It is important for the obese to get a health insurance policy at a young age so as to limit future expenses related to bariatric surgery
Obese people either already face some serious health risks or are likely to encounter those in the coming years. They have higher chances of suffering from Diabetes mellitus type 2, where the body isn’t able to use insulin. Unfortunately, this form of diabetes is recalcitrant and resistant to treatment, leading to the development of microvascular complications in retina, heart and kidney.
And then, there are those twin diseases of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The combination might lead to coronary heart diseases, malfunctioning of kidney, osteoarthritis, stroke, sleep apnea, asthma and even cancer. Suffering from any of these diseases is bad enough but having to pay substantial sums of money month after month until the last day of one’s life is worse. The cost of treatment for diabetes alone is around Rs 5,000-9,000 per month, which excludes supplementary costs such as the doctor’s consultation fees. If we consider a chronic case of diabetes with associated diabetes-induced complications, then treatment costs can shoot up to Rs 20,000 per month. As of date, a surgical procedure to treat coronary heart diseases can cost as much as several lakhs. Another life-saving procedure for those who are battling serious medical issues and are unable to lose weight by natural means is bariatric surgery.
Such a surgery may cost around Rs 3-5 lakh in India.
Thankfully, some insurance companies have started offering such covers on a case-to-case basis. This is indeed a very good development for patients, who are keen to undergo bariatric surgery. They can now avail the benefits that their health insurance companies provide.
It is advisable to look for a policy that offers benefits such as pre and post-hospitalisation expenses. Further, it is also important to look for policies that cover claims for bariatric surgery on a cashless basis. This will help patients to mentally prepare for the surgery without fretting over paying it out of pocket. It is important that all these factors are taken into consideration while choosing the right health insurance policy that covers bariatric surgery.
Also, it is important for the obese to get a health insurance policy at a young age so as to limit future expenses related to bariatric surgery. Buying an insurance well in advance also increases the chances of paying a lesser premium.
The writer is senior executive director, Star Health and Allied Insurance Co Ltd
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