Non-Medical expenses in Health Insurance

Overview

Non-medical expenses in health insurance pertain to the expenses incurred for items or services not directly associated with medical treatment. These expenses encompass charges for registration, and the cost of consumables such as syringes, bandages, and gloves etc..

What are non-medical items expenses in health insurance? 

Non-medical expenses incurred during hospitalisation, which are not covered by health insurance, include the costs of various items. The Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (IRDAI) of India has excluded the coverage of these expenses to prevent any potential misuse. As a result, your insurance provider will not be responsible for covering these expenses when settling claims, and you will have to finance them personally. 
 
The IRDAI has classified the non-medical expenses according to the hospitalisation and treatment received. Additionally, the IRDAI has provided a list of optional items not covered by a health plan. Please refer to the following categories of non-medical expenses as outlined by the IRDAI below: 

Non-Medical Expenses Under Procedure Costs: 

• Registration/admission charges 
• Vaccination cost 
• HIV kit 
• Antiseptic mouthwash 
• Disinfectant, spirit & hydrogen peroxide 
• Urine container 
• Nutritionists or dietician charges 
• Diabetic footwear 
• Infusion pump charges 
• Blood reservation cost 

Non-Medical Expenses Under Hospital Room Charges: 

• Gown 
• Tissue paper 
• Pulse oximeter charges 
• Hand wash 
• Housekeeping charges 
• Comb, slippers & caps 
• Hot pack/ cold pack 
• Toothbrush & toothpaste 
• Buds 
• Foot cover 

Non-Medical Expenses Under Procedure Costs: 

The cost of the following items used during a surgical procedure may not be covered: 

• Surgical blades 
• Disposable razors 
• Bandages & cotton 
• Eye pad 
• Arthroscopy and Endoscopy instrument charges 
• Gauze blades 
• Harmon scalpel blades 
• Hair removal cream 
• Surgical drill 

Other Non-Payable Medical Expenses: 

The following non-medical expenses are not covered: 

• Needles, syringes & sterilised injections 
• Barber charges 
• Referral doctor’s fees 
• Medicine box 
• Washing charges 
• Digestion gels 
• Paper gloves 

Optional Items: 

The cost of the following optional items might also excluded: 

• Mineral water 
• Thermometer 
• Food (apart from hospital food) 
• Laundry/ attendant charges 
• Beauty services 
• Nebuliser kit 
• Baby food 
• Carry bags 
• Belts/braces

Important points to keep in mind regarding non-medical expenses in health insurance 

It is essential to note that any non-medical expenses incurred during hospitalisation will not be covered by your health insurance policy, as per the guidelines set by IRDAI. 
The non-medical expenses listed by IRDAI are standard and can be found in your policy documents. 
To avoid any surprises during claim settlement, it is advisable to thoroughly check your policy document to understand the non-medical expenses excluded under your policy. 
In some cases, non-medical expenses may be covered as an add-on cover in specific health plans. You can opt for this cover by paying an additional premium to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses. 

Summary

As all health insurance plans do not cover non-medical expenses under their plan, consider opting for a rider or an add-on cover along with your base plan to ease the burden of paying from your pockets.