Health cards supplementing mediclaim policies

Going beyond an ordinary health insurance policy, patients now have the option of health cards which offers them discounts on hospitalisation expenses, consultation, pharmacy and diagnostic procedures.
Healthcare companies are tying up with hospitals, diagnostic centres, clinics, wellness centres and pharmacy chains to offer such health cards as an alternative or to fill the void left by existing health insurance policies.
Sachin Chaudhary, CEO Medical Second Opinions, a venture funded startup, which has recently launched their 'Freedom Health Card' says the concept is catching up gradually as such discount cards include a range of services, treatments and medicines such as consultation, diagnostic services, alternative medicines and pharmaceutical costs.

A number of other service providers like the Indian Health Organisation (IHO), Sharak Healthcare and EasyLife Care are also offering such cards.
Gurgaon-based chartered accountant Sandeep Agarwal says it was only when his mother, who is in her sixties, fell ill that he realised the importance of health cards supplementing his family's existing mediclaim policy.
"The policy did not include pre-existing diseases, dental and eye related diseases. And so these health cards helped me to cover the gaps as I could use it for even taking physiotherapy treatment for her spondylitis treatment," he says.