Posted on: Feb 12, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

How to Check Health Insurance Policy Status?

Ways to Check Health Insurance Policy Status

Imagine a situation where you urgently need medical treatment for an unexpected illness or injury, only to find out that your health insurance policy has lapsed. Scary, isn’t it? The financial burden of medical expenses can be overwhelming and could potentially jeopardise your well-being and that of your loved ones. Such a scenario underscores the importance of regularly checking your health insurance policy status. Ensuring that your best health insurance policy remains active and up-to-date is a proactive measure that can provide you with peace of mind and shield you from unexpected financial setbacks during times of medical need.

Importance of checking the validity

A lot can go wrong if your health insurance policy is not active and up-to-date. And here’s why it’s important to check the validity of your policy:

• First and most important, you are no longer covered if your policy is not renewed on time. If, during this period, when you are out of coverage, you meet with an accident or need hospitalisation due to an ailment, you have to bear all the medical expenses.

• Every policy has a waiting period for some diseases. If your policy lapses and you have to revive or buy a new one, you have to start the waiting period all over again. For instance, if you have already completed 1 year 10 months of a 2-year waiting period, it will not be counted in case of policy lapse.

• You cannot raise a claim if your policy is not active and valid.

• You can lose the accumulated No Claim Bonus (for not making any claims during a policy year) if you revive the policy after it expires.

Hence, renewing your health insurance before its expiry for uninterrupted coverage is essential.

How do you check your health insurance policy’s status?

Your health insurance policy status or plan validity will be mentioned in your document. However, if you don’t find the document, there are still many ways to check the policy’s status:

• Via website

Visit the insurance provider’s official website and log in with your policy number, registered phone number, or email ID. Alternatively, you can click on Support/Help on the home page and go to Check Policy Status/Know Your Policy. The options may vary from insurer to insurer. Next, you need to enter your Policy Number/Mobile/Email ID and click on Continue or Check Status. The policy details will be displayed, wherein you can find the validity of the policy, coverage, current status, etc.

• Via email

Send an email to the insurance company requesting the policy document or an update on your policy status. You just have to provide the policyholder’s name, policy number, registered phone number, etc.

• Via Customer Care

Dial the toll-free customer care number of the insurance provider, which can be found on the insurer’s website. Provide the policy number (if you have it) or the policyholder’s name and contact number and ask about the policy status. On verifying your details, the customer care executive will fetch the details.

• Via SMS

Type in your policy number, the relevant keyword, in a particular order, like POLSTATUS<> (Policy Number), and send it to the designated number. When the request gets processed, you will receive the updates via SMS.

• Via Nearest Branch

You can also visit the insurance company’s nearest branch and enquire about the status of your health insurance policy.

What to do if your policy has lapsed?

1. If your policy has lapsed and you have missed the grace period also, you must approach the insurance provider for policy revival. If the insurer finds a genuine reason behind the lapse, they can consider your request or else reject it. The insurer will decide based on your premium-paying ability, current health conditions, settlement of dues, etc. Some insurers allow you to revive the policy within six months of its expiry date. But you have a pay a penalty for it.

2. The second option is purchasing a new health insurance plan. If the revival of the lapsed policy becomes more expensive because of the premium and penalty than buying a new plan, it’s wise to go for a new one.

Conclusion

A health insurance policy is meant to give you much-needed financial protection when you need it the most. To stay covered at all times, don’t forget to keep a tab on the validity of the health insurance policy. Timely renewal can save you from unexpected financial crises.

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

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