Health insurance for heart patients
A myriad of reasons are responsible for an uptick in the number of heart ailments over the past few years. Some of the major risk factors include high blood pressure, unhealthy diets, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking. A lot of these risk factors can be linked to high-pressure work environments as well as a sedentary lifestyle.
As a responsible individual, it is important to take adequate measures to safeguard yourself and your family members against any such ailments. Apart from making necessary changes to eating habits and lifestyle, buying health insurance for cardiac ailments is highly recommended.
Here is all that you need to know about the plan and its importance in today’s lifestyle.
Cardiac-specific health insurance plans for heart patients
A mere look at the numbers will give you a rather unfortunate picture of the number of cardiovascular diseases. In the year 1990, the number of deaths in India due to cardiovascular diseases was reported at 15.2%. However, the number of deaths stood at 28.1% in 2016. In less than two decades the number has almost doubled.
A lot of individuals who suffer from cardiovascular diseases are below the age of 50 years. And the age group also sees more than 50% of all deaths due to heart ailments. Another 25% of the deaths are reported of people below the age of 40 years.
The cost of medical care has gone up several times over the past few years. And it is not surprising that treating heart ailments is going to cost a lot of money. Paying for such expenses out of your savings might not be the most prudent solution. It will not only eat your savings but also leave you vulnerable to any other medical needs.
In such times, a cardiac health insurance plan can be a very sensible choice. The plan usually covers expenses related to the treatment of myocardial infarction, heart failure, heart attack, etc. Emergency treatment of such diseases can be quite straining financially and add to even more stress. A cardiac insurance plan will alert you of any such concerns.
Why do cardiac patients need cardiac-specific health insurance plans?
People from different age groups are now suffering from cardiac ailments. Heart-related diseases are not like some other ailments, that only occur to senior citizens or people of specific age groups. There are a lot of reports of people in their 30s also suffering from cardiac ailments.
Since most heart-related ailments are emergency cases, treatment can severely impact the finances of a family. A cardiac health insurance plan ensures that you can receive the best treatment out there, without having to worry about expenses. People who have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart abnormalities or issues with blood vessels are more prone to such diseases.
Opting for cardiac specific plan will offer the financial support to undergo treatment even for prolonged periods.
Cardiac care plans v/s CI plan – pros and cons
Being aware of the different types of health insurance plans will allow you to choose smartly. A cardiac health insurance plan caters to specifically heart-related diseases. However, a critical illness plan also does the same and more. Here are the pros and cons of choosing both the plan.
Pros:
● A critical illness plan offers coverage for a wide range of life-threatening diseases.
● The premium amount for a cardiac care plan is lower.
● A cardiac care plan covers the cost of treatment right from diagnosis to advanced treatments.
Cons:
● A cardiac care plan has limited coverage for one disease.
● Because of the higher coverage, a critical illness plan is more expensive.
● A critical illness plan provides a lump sum amount on the diagnosis.
Top cardiac health insurance plans for heart patients
Looking to buy the best cardiac health insurance plan out there? The following are the top cardiac care plans that you can purchase. Some plans are offered by general insurance companies and some by life insurance companies. A list of plans offered by General Insurance Companies includes:
- Care Heart insurance plan:
The sum insured by the policy ranges between Rs. 3 lakhs and Rs. 10 lakhs. The waiting period for the plan is 30 days. You can buy the plan above the age of 18 years, with a lifetime renewal option. The tenure of the plan is between 1 to 3 years. - Star Cardiac Care:
The sum insured or coverage of the policy ranges between Rs. 2 lakhs and Rs. 3 lakhs. The waiting period for the policy is 24 continuous months of coverage. Age limits to proceed with the purchase of the plan are between 10 and 65 years. The tenure of the plan is between 1 to 3 years. - Aditya Birla Activ Secure Plan- a Critical Illness variant:
The sum insured or coverage of the policy ranges between Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 1 crore. The waiting period for the plan is 90 days. The age limit for the policy is between 5 years and 65 years. The tenure of the policy is between 1 to 3 years.
Some plans offered by Life Insurance companies include:
- HDFC Life Cardiac Care:
The sum insured or coverage of the policy ranges between Rs. 2 lakhs and Rs. 50 lakhs. The waiting period for the policy is 180 days. The minimum and maximum entry age of the policy stands at 18 and 65 years respectively. The tenure of the plan is between 1 to 3 years. - Critical Illness Insurance Plan offered by Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company:
The sum insured or coverage of the policy ranges between Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 50 lakhs. The waiting period of the policy is 90 days and the age limit of the policy is between 6 years and 65 years. The tenure of the policy is between 1 to 3 years.
Importance of health insurance for heart patients in India
Due to a rapid increase in sedentary lifestyles, and ever-increasing stress levels at work and business, Indians are now more susceptible to heart diseases than ever before. Also, bad dietary choices and a family history of heart-related diseases put even more people at risk.
Considering the high costs of treatment of heart diseases, it is quite important to secure yourself with a cardiac health insurance plan, if you fall into any of the above-mentioned categories. The plan will ensure that you receive the best treatment and medical attention, without ever stressing about the finances.
Key features of cardiac health insurance plans
Buying a cardiac health insurance plan offers you a host of features and benefits. The following are some of them.
● The plan covers expenses related to treatment and surgeries related to heart diseases.
● The plan covers hospitalisation expenses when the insured is admitted for the treatment of heart-related ailments.
● Premiums paid towards the plan qualify for tax deductions in the Income Tax under Section 80D.
● The plan offers cashless benefits, provided the insured visits a network hospital.
● Depending on the insurance provider and the plan, you might receive a lump sum on the diagnosis of any heart-related ailments. This can be used for treatment and other expenses.
● Some insurance providers offer loss of income benefits if the insured loses their job or is unable to work for a duration, due to the medical condition.
What is covered under cardiac health insurance plans?
The coverage on offer of a cardiac-specific health insurance plan would largely depend on the insurance provider that you want to buy the policy from. The following are some of the most commonly covered conditions in the plan.
1. Inpatient treatment:
Most insurance providers cover the expenses related to inpatient treatment. These include hospitalisation charges such as room charges, doctor’s consultations, nursing charges, oxygen requirements, medicines, etc. up to the sum insured of the plan.
2. Pre and post-hospitalisation:
Insurance providers will mostly cover medical expenses, 30 days prior to the hospitalisation and up to 60 days post the discharge of a patient. Since most hospitalisations require regular medications, this cover can help you save on such expenses.
3. Personal accident:
A few insurance providers offer a personal accident cover along with the plan. A worldwide cover ensures that the insured or their loved ones receive compensation in the unfortunate event of an accident of the insured.
4. Cardiac ailments:
Expenses related to the treatment of medical cardiac ailments such as surgeries, management of the ailment, or interventional management are covered as a part of the policy. These include angioplasty, pacemaker surgery, heart transplant, valvuloplasty, open heart surgery, etc.
5. Ambulance charges:
Ambulance charges up to a certain limit are covered as a part of the plan. Thus, making sure you or your loved ones do not have to worry about paying for such services.
6. Domiciliary treatment:
Patients with heart-related issues might require domiciliary treatment. Insurers usually cover such expenses, sometimes even up to 100% of the sum insured.
7. Outpatient expenses:
Some insurance providers offer outpatient benefits for the insured. Subject to a maximum limit, you can claim expenses related to consultations, diagnostic tests, etc.
What is not covered under cardiac health insurance plans?
Cardiac health insurance plans are like most other insurance plans, where they offer coverage for a specific need while leaving out a few other conditions. If you are wondering about the exclusions of a cardiac health insurance plan, the following are some of them.
● Injuries that are self-inflicted, such as attempt to suicide or suicide
● Medical conditions due to abuse of drugs, alcohol, or other intoxicating substances
● Brain related disorders
● Ailments related to the kidney, liver, or lung of the insured
● Sexually transmitted diseases
● Infertility
● Congenital disease from birth
● Disorders of various glands
● Issues related to pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, abortion, etc.
Treatments or medical procedures covered
Health insurance plans for heart patients cover a lot of common treatment methods and surgeries. The following are some heart-related treatments and surgeries that a cardiac heart insurance plan usually covers.
● Surgery for the placement of a pacemaker
● Coronary artery bypass surgery
● Open heart surgery
● Heart transplant
● Cardiac Arrhythmia surgery
● Angioplasty
● Valvuloplasty
While these are some commonly covered heart-related treatments, the actual coverage would depend on your insurance provider. Make sure that you go through the policy documents to find out details about all the covered treatments.
Who should buy cardiac health insurance plans?
A cardiac health insurance plan is ideal for a lot of people these days. Since cardiac ailments are not limited to a specific age group and even younger people are suffering from heart issues, it is recommended for everyone. People belonging to the following groups must opt for a cardiac health insurance plan, due to their exposure to higher risks.
● Stressful job or business.
● Unhealthy food habits and lifestyle.
● Pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory issues, etc.
● Having a family history of heart ailments.
Since younger people are also suffering from heart disease, it is recommended that you should opt for a cardiac health insurance plan.
How to file a claim for cardiac specific health insurance plan?
The claim process for a cardiac health insurance plan is rather straightforward. Here are the steps involved.
● The first step involves informing your insurance provider about the intent to file a claim. For the initiation process, you will need to provide some basic information such as policy number, date of surgery/treatment, hospital details, etc.
● Next, you would need to submit the necessary documents for the claim. These include medical records, diagnostic reports, treatment summaries, discharge summaries, etc. Usually, this must be done within 15 days of discharge.
● The insurance provider will then assess the claim depending on the documents submitted. If approved, the amount will the submitted to your account via NEFT.
To Sum Up!
Heart ailments can be quite difficult for an individual as well as the family. And this is from both psychological and financial aspects. Opting for a cardiac care plan ensures that you receive the best treatment and do not have to worry about splurging through your savings. Above are all the details that you need to know about the plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Opting for a cardiac care health insurance plan offers tax benefits under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act. The deduction is limited to Rs. 25,000 for people below 60 years and Rs. 50,000 for people above the age limit.
Sum insured in a cardiac care plan is the maximum coverage that the insurance provider offers for the treatment of heart-related diseases. The sum insured depends on the policy and insurance provider.
Yes, you can buy a cardiac care insurance plan even after a heart attack. It is important to go through the policy documents in such cases.
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