Did you know that you get different rates for the same surgery if you go as an uninsured person, or if you go with your own cover or if you go with a group cover? Rates vary across insurance firms as well. I had heard of it, but had not got proof in my hand. Last week, I bumped into a neighbour who is scheduled for a minor surgery. He went to a big south Delhi corporate hospital chain and asked for an estimate. He presented his individual policy since he was not sure his group policy was valid as he was between jobs. He got an estimate of Rs1.16 lakh. Then he found out that his office policy was valid after all. Returned a day later to ask the same question on estimate, but this time presented his group policy. The estimate was Rs 69,300. I have both the documents with me. The individual policy was from a private stand-alone health insurance company and the group policy from a public sector insurance firm.