Base Vs Top Up Health Insurance Plan

A base health insurance plan is a standalone plan that’s designed to offer financial coverage for a multitude of healthcare expenses up to a certain predetermined amount. A top up health insurance plan, on the other hand, provides additional financial coverage over and above that of your base health insurance plan. To purchase such a plan, you need to first have an existing health insurance policy.   

Since a base health insurance plan is a standalone policy, the premiums that you’re required to pay are usually high. But this may not be the case for a top up plan. However, the deductible portion of a base plan tends to be lower, whereas it tends to be much higher for a top up plan. 

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Top-Up Health vs Base Health Insurance Plan 

The necessity of health insurance in challenging times is beyond comparison. A comprehensive health insurance plan stands important for you and your family during medical contingencies. However, your health insurance policy will cover the treatment and hospitalisation expenses only up to the sum insured amount you have chosen. Any cost beyond it needs to be taken care of by you. For additional coverage, health insurance providers offer top-up plans that take care of the expenses incurred when you exhaust your existing coverage.

In this section, we will discuss in detail the difference between a base plan vs top-up plan.

What is Base Health Insurance?

A basic or primary health insurance plan is a policy that covers you against any medical contingency. Here, you have to select a sum insured amount when buying the health insurance policy. The policy provides coverage for hospitalisation and treatment expenses incurred up to the sum insured amount chosen by you.

What is Top-Up Health Insurance?

Top-up health insurance is an extended cover over and above your existing base health insurance plan. It provides an additional sum insured amount that can be used in case you exhaust the current coverage of your basic plan. It is a cost-effective way to increase your health insurance coverage. However, note that top-up health plans can be purchased over and above your base health insurance and not independently.

Difference Between Top-Up Health Insurance and Basic Health Insurance

Many a time, people get confused about whether they should opt for a base health insurance with a higher sum insured or a policy with top-up plans. If you too are unable to decide between the two, take a look at the below table for a better understanding of base health insurance and top-up health insurance.

Base Plan vs Top-Up Plan

Parameter

Base Health Insurance 

Top-Up Health Insurance

Premium

If you opt for a basic health insurance plan with a higher sum insured, the premium for such policies will be expensive. 

Usually, the premiums for health insurance with top-up plans are relatively lower compared to health insurance with a high sum insured.

Claim Settlement

The claim settlement process is hassle-free. Depending on the insurer, you will be able to avail cashless claim settlements or reimbursement claims.

Similar to health insurance with a high sum insured, claiming on your top-up health plans is hassle-free. Depending on your insurer, you can avail cashless claims or seek reimbursement.

Deductibles

Basic health insurance plans usually come with a low deductible to pay.

Top-up health insurance plans tend to have a high deductible before the benefit initiates.

Switching insurers

Switching to another insurer is easy when it is a basic health insurance plan.

Switching to another insurer with a top-up health insurance plan can be a complicated process.

Type of cover

Basic health insurance is a standalone policy cover.

Top-up health insurance is usually purchased over and above your existing health plan. 

Which One Should You Choose?

Now that you know the difference between a base plan vs a top-up plan, you must be wondering which one is right for you, a basic health insurance plan or one with a top-up plan. If you are willing to spend on a high premium, you can opt for a basic health insurance plan with a higher sum insured. And in case you already have a health insurance policy, you can buy a top-up health insurance plan to take care of your medical expenses if you are about to exhaust your primary health coverage.

 

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Conclusion

Health insurance is a necessary financial tool that you must remember when planning your finances. It provides financial support to you and your family in case of medical emergencies, and there are many health insurance tax benefits to avail as well. No matter what your reasons are to buy a health insurance plan, make sure that you have sufficient coverage that is aligned with rising medical costs in the country. 

 

You can buy health insurance plans and top-up plans at Bajaj Markets online. It allows you to benefit from features such as cashless claim settlements, reinstatement benefits, hassle-free renewals, and so on. Moreover, you can readily buy health insurance plans using the Bajaj Markets App at any time and on the go.

 

So, don't wait! Get yourself and your family a health insurance plan at Bajaj Markets, right away.

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FAQs

  • ✔️How does top-up health insurance work?

    Most insurers in India offer top-up health insurance plans as extended coverage on the existing health policy. So, in case you realise that you are about to exhaust the sum insured, opting for top-up health insurance will cover the exceeding expenses without you having to dip into your life savings.

  • ✔️What are the factors that might influence the top-up health insurance premiums?

    Some common factors that can affect your top-up health insurance premiums are as follows:

    • The area of residency

    • Deductible amount

    • Sum insured chosen

  • ✔️What is covered under top-up health insurance policies?

    Some of the expenses covered under health insurance top-up policies are as follows:

    • Ambulance charges

    • Maternity benefit cover

    • Organ donor cost

    • Pre and post-hospitalisation expenses

  • ✔️Can I purchase top-up health insurance on Bajaj Markets?

    Yes, you can purchase the Bajaj Allianz Extra Care Plus top-up health insurance plan online on Bajaj Markets.

  • ✔️When can I use my top-up health insurance plan?

    You can use your health insurance top-up plan when your medical expenses (during hospitalisation) exceed the sum insured offered by your base health insurance policy.