With sky-rocketing medical costs purchasing health insurance has become a basic necessity. And while international medical insurance is essential for overseas, your normal health coverage at home will typically cover you for medical on domestic travel.

As the cost of medical treatments, from minor ailments to critical illnesses, is steadily increasing across the world, having a policy becomes essential to protect your savings and family’s needs. Especially if you’re living in a country without universal healthcare (like the USA).

This is where  health insurance plans for family come into the picture. 

Given the vast range of medical insurance plans available, it can be quite difficult to choose the most appropriate plan for you. However, the search for the best family health insurance plan can be made super easy by knowing all the salient features of a mediclaim policy. 

Features to Look For When Buying Family Health Insurance

Facility to Avail of Cashless Treatment

Best family health insurance plans have the most important feature of cashless treatment.

With this feature, you can avail of cashless treatment at network hospitals without worrying about the finances as the medical bills are settled directly by the insurance company.  

Pre and Post-hospitalisation Charges

The most competitive health insurance providers offer complete coverage of pre-hospitalization expenses up to 30 days before hospitalization, and post-hospitalization charges up to 60 to 90 days after hospitalization. 

Tax Benefit

If you’re based in countries like India, health insurance plans for family are tax-friendly.

In India specifically, premiums paid for the health insurance policies are subject to tax deduction under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act 1961. 

Coverage for Alternative Treatments

Over the past few years, people have begun to explore the health benefits of alternative treatment therapies such as Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Siddha, Homeopathy, Acupressure, and the like.

Earlier, conventional health insurance policies used to cover only allopathic treatment. However, in the advent of newage features in health insurance, you can find insurance providers who provide coverage for alternative treatment costs up to a certain limit.

Organ Donor Cover

Old age is more vulnerable to experience health issues especially critical illnesses that require transplantation of organs such as heart and kidney.

Accordingly, some leading health insurers have designed innovative plans that will cover medical expenses incurred towards organ donor, to a certain amount, during the organ transplantation surgery.

Domiciliary Treatment Cover

There are times when someone may require treatment at home as well. 

Considering the urgency, health insurers have come up with the feature of domicilary treatment that have expanded their coverage to include the costs of home treatments as well as per the policy terms and conditions.