Corelatin is an independent patient-support and hospital-companion service. We are not a hospital, clinic, TPA, or insurance company and we do not process cashless claims or make medical decisions. We work alongside the hospitals and doctors you choose, providing non-medical bedside assistance, hospital navigation, appointment coordination, and real-time updates for your family. All clinical treatment, billing, and insurance matters remain with the treating hospital and your insurer or TPA.
Cashless hospitalisation sounds simple, but for many NRIs it becomes the most stressful part of a medical emergency. Forms, approvals, rejected claims, and bills that arrive before the insurer pays — these can drain both time and money. This guide explains how TPAs and cashless claims work in India and what you, as a child abroad, can do to protect your parents' finances.
TPA stands for Third-Party Administrator. A TPA is an agency hired by a health insurance company to manage the claims process. When a patient is admitted to a hospital that is on the insurer's cashless network, the TPA verifies the policy, checks limits, and approves a pre-authorisation amount. The hospital then bills the insurer directly for the approved amount, and the patient only pays non-admissible or non-payable charges.
Important: the TPA is not the hospital. The TPA is not the insurer. It is a middle office that processes paperwork. Corelatin does not act as a TPA and cannot approve or process claims. We can, however, help your family with the paperwork and queueing while the TPA processes the claim.
Cashless means the hospital does not ask for the full payment upfront for approved items; the insurer or TPA settles it later. Reimbursement means the patient pays the full bill first and then claims the money back from the insurer. Cashless is obviously better during emergencies, but it only works if the hospital is on the insurer's panel and the TPA approves the claim.
This is the most common mistake. Families rush to a hospital during an emergency and only then discover it is not on the cashless panel. Before an emergency, ask the insurer's helpline or the hospital's insurance desk for the cashless list. For planned procedures, do this at least a week in advance. Keep a screenshot or printed list of approved hospitals in your parent's city.
Every TPA has slightly different requirements, but the common documents include:
Keep these in a single folder or drive. A companion can carry this to the insurance desk and submit it.
At the hospital, ask the front desk or billing counter to direct you to the TPA/insurance help desk. Submit the pre-authorisation form immediately. The TPA usually takes a few hours to approve during working hours. For emergency admissions, there is an emergency pre-authorisation process, but it still requires documents. Do not wait until discharge to start the paperwork.
Most policies do not cover consumables, certain medicines, room-reent limits, registration charges, or food. These are "non-payable" or "non-admissible" items. The patient or family must pay these directly. Ask the billing desk for an itemised list of non-payable charges before discharge. If the bill seems wrong, ask for a break-up. Do not sign a discharge bill until you understand it.
Corelatin is not a TPA and does not process claims. However, our companions can:
This reduces the burden on your parents, but the actual approval and payment remain between the hospital and the TPA.
Claims are often rejected because of pre-existing disease exclusions, incomplete documents, non-disclosure, or treatment in a non-network hospital. Read the policy carefully, especially the waiting periods and exclusions. If a claim is rejected, ask for a written reason and consider appealing through the insurer's grievance cell or the Insurance Ombudsman in India.
Corelatin is an independent patient-support and hospital-companion service. We are not a hospital, clinic, TPA, or insurance company, and we do not process cashless claims or make medical decisions. We work alongside the hospitals and doctors you choose, providing non-medical bedside assistance, hospital navigation, appointment coordination, and real-time updates for your family. All clinical treatment, billing, and insurance matters remain with the treating hospital and your insurer or TPA.
If you are an NRI worried about your parents' hospital bills and insurance, see how our companions can support the paperwork or contact Corelatin to learn more.