference between Individual Health Insurance and Group Health Insurance
As the name suggests, individual health insurance covers an individual against health risks. Similarly, a family floater policy covers the personal and their family against the perils. The Premium will be based on the sum insured, i.e., the maximum amount the insurance provider would pay for the medical treatment. In the case of individual health insurance, it is the compensation that the insurer pays to the insured for the treatment of an illness, especially if it involves hospitalization. Health insurance can also be availed for therapy if the policyholder meets with an accident.
An organization’s insurance plan to provide health coverage for their employees or group members and their families is known as group health insurance or group mediclaim policy.
Now let us look at some more aspects that affect you as a policyholder.
Insurance Cost
Group insurance cover costs less compared to an individual policy. Some group policies, especially employers, can have no premium burden on an individual as the employer pays it. However, employees can get additional cover or benefits for their family, children, and spouse at the cost of an additional premium. In this case, the Premium is a small amount and is deducted from the employee’s monthly salary.
Obtainability
Before issuing a health insurance policy, the insurance company conducts its due diligence, including medical tests, to ascertain the risks involved. You will easily get an individual health insurance policy if your health is good. However, certain situations are based on an individual’s medical history, leading to the rejection of a personal health insurance policy. With the help of a group insurance policy, you can get your family members also covered. This can be true even if, in some cases, the family members might find it difficult to get an individual policy due to medical history. The group insurance providers usually don’t look into the individual employees but the number of employees to get insurance for themselves and the entire family.
Cumulative Bonus
A cumulative Bonus or CB is a benefit offered by health insurance plans. Under this, if you do not claim in a single financial year, you will be entitled to a concession on premium renewal or an increase in the insured sum at the same Premium. Almost every individual health insurance policy provides you with this benefit.
However, under a group insurance policy, even if an employee does not make even a single claim over the financial year, you won’t be entitled to any NCB. You won’t get NCB with any group insurance plan.
The validity of the plan
An individual health insurance plan will be applicable until the policy is discontinued, as long as you pay the Premium on time. Under a group insurance policy, you’re entitled to receive coverage as long you’re employed within an organization or are part of the group. As soon as you resign, the group cover will cease to exist.
The most important point to remember is that health insurance shouldn’t be an option. Instead, it must be a priority. It is important to understand health insurance, why you need it, and how you can make the most out of your coverage. While both gr and individual health insurance plans have their benefits, having two health plans rather than one could be better because if one insurer rejects your claim, you can return to the other one. Therefore, both group and individual health covers are beneficial. Always remember to compare health insurance policies online before choosing one!
