National Critical Illness Policy

National Critical Illness policy is a distinctive policy offered by the National Insurance Company which helps in covering the expenses that are involved in the treatment of any of the specified critical illnesses. The National Insurance Company is the oldest non-life insurance company and was founded in Kolkata. The National Insurance Company has a workforce of around 13,000 employees and more than 50,000 agents. It has around 1,730 offices and offers around more than 300 insurance products to its clients.

By the National Critical Illness policy, a policyholder can obtain a lump sum on being diagnosed with the specified critical illness and the policy lapses after the lump sum payout has been done.

Features of National Critical Illness Policy

1. National Critical Illness Policy is available in the form of two plans i.e. Plan A which covers 11 critical illnesses and Plan B which covers 37 critical illnesses which includes the illnesses of Plan A as well.
2. The sum assured for the National Critical Illness policy lies between the range of Rs. 1, 00,000 to Rs. 75, 00,000. The sum assured is paid in full on the first diagnosis of the specified critical illness.
3. This policy can be renewed throughout the lifetime and portability of this plan into similar plans is available.
4. National Critical Illness policy can provide cover for self, parents, spouse and dependent children.
5. On the payment of additional premium, coverage for pre-existing diseases can be obtained.

Eligibility Criteria for National Critical Illness Policy

1. The minimum age for the proposer of this policy is 18 years and the maximum age is 65 years.
2. For any family member, the maximum age of entry into the policy is 65 years of age.
3. Children who are within the age of 5 years to 18 years are permitted into the National Critical Illness policy if their parents are also being covered.
4. Children who have been added to the policy have to exit the policy after the age of 25 years.
5. Proposer’s spouse can be added into the policy mid-term at pro-rata premium within 60 days of marriage.

Critical illnesses covered under the policy

Some of the major critical illnesses covered under the policy are mentioned below.

1. Open Chest Coronar
2. Artery Bypass Graft Surgery(CABG)
3. Kidney failure which needs regular dialysis
4. Cancer of specific severity
5. Coma of specific severity
6. Multiple Sclerosis
7. Bone Marrow Transplant
8. Open Heart Replacement or Repair of valves of the heart
9. Permanent paralysis of limbs
10. End-stage liver failure
11. Aplastic Anemia
12. Aorta Graft Surgery
13. End-stage lung failure
14. Brain Surgery
15. Encephalitis
16. Blindness
17. Deafness
18. Loss of speech and loss of limbs

Critical illness not covered under the policy

1. AIDS and HIV
2. Pregnancy
3. Injuries caused due to self-infliction
4. Congenital diseases, sterility, infertility, and genetic disorders
5. Cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery
6. Drug addiction

Exclusions

1. In the Critical Illness Policy, there is a waiting period of 90 days during which no claims are permissible.
2. To make claims for the Critical Illness policy, the policyholder should survive for a minimum period of 30 days after the critical illness’s diagnosis.

Discounts offered

1. Family Discount of 10% is allowed on the policy’s premium if the policy has been purchased for the family.
2. Early Entry Discount of 5% is allowed on the premium if a policyholder has taken the policy before 42 years of age and has renewed the policy for continuous 3years.
3. Online, Direct and POS Machine Discount of 10% on the premium is allowed for customers who have purchased the policy online, direct or from point of sales machine.
4. Staff Discount of 15% on the premium is allowed for the employees of the National Insurance Company.

Tax benefits

Under the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961 the premium paid for the National Critical Illness policy are eligible for tax deductions.

Conclusion

Hence, in the current times when the number of people being affected with critical illnesses  is on a rise along with the soaring high prices of medical facilities it has become necessary to have a unique policy which covers only the critical illnesses to avoid a financial crisis. The National Critical Illness policy is quite useful and is widely known among the common masses due to its distinctive features and coverage that it provides.