Does Health Insurance in India Cover Diabetes?

In terms of finances, a burden is upon the patient and the family as the medical bills commence piling up. Therefore, it becomes important to be financially protected and opt for a health insurance policy.

Having the health insurance plan in place is a smart decision as it offers guaranteed coverage in case of incurred medical expenses related to health. Choose the best health insurance policy in India and it will take care of the patients medical bills and the savings will be safe and not nullified.

Statistics Say!

As per International Diabetics Federation, about 463 million populations suffer from diabetes across the globe. And the 88 million populations belong to the region of Southeast Asia. Within this, the 77 million populations belong to India.

India is at a second position wherein the children have Type 1 diabetes after the United States of America. Moreover, as per the World Health Organization, 2 per cent of the deaths in India is because of diabetes.

Breaking the Monotony

Many people believe that as they suffer from diabetes they cannot buy the health insurance policy.

Breaking it to you, it is a ‘myth’.

In case you are not aware, a health insurance policy provides coverage for pre-existing ailments such as diabetes, blood pressure, and so forth. You just need to check the same with the health insurance company if a specific illness is covered.

Let us take an understanding of the different perspectives of buying the health insurance for diabetic patients in India.

First Know the Types of Diabetes

Before you choose the health insurance plan, you must be aware in regards to the types of diabetes. Diabetes can be categorized into the following types:

• Type 1: This is the severe form of diabetes wherein the patient is dependent upon insulin because the body is unable to produce insulin that can be converted into sugar or glucose for the energy. This is one of the prime reason that Type 1 diabetic patient required insulin shots that convert the glucose or sugar into the energy. The body’s immunity system sees producing cells of insulin as foreign and likewise attacks that result in the ability to produce insulin by the pancreas.
• Type 2: It is another form of common diabetes wherein the cells become resistant to insulin and even when the insulin is produced it is not sufficient for the body. Due to the dysfunctional in the production of the insulin, the glucose remains in the blood and is not converted into energy.
• Type 3: It is a sort of Alzheimer disease that majorly occurs due to insulin resistance in the brain.
• Gestational Diabetes: Well, this kind of diabetes is mostly common in women when they are expecting or pregnant. In case the same is not timely cured, then chances are that it might get converted to ‘Type 2’ diabetes.

What Options Do I Have?

Well in case you are a diabetic person or know someone who has diabetes have the following two options to obtain the insurance cover within a health insurance policy in India:

• Individual Health Insurance Plan: You can easily buy an individual health insurance plan that covers the pre-existing ailments such as diabetes. With the rise in the number of cases of diabetes and the evolution in the health insurance sector, most of the health insurance companies have introduced health plans catering to pre-existing diseases such as diabetic. The only condition is that one has to serve a waiting period of specific years to avail the benefits of pre-existing illness cover.
• Group Health Insurance Plan: You have the alternative to obtain cover for diabetes through the employer-provided a group health insurance plan as well. Possibly the group health insurance policy might already be providing a cover. However, if not, it is better to choose a health insurance plan that covers diabetes as well. The group health insurance plan will be until you have the job, but diabetes will always be around.
• Diabetes Specific Plan: Thanks to the development in the health insurance sector, a considerable number of insurers have started offering health insurance specially designed to address diabetes. If you’ve been suffering from this illness, you can consider this pan.

Understanding the Scope of Coverage

In India, most likely no coverage is provided for type 1 diabetes; however, type 2 diabetes can be covered within a health insurance plan. In the case of gestational diabetes, it will be covered within the maternity benefit of the health insurance plan.

It is to be noted that the health insurance premium for a diabetic person will be higher than a regular health insurance premium. It is so because there are high chances of frequent claims and medical supervision. There would be a waiting period of mostly 2 years to 4 years after that you can easily avail the benefits of the health insurance policy. In case you are buying the health plan for the first time, you might have to undergo medical check-up; however, this may vary from plan to plan and insurer to insurer.

Token of Advice!

Choose the best health insurance policy in India that has the minimum waiting period and helps you to avail the maximum benefits offered within the plan. The group health insurance plans mostly do not have a waiting period.

Choose the cover amount on the premise of your age, medical condition and the rising expenses of health care. Make sure that the health cover amount is adequate and fulfil your needs and requirements. In case you have a family history of diabetes make sure that you have the right plan in place. And if you do not have diabetes then also buy the plan to avoid rejection laterally because of a diabetic history.

Before you sign the dotted lines, make sure that you have read the policy schedule so that you are aware and informed in regards to the inclusions and exclusion offered within the health insurance policy in terms of pre-existing illness.