After buying health insurance, you can use any hospital, but benefits vary. If you visit a network hospital (partnered with your insurer), you get cashless treatment the insurer settles bills directly. If you choose a non-network hospital, you’ll need to pay upfront and reimburse later by submitting valid documents. That’s why checking the network hospital list is crucial when buying a policy - especially for nearby and specialty hospitals. While you're free to choose any hospital, network hospitals make claims faster, easier, and more convenient for you

Buying health insurance is a big decision - here’s a quick checklist to guide you. First, choose the right sum insured to cover rising medical costs. Check if the plan offers cashless hospitalisation at nearby network hospitals. Look for coverage of pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses, day-care procedures, and annual health check-ups. Consider plans with lifetime renewability and minimal claim restrictions. If you're planning a family, check for maternity benefits. Finally, review claim settlement ratio and customer support reputation of the insurer

Your Quick Health Insurance Checklist:

• - Adequate sum insured to match medical inflation
• Cashless network hospitals near you
• Coverage for pre/post hospitalisation & day-care treatments
• Annual health check-ups included
• Lifetime renewability for uninterrupted protection
• Maternity cover if planning a family
• High claim settlement ratio & strong customer support

Pro Tip: Buy early. Premiums are lower, waiting periods get covered sooner, and you secure wider protection