How to Use Free Medical Checkups Covered by Your Health Insurance?

 

There are many perks of availing health insurance and free health check-ups are one of them. Some prominent health insurance providers allow you to avail routine tests such as lipid profile, blood pressure, blood sugar tests, doctor consultations, etc., for free. Usually, such facilities are offered once a year based on the health policy you have chosen.

In this article, we will deep dive in, especially into the free health check up facility under health insurance, importance, application procedure and more.

Importance of Free Health Check-ups

Health insurance with free medical check-ups helps in the identification of various health complications at a stage where they are easy to treat. Here are their benefits:

• Early Diagnosis:

It helps in early diagnosis of underlying diseases at an early stage preventing complications from getting more severe. It ultimately reduces the risk of complications and directly increases the chances of successful treatment.

• Improved Savings:

Getting diagnosed with a medical illness at an early stage can save a huge amount of money, which otherwise could have been a huge financial burden on your family.

• Monitoring Health and Wellness:

Monitoring your health and wellness on a regular basis can help you keep track of your existing medical conditions. You can stay fit and updated with lifestyle changes by regularly monitoring your overall health.

• Proper Treatment Toward the Right Direction:

Regular medical checkups are a must for those who suffer from diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, thyroid or any other chronic medical complications.

How Often Can Someone Get Free Medical Check-ups with Health Insurance?

The number of times a policyholder can avail free checkups entirely depends on the policy type and it varies from insurer to insurer. Many insurance companies will provide you with free health check-up facilities even after you have submitted a claim during the policy term.

List of Free Medical Tests Cover in Health Insurance

Here are some of the common medical tests offered by a health insurance policy:

• Blood pressure test
• Complete blood count
• Chest X-rays
• Vitamin deficiency examinations
• Blood sugar test
• Lipid profile
• General physical examination
• Kidney function test
• Lung function test
• Urine test

Factors That Affect Free Medical Check-up Benefits

Here are some of the factors which influence the benefits you can avail from free medical check-ups:

• Insurance Company:

The terms and conditions for availing free medical checkups vary from insurer to insurer. Hence, it is highly recommended that you check the insurance provider's terms before purchasing a policy.

• Claim Free Years:

Most insurers offer the perks of free medical tests but only after a certain number of claim-free years, which typically ranges from 4 to 5 years. Consider checking the claim-free years before purchasing any policy.

• Amount of Sum Insured:

The amount of sum insured can be another factor affecting the medical check-up benefits of an insurance policy. The higher the sum insured you choose the more medical check-ups you can avail in a year.

How to Apply for Free Medical Check-ups?

Here are the steps guiding you to avail medical checkups for free:

Step 1: You will have to inform the insurance company by calling their customer care or by physically visiting their nearest branch. Inform them that you want to avail the benefit of free medical check up with health insurance.

Step 2: The insurer might ask you for a convenient time and date for a doctor consultation or diagnostic test. Book the appointment as per your requirements. 

Step 3: You will then receive an authorisation letter which you must carry to the clinic or diagnostic centre.

Step 4: Once you get all the recommended tests done, you will have to submit the reports to the insurer. Usually, the policy applicant does not have to bear the charges for such tests which is settled by the insurer from your coverage limit.

Summing Up

Hopefully, by now you have got some clarity on free health checkups offered by health insurance policies and how to avail them. You can not only use this facility to diagnose and treat a medical condition but stay updated on your health with regular check-ups. Early diagnosis of diseases helps you to get cured before it gets severe; it also saves a huge amount of money in the long run.

FAQs on Free Health Check-ups under Health Insurance

1. Does health insurance coverage mean health check-ups?

No, health insurance coverage and health check-up are not the same. Health checkups are among the components which are included in a health insurance cover. Under the free health check-up facility, a policyholder gets to avail doctor consultations and diagnostic tests for free at regular intervals.

2. What is 80D in health check-ups?

Section 80D of the Income Tax Act 1961¹ allows an individual or a HUF to claim a deduction on medical insurance premiums paid during a financial year. Policyholders can avail up to Rs. 1, 00,000 in deductions on premiums paid for themselves, parents, spouses and children. A taxpayer can also avail deductions of up to Rs. 5,000/year on preventive health check-ups under the Rs. 1 lakh limit.

3. Is a medical check-up necessary before buying a policy?

The terms for free health check-ups vary from insurer to insurer and policy to policy. Some insurers demand medical checkups before offering a policy, especially for pre-existing illness coverage. Choosing a policy offering free check-ups allows you to proactively monitor your health and treat medical complications at an early stage.

4. What tests are required for health insurance in India?

Some of the commonly asked pre-policy medical tests include blood sugar tests, Complete Blood Count (CBC), blood pressure measurements, heart rate checks, urinalysis, ECG, etc.

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ARN - ED/06/24/12367