Health Insurance: How can you use two health insurance policies for a single hospital bill? Here’s how..

Many salaried individuals often hold two health insurance policies: a corporate policy provided by their employer and a personal policy purchased independently. Since every health policy has a coverage limit, a common question arises: can both policies be utilized if the hospital bill exceeds the limit of a single policy during treatment?

If you hold two health insurance policies, the second policy can prove very useful in the event of a substantial hospital bill. However, this does not mean you can claim reimbursement for the same treatment expenses twice. Typically, the claim is first settled by one insurer, and any remaining balance can then be covered by the second policy. In essence, the total payout from both companies combined cannot exceed the actual expenses incurred.

How can the second policy be used?
According to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) guidelines, you are permitted to file claims against multiple policies. You must first file a claim with your primary or preferred insurance company. You will need to obtain the settlement/payment approval letter and a copy of the discharge summary from this first company. Subsequently, to cover the outstanding bill amount, you must apply for reimbursement from the second insurance company, submitting the settlement documents certified by the first company. However, you must fully disclose all details to the second company; the process also depends on that company's specific terms and conditions.

What if the first company delays the claim?
If the first insurance company delays the claim process significantly, the claim against the second policy may also get stalled. In such a scenario, the policyholder should prioritize getting the first claim settled quickly. If standard follow-ups fail to resolve the issue, one can contact senior company officials, the Third-Party Administrator (TPA), or the insurance company's claims department. If necessary, a complaint can also be lodged with the company's grievance redressal officer.

Overall, holding two health insurance policies can help cover substantial medical expenses, but it does not entitle the policyholder to claim reimbursement for the same expense twice. Therefore, it is essential to disclose details of both policies to the insurance companies and retain copies of all medical and claim-related documents.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from TV9. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.