Health insurance: These are the most common exclusions

Not only due to the pandemic, but also due to changes in lifestyle, health-related issues have increased and turned more complex in nature. Therefore, it is important to have a health insurance plan in place. Though health insurance policies generally cover most illnesses, there are certain kinds of medical conditions that are not covered. These are called health insurance exclusions. These exclusions vary from one policy to another.

Let’s take a look on most common exclusions in health insurance policies:

1) Pre-existing medical conditions

If you suffer from any health issues, it is important that you declare the same, while purchasing medical insurance. Any ailments that you already have are not covered under the health insurance policy.

Even if your health insurance provider agrees to cover a pre-existing condition, there will generally be a waiting period of about two to four years before the ailment is covered.

2) Cosmetic treatments

One of the most common exclusions in health insurance policies is cosmetic treatments. However, costs of a plastic surgery following an accident or injury are covered under medical insurance. Besides, joint replacements, dental surgeries are some of the common health insurance exclusions.

3) Injuries caused by self

Any form of intentional injuries is excluded from a health insurance policy.

4) Therapies

Health insurance plans do not cover therapies like naturopathy, acupressure, magnetic therapy and other such alternative methods of treatments.

5) Waiting period

Before investing in a policy, one has to also keep in mind its waiting period. The health insurance market has different waiting periods.

6) Cooling-off period

Besides the waiting period for pre-existing conditions, there are other waiting periods too during which specified coverage is not available. Usually, this period is of 30 days. Illnesses other than accidental injuries incurred during this period are not covered.