The National Center for Biotechnology Information has disclosed that India accounts for about one-fifth of the global 17.9 million deaths due to cardiovascular diseases. What is worse is that this trend favours the younger generation. Investing in health insurance for heart patients can help protect one from the risk of losing a significant part of their wealth in an unexpected cardiovascular emergency. Health insurance companies have curated a dedicated insurance plan for people with pre-existing heart problems or at risk of having them.
Importance of getting health insurance for heart patients
The rapid inflation in healthcare costs is not your only concern anymore; the number of individuals affected by cardiovascular diseases is also increasing–even youngsters are afflicted with heart problems. These factors accentuate the need for health insurance for heart patients and those likely to encounter this disease. Medical requirements to treat cardiac ailments differ from regular healthcare; a dedicated medical insurance policy can be tremendously beneficial.The most significant advantage of investing in health insurance for cardiac patients is the financial coverage it can offer.
Different types of cardiovascular health problems
Understanding cardiovascular diseases and their types can help you choose the best health insurance for you and/or your family. Here are the major types:- Coronary heart disease: When the blood supply to your heart's muscles is blocked partially or entirely due to blockage, it can lead to chest pain and even heart attacks. This category of heart disease can quickly increase the risk of fatality.
- Stroke: The condition hampers the blood supply to your brain. Your brain cells begin to die due to the disturbed blood flow, and symptoms such as the inability to control parts of your body may arise. If left unchecked, a stroke can be fatal.
- Aortic disease: When the largest blood vessel in your body starts acting, you can develop an aortic disease. Although rare, the disease can be fatal. An aortic aneurysm is a typical example in which the aorta swells up. In severe cases, it can burst and cause internal bleeding.
- Peripheral arterial disease: A blockage in a limb's artery can impede your routine activities and trigger a heart attack if not treated on time. The blockage usually occurs in your hips, thighs, or calves. If you have this disease, you will experience dull pain in your legs while walking or running.
Who should buy health insurance for cardiac patients
With the rising number of cases registered each year for cardiovascular patients, the need for you to invest in medical insurance has also increased. Treatment for cardiac ailments can continue for extended periods and is challenging if you do not have an insurance plan.The following groups of people will benefit the most from purchasing an insurance plan:
- People who already have heart problems can prevent burning their savings for medical expenses in the future.
- People who have a family history of cardiac ailments.
- People who live a sedentary life and do not pay heed to their health and food intake
- People who have diabetes
- People who have a spouse or family member with cardiovascular disease can think about purchasing a floater/family plan
Top health insurance for heart patients
Medical insurance for heart patients: Key features & benefits
It is essential to understand the insurance policy to choose the right health insurance for heart patients. Knowing the key features and benefits of the plan can help you make the decision yielding an optimum outcome. Here is a range of attributes associated with most cardiac insurance policies:- Financial cushion
- Coverage for medical expenses
- Tax benefits
- Coverage for treatment in a foreign land
- Coverage for loss of income
Inclusions & exclusions of health insurance for cardiac patients
No health insurance policy is the same, but all policies share common attributes. You can gauge the merit of medical insurance for heart patients after analysing the following list.Typical inclusions of the policy:
- Pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses
- Outpatient department, inpatient department, and daycare expenses, including domiciliary hospitalisation
- Fees for diagnostic and investigative tests, including ECG and detailed cardiac risk marker tests
- Annual check-ups for following up on cardiac health
- Costs for the following medical treatments:
o Valvuloplasty or balloon valvotomy
o Minimally invasive surgery of the aorta
o Pericardiectomy
o CABG or coronary artery bypass graft
o Heart transplant or repair of heart valves
o Angiography and angioplasty
o Insertion of a pacemaker, Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), and ventricular assist devices
o Surgery for cardiac arrhythmia
o Primary pulmonary arterial hypertension
Common exclusion of the policy:
- Expenses attributed to treatment for injuries from self-harm and unlawful activities
- Costs for pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, and abortion
- Expenses for treating internal congenital diseases
- IVF and infertility treatments and tests thereof
Consider the following before purchasing a medical insurance
Health insurance provides insured heart patients with a financially safe harbour.- Your current heart health, potential risks, and the policy coverage
- Your family's heart health
- Financial analysis
- Eligibility criteria
How to raise a claim
- You will receive a detailed guide on raising a claim request from the health insurance company. However, there is a standard basic process.
- Initiating a request is the first step, where you will inform your agent or policy executive about your claim. They will require basic details regarding the nature of the event and your identification at this stage. You need to initiate a request within a specific period stated by the insurance provider; delaying this may lead to a claim rejection.
- After this, your agent or executive will ask for supporting documents to validate the claim, including the original medical bills, test reports, and consultation forms. If all goes well, you will get a notification about your claim's status and a tentative date for reimbursement.
- Health insurance companies offer a cashless claim facility in their hospital network. If you receive treatment from any network hospital, your insurer will directly cover the costs on your behalf with the hospital.
Which health insurance is right for you?
Consult your doctor for a check-up to assess your health and plausible risks. Doing this will give you a fair estimate of your requirements and help you make an informed choice.Discuss the policy you have selected with your financial advisor and your spouse/elders for insight. If you have doubts or are unsure about the plan, seek clarification from your insurance executive. Proceed with the policy after receiving satisfactory answers.
The way forward
Your heart is a vital organ, and the first step is to ensure that you take meticulous care of your health. Educate yourself, your loved ones, and your extended family about the need for a healthy lifestyle. Most heart problems can be reversed with a balanced life that includes a healthy meal plan, positive thinking, and regular exercise.Simple habits like eating wholesome foods and cutting out oily and packaged foods will keep you healthy and active–if you eat the right foods, your health parameters will also remain stable. Lifestyle habits like smoking, consuming tobacco, and drinking alcohol, can negatively impact your health, and These habits also put more strain on your heart.
It is advisable to refrain from them to ensure good health and increase your chances of buying a suitable insurance policy. Also, do not delay purchasing heart insurance for the heart, as you are also protecting your family’s financial safety eventually. Most importantly, it would be best to stay covered under a critical illness insurance plan to keep your finances safe throughout your life.
The crucial step is to do everything you can to improve your health–and to search and compare policies of different insurers to find a policy you can afford that provides the coverage you need.
