There’s a reason why pre-existing diseases like hypertension are often dubbed as the silent killer. The symptoms go unnoticed at times or get traced when it might already be too late. A leading cause of cardiovascular disease mortality, hypertension is a growing concern among all age groups but severely impacts the elderly.
After all, one in every three senior citizens in India is diagnosed with hypertension, reveals data by the Union Ministry of Family and Health Welfare. The risk has only gotten exacerbated in the aftermath of the pandemic.
It is, therefore, essential to take every possible measure to shield oneself against the hazards of this condition. The first step to preparedness is having a comprehensive health insurance policy that offers adequate coverage for a broad spectrum of medical expenses and healthcare services.
In fact, historically hypertension coverage came with a waiting period but now, plans cover pre-existing diseases from day 1, i.e., without any waiting period.
What are pre-existing diseases?
The insurance companies classify an illness or medical condition as a pre-existing disease (PED) if an individual has had it up to 48 months before purchasing the policy. Thus, if a senior citizen or someone already impacted by high or severe BP is looking to buy a new health insurance plan, they will typically fall under this category for the insurer.
In such cases, most health plans used to come with a waiting period, i.e., the timeline, which ranges from 2-4 years, until which the policyholder cannot file any claims. The period may, however, differ depending on age, disease, and the insurance policy bought.
Now, let's look at the features to consider when selecting a plan that covers hypertension-
High sum insured
Hypertension is a chronic condition requiring routine medicines, diagnostic tests, and doctor consultations, along with specific lifestyle changes. This recurring outlay will inevitably have a monetary impact, especially if you are a senior citizen. Hence, when selecting the sum insured for your health insurance policy, evaluate these expenses and choose a higher sum insured, as it will provide holistic monetary security.
In fact, some plans also offer up to a 100% wellness benefit or discount on premiums at the time of renewal for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Some plans now even allow you to carry ahead the unconsumed sum insured up to 10 times the base cover.
No waiting period
Look for new-age plans that cover PEDs or pre-existing diseases right from day 1. A lot of associated risks come with a condition like hypertension. There’s a risk of stroke, disability or other cardiovascular diseases, so medical emergencies often come unannounced.
If there’s a waiting period involved, chances are that your health insurance might not come to your rescue when you need it the most. Some plans even offer a rider that lets you eliminate the waiting period for a bit of extra premium. So, choose a plan that can provide immediate access to quality healthcare for hypertension-related issues.
No co-payments or capping
Plans for senior citizens earlier came with a lot of limits like room rent capping or co-payment clauses or sub-limits. All of these restrict one’s coverage in some way or the other. While room rent capping limits the kind of room you can get, the co-payment clause requires you to shell out a certain percentage of the hospital bill from your own pocket. So, opt for a plan that comes with minimum restrictions and allows you more flexibility.
Importance of declaring PED to the insurer
As a general rule, when purchasing a health insurance plan, you should always be transparent with the insurer about any existing health conditions. Withholding medical history can have severe consequences, such as denial or rejection of claims, and, in some cases, even policy cancellation.
At a time of medical distress, the last thing you would need is to get your claim rejected and pay a hefty amount out of your own savings. Therefore, always declare conditions, such as hypertension, and ask your insurer to share the option of health plans that cover PED accordingly.
Siddharth Singhal, Business Head – Health Insurance, Policybazaar.com
