Do Star Health Insurance Plans Cover Cataract Surgery?

What is Cataract?

A cataract is a disease that leads to the clouding of the clear eye lens. It is the gradual occurrence of a layer on the eye lens that blocks natural vision. It results in a blur or partial vision and can lead to blindness. Cataract develops slowly and does not impact eye vision initially. It increases over time and can eventually interfere with a person’s eyesight. As a result, cataract is mostly diagnosed in elderly people above the age of 50 years.

When a person develops cataract, their vision is similar to looking through a fogged-up window. It makes it difficult for people with cataract to see clearly and do regular activities, such as reading a book or driving a car. The eyesight deteriorates with time and eventually leads to a complete loss of vision.

The most common reason for developing cataract is old age or an eye injury that leads to changes in the tissue of the eye lens. However, cataract can also be developed due to medical conditions like diabetes, eye conditions like past eye surgery and long-term use of steroids. Moreover, genetic disorders can also increase the risk of developing cataract.

Cataract is considered as one of the major reasons for bilateral blindness in India. But cataract can be treated before it leads to loss of vision with the help of cataract surgery.

What is a Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery refers to the procedure of removing the lens of the eye. In most cases, it involves replacing the eye lens with an artificial lens to restore the vision. It is the most common and the only way to remove the cataract from the eye.

Cataract surgery is a safe procedure and is carried out by an ophthalmologist or an eye doctor. With the recent technological advancements, doctors now use laser technology for cataract surgery. The patient does not have to get hospitalized for cataract surgery as it can be done as an outpatient treatment.

However, cataract surgery is expensive. Usually, cataract surgery for a single eye can cost somewhere between Rs 15,000 and Rs 30,000. The surgery cost can climb up to Rs 60,000 per eye if advanced technology is used for the surgery. Moreover, it also involves post-operative care, such as eye drops and medicines, that can increase the overall medical expenses. As a result, not everyone can afford cataract surgery easily.

The only way to afford a cataract surgery without losing the savings is by buying a health insurance policy that covers cataract surgery. Several health insurance plans in India cover the cost of cataract surgery.

Is Cataract Surgery Covered by Star Health Insurance?

Yes. Star Health Insurance covers the cost of a cataract surgery undergone by the insured. Star Health and Allied Insurance Company provides coverage for cataract surgery under multiple plans, including Star Family Delite Insurance policy, Star Care Insurance policy, Star Family Health Optima policy, Diabetes Safe policy, Arogya Sanjeevani policy, etc.

The Star Health Insurance policies provide coverage for cataract surgery up to Rs 30,000 per eye for each hospitalization or Rs 40,000 in a policy tenure. It covers the cost of the surgery, hospitalization as well as post-surgery expenses.

However, Star Health Insurance plans in India cover the cost of cataract surgery after a waiting period of 2 years. Besides, the cover may also come with a sub-limit. For instance, the Arogya Sanjeevani policy covers cataract surgery subject to a sub-limit of 25% of the sum insured or Rs 40,000, whichever is lower.

Precautions to Slow Down or Prevent Cataract

Although there are no proven ways to slow down or prevent cataract, doctors believe the following precautions can help. Take a look:

• Get your eye checked regularly to detect cataract at an early stage.
• Follow your treatment procedure religiously if you have medical conditions like diabetes that can increase the risk of cataract.
• Maintain a healthy diet that consists of a lot of fruits and vegetables.
• Quit smoking or avoid it as much as possible.
• Limit the intake of alcohol to the minimum to reduce the risk of cataract.
• Wear sunglasses when stepping out in the sun to protect your eyes from ultraviolet B rays.

In a Nutshell

Cataract is a common disease among the elderly in India. It is essential to detect cataract at an early stage and undergo the surgery if it starts to interfere with the vision. Given the high cost of the surgery for each eye, it is advisable to buy a Star health insurance policy to cover the cost of cataract surgery without a financial burden.