There’s this age-old saying that Western Medicine cures the symptoms, but Natural Medicine cures the illness.

Long before modern medicine took over, people relied on natural and holistic treatments to heal their ailments. These treatments, rooted in natural and traditional practices, have stood the test of time and are still prevalent today. With the rising awareness of the side effects of mainstream modern treatments, more and more people, especially senior citizens and people with chronic illnesses, are leaning towards alternative therapies such as AYUSH.

Therefore, health insurers also started to cover AYUSH treatments in their policies. But what exactly is AYUSH treatment, what are its advantages and disadvantages, and should you consider opting for it?

Best Health Insurers Best Health Insurance Policies Offering AYUSH Coverage Coverage for AYUSH treatments
HDFC ERGO Optima Secure Up to the sum insured.
Care Supreme Up to the sum insured.
Niva Bupa ReAssure 2.0 Up to the sum insured.
Aditya Birla Activ One Up to the sum insured.
Bajaj Allianz Health Guard Gold Up to ₹20k

What is AYUSH Treatment?

AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy, which were from a time when ancient wisdom (what we call Ancient Wisdom today) was the cornerstone of healthcare. These are age-old treatments with a history of 1000s of years and are rooted in Indian Culture.

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Here’s a brief outline of what each treatment is:

  • Ayurveda: Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine that uses herbs, diet, and yoga to maintain health and treat diseases.
  • Yoga: Yoga is a set of exercises that focuses on physical, mental, and spiritual well-being through postures, breathing exercises, and natural therapies.
  • Unani: A Greco-Arabic system of medicine that uses herbal remedies, dietary practices, and alternative therapies to treat diseases.
  • Siddha: This is one of the oldest systems of medicine, which uses minerals and herbs to treat various ailments that affect you.
  • Homeopathy: A system of medicine based on the principle of "like cures like". It uses highly diluted substances to trigger your body’s natural healing process.

Should you opt for AYUSH Treatment?

With growing awareness of the side effects of conventional medicine, AYUSH treatments offer a natural and holistic alternative. But AYUSH Treatments are not for everybody. For instance, mainstream medication and healthcare services are the only way to go if you're looking for immediate/speedy relief/recovery from an ailment.

Here are some other pros and cons to consider while opting for AYUSH cover in your health insurance policy:

Pros of AYUSH Treatment in Health Insurance Cons of AYUSH Treatment in Health Insurance
  • Natural and Holistic: AYUSH treatments focus on natural remedies and your overall well-being, aiming for long-term health benefits without harmful side effects.
  • Chronic Illness Relief: These treatments are particularly beneficial for managing chronic illnesses and improving the quality of life for elderly patients.
  • Government Support: The Indian government supports and promotes AYUSH treatments, providing legitimacy and encouraging insurers to include them in their policies.
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  • Long Treatment Duration: AYUSH treatments can take longer to treat ailments compared to allopathy.
  • Limited Availability: Not all hospitals and medical centres offer AYUSH treatments. More often than not, coverage is limited to specified centres accredited by the AYUSH Ministry.
  • Not Suitable for All Conditions: AYUSH may not be effective for acute medical emergencies or major surgeries.
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    Here’s an example of when you could opt for AYUSH treatment:

    You have been experiencing severe knee pain for months. Despite trying various conventional treatments, the pain persists. A doctor suggests that you might need knee replacement surgery if the condition worsens. Having all your hope lost, you go for Ayurveda treatments. After a few months of consistent treatment, your pain begins to subside. Several months later, the pain is almost gone, and you can walk normally again, avoiding surgery.

    Here’s when you shouldn’t:

    You have been in a road accident and are rushed to the emergency room. The doctors there determine that you need immediate surgery to save your life. In such medical emergencies, opting for allopathic treatment would probably be better.

    Who should opt for a Health Insurance Policy that covers AYUSH Treatments?

    There are no explicit conditions for whom to opt for AYUSH treatments. However, it can be particularly beneficial for:

    1. Individuals above 60 years: Senior citizens often look for treatments with fewer side effects and those that improve overall well-being. AYUSH coverage is perfect for this.
    2. People with Chronic Illnesses: People managing long-term health conditions often find relief and better management through AYUSH therapies.
    3. Those Preferring Natural Therapies: If you prefer natural and holistic approaches to health care, you may opt for AYUSH coverage in your health insurance policies.
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    What are the Best Health Insurance Policies that Cover AYUSH Treatments?

    1. HDFC ERGO Optima Secure: HDFC ERGO Optima Secure is a comprehensive health insurance plan that includes AYUSH treatments. The policy covers hospitalisation expenses for AYUSH treatments taken in a government hospital or any institute recognised by the Government, provided you are admitted there for at least 24 hours.

    Drawbacks: The policy does not cover day-care treatments or OPD consultations for AYUSH treatments.

     2. Aditya Birla Activ One: Aditya Birla Activ One is known for its comprehensive wellness benefits, including AYUSH treatments. It covers AYUSH up to the sum insured and includes annual health check-ups and an unlimited restoration benefit. Overall, this is a great policy!

    Drawbacks: The insurer has yet to catch up with its overall operational efficiency benchmark. However, we are hopeful, considering the improving numbers across the compliant volume (as you can see in our comprehensive review of the insurer).

      3. Care Supreme: This policy is ideal if you are on a budget and seeking comprehensive health insurance coverage. It provides high-sum insured options, no disease-wise sub-limits or room rent capping, coverage for alternative treatments under AYUSH, annual health check-ups, and a super NCB that increases the sum insured by 100% each year up to 500%. Apart from this, there are several add-ons that you can opt for, making this policy more comprehensive.

    Drawbacks: This policy has a longer waiting period for pre-existing diseases. As an insurer, Care has a slightly higher compliant volume.

       4. Niva Bupa ReAssure 2.0: Niva Bupa ReAssure 2.0 stands out for its unique features and extensive coverage, including for AYUSH treatments. It has no room rent restrictions, disease-wise sub-limits, or copayment and covers AYUSH Treatments up to the sum insured. ReAssure 2.0 also has a unique no-claim bonus, wherein the unclaimed amount from the previous year gets carried forward to the next year.

    Drawbacks: Niva Bupa's recent hit in credibility is a major concern. As witnessed by its recent increase in complaint volume, Niva Bupa could benefit from better operational metrics.

       5. Bajaj Allianz Health Guard Gold: Bajaj Allianz Health Guard Gold is a decent policy that strictly covers what one needs. There is no copayment or disease-wise sub-limits, but there is a room restriction for a single private room. Daycare treatments are covered, but domiciliary or home care are not.

    Drawbacks: There is a sub-limit of only up to ₹20k for AYUSH Treatments.

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    Conclusion

    AYUSH appeals to many people looking for alternatives to conventional medicine by offering a holistic approach to healthcare. With the Government also incentivising AYUSH Treatments, health insurers are now covering such treatments, albeit in a limited manner. However, this is a step in the right direction, giving people a choice. That said, health insurers cover only a limited number of healthcare facilities certified by the AYUSH Ministry.

    When choosing a policy, consider your current healthcare needs, the policy's limits, and the specific benefits you may need in the future. This will help you select the best policy for your needs.