In India, health insurance is synonymous to 'mediclaim'. The primary purpose of health insurance is to cover medical expenses arising from hospitalisation or continuing illness.

In order to make a claim on your health insurance, minimum 24 hours hospitalization is a must.

In the first year, for the first month mediclaim does not cover any disease except accident cover that too if it has been specifically taken along with the policy. During the next 11 months, certain diseases that take long a time to develop are not covered; this also includes existing diseases (those that exist when you subscribe for a policy). From the second year renewal onwards, everything is covered except exiting diseases. Exiting diseases may be covered based on the company's decision.

When you buy a policy the company trusts the information that you provide and the basis of the contract is the same information. The contract becomes null and void if the information given by you proved to be false intentionally or unintentionally. However, if you are not suffering from a disease that takes a long time to develop as on the date of buying the policy and suppose you develop it at a 'later stage' or it is detected at a later stage, in that case it is covered by the policy. In most cases 'later stage' would be after 12 months of subscribing for the policy or according to the terms of the policy.

In order to make a claim you will need to be hospitalized for a minimum period of 24 hours. In places where there is no hospital, considerations are different. Sickness will need to be certified by the government doctors.

The process for making a claim is as follows:

1. intimate the company when you get admitted to hospital (this could be done by anyone); provide the policy details

2. the policy covers the entire period in hospital. In addition, it covers your medical expenses over a maximum period of 60 days after discharge from hospital and 30 days before being admitted to hospital. If the sickness extends beyond 60 days, the cost arising there from is not covered.

3. prepare to submit claim papers within 7 days from the date of fitness, or within 7 days after the 60 days are over (irrespective of whether you have recovered completely or not)

4. submit a duly filled claim form along with doctors prescription, medicine bills, reports (e.g., pathological, radiological, etc.), hospital discharge card and certificate from the doctor (certifying fitness or continuing illness)

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