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How to Avail Free Health Checkups in Insurance

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Health insurance is a smart way to safeguard yourself from high medical bills and get good healthcare when you need it. In India, where medical costs are increasing, a good insurance plan helps you get timely treatment without worrying about the bills. A comprehensive plan not only covers hospital stays and related costs but also provides additional benefits, such as free health check-ups. These checkups are useful because they can detect health problems early, allowing you to start treatment on time and avoid more significant issues later.

How to Use Free Medical Check-ups Covered by Your Health Insurance?

It is quite easy to avail a free medical check-up under health cover. Here are the steps:

• Contact your insurance provider through their customer care number or by visiting the branch physically and inform them that you want to avail of the free medical check-up.

• Select the network hospital or diagnostic centre for cashless health insurance and book a consultation.

• The insurer will provide an authorisation letter that you have to submit at the chosen centre and undergo the recommended tests.

• The centre will then submit the reports to the insurance company, and the bills will be settled directly between the insurer and the hospital or diagnostic centre.

• If you choose a non-network hospital, you have to pay the bills and file a reimbursement claim with the insurer.

Importance of Free Health Check-ups

Some key reasons why regular free health check-ups are important include:

• It helps in the early diagnosis of potential health issues like diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure, cancers, etc. This will help in addressing the health issues promptly for successful treatments.

• When diseases are detected at an early stage, and treatment begins early, it reduces the risk of complications during treatment.

• Regular check-ups will ensure that health issues are managed promptly and effectively. This will help prevent the progression of the disease and improve your overall health.

• Early-stage diseases usually do not require extensive medical intervention compared to those in an advanced stage. This helps reduce your financial burden.

• Regular health check-ups are particularly beneficial for those with chronic health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and thyroid as they will help manage the conditions better.

How Often Can Someone Get Free Medical Check-ups with Health Insurance?

The number of free full health check-ups a policyholder can avail of depends on the insurance provider, the type of policy – individual or family floater, and the plan’s terms and conditions. Some insurance providers offer health check-ups for not making any claims; others provide this benefit even if you have raised a claim during the policy term. Some insurers provide this benefit annually or every alternate year, while some companies offer free body check-ups once every four claim-free years.

Factors That Affect Free Medical Check-up Benefits

Some factors that affect free medical check-up benefits are:

• Sum insured amount:

The sum insured is the maximum amount you can claim from your insurer. If you choose a high sum insured, you will be eligible for more medical check-ups during the policy year.

• Insurance provider:

The benefits of free medical check-ups can vary from insurer to insurer. So, it’s better to check all the terms and conditions before buying the policy.

• Claim-free years:

Some insurers offer this benefit after a certain number of claim-free years.

List of Free Medical Tests Cover in Health Insurance

The list of medical tests differs from insurer to insurer and the sum insured of your health insurance policy. The details will be mentioned in your policy document. However, some basic tests covered under a health insurance plan include complete blood count (CBC), lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, urine analysis, ECG, chest X-ray, and liver function test. If you have a high sum insured, the coverage for free medical tests will be more. For example, if you have purchased two healthcare policies with a sum insured of Rs 20 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, respectively, the list of tests will be more in the first policy.

How to Apply for Free Medical Check-up Online?

Even though the best health insurance plan offers the benefit of free body check-ups, many of us hesitate to avail of it, assuming the process is cumbersome. But it is actually quite simple when you follow these steps:

• First, inform the insurance company by contacting their toll-free number, sending an email or WhatsApp message, or visiting the nearest branch office.

• The insurer will respond with your preferred time, date, and diagnostic centre. After you receive a confirmation, you will get an authorisation letter from the insurer.

• You have to carry this authorisation letter and your health card to the diagnostic centre.

• If you want to avail of a cashless facility, you need to get the check-up done at an empanelled diagnostic centre. The insurer will settle the bill directly up to the coverage limit. If you wish to get the tests done at any other place of your choice, you have to pay upfront and get it reimbursed.

Does the Result of the Health Test Affect Your Premium

The results of your free medical check-up under a health insurance policy do not affect your premium. The insurance company won’t increase your premium just because a health issue is found during the check-up. These tests are mainly meant to help you stay informed about your health and catch any problems early.

However, if the test results make you feel that your current coverage is too low, you can choose to increase the sum insured of your health plan. In that case, your premium will increase based on the additional coverage you choose. It won’t increase because of your health condition, but rather because you are opting for a higher sum insured. It is entirely your choice whether to upgrade your plan based on the check-up results.

Conclusion

Free medical checkups are a useful but often overlooked benefit of health insurance. They help you stay on top of your health and catch any problems early, without any extra cost. If your policy includes this feature, make sure to use it. Taking a few simple steps today can help you stay healthier in the long run.

Remember, when you buy individual or family health coverage plans, be sure to conduct thorough research and choose a policy that offers valuable benefits, such as free medical checkups. You can shortlist and compare a few plans, and also use a reliable online tool for calculating health insurance premiums. This will help you find a plan that fits both your needs and your budget.

FAQs

1. Is it mandatory to undergo a medical check-up before buying a policy?

This can differ from insurer to insurer and on the type of policy. Insurers usually mandate a pre-medical check-up for elderly persons or those having pre-existing diseases. If you are looking for a health plan with pre-existing coverage, you must undergo some tests as required by the insurer.

2. Why are medical tests conducted before buying a policy?

Medical tests are conducted to assess the applicant's risk profile and determine the premium and coverage accordingly.

3. Can I avail of the free check-up immediately after buying the policy?

The free medical check-up benefit can be availed only after one year of policy tenure. This means you can use the benefit during renewal and thereafter based on the policy terms and conditions.

4. What are the basic tests which are covered under health insurance?

Some basic tests include blood sugar test, lipid profile, complete blood count (CBC), urine analysis, liver function test, and chest X-ray.

5. Can I claim tax benefits for preventive health check-ups?

Yes, as per section 80D of the Income Tax Act, you can claim a maximum of Rs 5,000 for preventive health check-ups in a year. However, this should be within the permissible tax deduction limit for health insurance.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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