Health Insurance in Thrissur

Why Do You Need Health Insurance in Thrissur?

India's Highest Disease Burden

The state of Kerala records the highest prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in India (NFHS-5) – and Thrissur experiences this disease burden equally. Chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes need constant visits to specialists, medications and blood tests which come at a heavy financial cost each year in the absence of a health insurance plan.

Flooding-prone Area and Post-Flood Illnesses

The district of Thrissur was highly affected by the floods of 2018, the worst flood of Kerala in nearly a century as per NDMA. Health Department surveillance in Kerala post-flood revealed an increase in leptospirosis, diarrhoeal and skin diseases. They incur sudden large medical expenses that can be borne with a good health insurance policy and greater sum insured. .

Self-Employed/Business People

Thrissur is the center of the gold trade in Kerala and boasts a population of self-employed jewellers and traders. In contrast to the salaried people who enjoy employer health insurance plans, self-employed people do not have this privilege and health insurance becomes a necessity for them in emergencies.

Relentless Medical Inflation

The cost of private hospital care increases by 12% to 14% every year as per IRDAI. A ₹2 lakh operation now will cost ₹3.5 lakh in five years. Buying early ensures lower premiums and insures your family against growing prices.

Major Health Problems in Thrissur

Hypertension

According to the NFHS-5 survey, 47.3% of men and 37.7% of women in Kerala suffer from high blood pressure, highest in India as per NFHS-5. If left untreated, it results in strokes, kidney damage, heart disease with high recurrent treatment costs.

Diabetes

It has India’s highest diabetes prevalence rate i.e. 25.5% of men and 18.8% of women in Kerala have high blood sugar levels as per NFHS-5. High recurring expenses such as yearly blood tests, renal function tests, eye exams, and daily medications can be covered by health insurance.

Cardiovascular Disease

High hypertension and diabetes among people of Kerala with sedentary lifestyles have one of the highest cardiovascular risks in India. Cardiac treatment costs ₹3-8 lakhs in private hospitals, hence, critical illness cover is crucial along with every basic plan.

Cancer

Kerala has India's highest cancer rates as per the NCRP/ICMR data. Treatment can cost between ₹5-25 lakhs and even more, hence, high sum insured and critical illness cover is essential for every family in Thrissur.

Dengue and Leptospirosis

Dengue occurs every year in Thrissur as stated in NVBDCP. Leptospirosis after monsoon is an annual problem in Thrissur as per observations of the Health Department of Kerala. Both these diseases may turn serious quickly, which may necessitate ICU admission and high medical costs suddenly.

Aging Population

Kerala has the highest percentage of aged people in India at 12.6%, whereas the average percentage in India is 8.6% as per Census 2011. Thrissur also follows this pattern, with many aged people having heart problems, bone problems, and kidney problems.

Healthcare Costs in Thrissur and Recommended Coverage

Note: Costs are indicative and may vary by hospital, room type, ICU requirements, and treatment complexity.

Major Hospitals in Thrissur and Why Health Insurance Matters

Always verify that your preferred hospital is listed in your insurer's network hospital directory before buying a policy to ensure smooth cashless hospitalization during emergencies.

How Much Health Insurance Coverage Do You Need in Thrissur?

• Individuals: Minimum sum insured of ₹10 lakh under an individual health insurance policy is suggested for employed individuals in Thrissur.
• Families: Family floater health insurance policy for ₹25-30 lakh will provide coverage to the entire family with one common premium and will be good for the majority of families in the city.
• Senior Citizens: Minimum sum insured of ₹20 lakh under senior citizen health insurance plan to take care of age-specific problems like cardiac problems, renal problems and orthopedic problems.

Families with a history of cancer or heart problems should take a critical illness cover. Couples with young children should have a maternity cover and baby cover as almost all insurance companies put a waiting period of 9-24 months on maternity. Premium payment is tax deductible under section 80D for a maximum of ₹25,000 for individuals and ₹50,000 for senior citizens per annum.

How to Buy Health Insurance in Thrissur

• Know about your healthcare needs first: Analyse your age, number of family members, income level, and the existence of any disease. This helps avoid unnecessary over-payment or remain under-insured.
• Select a proper sum insured: Select a sum insured for any major surgery or hospitalisation for a longer period in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Never select a lower sum insured just because of reducing your premium. The deficiency is always met from your own pocket.
• Compare different health insurance plans: Compare the coverage, annual premium, claim settlement rate, and portability option prior to taking the final decision.
• Network hospitals: Verify whether the Government Medical College, Amala Institute, Jubilee Mission, and Westfort Hospital belong to the network hospital list of your insurer for hassle-free cashless hospitalisation.
• Add-on coverages: Give priority to restoration benefit, No Claim Bonus, annual health check-up, day care treatment, ambulance coverage, Outpatient Department (OPD) coverage, organ donor expenses coverage, and domiciliary treatment.
• Go through the small print: Know the waiting period for each condition, room rent sub-limits, co-payment terms, deductibles, and coverage for Ayush treatments. Lifetime renewability should always be confirmed before enrolling into a plan.
• Go for a long-term plan: Opt for premiums and sum insured which you can afford throughout your life, even after retirement.
• Filing a reimbursement claim when necessary: If getting treated in a non-network hospital, you must submit your bills, discharge summary, and other documentation to your insurance company for filing a reimbursement claim.

Health Insurance in Thrissur for NRIs

Thiruvananthapuram and central Kerala have an established community of people from the Gulf who reside in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman as per the Kerala Migration Survey, Centre for Development Studies. Most of the Indian insurance companies enable the policy to be bought online, thus providing the relatives with a cashless hospitalization facility at Amala Institute or Jubilee Mission when there is an emergency. There are special schemes available for health insurance for senior citizens.

Is Government Health Insurance Enough in Thrissur

No. KASP (Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi) of the state of Kerala offers cashless hospitalization up to a maximum of ₹5 lakhs per year per family qualified for this benefit scheme. Though this may be sufficient for basic necessities, this is clearly insufficient, since cancer therapy alone may cost ₹25 lakhs and more.

Due to Thrissur having the highest cases of hypertension and diabetes, highest rate of cancer in India, recurrent risk of diseases during floods and post monsoon period, along with a growing number of elderly people, private health insurance policy with an adequate sum insured is the best form of protection.