Can We Claim Health Insurance From Two Companies?

Due to the abrupt rise in healthcare fees, medical costs, and the lifestyle changes that make a spike in ailments each passing day, there is a significant boost in people opting for higher insured amounts. Hence more people are buying multiple online health insurance policies across different insurance policy companies. With the multiple health and medical insurance policies, personal bought online health insurance, and the second one from the employer, the most common question arises: Can we claim health insurance from two companies? And also, can we claim medical insurance from two companies? The answer is yes. One can claim health insurance and medical insurance from two or more companies. Except there are some conditions and processes, the policyholder needs to understand while claiming. Mr. Bhalla has two health insurance policies of INR 2 lakhs and INR 1 lakh, respectively. He was hospitalized for ten days for his hernia treatment. His hospitalization expenses raised to INR 2.5 lakhs. At the time of settling the hospital bills, he claims the bill of INR 2 lakhs from his first health insurance company and claims INR 50,000 from his second health insurance company. But his second claim got rejected, and he has to pay from his pocket. He was disappointed and asked the insurer for an explanation. Mr. Bhalla wasn’t aware that both the health insurance policies companies need to be informed about the other policies. Fail to do so; the claim can be rejected. Like Mr. Bhalla, many people aren’t aware of disclosing their health or insurance policies with each company from where you have taken the policies. The policyholder needs to fill up the proposal forms wherein the health insurance policy company asks to acknowledge other existing policies. The article below will explain everything about claiming health and how can we claim medical insurance from two companies. Make sure to read till the end before initiating any claims.

How can we claim health insurance from two companies?

Having access to two or multiple health insurance policies, the policyholder has flexibility in the number of claims at the time of a medical emergency. While most people know how to claim health insurance, sometimes it has been a complicated task while making claims on two policies. If the policyholder's health insurance claim is less than the sum assured, he can only claim under a single policy. If the claim is more than the sum assured of a single policy, then the policyholder can claim under two methods — Cashless Claims and Reimbursement Claims.

1. Cashless Claims

While claiming a cashless health insurance, the policyholder gets cashless hospitalization across the network hospital. In this case, the policyholder needs to raise the claim from his first health insurance company and get the claims settlement summary. Once it is one, the policyholder needs to attest hospitalization bills and approach the second health insurance company to request a balance amount.

2. Reimbursement Claims

The cashless mode is widespread nowadays, but in an emergency, the hospital where the policyholder is being treated is not part of the health insurance company provider's network hospital. In this case, the policyholder needs to pay the hospital bills first and later claim the insurer's reimbursement amount. After clearing the hospital bill, the policyholder needs to fill a claim form and attested all the documents and statements such as lab reports, discharge papers, x-rays, prescriptions, etc., and submit it to the health insurance policy company. The insurer will review the documents and accordingly will reimburse the amount. In case the policyholder is claiming from multiple insurers, he also needs to submit a claim settlement summary.

Below are some frequently asked questions asked by a policyholder about health insurance claims:

1. After how many days the policyholder can claim the health insurance?

Depending upon the health insurance policy provider, generally, it is after 30 to 45 days opting for a policy. Certain companies have a more extended waiting period for critical illness.

2. In a year, how many times can a policyholder claim his health insurance?

Multiple times until the sum insured amount is exhausted. However, certain insurers have limited the numbers of claims. One needs to check with the insurer before purchasing the health insurance policies.

Final Thoughts

At the time of unforeseen medical emergencies, to avail the best healthcare facilities in time, it is essential to invest in a health insurance policy plan that will grant you coverage for the medical treatment expenses. The policyholder has the liberty to invest in multiple health insurance policy plans and choose which policy needs to be used at the time required. The policyholder has a right to claim from two companies but need to make sure that the actual costs incurred for the treatment cannot be more than the sum claimed from the two health insurance policy companies. *Standard T&C apply Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.