What is domiciliary hospitalisation?

In general, people are hospitalized if their diagnosis of any physical disorder requires them to receive closer supervision of medical care and treatment. However, it is not always that everybody is shifted from the confines of their homes to a hospital and treatment takes place while being confined to the home itself and is known as domiciliary hospitalization. As you might not be aware, domiciliary hospitalization is in fact covered by many health insurance policies and it comes with its own share of benefits as well.

To know more about it, let’s have a look at the following that enlists the meaning of the term, its benefits, and some health insurance plans that offer to have this coverage option -

Meaning of Domiciliary Hospitalization

As is so relevant with health insurance as a financial product, understanding any term is important in order to fully comprehend its clauses and conditions and then buy or invest in a policy. Likewise, domiciliary hospitalisation refers to the instance where a person is hospitalised at their home, instead of moving out to a hospital or any formal health care center. It usually occurs during circumstances when the patient is not in a condition to be moved out of their homes or the patient has to undergo medical treatment at home due to the non-availability of rooms in hospitals. The treatment offered must be for an injury or an illness that will require immediate hospitalisation and it has to last for a minimum of 3 days to be covered by a health insurance policy.

Let us now move on to the benefits of domiciliary hospitalization -

As part of a health insurance clause, domiciliary hospitalisation covers the medical treatment and care that the life insured receives from their home instead of staying at a hospital. It does not come as an appendage with every health insurance policy but can be bought with some, subject to the payment of a higher premium. The following are a list of some of the benefits of this option -

1. Prevents Delay in Medical Intervention -

One of the major benefits of having a domiciliary cover in your health insurance policy is the fact that, it allows for swift and immediate medical intervention when the life assured might require hospitalization with 24 hours but is either not in a condition to be shifted to the hospital or there are no free rooms in a hospital to accommodate them. In this way, it ensures that there is no compromise as and when your health demands it.

2. Compensates Medical Expenses -

Health insurance companies that have a domiciliary hospitalization feature offer the added benefit of compensation or reimbursement of all medical expenses incurred by the life assured. However, compensation will only be initiated if the medical treatment of the patient lasts for a minimum of 3 days and it is proven that there was no alternative method of administering medical assistance to the patient that is confined to their homes. However, the cover that will be paid by the insurance company will be lesser than the total sum insured.

3. Available In Group Health Insurance Coverage -

An attractive benefit that comes along with the domiciliary hospitalization feature is group insurance coverage where you have the option of securing your family members under the domiciliary hospitalization clause in the same insurance policy. It ensures that all of your family members have a financially protected and secure future, in case either of you is unable to move without assistance and needs constant medical supervision at your home. While availing of this coverage option, you should also take the exclusions under consideration, take note of your eligibility and disclose all your medical documents before making and receiving a claim.

3. Health Insurance Plans With This Feature -

Some health insurance plans that offer the domiciliary hospitalization feature include the following list -

• Family Health Protector (IFFCO Tokio Health Insurance Company)
• Happy Family Floater Policy (Oriental Health Insurance Company)
• Care Policy (Care Health Insurance Company)
• ProHealth (ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company)
• One Health Insurance (Magma HDI Health Insurance Company)

Hopefully, you are now aware of the domiciliary hospitalization feature and the benefits that come along with it. While you are buying a health insurance policy that comes with this feature, you are advised to read the clauses and exclusions intently to avoid any kind of mistake translating to a rejection of your claim by the company. It is a great standalone option that helps you with physical and financial ease. However, you must not rely solely on this feature to not consult a formal medical institution at the hour of need. It is just an addendum to the list of benefits that you may always receive from health insurance and if you wish to incorporate this within your insurances, you must buy it from a company that offers this benefit. 

Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.