What is a Free Medical Check up in a Health Insurance?
A Free Medical Check up is one of the many perks that you avail by buying a health insurance policy. Many Insurance companies offer free medical tests such as Blood sugar test, Lipid Profile, Kidney function test, complete blood count test, and many other tests as complimentary for buying their policy. Policy buyers can avail these tests by going to the network diagnostic centres. This facility is offered on a yearly basis depending on the type of insurer through whom you are buying the policy.
Normally, a medical check up including these tests would cost you a few thousand bucks. With a Health Insurance, you can avail these tests free of cost.
Why is Free Medical Check up important?
Despite many insurers offering free medical checkups on buying a policy, very few avail them on time. The reason is the fear that it would increase their premium upon finding any medical ailment and some are not even aware of it.
A Free medical check up comes with several advantages. It can give you an idea about your body condition and alert you about any potential dangers to your health. Early detection about illness can allow you to take treatment well-in advance and prevent later complications. Treatments for illness after a specified stage is very expensive, early detection of conditions like heart, kidney, and liver can save you a lot of money. Moreover, you are in a better position to make lifestyle changes in order to combat the illness in a better way upon early detection.
How many Medical Checkups you can avail with Health Insurance?
The number of health checkups offered varies according to the type of Insurance plan that you opt for. For example, an individual health plan may offer a number of health checkups after a specified years of paying premium, on the other hand, a family floater plan can have a different criteria. Generally, a health insurance company will provide free health checkups even if you raise a claim during the policy duration. Users can rest assured that there will not be an increase in the premium even if there is an illness finding during a medical check up.
List of Medical Checkups offered
Mentioned below is the generalized list of tests offered by many Insurance providers. Some insurers may even offer tests beyond the ones that are mentioned here. You will have to check with the respective insures to know better at the time of purchasing the policy.
- Blood Pressure Test
- Blood Sugar Test
- Lipid Profile
- Complete Blood Count
- ECG Test (Recommended after 35 years of age of the policyholders)
- Liver Function Test
- Urine Analysis
- Kidney Function Test
- Liver Function Test
- Lung tests
Factors that influence free medical tests
Insurance Provider: Every Health Insurer has their own terms and conditions for availing free medical checkups along with their policies. You will have to check with the company and avail the benefits
Claim-Free Year: Free Medical Tests come with a caveat that it is available only after a certain number of claim free years. Usually, it is 4-5 years. However, these days many insurers offer them even if you raise a claim during the policy period
Sum Insured: Another factor that influences free medical tests is the amount of sum insured that you have opted for. If you choose a higher sum insured, then the insurer may offer more medical checkups. For example, a person who has coverage of Rs. 25 Lakhs gets more free medical check up limit than a person with a coverage of Rs. 5 Lakhs.
How to Avail a Free Medical Check up
- Call the Insurance company’s toll free number and inform them that you wish to take a medical checkup
- Insurer will check the lab and inform you the date on which you can take the tests
- Visit the health centre with your health card and authorization letter given by the insurer
- Get tested without paying a penny. However, if you take the tests in a non-network lab, you will have to pay out of your pocket, and later you claim for reimbursement
Conclusion
A Free medical checkup is a great perk that the policyholder can avail while purchasing a policy. Do not lose out on this privilege which comes with several advantages. Please note that the findings in a free medical check up have no bearing on the premium amount in the ongoing policy. Do not worry about increase in premium and abstain from using this incredible benefit.