It is common knowledge that a health insurance policy is a wise investment because it covers a range of health scares and emergencies. The fact that it foots your hospital bills in the event of illness is well-known. Yet, not everyone is aware of another benefit of health insurance policies- domiciliary hospitalization. And unless you understand the nitty-gritty of it, you won’t be able to make the most of this facility.
What is domiciliary hospitalization?
Not all forms of treatment require you to be admitted to a hospital. Caregivers can administer medicines at your home. Or in other words, you can undergo treatment at home. This is domiciliary treatment. Under it, an insurer will cover the bills you accrue through domiciliary hospitalization.
But to avail this service, there are a few pre-requisites that you should know about-
- You have to get a recommendation from your doctor
- Your illness has to have lasted for at least 3 days
What is the lure of domiciliary hospitalization?
Domiciliary treatment can be very convenient for both the patient and his/her family. When you are ill, you’ll feel despondent and anxious. At such a stage, having to stay in a sterile and unfamiliar hospital room can be depressing. Similarly, for family and friends, domicile treatment does away with the hassle of commuting twice daily to the hospital. And it also brings with it a sense of relief, since loved ones can be near the ailing. Domiciliary hospitalization can also be a lifesaver when hospitals reluctantly turn down admittance requests due to a paucity of beds.
Under what circumstances can you avail domiciliary hospitalization?
Usually, two circumstances necessitate domiciliary hospitalization-
- You are too ill to be transported since that might make your condition deteriorate
- A lack of accommodation at the hospital or nursing home
But remember, not all kinds of illnesses or disorders can be treated effectively from your home. Some problems require special equipment that only hospitals and nursing homes possess.
Which illnesses are not covered by the domiciliary hospitalization plan?
There are quite a few illnesses that your insurer will not pay for if you wanted to opt for domiciliary hospitalization-
- Asthma
- Hypertension
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Diarrhea
What should you do?
When you purchase a health insurance policy, you should look for the maximum coverage. But even today, many insurance agencies do not give you the option of domiciliary hospitalization. And even if they do, they tie this facility up with lots of caveats and conditions so that you won’t be able to utilize it to the maximum. So your job is to track down an insurance policy that isn’t mired in fine print intended to trip you up, and carefully read the inclusions and exclusions before you sign on the dotted line.
Conclusion:
Experts believe that since both the government and private players are trying to build a robust infrastructure for healthcare, we might see more and more policies being crafted to make domicile hospitalization further accessible.
