Wellness Benefit in Health Insurance

Urban lifestyles, fast-paced routines, junk food, pollution - all contribute to an unhealthy life. We have become so busy in our day-to-day life that we neglect taking care of our most important asset, our health.

But, what if you were to be rewarded for adopting a healthy lifestyle? Yes, you read that right! Insurance companies now offer health rewards called Wellness Benefits as an incentive for taking proper care of yourself.

Do all insurers provide this benefit? Are there any conditions associated with this benefit? All of these and more will be discussed in this article.
 

What Is A Wellness Benefit?

Wellness benefits are a type of reward offered by insurers to encourage healthy living. They offer you certain benefits or discounts if you stay in good health by -

• Hitting the target steps in a day - When you complete a specific number of steps say 10,000 or so, insurers offer you certain benefits.

• Undertaking any fitness or health-related activities like yoga, gym training, etc.

• Participating in sports events like marathons, or any health event organised by the insurance company, etc.
   

Why Do Insurers Give You A Wellness Benefit?

Wellness benefits are a type of reward offered by insurers to encourage healthy living. They offer you certain benefits or discounts if you stay in good health by -

• You are motivated to lead a healthy lifestyle.

• You, a healthy insured person, will be less prone to illness or disease, so there will be fewer claims, which is beneficial to the insurer.
   

Wellness Benefits Offered By Insurers

The Wellness benefit option is offered by different insurers in different ways. You need to inquire with your insurer about the range of benefits offered by your health insurance policy.

The following is a list of some common wellness benefits provided by most insurers.

• Wellness Coach

  Some insurers like Aditya Birla and ICICI Lombard provide you with a dedicated health coach who provides guidance on physical health and mental wellbeing by giving you a personalised diet chart, and exercise routine.

• Exercise Programs And Fitness Activities

  Insurers will conduct fitness programs, such as marathons, walkathons, etc., in which you can participate and earn rewards.

• Vaccination Drives

  Insurers like ICICI Lombard also organise vaccination drives.

• Health Risk Assessment

  This evaluates your health and quality of life. You can check your personal lifestyle practices that may impact your health status. Different insurers conduct health assessments in different ways. For example, ICICI Lombard allows you to take an online health assessment test where you answer a series of questions about your health such as your food choice, habits, etc.

• Preventive Health Check-Ups

  A few insurers offer free preventive health checkups to keep your health in check. Preventive health checks are routine check-ups that assess your current health status and detect illnesses early. You can use this benefit only if you undergo tests at hospitals and health centres that are part of the insurer's network.

  ICICI Lombard, for instance, provides you with a free annual health check-up coupon.

  Note: Besides these, there may also be other benefits offered by some insurers under the wellness benefit, so you should check your policy documents or ask your insurer for complete information.
   

Pros Of Wellness Benefits

You can use the wellness benefits to keep track of your health with the help of a wellness coach, health assessment test etc.

Some insurers like ICICI Lombard provide coupons for health checkups.

You will receive wellness points which can be redeemed for expenses like consultation charges, medicine & drugs, diagnostic expenses, dental expenses, etc. This may vary from insurer to insurer.

Some insurers provide redeemable vouchers for membership in fitness centres like gyms, yoga centres, sports clubs, etc.

Insurers like ICICI Lombard also provide you with rewards points if you successfully complete any 1 of the criteria:

Quit smoking based on your self- declaration,

Share your fitness success story,

Win any health quiz organised by them
 

How Can You Use Wellness Benefits?

As discussed before, insurers reward you for staying fit and taking good care of yourself. These rewards are given based on your lifestyle and activities. You can keep track of your health through regular preventive health checkups, following a nutritious diet, exercise regime, etc. Participating in a marathon or walkathon organised by your health insurance company can also earn you rewards.

You can redeem such rewards for -

Non-payable items

Outpatient expenses

AYUSH treatments

Payable premium from first renewal

Medicines and drugs, etc.

Conditions Of Wellness Benefits

Certain conditions must be met to use this benefit. Here are some of the common conditions -

• Can Be Utilised Only Once In A Policy Period

  You can make use of Wellness Benefits only once a year. Generally, insurers mention this explicitly in their policies. For instance, Manipal Cigna, Aditya Birla, etc., have mentioned in their policies that this will only be provided once a year.

• Cashless Facility At Network Hospitals Or Health Centres Only

  To be eligible for cashless medical checks under wellness benefits, you must undergo tests at a hospital or health centre in the insurer's network. If you wish to avail services in a non-network hospital or health centre, you will have to submit relevant documents as requested by the insurer.

• Available Only For Adults

  Insurers such as Aditya Birla will only offer wellness benefits to people over 18 years old.

• The Choice Is Entirely Yours

  The decision of whether or not to opt for such a benefit is entirely up to you.

• Benefit Cannot Be Carried Forward

  Insurers like Manipal Cigna have stated in their policy documents that rewards points earned under wellness programs cannot be carried forward to the consecutive year if they remain unused.

  Some Insurers like ICICI Lombard have mentioned in their policy that unredeemed wellness points can be carried forward for a maximum of 3 years from the date of award, provided the policy is renewed continuously for the subsequent 3 years.

• Renew With The Same Insurer For Continued Benefits

  Manipal Cigna, for example, states in its policy documents that all earned reward points will lapse if the policy is not renewed with them.

  Besides the above-mentioned conditions, there may be other conditions that vary from insurer to insurer.

Summing Up!

Wellness Benefits offered by health insurers intend to promote a healthy lifestyle. You can use these rewards to lower your premium or cover medical expenses such as outpatient expenses, AYUSH treatment expenses etc. Thus, choosing a health insurance plan that includes wellness benefits is a wise move towards a healthier lifestyle.

The terms and conditions for wellness benefits vary from insurer to insurer. Ensure that you thoroughly review the insurer's policy wording before making a final call.