Health insurance acts as a protective shield for treating several ailments. Here we can get a glimpse of the varied types of ailments that are covered by different health insurance policies.

1. Diabetes: A chronic ailment that occurs when the pancreas fails to produce a sufficient amount of insulin or the body fails to utilise the optimum amount of insulin produced by the pancreas. Several types of diabetes include Type 1 diabetes, where the pancreas produces either zero or negligible amount of insulin; Type 2 diabetes, which affects the body’s processing technique of glucose; prediabetes, where the blood sugar levels tend to be on the higher side, but not as high to be termed as Type 2 diabetes; and gestational diabetes occurs exclusively in pregnant women, and resorts back to normal after delivery.
2. Malaria: Transmitted through the bites of infected anopheles mosquito variant, this is a type of ailment that occurs due to the plasmodium parasite. The severity of malaria is determined by the plasmodium variant.
3. Novel coronavirus: This has been named COVID-19 by WHO, where “CO” stands for Corona, “VI” for Virus, “D” for Disease and “19”, because of its initial outbreak back in late 2019. This ailment is caused by the special SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Aged people and those with PEDs are prone to be affected. It may even prove to be fatal depending on the circumstances.
4. Dengue: A special type of viral infection getting spread through the Aedes aegypti mosquito variant. It causes severe fever and results in a sharp decline in the platelet count. Depending on the circumstances, it may even take a very serious turn to be fatal.
5. Vector-borne: Any ailment that gets transmitted through vectors is termed a vector-borne disease. Some of the most common vector-borne diseases include chikungunya, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, zika, malaria, plague, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, etc.
6. Tuberculosis: A serious ailment chiefly affecting the lungs is usually spread through the cough, sputum, and sneezes of the affected individual. Potent antibiotics can treat TB symptomatically.
7. Low blood pressure: When the systolic (top) and the diastolic (bottom) blood pressure readings range between 90 mmHg and 70 mmHg, it is regarded as low blood pressure. Severe low BP restricts the smooth oxygen supply to the vital organs in the body which leads to shock. However, if low BP is not accompanied by any apparent symptoms, it is not considered to be very serious.
8. High blood pressure: When the systolic (top) and the diastolic (bottom) blood pressure readings range between 150 mmHg and 100 mmHg respectively, it is regarded as high blood pressure. It happens when the blood force against the arterial walls is on the higher side.
9. Heart attack: Heart attack or cardiac arrest happens when a blood clot acutely reduces or completely restricts the smooth blood flow to the heart. Such blocks are usually caused by fat build-ups, cholesterol, etc.
10. Bird flu: Avian flu or bird flu is a special infection spread among wild aquatic bird variants, poultries, etc. Most of these variants do not affect humans. However, certain typical variants cause human infections too through bird faeces, feathers, etc.
11. Kidney stones: Kidney stones are formed inside the kidneys due to heavy deposits of salts and minerals. A faulty diet schedule, intake of certain medicines and supplements, and excessive body weight are some of the probable causes of kidney stones.
12. Plaque: Plaque is a dental issue where a thin sticky film develops on the teeth. It can be easily addressed through regular brushing and flossing. However, severe plaque may lead to gingivitis, cavities and other oral health issues.
13. Dental: When teeth are not cleaned properly regularly, it may lead to several dental issues like toothache, gingivitis, plaque, cavities, staining, chipping, cracked teeth, etc. It requires expert medical treatment and guidance for relief.
14. Asthma: This is a chronic medical condition where the airways narrow down and swell producing excess mucus. This prohibits smooth airflow causing breathing difficulty, wheezing, coughing, etc.
15. Diabetes mellitus: It refers to a particular group of ailments affecting how the body is treating the blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes happens when the pancreas produces either zero or negligible amount of insulin; Type 2 diabetes affects the body’s processing technique of glucose; prediabetes happens where the blood sugar levels are high, but not as high to be termed as Type 2 diabetes; and gestational diabetes occurs exclusively in pregnant women, and resorts back to normal after delivery.
16. Thyroid: A small gland responsible for making thyroid hormone that controls how the body uses energy. Thyroid issues include goitre, where the thyroid gland grows big; hyperthyroidism, where more than the required level of thyroid hormone is produced; hypothyroidism, where the thyroid production level is lower than the required levels; thyroid cancer, lumps in the thyroid gland, thyroiditis or the swelling of the thyroid gland.
17. Oral cancer: Any cancerous development in the oral region is termed as oral cancer. Excessive usage of tobacco, alcohol, and HPV infection are some of the common factors causing oral cancer.
18. Stroke: Stroke, also termed a brain attack, occurs when something restricts the oxygenated blood supply to a brain region(s) or if a blood vessel bursts inside the brain. This is a very severe health condition and may happen suddenly, requiring prompt action and immediate medical attention.
19. Paralysis: The inability to make voluntary movements is called paralysis. It often happens due to strokes, nerve ailments, Bell’s palsy causing facial paralysis, spinal cord injuries, etc. Paraplegia is paralysis in both legs, while quadriplegia involves all four limbs.
20. Obesity: When the BMI is above 30, it is called obesity. This excessive body weight due to enormous fat accumulation is in itself an ailment and requires more than cosmetic treatment.
21. Fatty liver: When there are excess fat deposits in the liver it is termed as fatty liver. Excessive alcohol consumption often leads to fatty liver. Other responsible factors include obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
22. Sarcopenia: This is an age-related degenerative issue leading to subsequent muscle mass loss and loss of strength. The primary symptom is muscle weakness. A sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical exercise, and unhealthy diet schedules, often contribute to sarcopenia.
23. Swine flu: A type of influenza A virus, caused by the H1N1 virus strain is called swine flu. It is spread through affected pigs and some bird variants. It is often treated symptomatically.
24. Thyroid cancer: A malignant cancerous growth in the thyroid gland is called thyroid cancer. The cause behind the occurrence of thyroid cancer is little known. However, hereditary and environmental factors may be responsible.
25. Testicular cancer: The growth of cancerous cells in the testicles, present in the scrotum region, is called testicular cancer. The primary sign may include the growth of a lump in the testicles. Chemotherapy and surgery are common treatment processes.
26. Spinal cord tumour: A spinal cord tumour, also called, intradural tumour, develops within the spine bones, or the spinal canal. If this growth affects the vertebrae it is termed a vertebral tumour. Surgical intervention is one of the most popular courses of treatment in this context.
27. Parkinson’s: This is a special brain disorder leading to uncontrollable and unintended movements. It often causes shaking, coordination difficulties, stiffness, and imbalances.
28. Alzheimer’s: This is a difficult and degenerative brain disorder that affects memory, judgemental capacity, and thinking skills. It eventually leads to difficulty in performing the simplest of daily routine tasks. This ailment even causes personality and behavioural changes.
29. Breast cancer: Any malignant cancerous growth in breast(s) is called breast cancer. This is very common among women. However, the exact cause of the growth of breast cancer is yet to be known. Certain complicated environmental and genetic factors play roles here.
30. Polio: This is a virus-borne disease, that infects the person’s spinal cord leading to paralysis. It is easily preventable by the polio vaccine.