Term of the week: Network hospital

A health insurance policyholder can avail herself of cashless facility from a hospital only if the insurance company has a tie-up with that particular hospital, known as a network hospital. Every insurer has alist of hospitals empanelled or enlisted with them across the country, sometimes even abroad. This helps facilitate direct payment of medical expenses for policyholders. For instance, Bajaj Allianz health insurance has over 3,300 network hospitals and, Apollo Munich has over 4,650 across India.

Before you sign up for a policy, check the list of network hospitals and the quality of their services. Ensure that there are hospitals close to your home or work area.

Remember, though, that even if the hospital from where you are getting treatment is not a network hospital of the insurer, you will be compensated. The only difference is that you will have to pay out of your pocket and claim reimbursement at a later date.

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