Domiciliary Hospitalization Meaning In Health Insurance Explained
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In general, hospitalization is required when people are diagnosed with any physical disorder and require a closer supervision of medical care and treatment. However, sometimes, in case of an accident, a person’s critical condition might not allow them to travel to a hospital, or there might be no beds available in a hospital. In such circumstances, individuals are often treated from the confines of their home itself and this is known as domiciliary hospitalization. Domiciliary hospitalization benefits are offered by many health insurance policies and it consists of several comprehensive benefits.
In this article, we are going to understand more closely what the term means and then look at some of its features and facilities, offered generally under various insurance companies.
Domiciliary Hospitalization Meaning In Health Insurance
In health and life insurance, it is important to understand any term in order to fully comprehend its significance and then buy or invest in a particular policy. In this sense, the term domiciliary hospitalization refers to the instance of receiving medical care and supervision at an individuals’ home instead of being hospitalitalized. Domiciliary hospitalization is sought when the patient is no longer in a situation to undertake the stress of travelling to a hospital or they could not be admitted in any hospital due to a lack of beds. Under such a scenario, an individual receiving medical help at home is liable to receiving financial aid as domiciliary hospitalization benefits from their health insurance provider. But, they have to prove that there was no option of receiving medical intervention elsewhere and their treatment has to last for a minimum of 3 days to be fully covered by any insurance policy.
Now that the basic meaning of domiciliary hospitalization is clear, let us understand some of the benefits that come with it -
As a feature of a health insurance policy, domiciliary hospitalization covers the costs of medical treatment and procedures that the life insured receives at home, instead of hospitalization. You can avail a domiciliary treatment benefit by paying a higher premium and the following pointers will hopefully convince you about why it is necessary -
Benefits of Domiciliary Hospitalization
Followings are the benefits which you can enjoy with health insurance plans which offer domiciliary hospitalization -
Quick Medical Intervention
The major benefit of having a domiciliary cover is that it prevents delay in receiving medical attention. It allows for swift and immediate medical intervention when the life assured might require hospitalization within 24 hours but is either not in a condition to be shifted to the hospital or there are no free beds in a hospital to accommodate them. In this way, it paves the way for your speedy recovery and ensures that there is no compromise for your healthcare demands.
Adequate Compensation
Domiciliary hospitalization benefits offer a complete reimbursement and compensation of all medical expenses incurred by a policyholder. However, this compensation is subject to the compulsory medical treatment of an individual for a minimum of 3 days and it must be proven that there was no alternative way of receiving medical assistance. You should remember that this compensation will not be equal to the sum assured, but lesser than it.
Comprehensive Coverage
The comprehensive coverage under the domiciliary hospitalization feature extends to group insurance where you can cover your family members under this clause in a single insurance policy. It ensures financial protection for your family in case of reduced mobility and the need of constant medical scrutiny at home. However, sometimes this benefit comes with certain exclusions and you must be aware of its eligibility conditions and disclose all of your medical documents before making a claim.
Covers Alternative Modes Of Treatment
An added advantage of domiciliary hospitalization is the fact that it allows a policyholder to get a second opinion and also financially covers their costs of receiving treatment under alternative modes of treatment apart from Allopathic medicine such as Ayurvedic, Homeopathic and Unani. Therefore, policyholders have the option to take recourse to differential mode of medical treatment under domiciliary hospitalization, in case they stop responding to any particular kind of medical procedures.
Best Health Insurance Plans With Domiciliary Hospitalization
There are many health and life insurance companies that come with domiciliary benefits. The following are a list of the most significant insurance providers that offer this feature -
- Family Health Protector (IFFCO Tokio Health Insurance Company)
- Happy Family Floater Policy (Oriental Health Insurance Company)
- Care Policy (Care Health Insurance Company)
- ProHealth (ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company)
- One Health Insurance (Magma HDI Health Insurance Company)
Conclusion
Hopefully, you are now aware of the domiciliary hospitalization feature and the benefits that come along with it. In practical terms, you must not depend on this feature to not consult a formal medical institution during times of a medical emergency. It is just an added feature to the list of benefits that you receive from a health insurance provider and if you wish to incorporate this aspect into your insurance, you should purchase it from a company that offers this benefit.
