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We at IFFCO Tokio understand that illnesses often arrive unannounced and that one must always stay prepared for a chronic or a critical disease that might come knocking at your door. IFFCO Tokio strongly believes that it is important to keep ourselves ready instead of worrying too much or letting things go haywire when the illness strikes. This is where critical health insurance policies come into the picture.
Coverage
We at IFFCO Tokio have often observed people treating critical health insurance and critical illness insurance as trivial things that can be taken care of later. The truth is critical illnesses don’t take factors like age into account and can happen at any time. This is why critical illness cover is a must for each and every one of us today.
Some chronic and hereditary aliments can be handled with proper medical care and there is adequate treatment available to ensure that the aliment is eradicated. However, as we all know there are certain critical illnesses which are extremely difficult to manage and often require a prolonged recovery period. This means mounting costs in terms of hospital accommodation, medicines and surgery and diagnostic test expenses. This often puts tremendous pressure on a patient and on his or her caregivers. We at IFFCO Tokio therefore strongly believe that the only way out of managing finances during critical times if one plans ahead. This is where critical care insurance comes into the picture.
By not opting for critical care insurance or a critical health insurance, you are leavingyour family exposed to risk. You are effectively ensuring that you will put tremendous financial burden on the people around you who might not be able to support your skyrocketing hospital bills when you are down with a disease.
Unlike common ailments that make you sick for a short while, critical illnesses have the potential to leave a debilitating effect on your life. These diseases not only affect your ability to work but can also be fatal to your life.
“Critical Illness” means an illness, sickness or a disease or a corrective measure like-
An individual can avail the IFFCO Tokio critical care insurance for all the diseases that fall under the above criteria.
We at IFFCO Tokio have noticed that more than often people’s lives come crashing down in the case of a critical illness. For example, if an ailing father or mother does not critical illness cover, it becomes difficult for the family to continue paying for the education of the children. There are other instances when ageing parents have been diagnosed with critical illnesses and the lack of critical illness insurance has resulted in their son or daughter having to borrow money to continue supporting the expensive treatment.
Our experience at IFFCO Tokio has shown us that critical illnesses can affect people beyond the obvious symptoms or the costs. In many cases, the disease results in an employee becoming unable to work and a lot of people lose their jobs. In some cases, the disease might cause partial or complete disability which renders the person not suitable for employment in certain working environments. Critical illnesses can completely change lifestyles and routines and can often create roadblocks in the regular schedules of the caregiver or the family too. As we can clearly see, critical illnesses often result in avenues of income being shut down and this can make supporting medical costs even more difficult. People with prior critical care insurance and critical health insurance policies can handle such situations because they have a backup plan financially.
We at IFFCO Tokio have come across several examples of entire families and individuals who have gone bankrupt while trying to treat a critical illness. Therefore critical illnesses and the importance of having a critical illness cover cannot be taken lightly. The possibility of hereditary illnesses occurring has increased manifold because of catalysts such as stress and unhealthy fitness habits and medical emergencies can occur at any of point of time. A critical health insurance policy can also help us stay calm and handle the diagnosis of a disease better and it also helps us in reducing the added tension that comes with the possibility of a critical illness.
IFFCO Tokio knows exactly that one can stay strong in the face of a critical illness if they are assured of a financial backing and that is only possible with an effective critical health insurance policy. There are many reasons why critical care insurance from IFFCO Tokio is an important investment.
IFFCO Tokio’s critical illness health insurance policy offers complete protection for the beneficiary. You can just pay a fraction of the normal premium and not pay for a full-fledged medical cover. In this case also you will receive complete protection through the policy at the most critical time of your life. Some of the common diseases that are covered by this critical illness insurance policy are- paralytic cerebral strokes, coronary artery diseases, cancer, renal failure, major organ transplants and accidental injuries which result in loss of limbs.
Critical health insurance plan functions differently from your regular health insurance plan or your Mediclaim policies. You can purchase critical illness insurance either as an individual critical illness insurance policy or as a rider alongside your standard health insurance plan.
We at IFFCO Tokio allow the following groups/categories and/or individuals to avail our online critical illness policy:
People often believe that an early critical illness insurance policy might be a waste of money and you should opt for other forms of savings instead. However, health scenarios are changing now and even young people, in their thirties are getting heart attacks. Again, when it comes to critical illnesses people are bothered by the hefty bills and this keeps people from availing quality healthcare services. A patient suffering from a critical illness might also require admission to a hospital at regular intervals, frequent surgeries, requirement of a nurse or caregiver, and counselling and physiotherapy which adds to the costs of the overall treatment. A critical illness insurance plan ensures that such a situation never arises in which the patient has to worry about the cost of the treatment and can access the best possible treatment. Having an IFFCO Tokio critical illness insurance would mean that even if you were to suffer from a critical illness, you would not need to worry about the huge medical bills it would lead to.
As per the policy of IFFCO Tokiocritical illness insurances, insured can avail the Cashless facility at the network hospitals. In case of the treatment being taken without cashless, the claim will be processed on a reimbursement basis.
It is not possible to discuss benefits of health insurance plans and critical illness insurance and not mention the tax benefits. It is indeed one of the most important tax saving instruments which not only helps you save that extra tax money but also protects your family easily with a comprehensive plan. All types of Medical or Health Insurance plans, including an online critical illness policy, are eligible for deductions and rebates under Section 80D of the income tax act. It can be availed by you and your spouse if they have a separate individual health insurance plan. It is applicable to any family member even if they are dependent on you. However, it is very comprehensive when it comes to the total amount that you can save as taxes from your recurring medical bills. The maximum tax deduction amount is capped at Rs. 25,000 if you are below the age of 60 and it goes up to Rs. 30,000 if you are a senior citizen. If your parents are senior citizens and are dependent on you, a deduction of Rs. 55,000 is allowed for you. So, by availing IFFCO Tokio’s critical care insurance policy you can take care of your parents and your dependents without any worries and avail extra tax benefits.
Many multinational companies and big firms across the nation offer some sort of health insurance coverage to their employees as a part of the perks of working in the organization. Generally termed as group insurance plans these policies offer coverage to employees, their spouse, children and even dependent parents. Critical health insurance policy by IFFCO Tokio is also one such group insurance policy that can be bought as by employers for their employees. Since these group insurances are paid for by the employers, signing up for the group critical health insurance plan at work would mean that you don’t have to worry about the insurance premium at all.
Scope of Coverage
The coverage of IFFCO Tokio’s critical care insurance policy depends on the following clauses:
If the Insured Person(s) is/are diagnosed, for the first time during the period of insurance, with a critical illness defined in the policy wordings, then-
It is important that you understand what is written in those fine-prints before you sign the document. Understanding the scope, the limitations, and the objections would help you understand the scope of IFFCO Tokio’s online critical illness policy so that you do not have to feel any kind of harassment at a later stage. It has no doubt all kinds of unique advantages and helpful benefits such as:
But like every insurance policy has a lot of limitations, critical care insurance is not devoid of it either. Making an informed decision can help you stay aware and cautious such that you do not give into any kind of hoax schemes or agreements which might be up and looming around.
Limitations of the Critical Illness Policy
Numbers of claims
Did you know that one critical illness can be covered during the entire term of the policy? Insured will receive the claim amount after being diagnosed with a critical illness. We will make payment to Insured Person only once in respect of treatment of any particular critical illness or injury . This is more of a technicality than a limitation because fortunately the majority of patients are usually affected by only one critical illness which entails an extensive treatment.
Waiting Period in critical illness policy
A minimum of 4 years is always applicable to most of the health insurance plans in India. However, for critical illness insurance plan it is usually 90 days after the policy has been purchased and 30 consecutive days of survival before the sum assured is paid out. Moreover, it is beneficial for the critical illness policy holder.
Stage Or Specified Severity of Disease
Diseases such as a case of heart attack, cancer, angioplasty or arthritis need to reach a certain level of criticality such that it qualifies to be considered as critical. There is always a level which the disease has to reach in order to be considered as critical. As per IRDA, there are certain stages which are explained in medical terminology which states that the diseases are critical enough to be covered under the online critical illness policy.
To be completely aware of the scope of coverage for IFFCO Tokio’s online critical illness policy, it is important to know what it does not cover. These are some of the most prominent exclusions under the policy:
All kinds of non-medical costs incurred including personal comfort and convenience items or services, such as telephone, aya/ barber or beauty services, diet charges, baby food, cosmetics, napkins, toiletry items etc., guest services and similar incidental expenses or services etc.
Special provisions
The special provisions for IFFCO Tokio’s critical health insurance policy are as follows:
The cover under IFFCO Tokio’s critical health insurance policy in respect of a critical illness or injuries for any Insured Person shall cease upon the reimbursement of medical expenses incurred as inpatient /provision of Cashless hospitalization on the treatment of the critical illness or injuries.
You must be wondering about the advantages of buying IFFCO Tokio’s critical health insurance policy online instead of opting for it offline. An online critical health insurance policy has many more advantages over just cutting down on paperwork. There are almost 49 million internet users around the world today and the last few years have seen a tremendous growth in online shopping. This huge increase in online shopping and internet usage in general has also led to an increase in people buying insurance plans online, including critical illness cover. In fact, more and more people are replacing their financial advisors with online portals which help them buy important policies such as their online critical health insurance. To opt for something like IFFCO Tokio’s online critical health insurance policy, one simply needs to fill up an online form and make the required payment through their debit or credit card or through internet banking. It’s hassle free and smooth, and makes the process of buying IFFCO Tokio’s critical illness cover super easy.
Who All Stands to Benefit from A Critical Health Insurance Policy?
Almost everyone can benefit by opting for a critical illness insurance policy. Our lives today give birth to countless lifestyle illnesses and a lot of these tend to be critical ranging from heart attacks and strokes to cancer. Critical illnesses have become far more commonplace in the recent years and now people are being diagnosed with the same irrespective of age or gender. Fortunately, medical science has progressed and proper and state of the art treatment is available to cure even the most critical of aliments. But treatment of critical illnesses is all the more expensive because it is extremely intensive and involves an amount of rehabilitation i.e. to make the patient go back to a normal life. So in most cases it becomes difficult for the patient and his or her family to afford the treatment and this is where critical illness insurance cover comes in, it effectively aids you in battling the illness.
These diseases and aliments often increase when people do not receive treatment on time and sometimes because of the high costs involved they try and withhold treatment. In certain cases, the patient is home bound and unable to move rendering him or her virtually impossible to earn. These acute financial problems often lead to stopping treatment midway which simply makes the condition decline often requiring an even more expensive treatment. It is a vicious cycle.
This is why it is absolutely essential that you opt for a critical illness insurance policy to ensure that you and your family can sail through such emergencies. The following categories of people can specifically benefit from critical care insurance:
Definitions That You Need to Know
It is important that you understand how the following terms are defined by IFFCO Tokio’s critical illness insurance policy before opting for it:
General Conditions & Cancellation
It is essential that you are aware of this general policy conditions since this will help you understand the requirements of IFFCO Tokio’s critical illness insurance policy:
1. Conditions Precedent: Where this Policy requires you/your family member(s) named in the Schedule to do or not to do something, then the complete satisfaction of that requirement by you or someone claiming on your behalf is a precondition to any obligation We have under this Policy. If you or someone claiming on your behalf fails to completely satisfy that requirement, then We may refuse to consider Your claim. You/your family member(s) named in the schedule will cooperate with IFFCO Tokio at all times.
2. Reasonable Precautions: You/Insured Person shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent injury, illness, and disease in order to minimize claims against this critical illness cover.
3. Notice: You /Insured Person will give every notice and communication in writing to OUR office through which this insurance is affected.
4. Disclosureto information norm: The critical illness cover shall be void, and all premiums paid hereon shall be forfeited to the Company in the event of misrepresentation, mis-description or non-disclosure of any material facts.
5. Changes in Circumstances: You must inform IFFCO Tokio, as soon as reasonably possible of any change in information you have provided to IFFCO Tokio about Insured Person(s) which may affect the Insurance cover provided e.g. duty, business, occupation.
6. Claim Procedure and Requirements: This critical illness cover provides for Cashless facility at the network hospitals. The provision of Cashless is at the discretion of IFFCO Tokio / Third Party Administrator keeping in mind the coverage provided under this Policy. In case of the treatment being taken without cashless, the claim will be processed on a reimbursement basis as per the terms and conditions of the policy. Notification of Claim An event, which might become a claim under the Policy, must be reported to IFFCO Tokio as soon as possible, but not later than 14 days from the date of discharge from Hospital after treatment of the Critical Illness.
A written statement of the claim will be required and a claim form will be provided and the claim must be filed within 30 days from the date of discharge from Hospital post treatment of the Critical Illness except for in extreme cases of hardship where it is proved to Our satisfaction that under the circumstances, in which you, the Insured Person or his/her personal representative were placed, it was not possible for any one of you to give notice or file claim within the prescribed time limit.
The Insured Person must give all bills, receipts, certificates, information and evidences from a Medical Attendant or otherwise required by US in the manner and form as IFFCO Tokio may prescribe. In the instances of such claims against the critical illness cover, our representative shall be allowed to carry out examination and obtain information in case of alleged injury or disease if and when we may reasonably require.
7. Assignment: This Policy may not be assigned. Compensation shall be payable only to the Insured person or the Insured Person‘s legal representative whose receipt shall be effective discharge to IFFCO Tokio
8. Contribution if, when any claim against the critical illness cover arises, there is in existence any other Insurance covering the same loss/liability, compensation, costs or expenses, we will pay only our rateable proportion of the claim.
9. Renewal: The online critical illness policy may be renewed by mutual consent every year and in such event, the renewal premium shall be paid to Us on or before the date of expiry of the Policy or of the subsequent renewal thereof. However, We shall not be bound to give notice that such renewal premium is due, provided however that if You apply for renewal and remits the requisite premium before the expiry of this Policy, renewal shall not normally refused, unless We have reasonable justification to do so. The Policy has to be renewed within the expiry date or within a Grace Period of 30 days from the expiry date, beyond which the continuity benefits will not be available and any insurance cover thereafter will be treated as fresh cover. In any case, we shall not be liable to pay claim occurring during the period of break in insurance.
10. Cancellation: We will not ordinarily cancel the critical care insurance policy unless it is a case of mis-representation or concealment of material fact. In case of cancellation of the policy due to above reasons, policy shall be void and all premium paid hereon shall be forfeited to the Company and the same shall be communicated to you by sending a 15 (Fifteen) notice by registered Post to your last known address You may cancel the Policy by sending at least 15(Fifteen) days written Notice to us under Registered Post. We will then allow a refund on a given scale provided there is no claim. Where claim is preferred, no refund will be made.
| Period of Cover up to | Percentage of Premium to be Refunded |
|---|---|
|
1 month |
75% |
|
3 month |
50% |
|
6 month |
25% |
|
Exceeding 6 months |
Nil |
11. IFFCO Tokio will not be bound to take notice or be affected by any notice of any trust, charge, lien, assignment or other dealings with or relating to this policy. Your receipt or receipt of Insured Person shall in all cases be an effective discharge to us.
12. Arbitration should any dispute arise between you and us on quantum of Amount payable (liability being admitted by us), such dispute will be referred to Arbitrator to be appointed in accordance with statutory provisions of the country in force at that time. Further, if when any dispute is referable or referred to arbitration, the making of an award by arbitration, shall be a condition precedent to any right of action by you against us.
13. Disclaimer Clause: If we shall disclaim our liability in any claim and such claim shall not have been made subject matter of suit in a court of law within 12(twelve) months from date of disclaimer, then the claim shall for all purpose be deemed to have been abandoned and shall not thereafter be recoverable under this Policy.
14. No sum payable under this critical illness insurance Policy shall carry any interest/ penalty. 16. The geographical scope of this Policy will be India.
15. Free Look Period: The free look period for this critical illness cover shall be applicable at the inception of the policy and i. The insured will be allowed a period of at least 15 days from the date of receipt of the Policy to review the terms and conditions of the Policy and to return the same if not acceptable; ii. If the insured has not made any claim during the free look period, the insured shall be entitled to. A refund of the premium paid less any expenses incurred by the insurer on medical examination of the insured persons and the stamp duty charges or; b. Where the risk has already commenced and the option of return of the policy is exercised by the policyholder, a deduction towards the proportionate risk premium for period on cover or c. Where only a part of the risk has commenced, such proportionate risk premium commensurate with the risk covered during such period
16. Alteration of Policy Conditions: The policy terms and conditions for this critical illness insurance may undergo alteration as per the IRDA Health Regulation. However the same shall be duly notified to you at least three months prior to the date when such alteration or revision comes into effect by registered post at your last declared correspondence address. The timeliness for revision in terms and rates shall be as per the IRDA Health Regulation.
17. Withdrawal of Policy: This critical care insurance product may be withdrawn with the prior approval of the Authority and information of withdrawal shall be given to you in advance as per the IRDA guidelines with details of options provided by us. If we do not receive your response on the intimation of withdrawal, the existing product shall be withdrawn on the renewal date and you shall have to take a new policy available with us, subject to portability conditions.
A particular critical illness cover is unique and has a different set of approaches when it comes to defining the terms of a medical insurance plan or critical health insurance plan in this case. Although the policy might sound like a plan which is meant only for individuals, do not fret, because the policy is a rider kind of health policy which is available for everyone, meaning your family and you.
Typically, critical health insurance policies are always procrastinated. Even if salaried employees have an option to pick it out as part of their company compensation, most of them do it as a tax saving option as they extend it to their immediate dependents such as spouse, parents and even kids. However, not many of them realise that critical illness insurance in India is not just a tax saving instrument, but also one of the most important gifts that can be given to your family.
The major advantages of having critical health insurance are as follows:
As a brand, we at IFFCO-Tokio have always been customer centric. Be it any mediclaim insurance plan or any health insurance plan that you buy online, it would always be customised to suit your needs. As an individual, you need health insurance for several reasons and so does your dependent family. Before choosing a plan, it is essential that you analyse what are you exactly looking for and what should the cover be like in reality. Understanding the differences between a regular health insurance plan and mediclaim insurance is essential irrespective of the fact that you are indeed buying it.
Buying a critical illness cover in India plan can be indeed challenging given that the awareness about it so little. It can be possible that people confuse it with a standard health insurance plan too. While you are bound to find affordable health insurance plans, picking out a particular plan can make all the difference. Therefore, it’s important that you purchase the best and the most effective IFFCO-Tokio online critical illness policy for yourself and your family.
**To understand exactly about the policy coverage, exclusions etc, please read the Policy Wording carefully.**
IFFCO Tokio’s Critical Health Insurance Policy is a complete protector. A person by paying just a fraction of the normal premium – instead of paying for a full fledged medical cover – can get complete protection through this Policy, at the most critical time of their life. Some of the ailments that are covered under the policy are Cancer, Renal Failure, Coronary Artery Diseases requiring bypass surgery, major Organ Transplant, Paralytic Cerebral Stroke as well as accidental injuries resulting in loss of limbs.
This Policy can be issued to various categories/groups as under:
If the Insured Person(s) is/are for the first time diagnosed during the period of Insurance as suffering of a critical illness, symptoms (and/or the treatment) as defined under point 11 to 19 of “Definition of Words” and/or received Injuries as defined under point 20 of “Definition of Words”, then we will reimburse to you medical hospitalisation expenses incurred in respect of Insured person(s) – as an inpatient, or to Insured Person(s) or to his /her legal heirs up to the amount stipulated against such Insured person in the schedule. In case of availing Cashless Hospitalisation at Network Hospital, no reimbursement of expenses shall be involved.
Some of the important exclusions under the Policy are as follows:
