What is a Restoration benefit?
A restoration (or refill) benefit tops your sum insured back up after it is used up during the policy year, so a second unrelated hospitalisation still has cover. The trigger, whether it applies to the same illness, and how many times it refills all vary by policy.
How restoration works
If a claim exhausts part or all of your sum insured, the restoration benefit reinstates it for later claims in the same year. This protects against a second, unrelated event wiping you out after a big first claim.
The important fine print: some policies restore only for a different illness, some restore only after the full sum insured is exhausted, and some restore multiple times. Read which trigger and scope your policy uses.
Example
Your Rs 5 lakh cover is used up on a heart procedure. Later that year, an unrelated Rs 4 lakh hospitalisation is still covered because the restoration benefit refilled the sum insured.
Common mistakes
- Assuming restoration applies to the same illness; many policies restore only for unrelated conditions.
- Assuming it triggers on partial use; some restore only after the sum insured is fully exhausted.
Frequently asked questions
Does restoration cover the same illness again?
It depends on the policy. Some restore only for a different, unrelated illness; newer plans may restore for the same illness too. Check the trigger in your wording.