Rising need for home-based healthcare coverage
According to Vishal Lathwal, CEO of Apollo Home Healthcare, Apollo Hospitals, nearly 4% of India’s population is hospitalised every year, with 20% requiring continued care at home.
This translates to roughly 10 million people annually needing post-discharge support. Add long-term care cases, and the number of individuals relying on home-based healthcare grows significantly.
“Home healthcare is one of the fastest-growing segments globally, and India is no exception,” says Lathwal, adding “A health plan that covers home-based care is no longer optional — it is essential.”
When evaluating policies, Lathwal recommends choosing coverage that is “present-ready and future-conscious.” Consumers should ensure plans cover chronic care, post-operative recovery, nursing, physiotherapy, advanced rehabilitation, domiciliary treatments, and palliative care.
“Ask yourself: will this policy support me if I need extended recovery at home?” he adds.
Common gaps in home-care coverage
Many policyholders discover coverage gaps only at the time of making a claim. Lathwal points out that restrictive home-care clauses and low insurance limits leave consumers exposed.
Currently, only around 10% of health plans in India genuinely support home-based care, with many paying only if hospital beds are unavailable — an unrealistic condition for most patients.
To avoid surprises, he advises:
- Choose policies that activate coverage based on a doctor’s recommendation, not hospital occupancy.
- Ensure the sum insured and sub-limits are sufficient for longer recovery, skilled nursing, physiotherapy, and equipment needs.
- Seek insurers that adopt a true risk-partnership approach, supporting recovery at home rather than denying valid claims.
Home insurance for physical assets and appliances
On the property side, households must evaluate coverage based on their living situation. Narendra Bharindwal, President of IBAI, explains:
- Homeowners: Structure (walls, floors, fittings) plus contents coverage is essential.
- Tenants: Focus on contents, including furniture, electronics, and appliances.
- Tech-heavy homes: Appliance or extended-care plans make sense for devices like smart TVs, ACs, and home automation systems.
Common pitfalls during claims include under-insurance, lack of breakdown coverage, wear-and-tear exclusions, and high deductibles.
Bharindwal advises maintaining a home inventory, checking specific events covered, and reviewing claim limits and deductibles.
Avoiding overlaps in appliance protection
Households often pay twice for the same protection. Before purchasing separate appliance protection plans, consumers should:
- Check if the home insurance already covers fire, water damage, or short circuits.
- Verify if appliances are still under manufacturer or extended warranty.
- Compare plans on claim triggers, service quality, and claim limits per appliance.
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A simple rule Bharindwal recommends: “Buy home insurance for big risks. Buy appliance protection for frequent, smaller repairs. Review all covers together at least once a year to avoid overlaps.”
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