India, Feb. 3 -- A key point is continuity. Waiting periods are typically counted only when renewals happen without a break. A missed renewal can affect timelines in some cases.

Claims usually happen in two broad ways.

This is typically available at a network hospital-the hospital and insurer process eligible parts of the bill based on required documents and approvals.

If cashless is not used, the policyholder may pay first and submit documents later for reimbursement, as per policy terms.

In both cases, it helps to know the standard documents needed, such as hospital bills, discharge summaries, prescriptions, and test reports.

A plan may feel more useful if network hospitals are available near residential and preferred locations. Al...