A Handbook to Understand Top-up and Super Top-up Plans
There is a fixed sum insured in each insurance policy and in case it gets exhausted then not many hospitalization expenses are covered by the Health insurance company. In order to overcome such situations, insurance providers have introduced a solution in the form of top-up plans. This plan comes into use when the policyholder has exhausted the entire sum insured under the regular insurance plan. Such plans are helpful especially for costly surgery, where the sum insured would not be enough to cover the entire expenses. Various health insurance plans in India have the options of top-up and super top-up policy that together adds up to the benefits of a top-up plan.
Basic Insurance Terms
Read on to know the meaning of basic insurance terms, in order to better understand the top-up and super top-up plan:
1. Basic Coverage: The insurance cover provided by the individual health plan is known as basic coverage. Once the basic coverage gets exhausted that is when the top-up and super top-up plan comes into the picture. For example, a health insurance provides a sum insured of Rs 5 lakhs, now this is your base coverage or it can also be known as the base plan.
2. Deductible Limit: the amount that the policyholder is required to bear at the time of claim is referred to as the deductible. However, talking about the top-up and super top-up plan, the deductible is said to be the limit after which the top-up and super top-up plans get activated. For instance, in case there is a deductible of Rs 6 lakhs, the coverage will come into play once the hospital expenses go beyond Rs. 6 lakhs.
What is a Top-Up Plan?
A top-up plan offers coverage to the policyholder above the existing sum insured limit. It is a kind of safety net that can help an individual at the time of a financial crisis.
What is a Super Top Up Plan?
An extra cover is provided over the top-up plans in a super top-up plan. On one hand, when a top-up plan considers the deductible limit on a single claim, on the other hand, a super top-up plan considers the deductible threshold on an aggregate base, simply saying, it considers multiple claims made by the policyholder during the policy duration.
Which Plan to Choose?
Enhanced coverage is offered both by top-up plans as well as super top-up plans. Now the question arises, how much-enhanced coverage is sufficient for an individual? In case, a person feels that their health situation would demand them to raise multiple claims in a year, then should opt for a super top-up plan. Otherwise, opting for a top-up plan should also be sufficient enough to enhance your basic cover.
Things to Remember
Highlighted below are few important pointers regarding top-up and super top-up plan:
- If there is a higher deductible limit, then the premium for your top-up/super top-up plan would be lower and vice versa.
- An individual can avail of tax benefits on top-up or super top-up plans.
- When compared to a Comprehensive Individual Health Plan, top-up/super top-up plans are usually low priced.
- An individual can buy a top-up/super top-up plan individually from different insurance providers.
Also Read
Long-Term Health Insurance & Its Benefits
Conclusion
Both the top-up and super top-up plan acts as a financial safety net if any major claims arise and basic coverage might not be enough. Therefore, it is important to select your plan wisely after going through the entire terms and conditions carefully. Different insurance providers may offer their plans differently, so it is important to carefully read the policy document prior to purchasing the top-up and super top-up plans.
Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.
