Non-Medical Expenses in Health Insurance

When you have the right comprehensive health insurance, you feel safe and secure knowing that your family is financially protected knowing that your family will get the best healthcare facilities in case of medical emergencies. But, health insurance companies follow a strict claim process as directed by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

To prevent the misuse of health insurance, the IRDAI has excluded some medical expenses, known as non-medical expenses in health insurance. We've listed the non-medical expenses under health insurance in this below article also known as insurance policy's exclusions.

What are non-medical expenses in health insurance?

Health Insurance covers the medical expenses of planned and unplanned hospitalization. However, some medical expenses are excluded from the insurance coverage and these expenses are called non-medical expenses.

What If I want my Non-Medical expenses Covered:

These costs cannot be ignored because they frequently result in significant increases in medical costs. Many health insurance providers include riders or built-in costs for non-medical expenses in the plan. Here are the names of the rider for Non- Medical expenses.

List of non-medical expenses in Health Insurance as per IRDAI guidelines

According to IRDAI guidelines, some optional medical items used during treatment or hospitalization are not considered medical expenses. Let us have a look at the list of non-payable items in health insurance:

• Food (other than provided by the hospital)
• Carry bags
• Baby food
• Nebuliser kit
• Laundry/attendant charges
• Mineral water
• Thermometer
• Beauty services
• Belts/braces

How to Know More About Non-Medical Expenses Before Claims

These non-medical expenses in health insurance are commonly excluded from the policies. IRDAI has established guidelines for health insurance claim settlement and has given a list of non-medical expenses which is available on the insurer’s website. It is important to be aware of the list before buying any plan. You should understand the inclusions and exclusions of the mediclaim policy to avoid any surprises in the future, especially in times of emergencies.

Do read the terms and conditions mentioned in the policy document to understand all the exclusions and inclusions of the health insurance plan, in order to avoid any future discrepancies.

Non-medical expenses in the room charges

Below-mentioned is the list of non-medical expenses in the room charges during hospitalization.

• Hand wash
• Housekeeping charges
• Tissue paper
• Comb, caps
• Slippers
• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Pulse oximeter charges
• Buds
• Gown
• Foot cover
• Cold pack/hot pack

Non-medical expenses in treatment cost

Certain items are used by healthcare professionals to treat patients while they are hospitalized. The following are the non-medical costs incurred during treatment.

• Registration/admission charges
• Spirit, disinfectant, hydrogen peroxide
• Nutritionist or dietician charges
• Infusion pump charges
• Urine container
• Blood reservation cost
• Vaccination cost
• Diabetic footwear
• Antiseptic mouthwash
• HIV kit

Non-medical expenses in procedure costs

The items listed below are considered non-medical expenses in procedural costs.

• Hair removal cream
• Surgical blades
• Disposable razors
• Bandages, cotton
• Surgical drill
• Harmon scalpel blades
• Apron
• Arthroscopy and Endoscopy instrument charges
• Eye pad
• Gauze blades

Other Non-payable medical expenses

Below-mentioned is the list of additional non-medical expenses in health insurance.

• Barber charges
• Syringes, needles, sterilized injections
• Washing charges
• Referral doctor’s fees
• Digestion gels
• Paper gloves
• Medicine box

Conclusion

The above mentioned are the non-medical expenses incurred during hospitalization and treatment, and they are very expensive. These are non-admissible costs that aren't covered under any health insurance plan. Sometimes, people are unaware of such non-medical expenses that they have to bear these expenses on their own. As a result, it's always a good idea to read the terms and conditions of a health plan before choosing it.

When purchasing health insurance, it is a good idea to compare plans from different insurers to understand the exclusions and select the best health insurance plan. Also, read the fine print of the policy to make an informed buying choice.