After taking care of all their responsibilities and giving their all to meet the needs of their children, our parents, in their old age deserve a life that is peaceful, happy, and secure. One of the best ways to provide them security is to buy a senior citizen health insurance plan for them. The general insurance companies in India are actively coming up with customised plans of medical insurance for senior citizens.

So before you buy a senior citizen health insurance plan for your parents, there are some basic factors and aspects that you should be well aware of. Some of these basics are discussed in this blog, which more often is considered thumb rules for buying senior citizen health insurance.

• Choose adequate cover - As immunity declines with age, the likelihood of needing medical treatment increases. Additionally, chronic lifestyle disorders necessitate regular medical consultations. Make sure your parents have enough insurance coverage. Check the inclusions and exclusions and see if there is a special senior discount.
  
  
• Consider pre-existing conditions - Your elderly parents may already have some underlying medical concerns like high blood pressure, sugar, etc. which are considered pre-existing medical conditions. Make sure the senior citizen health insurance policy also includes coverage for conditions.
  
  
• Check the waiting period - There is a waiting period associated with medical insurance for senior citizens. Waiting times are notably long in senior health insurance plans, particularly for conditions that are already present. Do an online search, compare all the available senior citizen health insurance plans and select a plan with a shorter waiting period.
  
  
• Check the entry age - In general, insurers provide coverage for people aged 55 to 80 under senior citizen health insurance plans. The entry age for certain other medical insurance for senior citizens is 60. Try to choose a plan that has a high entry age.
  
  
• Provision for daycare expenses - Some medical procedures, such as cataract surgery, or some significant testing don't need hospitalisation. Your parents' numerous doctor visits and diagnostic testing in their later years may not necessitate hospitalisation, but the overall costs can be significant. Selecting a senior citizen health insurance plan for parents should include coverage for daycare costs as well.
  
  
• Wide hospital network - Easy access to healthcare should be your goal when purchasing medical insurance for senior citizen parents. As a result, you ought to pick an insurance provider with a sizable hospital network. In the event of an emergency, a large hospital network would guarantee quick and simple access to treatment.
  
  
• Easy claim settlement process - The last thing you want your parents to experience during a medical emergency is a drawn-out and challenging claim settlement procedure. Make sure the insurance provider from which you purchase your parents' senior citizen health insurance has a straightforward and easy claim settlement procedure.
  
  
• Provisions for alternative medicare – There is a growing popularity for alternative healthcare procedures. Consequently, if your parents have a preference for such alternative health care, you should see if the medical insurance for senior citizens that you are planning to buy covers AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) or not.

Now that you are aware of the basic aspects that you should essentially check before buying a senior citizen health insurance plan for your parents, you should be in a better position to make an optimal choice.