Big Relief for Policyholders: Health Insurance Claims Now Allowed for 2-Hour Hospitalization
Big Relief for Policyholders: Health Insurance Claims Now Allowed for 2-Hour Hospitalization
New Delhi: Health insurance policyholders no longer need to stay in the hospital for a full 24 hours to make a claim. In a major shift, several insurance companies have updated their policies and are now approving claims even for hospital stays as short as 2 hours.
This change comes in response to advancements in medical technology and faster treatment procedures. Earlier, treatments like cataract surgery, chemotherapy, or angiography required overnight hospitalization. However, these procedures can now be completed within a few hours, prompting insurers to adapt.
Siddharth Singhal, Health Insurance Head at Policybazaar, stated, “Many companies now offer claims for just 2 hours of hospitalization. This shows that insurers are updating policies to match modern healthcare practices.” Importantly, these short-term hospitalization claims come with no extra conditions or exclusions, and offer the same level of coverage as longer hospital stays.
Policies Offering 2-Hour Hospitalization Claims
Several popular health insurance plans now provide this feature:
- ICICI Lombard Elevate Plan
₹10 lakh cover | Premium: ₹9,195/year (for a 30-year-old) - Care – Supreme Plan
₹10 lakh cover | Premium: ₹12,790/year - Niva Bupa – Health Insurance Plan
₹10 lakh cover | Premium: ₹14,199/year
Why This Matters
With many treatments now completed in just 2–3 hours, the older 24-hour hospitalization rule had become outdated. Claims were previously rejected if the minimum stay was not met. This update ensures better financial protection for policyholders and allows quicker decisions for treatment without worrying about hospital duration.
Experts recommend that those who haven’t yet updated their policies should consult their insurance advisor to take full advantage of the new terms.
