Free Health Checkup – A Vital Health Insurance Feature
When purchasing a health insurance policy, buyers look for benefits that make the policy worthwhile. While looking for benefits such as pre; post-hospitalization, maternity & newborn baby cover, emergency ambulance, OPD expenses, and more, often the feature that gets ignored is free health checkup. Yes, free health checkup is one of the prime benefits that most health insurance companies provide. So, if you too have been looking forward to buying an ideal health insurance policy to prepare yourself for medical emergencies, make sure you do not ignore the aspect of free health checkup while going through the policy documents.
What All Is Included Under Free Health Checkup?
In general, the list of tests included in the free health checkup benefit includes tests like:
- Blood Sugar
- Complete Blood Count
- Lipid Profile
- ECG
- Urine Test
- Chest X-Ray, and more.
Offered to motivate policyholders to be aware of their health, free health checkups have no bearing on the policy, even at the time of renewal. Take note that the list of tests included in the free health checkup feature varies based on health insurance companies as well as policy.
Things to Remember ABout Free Health Checkup
A few key points to remember about free health checkups include:
- Free health checkups can only be availed after a block of three to five claim-free years. The number of years varies depending on the health insurance company.
- Some health insurance companies provide a routine medical examination of the policyholders even if they have filed a claim. Care Health Insurance, Bajaj Allianz, and ICICI Lombard are to name a few.
- No extra renewal premium or loading is charged if the test results are not up to the mark. In other words, you don’t have to pay anything extra if your health has changed after buying the policy.
- The medical test reports are considered only if the policyholder wants to enhance the sum insured amount at the time of policy renewal.
- In case, the free health checkup tests are done at the impaneled center, the policyholder is not required to pay any fees. The health insurance company pays as per the agreed rates. If the policyholder wants to undergo checkups at a lab of their choice (not a part of the health insurance company’s network), they can ask their health insurance company to arrange a checkup and later get the amount reimbursed.
- Usually, health insurance companies specify the centers for free health checkups for the ease of the policyholders.
How to Avail Free Health Checkup?
The importance of undergoing free health checkups offered by health insurance companies cannot be emphasized enough. But, the main question that still remains is, “ How do I avail my free health checkup?”
If you want to avail of free health checkup under your health insurance policy, follow the following steps:
1. Get in touch with your health insurance company. You can either call or send an email. Visiting your health insurance company's nearby office is also an option you can go with.
2. Certain health insurance companies provide an online form for a free health checkup. Fill the online form if your health insurance company requires it to provide the benefit.
3. Your health insurance company will provide the name of centers where the free health checkup will be done. If you want to avail the free health checkup benefit at a center other than the ones included in the company’s network list, ask your insurance provider to arrange for a checkup.
4. You will receive an appointment letter once your appointment has been scheduled.
5. On the day of your appointment, show the appointment letter as well as your health card to the concerned person at the center.
6. Once your free health checkup is done, wait for your test results. File for reimbursement if your center is not a part of your health insurance company’s network list.
Last
While policyholders get the most of other health insurance benefits, free health checkup remains neglected. If you really want your health insurance policy to do complete justice to your health and medical requirements, make sure you emphasize the free health checkup feature while looking for a policy.
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.
