How to enhance your medical insurance coverage

Published March 25, 2019 by Sanjay Kumar Singh in Business Standard via Rediff.com, this article explains how individuals in their mid-forties and fifties can enhance their medical insurance coverage through top-up (TU) and super top-up (STU) policies. A sum insured of Rs 3-5 lakh, adequate seven-eight years ago, is now insufficient, especially in metros, with medical inflation at 12-15% annually. The article recommends buying a TU/STU from another insurer if the current insurer denies higher coverage or applies loading. It differentiates TU, where each claim must exceed the deductible, from STU, where claims are aggregated annually. Experts suggest setting the deductible equal to the base policy's sum insured, with examples of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh including non-reducing no-claim bonus. The article warns of varying premiums, advises checking insurer brand strength, claim settlement ratio, and features like OPD cover, while avoiding sub-limits and preferring minimal waiting periods for pre-existing diseases. It also notes the cumbersome reimbursement process when base and STU policies are from different companies, requiring customers to wait for document return or get them authenticated.