Cashless Hospitalisation

Cashless hospitalisation is a health-insurance facility where, at a hospital in the insurer's network, the insurer (via its TPA) settles the bill directly with the hospital, so you do not have to arrange large sums upfront. You typically pay only non-covered items, copay or deductible.

For planned treatment you seek pre-authorisation in advance; for emergencies you intimate the insurer within the prescribed time. Treatment at a non-network hospital generally follows the reimbursement route, where you pay first and claim later.

Regulators have pushed for wider cashless everywhere arrangements so policyholders are not limited to network hospitals. Always keep your policy and ID handy and understand the pre-authorisation process before you need it.