How To Include A Spouse In Your Health Insurance Plan?

Thinking about adding your spouse to your health insurance plan but not sure where to start?  You are not the only one! Most couples come across this question, especially after marriage. 

So,

How can you make sure your partner is covered and protected?

In this blog, we'll discuss the different ways to include your spouse in your health insurance. Be it a group plan sponsored by your employer, self-employed health insurance policies, or family floater schemes – we will cover everything!

Let's begin! 

What Are Some Ways Someone Can Include Their Spouse In A Health Insurance Plan?

By adding your spouse to the health insurance coverage plan, you can ensure that both of you are free from the financial burden that comes with medical emergencies. It could be through your employer or an individual policy; there are several options. Let's discuss some of the common methods of adding your spouse to a health insurance policy.

1. Employer Health Insurance Plans

Many organisations provide their employees with health insurance policies. However, these policies normally take care of the employee's medical needs alone. Nevertheless, they tend to offer an extension of cover to the immediate family members, especially the spouse. 

Contact your HR or the insurance company to verify whether adding your husband or wife to your employment policy is an option. It is an appealing alternative since the interest rates are cheaper than individual plans, and it also makes it easier to insure your partner under the same insurance policy.

2. Individual Health Insurance Plans

If your partner cannot enrol in your employer's plan or you want more specific benefits, opting for an individual health insurance plan is a good idea. This option is more advantageous as it allows one to select a policy that is in accordance with the spouse's health condition. 

The plan may be further altered by selecting options such as coverage limits, network hospitals and additional riders according to the medical needs of your spouse.

3. Family Floater Health Insurance Plans

Enrolling in a family floater health insurance plan is another great way to provide health insurance to your partner. This insurance plan is designed to cover the whole family under one policy. You can either add your spouse to the already existing policy, or you can buy a new one. However, be aware that it may be necessary to choose a high sum insured so that you and your spouse both have sufficient coverage. Buying separate medical insurance for all family members may be a lot more expensive than a family floater plan that allows the entire family to be covered under one policy. 

Also, if you both are earning, you can split health insurance premiums and claim tax deductions under Section 80D. 

Eligibility for Including a Spouse in Your Health Insurance Plan

Your spouse can be added to your health insurance plan. However, some eligibility factors worth considering include the following:

• Marriage Status: It is necessary that you are legally married to your spouse in order to enrol them into your plan.
• Age: Depending on the insurer, there may be certain age limits, particularly if your spouse has pre-existing health conditions.
• Employment Status: In situations where the spouse has their own employer's coverage, benefits may be coordinated or wavering coverage.
• Waiting Periods: Based on the provider, your spouse's benefits may be limited for some time, especially for pre-existing illnesses after their enrollment.

Always consult your insurer regarding the specific conditions to ensure that your spouse's coverage is adequate.

Documents Required to Add Your Spouse

Health insurance providers request certain documents for relationship verification when a spouse is being added to the plan:

• Marriage Certificate: This is usually the main document presented by couples to prove legal marriage.
• Address Proofs: In the case of a domestic partnership or live-in arrangements, it may be necessary to provide joint address proofs.
• Income Slips: These might be considered necessary to show joint income status sometimes.
• Proposal Forms and Nominee Declarations: These forms serve to verify the given information about the insured person's spouse, along with their eligibility to make claims.

All heads up will lead to ease in the entire enrollment process and even speed it up.

Impact on Premiums and Coverage

When you add your partner to the health insurance plan, most often, there will be changes in the premiums and coverage:

Premiums

• Increased Costs: As far as costs are concerned, be ready for increased monthly premiums as numerous factors will be put into play, such as the age and health status of the spouse. For instance, older spouses or those with pre-existing conditions will naturally lead to higher costs.
• Premium Split: As per Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, both you and your spouse can split the premium and claim benefits under tax provisions for family floater plans.

Coverage

• It may be necessary to increase the coverage provided to make it ample for your partner.

Things to Consider When Changing a Health Insurance Policy After Marriage

Here are some important factors to consider when adding your spouse to your health insurance policy –

1. Review Your Partner's Medical History

A spouse's medical records are one of the first things to look at. This will assist you in determining if any current illnesses require treatment. Most health insurance policies have a waiting period for pre-existing illnesses; therefore, confirm if those illnesses are included in the coverage. 

If your spouse suffers from a condition that is not covered by the regular plans, you must buy a plan offering coverage for critical illnesses.

2. Understand Tax Benefits

Knowing the advantages of buying health insurance from a tax perspective is also quite beneficial. Health insurance premiums paid fall under tax deduction according to Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, enabling you to cover health costs for yourself and your partner without incurring any additional expenses.

3. Budget and Financial Planning

After marriage, financial planning tops the list, especially when you have just incurred the costs of a wedding ceremony. Opt for a health insurance policy that provides proper health coverage and is affordable. Different plans and features in the market will enable the policyholder to secure the best policy that suits their needs and is not too expensive. 

4. Plan for Future Family Needs

Starting a family is a wonderful experience that comes with many challenges. One of them is maternity coverage. Maternity benefits are not included in every health insurance policy, and in most of them, there is a waiting period before one can make any claims. Looking into these factors and planning for them in advance will enable you to settle for an insurance policy that will cater for your family's healthcare needs in the future.

Wrapping Up!

To sum up, putting your partner on your health insurance plan is a responsible step. Be it through your employer, an individual insurance plan or a family floater plan, it is very important to know the options and what the plan covers. Doing this now will help you enjoy the comfort and peace of mind you will have in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques 1. Can I add my spouse to my employer-provided health plan?

Ans. Yes, most employer-sponsored health plans do allow adding spouses and other dependents, but it is advisable to check with the HR department or the relevant insurance provider for specifics. 

Ques 2. What documents are needed to facilitate the addition of my spouse to the health coverage? 

Ans. Usually, a marriage certificate and proof of residence are required in addition to proof of a joint income in some instances.

Ques 3. Will my premium increase if I add my spouse? 

Ans. In most cases, yes. Adding a spouse will increase costs in most instances due to age and/or pre-existing conditions.

Ques 4. What is a family floater health plan?

Ans. A family floater plan covers all family members, including your spouse, under a single policy. 

Ques 5. Does adding my spouse to health insurance attract tax benefits? 

Ans. Yes, Section 80D allows a tax deduction of any health insurance premium paid by you on account of your spouse.