Health Insurance for Chronic Diseases in India

Our advisors at Ditto Insurance receive all sorts of calls from potential customers. Some are routine queries, whereas others are more complex. One such query is about health insurance for chronic illnesses.

Recently, a customer in their early 40s reached out to us. During a routine check-up, they discovered that they had developed high blood pressure (or hypertension). While it’s not immediately life-threatening, it’s something they’ll need to manage for the rest of their life.

Now, they’re faced with the question – Is there a good health insurance policy that can cover this chronic condition?

We understand that chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and other heart conditions are becoming increasingly common in India, and managing these conditions requires regular doctor visits, tests, medication, and sometimes even hospitalisation, making health insurance vital.

However, finding the right health insurance plan to cover chronic diseases can be tricky, as not all policies provide comprehensive coverage from day one.

In this article, let’s break down exactly what chronic diseases are, the best health insurance policies for chronic diseases in 2024, and some important points to keep in mind when selecting the right plan for you.

What are Chronic Diseases?

Chronic diseases are long-term medical conditions that usually last for an extended period or even a lifetime. Such medical situations can hinder your professional and personal lifestyles. But, unlike acute conditions, which are sudden and short-lived, chronic diseases require continuous treatment.

This is where availing of a good health insurance plan for chronic diseases comes into play. Having access to a significant fund that acts as a financial security net and helps you meet the expenses for your medical treatments takes half the stress out of the situation.

Heads Up: It takes an average person up to 5 hours to read & analyse a policy, and 10 hours or more to compare different plans and make a decision.

This is why we propose a better alternative - taking a 30-minute FREE consultation with Ditto’s certified advisors. We have a spam-free guarantee, and we’ll never push you to buy a plan. Don’t delay this - we have limited slots every day, so book a quick call here before they run out.

Many insurers, especially the top health insurers in India, offer policies specifically designed for chronic conditions.

However, it’s essential to consider certain factors before making a decision. This is because health insurance coverage for different chronic illnesses varies. Some insurers may offer coverage for some chronic diseases, and other insurers provide coverage for other diseases. Here are some points to keep in mind to make an informed decision.

Things to Remember While Choosing Health Insurance Plans for Chronic Diseases

1. Waiting Period for Pre-existing Diseases (PEDs):
   Most health insurance policies impose a waiting period before covering pre-existing conditions, usually ranging from 2 to 4 years. However, some plans offer reduced waiting periods. For example, if you're purchasing insurance for diabetes or hypertension, HDFC ERGO Energy will cover it from Day 1. This might be better suited for you than another policy, like, say, Care Supreme.

While Care Supreme might be a better health insurance policy on paper, HDFC ERGO Energy would be better for your health conditions. Always check how soon the policy will start covering your treatment expenses.

 2. Coverage for Regular Treatment and Hospitalization:
Since chronic diseases require frequent medical attention, choosing a plan that covers health checkups and daycare treatments could be more beneficial. Some policies also include coverage for homecare treatments or domiciliary hospitalisation, which can be helpful for patients with limited mobility.

 3. Restoration Benefits:
Consider policies with restoration benefits, which restore the sum insured if it is exhausted during the policy year. This can be particularly useful if multiple claims are made to manage a chronic disease in the same policy year.

 4. Wellness Programs and Discounts:
Many insurers now offer wellness programs that encourage healthier lifestyles. These programs can include discounts on gym memberships, free medical check-ups, or even reduced premiums for maintaining good health.

 5. Premiums & Loading Charges:
Insurance companies may impose higher premiums or loading charges for individuals with chronic conditions due to the higher risk of frequent claims. Be sure to compare different plans to find the most affordable one without compromising coverage.

 6. List of Chronic Illnesses varies: The definition of chronic conditions differs from insurer to insurer. Some policies may cover chronic conditions by default, but others may require an add-on for the same cover. For instance, Aditya Birla may cover 9 conditions under chronic care, but HDFC ERGO may cover only 6.

This is why it’s important to consult with an honest insurance advisor. It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation, and they may know what’s best for your condition.

However, if you want to take a quick look at some of the top policies per Ditto Insurance’s criteria, feel free to read on!

Best Health Insurance Policies If You Have Chronic Diseases in India

Before we take a look at the policies, let’s understand what we should look for in a good health insurance policy in 2024:

1. No co-payment, room rent limits, and disease-wise sub-limits.
2. A Low pre-existing disease waiting period (PED WP) and specific illness waiting period (SI WP).
3. A good restoration bonus, pre- and post-hospitalisation cover, network hospital list, and no-claim bonus are also added advantages.
4. Apart from these features in the policy, you should also consider some metrics that assess the insurer’s performance. These include the Incurred Claim Ratio (ICR) and the Claim Settlement Ratio (CSR).

Here are some of the top health insurance plans for chronic diseases in 2024:

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Conclusion

Choosing the right health insurance plan for chronic diseases is important to ensure that you receive adequate medical care without worrying about finances. When selecting a policy, make sure to consider factors such as waiting periods, restoration benefits, wellness programs, etc. Here is a list of what to look for when purchasing a good health insurance policy.If you’re still unsure which plan best fits your needs, you can always consult with Ditto Insurance’s IRDAI-certified advisors for honest, spam-free insurance advice.