Hospital room rent caps: How dual policies can affect claims?

My corporate insurance policy includes a room rent cap for hospital stays, while my individual insurance policy does not. Will staying in a higher-category room affect my claim?

- Shilpa Arora

–Name withheld on request

If a policy has a room rent cap, it can lead to proportionate deductions that could significantly reduce reimbursement amount of your insurance. Corporate health covers often include room rent limits, specifying the maximum daily cost they will cover for hospital stays. For example, if the cap is ₹5,000 a day and you choose a room for ₹8,000, you will need to pay the difference out of the pocket. Its impact goes beyond just room charges. Many hospitals link other costs, such as doctor's fees, procedure and ICU charges, to the room category. Opting for a higher-category room can proportionately increase these associated costs, leading to a much larger financial burden.