Some major progress made by the 3-year-old government in the sphere of healthcare

The UPA-led Congress Government witnessed their worst defeat in the general elections of 2014 and India got a fresh new start. The NDA government targeted major reformation and development in a number of sectors, including healthcare.

The main focus of the government was on preventive healthcare and long-form immunization drive to minimize or completely eradicate certain preventable diseases like Kala Azar, Tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis, and measles.

Here are some initiatives by the Modi government that made a difference in the health sector.

Benefits with E-Health

The Digital India campaign of 2015 brought better efficiency in the healthcare sector. With an increase in the knowledge database and simplified concepts, a greater transparency was achieved, removing many malpractices from the industry. Through E-Heath initiative, healthcare became more accessible to people in remote areas who had very limited access to the healthcare facilities.

An eHospital app was launched with an online registration system to minimalise the formalities at hospitals, before a check-up or treatment.

Door to Door Check-up Initiative of 2017

The most recent initiatives include door-to-door screening for chronic diseases like cancer, heart disorders and diabetes. This programme took place on World Cancer Day (4th February) and offered early detection and treatment of the diseases for people between the critical age group of 30 to 69 years.

Making India Open Defecation Free by 2019

Unhygienic conditions lead to diseases. In 2014, the Modi government launched a nationwide campaign to make India open defecation free by 2019. Many known faces from the Hindi film industry, like Vidya Balan and Amitabh Bachchan, took part to preach the campaign effectively to every house in India. More than 80 lakh public toilets were built across the country. Recently, states like Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala were declared ODF states.

Swachh Bharat Cess

In the reiteration of Mahatma Gandhi’s dream for a Swachh India, Clean India Initiative or Swachh Bharat Mission was launched in 2015. The government imposed Swachh Bharat Cess on 15th November 2015 on taxable services at the rate of 0.5%. The government raised an amount of ₹3901.76 crore between 2015- 16 that was utilized for different Swachh Bharat initiatives of the government.

Assess your needs, know the different types of health insurance and ways to buy them, vet your finances and read all the plan documents thoroughly

It is prudent to opt for health insurance as it helps you to meet the rising cost of medical expenses. But, if you’re shopping for a complete health insurance for the first time, there are a lot of factors that you need to consider. To simplify the process, we have outlined some tips that will help you make some smart decisions about your healthcare coverage.

Examine Your Needs

Before you settle on a plan, you should thoroughly access your needs. Here are some things to consider:

• How often do you fall ill?
• How much coverage do you require?
• Is your current doctor covered in the provider network of the plan?

You could also ask your doctor if he or she accepts a particular health insurance plan.

Where to Shop?

There are different routes you can take to buy health insurance, which includes:

• Buy/Browse plans directly from an insurance company
  You can contact any health insurance provider to inquire about different health insurance plans that are available.
• Purchase health insurance through a broker or agent
  Brokers and agents can also help you compare different plan options and process your enrolment. While brokers sell schemes offered by a number of different insurance companies, agents typically sell plans on behalf of one particular company.
• Purchase coverage from online sellers
  You can use online sites to search and compare different plan options before purchasing health insurance. Many sites have plan comparison tools that help you to figure out what health insurance option best suits your needs.

Know the Difference

It is important to know the difference between an individual health coverage, a family floater policy and a rider. Individual health insurance plans offer coverage for hospitalization and surgical expenses. The family floater policy, on the other hand, covers the hospitalization and surgical expenses for the entire family. Riders are top-up plans that provide added coverage to your existing health insurance plans.

Shantanu, a 40-year-old professional, is suffering from asthma. He listed this health issue as a pre-existing condition while buying health insurance. After two years, when the insurance provider raised the premium, Shantanu decided to shift to a new insurance provider. However, he was worried that the new insurer might treat him as a new policyholder and impose a waiting period for the pre-existing condition.

At this situation, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and its health insurance portability scheme came to Shantanu’s rescue. The guidelines on the portability of health insurance policy enabled Shantanu to shift to a new insurance provider without losing the benefits accumulated with the present insurer.

What is Health Insurance Portability?

The IRDAI introduced health insurance portability in 2011. Through portability, a policyholder can carry forward the credit accrued for pre-existing conditions along with time-bound exclusions while switching from one insurance provider to another, or from one health insurance plan to another. The policyholder also qualifies for getting all continuity benefits, like free medical check-ups and no-claim bonus, which were acquired during the previous insurance policy.

Rights of the policyholder for porting a Health Insurance

Under the health insurance portability scheme, the IRDAI gives policyholder the right to port a policy (individual or family health insurance) from a general insurance provider to a specialised health insurance provider, and vice versa. The new insurer is liable to provide him or her a health policy of at least the sum insured under the previous policy.

Moreover, the new insurer is also liable to provide the credit rating associated with the pre-existing conditions that the policyholder had already accrued with the previous insurer. Both the previous insurer and the new insurer are liable to complete the process of porting within the stipulated timeline prescribed under the regulatory guidelines of the IRDAI (Protection of Policyholders’ Interests).

Conditions for porting a Health Insurance Policy

A policyholder can apply for porting a health insurance policy only at the time of renewal, which ensures that the new period of insurance will be effective with the new insurer. Any policyholder can apply for the portability of his/her existing health policy only if it is maintained without any breaks.

To port an insurance policy, the policyholder has to submit a written application to its present insurance company to shift the policy to a new insurer. The application should be made at least 45 days prior to the policy renewal date, mentioning the name of the insurance company to which the policyholder wants to switch his/her policy.

Process of porting a Health Insurance Policy

Once the insurance company receives the insurance portability application, it provides the policyholder with a proposal form and a portability form. The present insurer then shares the details of the insured person with the new insurer via a common IRDAI portal for sharing customer data. Once the new insurance company gets all the details, it has to take a decision about underwriting the insurance policy within 15 days. Failing to respond within 15 days will force the insurer to accept the portability application.

Documents required for Porting a Health Insurance Policy

• Policy certificates of previous years
• Latest notice of renewal mentioning coverage continuity and other details
• The policyholder’s self-declaration in cases of no-claim
• Investigation report, discharge summary and other equivalent documents in cases of claims
• Filled in proposal form and portability form

Though the awareness of having a health insurance plan has increased, some of us still do not understand its importance. The need to assess and hedge your health risk arises from the fact that the health care costs have been rising at more than 20% on an annualised basis. Many of these are not even covered by the medical cover that you avail. If you know the importance of health insurance, kudos to you! But if you don’t, read on.

Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Since medical inflation is always on the rise, it is essential to build a corpus which will exclusively cater to your out-of-pocket expenses for medical reasons. The amount you do not spend can be kept aside to build a decent amount of money that can be utilised in times of need. But, there is a right way to go through with that plan and that is through health insurance.

There is no point in depleting your hard-earned money that you have saved up for health contingencies. A health insurance plan is designed to take care of these increasing medical expenses. By paying for such expenses, the plan protects your savings from being drained out in case of a medical emergency.

Tax Exemption from the Government

Isn’t it great when you don’t have to pay taxes on the amount of money you save? Health insurance helps you in this regard too. Your health insurance plan will cover you and your family without you having to pay any taxes to the government. The premium you pay for your plan is exempted from tax under Section 80D. You can, thus, claim up to Rs.60,000 as tax exemption if you pay health insurance premiums for yourself and your dependent parents (if both are senior citizens).

Lifetime Renewability Feature

Health insurance is no longer exhaustible! Did you know that health plans come with a lifelong renewability feature? You can renew health plans for you and your family for as long as you live, without any maximum renewal age! It proves beneficial when you retire and have to cut back on your out-of-pocket expenses. With old age come low income and high medical contingencies. If you have a health plan, any medical contingency you face would be covered by your health plan thereby sparing your savings.

The appendix is a small tube-like organ, attached at the end of your large intestine. It is a vestigial organ, one that has been rendered dysfunctional by continuous evolutionary processes over millions of years. But don’t make the mistake of going by the size of it!

Did you know, that despite over 500 years of study, the appendix still remains shrouded in mystery?

Right from the ancient Egyptians to Charles Darwin, the appendix has been successful in appealing to some of the best minds in the annals of history. Leonardo Da Vinci was believed to have dissected over thirty human corpses to understand the appendix and its functionality.

But like every other organ, this vermiform (worm-like) structure is also not free from afflictions. Appendicitis is a medical condition that results from the inflammation or infection of the appendix. This disease is caused when the appendix is blocked by bodily impurities or any other foreign object.

However, there still remains a slew of facts (about appendix and appendicitis) that are yet not known to most. Four such least-understood things have been stated below:

The nature of appendicitis can be misleading

There is a high chance that you end up mis-diagnosing appendicitis for other common ailments. The condition can flare up, and present itself in the garb of:

• Fever associated with a food infection
• Diarrhoea associated with Amebiasis (parasitic infection of one’s intestine)
• Bloating associated with an eating disorder

Often, signs of appendicitis can be elusive, thus giving off a false sense of security. You should certainly abstain from any kind of self-diagnosis and avail immediate medical help, should you experience common symptoms, such as severe abdominal pain, vomiting and loss of appetite.

Appendicitis pain is good!

Yes, you read that right! With appendicitis, chances are you will suffer from a lingering pain. But don’t rest assured if it subsides. The cessation of pain may be associated with organ rupture. This can lead the impurities inside the appendix to seep into the abdomen, thereby resulting in infections (peritonitis).

This can be fatal, and thus, warrants immediate surgical intervention in order to prevent further contamination of the abdominal cavity.

Surgery is not the only option

A cure for appendicitis might not always involve invasive medical procedures. A milder form of the disease – that constitutes 80% of all diagnoses -- is treatable with antibiotics.

Appendectomy or surgical removal of the appendix may be required for the other type. Your doctor can determine the procedure applicable for you by analysing medical test reports.

Gender is a great determinant of risk

Research reveals that men might be more vulnerable to appendicitis. While the reason for this is not apparent, researchers believe that individual dietary habits (such as low intake of fibre among men) could play a major role.

If you are trying to build resistance against this disease, maintaining a balanced diet (replete with fruits and vegetables) and leading a healthy lifestyle can be a good start.

Now that you are aware of some of the little-known facts about this condition, it is time to answer the more critical questions.

What are the common causes?

This condition arises from blockage of the appendix, leading to an internal build-up of bacteria. It may be the result of:

• Stool deposition
• Tumours
• Severe trauma
• Activity of intestinal parasites
• Enlargement of lymphoid follicles (small tissue masses containing inflammatory cells)
.

What are the symptoms?

Appendicitis is marked by abdominal pain. However, look out for other symptoms such as:

• Nausea
• Indigestion
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite

How can appendicitis be diagnosed?

Diagnosis involves a cluster of medical examinations. You might be required to undergo:

• Complete blood count to check for bacterial infections
• Urine tests to rule out possibilities of urinary tract infections (UTI) or kidney stones
• Abdominal imaging (CT scans, MRI) to ascertain probable causes

How is it treated?

Usually, treatment involves surgery to remove the inflamed vestigial organ. You might be recommended antibiotics prior to the surgery.

• Laparoscopic or keyhole surgery: This minimally invasive surgery is conducted through small abdominal incisions (generally less than an inch in size)
• Open surgery (Appendectomy): This procedure is performed through a larger incision (usually 2-5 inches long). Your doctor might consider this approach, depending on the complications (appendix rupture, for instance) your test reports show up.
• Antibiotics: Common antibiotics used to treat appendicitis include cefotetan, cefotaxime, ampicillin and sulbactam, cefepime, piperacillin and tazobactam, and ticarcillin and clavulanate.

The COVID-19 pandemic has already affected more than 2 lakh people across the country. Although the infection rate is comparatively low in India relative to our population size, we’ve still got a long way to go in overcoming the crisis completely. The Indian Government has taken several steps to tackle the issue and lessen the spread of this deadly pandemic. Medical researchers are putting in all efforts to develop an effective vaccine quickly. As of now, maintaining hygiene and social distancing are the best habits we can practise to prevent catching an infection.

At ICICI Lombard, we’re doing our best to ensure you’re not alone in the fight against COVID-19. We understand that swift action – testing and treating the disease – is critical, especially in the case of severe complications. There is a lot of confusion surrounding which hospitals have isolation beds, how to file cashless/reimbursement claims for treatment, and much more. To help you avail medical services in time, without worrying about your finances, is of utmost importance to us at the moment. Here are some of the initiatives we have taken to support you when you need us the most!

Hospitalisation Covered

While government hospitals are offering free COVID-19 treatment, not everyone may be able to get treated at one, due to the large number of cases these hospitals are currently seeing. Moreover, some people may prefer treatment at private hospitals. The medical expenses at a private hospital can go up to a few lakhs since treatment can span across several days, or maybe even a couple of weeks. To help you get treated at the nearest hospital without delay, we cover COVID-19 hospitalisation expenses, including room rent and daycare procedures. Moreover, if you’ve opted for our Outpatient Department (OPD) cover, we also pay for your diagnostic test expenses. So hospital bills should not deter you from getting the right treatment at the right time.

Not sure where to get treated? Check out COVID-19 facilities near you here – COVID-19 Hospitals | COVID-19 Testing Labs

COVID-19 Helpline - 04066274205

We know that you may need our help during emergencies – whether it’s for finding a network hospital or filing a claim. Don’t worry; we’re just a phone call away for support. You can call us for any queries from 9 AM to 6 PM (Monday to Saturday) and avail our Emergency Assistance Information services under your health insurance policy. Our executives will be happy to help you!

Highest Priority for Coronavirus Cases

To reduce the stress associated with diagnosis, treatment and recovery, we’re taking COVID-19 cases, and those with COVID-19 symptoms, on top priority. We’re putting in all our efforts to settling these claims speedily so that you have one less thing to worry about if you’ve tested positive.

Easy Claiming

Claims don’t have to add to your coronavirus anxiety, especially during this time of crisis. The last thing you’d want is to wait for ages to get a settlement on your COVID claims. To make life easier for you, we are now accepting scanned documents for your health insurance claims. You focus on recovery, and we’ll focus on covering your medical expenses!

Second Opinion

If you’re not satisfied with your physician’s diagnosis, we help you get a second opinion to make a sound decision on your health. Especially during the COVID crisis, we can arrange for a medical expert to help you with a second opinion online. Now you don’t need to step out of your home to speak to a doctor and seek help on health concerns. Just call us on our COVID-19 helpline (04066274205) for assistance.

Be it during large calamities like Odisha cyclone or minor accidents like a broken tail-light, we have always stood by our customers in time of need. We have repeatedly introduced industry-leading practices for nearly two decades.

Sportspersons are not only healthy and fit, but they also live a disciplined and focused life. Not one sportsperson out there will ignore getting a health insurance cover, because they understand its need and benefits. They also effectively realize that health is wealth and here are a few tips about health insurance you can learn from a sportsperson.

Make a Commitment to Health

Every sportsperson will agree that commitment is the first and the most important step for achieving your goals. Make a commitment to health and take the practical decision of buying health insurance. Healthy eating, exercise and healthy habits are ideal but ill health and accidents can come knocking at random doors. Protecting yourself from such uncertainties and their heavy costs is possible with health insurance.

Set a Realistic Goal

Once you’re committed to a cause, setting a goal and figuring how to reach it is the next step. Just like a runner trains on the basis of the time in which they want to finish the race, you too have to figure out how much sum you need to be assured of. This depends on the diseases you’re prone to, which other family members you’re getting covered and the plans available in the market

Make an Informed Decision

Like every sport has its own rules and penalties, health insurance covers come with their own conditions, exclusions and exceptions. Do your research and know what you’re signing up for. Some people get a rude shock at the time they make a claim. You can avoid that by making an informed decision.

The Finance Minister has already presented Union Budget of 2018. Here’s how it is going to impact your health insurance policy

Every year, the Central Government comes out with the Union Budget amidst high hopes from every section of the population. Everyone is hooked to every word spoken during the budget speech, in the hope of something favourable being announced for them. Salaried people, farmers, corporates and economists all anticipate some good news that will make their daily affairs simpler.

Union Budget 2018 was presented by the Finance Minister on February 1 this year, and was predominantly a farmer’s budget, with healthcare also finding ground. There was a clear emphasis on rural India with the launching of new schemes for the agriculture sector.

As for insurance, there were some welcome changes made in the sphere of health insurance, bringing in some much-needed relief to senior citizens that are struggling to cope with rising cost of healthcare.

Increase In Deduction For Senior Citizens

The budget has increased the limit of deduction under Section 80D from ₹30,000 to ₹50,000 for senior citizen taxpayers with respect to health insurance premiums or medical expenditure. This move is a positive step towards improving the health and safety of senior citizens in the country. It will also reduce their tax liability and give them some respite from the ever-increasing cost of medical treatments, that consequently demand higher coverage amount.

This deduction is applicable towards payment of premium on health insurance policy or preventive health-check-up by a senior citizen. However, for a super-senior citizen (above 80 years of age), this deduction can be had for medical expenditure as well.

The mere thought of standing by the roadside and stuffing in those hot fried stuff makes your tongue water. Even the most hygiene-conscious can’t deny the hunger spell induced by those aromas! But if you peel back the covers and look little beneath the aroma and taste, a whole different picture starts to emerge.

Thanks to the intake of simple carbohydrates like white bread, white rice, and the wide availability of fast food, India has broken into the list of the top five countries in terms of obesity. Adding to the worries, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) in 2016 revealed that the percentage of obese men and women has doubled over the decade.

Obesity, a malaise in itself can also lead to several diseases like diabetes, stroke, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, respiratory problems, etc.

Do you know the factors that lead to obesity? Here is a list of the top factors that contribute to making you obese.

1. High amount of carbohydrates in diet

Our diet is often held as the primary factor responsible for causing obesity. The problem starts right from childhood. Doctors and researchers opine that wrong eating habits developed in one’s childhood, lead to obesity. India is on the path to becoming a home for 17 million obese children by the year 2025, making it second among 184 countries.

Doctors are of the opinion that eating a greater amount of simple carbohydrates, like white rice, bread, usually found in ‘junk food’, as compared to proteins and complex carbohydrates is causing an increase in obesity. So, the next time you drool over fried food or other mouth-watering delicacies, think about the impact it would have on your health.

2. Sedentary lifestyle and a reduction in physical activity

Along with the diet, experts also put the blame on lack of physical activity for an increase in obesity. It is only inevitable that burning more calories than the amount you consume, will result in a healthy or lower Body Mass Index (BMI).

Experts blame increased mechanisation along with apathy and lethargy as the reason behind a lack of participation in physical activity. An important factor to note in this regard is as per NFHS report, cases of obesity are rising in the countryside as well.

The next time you think of taking the lift instead of the stairs, think again! Stair climbing and a daily workout routine might just be the activities that can get you back in shape.

3. Genetics

The maxim ‘it’s all in your genes’ seems to hold true for obesity. Doctors state that there are several different genes which enhance the risk of obesity. These genes are those regulating appetite, metabolic rate and satiety.

While 5% of the carbohydrate is converted to fats in an adult, a genetic abnormality can increase the percentage to 60%. If there is an immediate family member who is obese, you would be better off managing your diet even more strictly so as to keep your weight under control.

Understanding how a deductible in your health insurance plan works can help you make savings on your health care costs. A deductible is essentially the sum of money you agree upon to be paid towards your cover before you begin to make claims on your insurance.

The terms Health Plan Deductible, Medical Deductible and Health Insurance Deductible are used interchangeably in most cases. Here is a quick overview of deductibles one can see in a health plan.

Types Of Deductibles And What They Stand For

There are two types of deductibles that are available in India on a health insurance plan, these are compulsory and voluntary deductible. In international markets, there are a few more which are also mentioned below.

• Compulsory Deductible: These deductibles are mandatory and are governed by the insurer. This is a fixed amount that has to be paid by the insured on every claim he makes.
• Voluntary Deductible: As the name states, these are voluntary and are opted for by the insured, in order to reduce his insurance premium.
• Comprehensive Deductible: A single deductible which is applicable across covers. It keeps adding up till you have paid the total amount agreed upon towards your policy.
• Non-Comprehensive Deductible: A Non-Comprehensive Deductible is applicable towards designated covers. It may only require you to pay an amount of money before you can claim benefits to meet certain medical costs and not for others.
• Cumulative Deductible: When you are willing to begin a family health insurance plan, a cumulative deductible will be applicable where all the members included within the plan makes payments towards the deductible till the total amount payable is met.

An effective risk mitigating tool that prevents out-of-pocket expenses during a medical emergency, health insurance  is a modern-day need. A growing segment, the standalone health insurance market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30% in the next five years and will be worth Rs. 21,904 crore by 2022.

In what could further make health insurance more customer-friendly, transparent and boost the growth of the sector, a working panel constituted by insurance regulator IRDAI has proposed several changes. Read on to know the effects of these changes on your health insurance policy.

Clearer Definition of Pre-Existing Diseases

A major bone of contention in a health insurance policy is the interpretation of pre-existing diseases. The working panel has suggested a simpler and clearer definition of pre-existing diseases to weed out any anomaly over its interpretation and subsequent disputes.

According to the suggested definition, any disease, injury, condition or ailment diagnosed prior to buying the first policy for which medical treatment or advise was recommended or received from a doctor qualifies as a pre-existing disease.

With a simpler definition, as a policyholder, you would know about the conditions or ailments that qualify as a pre-existing disease which you need to disclose while filling up the proposal form to avoid rejection. The working panel has also asked insurers to take a lenient view in case a pre-existing disease is discovered later.

Insurers have been recommended by the working panel to put a waiting period on such diseases, instead of cancelling the policy. The option, however, will be available only during the moratorium period.

Lowering Waiting Period of Lifestyle Diseases

Lifestyle diseases have evolved as one of the biggest killers in India. As per studies conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and other institutes, estimated proportion of all deaths from lifestyle styles has gone up from 37.09% in 1990 to 61.8% in 2016. The high-treatment cost of lifestyle diseases can derail a family’s finances.

On most occasions, the waiting period of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiac problems range from one to four years. Waiting period refers to the time/duration during which you can’t make a claim from your Mediclaim insurance.

However, the working panel has suggested lowering the waiting period of lifestyle diseases up to 30 days (maximum), unless they are pre-existing.

Standardisation of Pre-Existing Diseases

The working panel has also proposed a standard list of 17 pre-existing diseases which could be excluded from a Mediclaim policy. The list includes diseases such as epilepsy, cerebral stroke, chronic heart and kidney diseases, HIV, AIDS, Parkinson’s, hepatitis B, loss of hearing and other physical disabilities.

It has also said that policyholders can’t be denied coverage for AIDS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and morbid obesity if diagnosed after the purchase of a policy.

This means if you contact the above-mentioned diseases after buying a health insurance policy, you will be entitled to receive coverage for them. To put it simply, the working panel has suggested all health conditions acquired after policy issuance to be covered. Experts believe that this standardisation will help in the smooth settlement of claims.

Easy Coverage for Individuals with Severe Health Conditions

People with severe health conditions such as epilepsy and physical disabilities find it difficult to avail a health insurance policy. Also, insurers are wary about extending cover to cancer survivors. They are usually denied coverage for procedures and diseases that may be completely unrelated.

If the proposals of the panel are accepted, it’ll become easy for such individuals to avail health insurance. However, no coverage will be provided for specific pre-existing diseases. Nevertheless, if you are suffering from a severe health condition and are denied a Mediclaim insurance, the road ahead might be a little easy for you.

Claims Can’t be Questioned After Eight Years of Continuous Renewals

Another proposal mooted by the panel is that insurers can’t question claims on basis of non-disclosure after eight years of continuous renewals, except in cases of frauds. It means if you’ve renewed your policy for straight years since its inception, the insurer can’t raise objections on your claims on grounds of concealing information.

One of the fastest-growing segments in India, the country’s health insurance sector has registered a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23% for the last 10 years [1]. While growing awareness among the masses regarding healthcare is one of the major catalysts behind this growth, digitisation has further given the industry a major push.

The industry, too, is leaving no stone unturned to make the most of the digitisation wave to enhance customer experience and make health insurance plans available to all. Read on to know how the industry is leveraging digitisation to boost its penetration.

Selling health insurance plans online

A primarily agent-driven industry, health insurers today are banking on the increasing penetration of the web to sell policies, particularly to millennials. A survey found about 30% of people in the age group of 25-34 years [2] buy health insurance plans online.

Buying online health insurance has its advantages. You can fill up the proposal form, upload the relevant documents, pay the premium and you’ll be done. There are no intermediaries involved, and insurers save on commissions. As a result, you get to insure your health at an affordable premium

Improve customer experience

The digitisation wave is helping health insurers improve the customer experience. Today, you can gather information about a new policy, check the status of your application or claim, and renew the plan online in a few clicks.

By integrating advanced action-oriented chatbots on websites, health insurers are elevating the customer experience to the next level. The advanced chatbots, integrated with artificial intelligence and machine learning, based on the queries decipher what you are looking for and make suggestions accordingly. Today, they can also help you do mundane tasks such as filling up the proposal form

Better underwriting

The crux of insurance, underwriting helps in better risk assessment and compute premium(s) accordingly. With rising cases of frauds in the sector, insurers have tightened their underwriting process of late. However, they face a challenge to ensure that genuine customers don’t suffer due to frauds committed by others and get adequately rewarded.

Digitalisation is helping health insurers overcome this challenge with ease. With Wearable devices are going to rule the future of your healthcare health insurers can extract crucial information about your lifestyle, which goes a long way in risk assessment and compute premium accordingly.

For instance, if you are leading a healthy life, insurers can know it through vital data such as your BMI, heart rate, sleep hours, etc. In such a scenario, when you renew your health insurance policy, the premium amount will come down.

Craft tailor-made products and be competitive

Personalisation is the new-age success mantra. Every industry is looking to craft tailor-made products, as per the needs of customers, and strike a chord with the target segment. The key data of the target audience is aiding health insurers create products suiting the needs of their customers.

For example, health insurers can better understand the diseases affecting senior citizens such as Alzheimer’s and are coming up with specific mediclaim policy for this ailment. Some insurers are even adding coverage for this disease in their existing plans. Along with personalisation, it’s important to innovate.

If your #wellnessgoals2020 included glowing skin, clean eating and a healthier you, here's one organ you should be paying careful attention. Kidneys are an essential body organ which absorbs minerals and nutrients, act as filters for toxins and maintain healthy acid to alkaline ratio. However, there are certain habits which can damage them, leading to various ailments in the process.

Smoking

Smoking not only increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases but also narrows the blood vessels present in the kidneys, causing arteriosclerosis in the renal arteries.

A habit which damages arterial branches, smoking also reduces blood flow in the kidneys and expedites loss of kidney function. Therefore, to protect your organs, it's in your interest to quit smoking at the earliest.

Not urinating enough

This is another habit which is significantly bad for kidney health. If you don't urinate enough, the body and the kidneys retain all the toxins meant to be flushed out.

Over time this could lead to the formation of Lifestyle changes to keep kidney stones away that are quite painful. Also, it could result in developing of urinary incontinence, a condition which leads to leaking urine during coughing or sneezing.

Not drinking enough water

For the kidneys to properly function, they need to remain hydrated. This is possible only when you drink enough water. Lack of adequate water in the system leads to toxins getting accumulated in the blood. An easy way to find out if you are drinking enough water or not is to check your urine. If your urine is dark, it means the water intake is insufficient.

Consuming too many sweets

It's hard to resist the temptation for sweets, but eating too many of them too often can damage your kidneys. As per a study, consuming a lot of sweets could lead to a rise in the levels of uric acid, leading to cardiorenal diseases in the long run. If you have diabetes, consuming sweets can worsen the problem. Therefore, make sure to consume food that is low on sugar. For packaged foods, read the label before consumption.

Too much salt intake

This is another habit which can have a detrimental effect on your kidneys. Several people have the habit of adding extra salt to their food while eating. Consuming too much salt can raise blood pressure and may even lead to kidney stones. Hence, make sure to limit your daily salt intake for better kidney health. If you are an adult, you shouldn't consume more than 1 teaspoon of salt in a day.

Skipping exercise

Regular exercise not only keeps your body in top shape but also has a positive impact on your kidneys. Exercise keeps your blood pressure and diabetes in check, and weight loss positively affects renal function.

Therefore, make sure to take some time out of your schedule and exercise regularly to maintain healthy body weight.

Swallowing painkillers often

Most people, even in the slightest of pain, consume painkillers. While they do help to subside the pain, taking these pills frequently can adversely affect the kidneys. Consuming painkillers, known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), often can make the body hold onto fluids, and this can damage kidneys in the long run. Before consuming them, it's essential to check with your doctor first.

Not eating right

To keep your kidneys healthy, plan your meals properly. Note that eating healthy always doesn't necessarily mean that you are eating right. If your kidneys are strained, then it's essential to avoid food that is high on phosphorus such as tomatoes, phosphorus-rich oatmeal, oranges, fish, meat and colas.

People in India are not aware of the adversities that one goes through while suffering from a mental illness. Be it financial or mental, one must seek support in times like these. Insurance regulator IRDAI issued a circular stating that insurers must cover mental illness, which is rapidly increasing in the country. Mental health conditions have always been excluded from health insurance policies.

On May 29th, the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 came into being. The Act states that it is mandatory to provide insurance for treatment of mental illness. The insurance policy should cover ailments such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. But, none of the 33 insurance companies in India has launched a single product covering these.

An executive from a top health insurance firm welcomed the move of providing health cover to those suffering from mental illnesses, stating that it will normalize the myths and stigma associated with the malady. This will make people aware of the problems faced by mentally ill patients and ensure a life of dignity for them.

Ways to stay in shape along with a routine 9-5 job

Workouts are optimised around physiology and what we know about our body. Humans generally have a good capacity to expand energy for many hours during sustained exertion.

For working people, long working hours are one of the most common reasons for not exercising. However for runners, the challenge is to be a ‘Ninja’ and plan stealthy workouts when the schedule is overflowing.

Key Work-outs

There are few key work-outs that every runner must plan for the week and are very essential. Typically these would be speed sessions, strength work-outs and long runs. This way there is time to recover and then run hard. The first run can be planned at the start of the week followed by the strength workout on Wednesday and long run towards the weekend.

It is very important to warm up before all of your key workouts to elevate heart and respiration rates along with proper resting period as the body gets catabolic (the breakdown of tissues) when it hits aerobic capacity for too long. Short and Intense runs are good for speed work. 50m sprints would be helpful to move feet quickly and adapt a good running technique. The session need not last more than 60-90 minutes.

Plan repeat runs against a hill or up-slope to build running strength. Butt kicks can be done on the way down. Long runs need to be faster than the average pace needed for the next race. The idea is to run negative splits - to finish faster than you start. It can improve mental toughness and build pace awareness.

The history of getting tattooed goes into the deep past of early divisions of Stone Age. However, in recent times, tattooing has become increasingly popular and has unfurled itself across professionals, genders, different economic classes, and various age groups.

For some, getting inked is a fashion statement, for some, it’s a source of inspiration and for some, it’s a way to express their love and ideology, while for others it’s a creative art. No matter what your purpose is, it’s important to be well informed of the process and be adequately prepared before going under the needle to avoid its ill effects on your body.

Here we’ve compiled a list of points that you should keep in mind before getting yourself inked:

Be sure about your decision

It’s imperative for you to be certain about your decision. Understand that tattoos are somewhat permanent in nature. Yes, they can be removed using laser treatment, but that’s a long and expensive process. In case of large and detailed tattoos, getting them off can be too frustrating. Also, keep in mind that with time, the color of the tattoo will fade, and its shape may also change owing to the changing folds of your skin with growing age.

Know how it will affect your body

The tattoo is created using a needle that ruptures your skin and deposit the tattoo ink at the point of rupture. The puncture goes beyond the epidermis, for the ink to stay. The needle reaches the dermis where it meets with the nerves and blood vessels. The ink used for tattooing is not exclusively made for the human skin.

Also, it has been found that over the time, these pigments can assimilate in the liver through blood. Hence, before getting inked, be sure about your body will react to such foreign particles.

Know your pain tolerance

As mentioned above, tattoo needle penetrates deep into your skin to deposit the ink beyond the epidermis. Be informed that this can be a painful process. Hence, before you get under the needle, be aware of your ability to bear such pain and for how long you can sustain it, so as not to abandon the process in between, which may make it look ugly.

Get a cost estimation

Do not go after the cheaper options while getting yourself tattooed. It’s better to shell out few bucks from your pocket now rather than getting your skin infected with inferior quality inks and regret later. Also, ask the tattoo artist about the healing process and the maintenance costs post-tattoo. Before starting with the process, make sure you have a fair idea about the total amount of money that you would have to spend during the whole process.

Cataract is a vision disorder that can lead to blindness. Read on to know more about its prevention.

According to a WHO report, cataracts are responsible for 51% of world blindness. It is also the main cause of vision loss in people over the age of 40, which makes preventing cataract essential. Before taking precautionary measures, it’s important to understand what cataract is and what are its effects.

What Is Cataract?

Cataract is clouding of the eye lens, which results in blurred vision. It occurs due to accumulation of protein on the lens surface, which blocks light to reach the retina. This results in reduced visual acuity and blurred vision, which makes things appear as if looking through a foggy window. Symptoms of cataract include blurred vision, frequent change in eyeglass prescription, increased sensitivity to light, seeing halos around bright lights, or double vision.

Risk Factors for Developing Cataract

Several risk factors contribute to the development of cataract, age being the most common one. The risk factors include:

• Age: There is a greater risk of developing cataract as you grow older. This is because of exposure to environmental factors such as UV light, smoke, and other health disorders that lead to cataract.


• Gender: Women have a higher chance of getting cataracts than men. Studies have linked this to menopause, which causes decrease in oestrogen levels leading to the development of cataracts.


• Health conditions: Health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity are also known to increase the risk of cataracts.


• Environmental conditions: Exposure to UV rays and smoke directly affect vision and make one more susceptible to developing cataracts.

Cataract Prevention Methods

While there are debates on whether cataract can be prevented, research shows that there are measures you can take to reduce the risk of getting cataract. Here are some ways that can reduce your chances of getting cataract:

• Lifestyle habits: Excessive smoking and alcohol consumption severely affect your eye health. Both these habits increase the chances of developing cataract. Reducing or quitting them is advisable for reducing the risk of cataract and an overall improvement in your health.


• Diet: Ensure inclusion of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that promote eye health in your diet. Dark green leafy vegetable such as spinach, kale, turnip, etc. improve eye health. Besides this, sources of omega-3 fatty acids such as fresh water fish and flaxseed further reduce the risk.


• Steroid medication: Usage of steroid medicine is said to increase the chances of developing cataracts. Know the risk factors or consult your eye doctor before starting new medication. It is better to avoid them unless specified by an ophthalmologist.


• Protect your eyes: Exposure to UV rays hastens the development of cataract, even in younger patients. Always shield your eyes from UV rays, either with a wide-brimmed hat or sunglasses with UV protection while outdoors.


• Diabetes: Studies show that diabetics are more prone to developing a cataract. It’s necessary for these patients to maintain their blood sugar to prevent cataracts. Take proper medication to keep a tab on your diabetes.


• Regular check-ups: Schedule regular eye exams, especially as you grow older. Your eye doctor can detect cataract and other vision disorders when you cannot. With early detection, your doctor can prescribe the best treatment for you.

In addition to the physical suffering and mental trauma, cancer also comes with a massive financial burden. This blog talks about how to choose the right health insurance plan with cancer coverage.

Cancer awareness is essential in order to take an informed decision

In spite of the progress in research and technology, cancer is still one of the most lethal diseases out there. While there are no guaranteed ways of reducing the risk of cancer, there is a responsible decision you can make to reduce the financial burden in the face of such odds. That is choosing a right insurance cover.

Need for Health Insurance with Cancer Cover

The thought of being diagnosed with cancer is frightening but what’s more distressing is the probability of that becoming reality. About 70 to 90 percent of all cancers are because of environmental factors instead of the genetic make-up. It is crucial to protect yourself by opting for health insurance with cancer cover.

Cancer is a very taxing disease, physically , emotionally, and financially. Cancer treatment involves massive costs that keep increasing as the disease progresses. The last thing a person suffering with cancer needs is the burden of the heavy treatment costs. A health insurance with cancer cover will be a much needed source of relief in such stressful times.

When choosing a policy, you must compare quotes from different insurers to find a plan that fits your budget. Make sure to determine how much coverage you need, depending on potential medical expenses, including treatments, hospitalisation, ambulance costs and other associated costs.

Types of Cancer Covered by Insurance Plans

Most insurance plans with cancer cover various types of cancers like lung cancer, stomach cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and more, depending on the plan you opt for.

Coverage Against Multiple Stages of Cancer

There are four stages of cancer ranging from the early stage to the critical stage. An important thing to keep in mind while getting cancer cover with health insurance is to check whether it covers all the stages and meets the financial demands of each stage.

Term of the Plan and Tax Benefits

The term of the plan is essential. Some plans have maximum term of 20 years, which may seem like a long time now but if you get it at 30, it will cease to cover you once you turn 50. You should go through the term of different plans carefully and choose the one that suits your needs.

Also remember, under section 80D of the Income Tax Act, cancer insurance plans are liable to avail tax benefits.

Things to Consider

There are a few things you need to consider before you buy health insurance with cancer coverage. You need to check if the insurance will support critical illness treatment costs even after the first diagnosis, whether the benefits differ depending on the different stages of cancer and if there will be a waiver of premium upon diagnosis.

Now that you know the need and benefits of a cancer cover, make it a point to have it included in your health insurance plan.

Taking care of autistic kids is expensive, making a special cover for them a necessity

The number of children living with developmental disabilities like autism is on the rise. Globally, 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as per the statistics from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.

In such a situation, general insurance companies are looking to provide covers for the disease or at least specific add-ons to existing health insurance policies.

Current Situation

Currently, there are very few policies in the health insurance market to cover autism-related expenses. More often than not, parents cover the expenses for the treatment of this disease from their own pocket, and usually also have to create a corpus for their child’s lifetime, since the child may not be able to work.

The Indian government however, has done something to combat this situation. The government offers a health insurance scheme called ‘Niramaya’, which offers a sum assured of up to ₹1 lakh for the treatment and care of children with developmental disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy and so on.

The scheme covers outpatient treatments including those for pre-existing ailments, and expenses for corrective surgeries and non-surgical hospitalisation. It comes at an annual premium of ₹250 for families with a monthly income of less than ₹15,000, and an annual premium of ₹500 for those with a monthly income higher than ₹15,000.

Among private insurers though, there aren’t many schemes that offer a special cover for developmental disabilities. This is because they are not sure of the viability of launching standalone health insurance policies for autism and other such developmental disorders.

Coverage Required

However, the question arises of whether the cover of ₹1 lakh that the government scheme offers is actually enough. You see, ASD affects a child’s development including his/her speech, gestural, non-verbal and social interaction with his/her peers. So, it’s not just paediatrics that needs to be taken care of with ASD; therapy for all the above also becomes necessary.

That is to say, an autistic child would require multi-disciplinary treatment. So, along with regular visits to a paediatrician, they would need assistance and care from a psychiatrist, a counsellor, a special educator, a speech therapist and an occupational therapist. Consulting all of these people is quite expensive, and can lead to the annual cost of treatment being as high as ₹2-3 lakh.

Moreover, children with ASD are accident-prone, and the treatment and care for these accidents further add to the cost of treatment. Therefore, one would require a cover of minimum ₹4-5 lakh to cover the complete cost of treatment for autism.

Mr. Sanjay Datta, Chief - Underwriting and Claims, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, believes that adding a customised offering for autism to an existing health insurance product could go a long way in providing financial relief to parents with autistic children.

There are some key differences that make super top-ups highly beneficial.

Inflation and demand for specialty healthcare have led to a rise in basic medical expenses. In case of hospitalisation and a claim, one often realises that while having a complete health insurance policy was a great financial decision, the sum assured was a constrain. It is often noted that rising healthcare costs render the cover insufficient.

Thankfully, you can avoid such a situation by opting for either a top-up plan or a super top-up plan. In some cases, a third alternative is to opt for an additional policy. However, for most cases, a top-up is the ideal way ahead as it enhances the sum assured of your base plan to cover the shortfall. Let us learn more about Top-Ups and Super Top-Ups:

Top-Up Plans

The Top-Up allows you to make a claim that exceeds the deductible value & the sum assured of the base policy during a single hospitalisation. All claims are treated individually in this cover and multiple claims under the same policy period are not aggregated. The deductible is the limit set in your policy schedule.

Super Top-Ups

A Super Top-Up pays claims for cumulative medical expenses within a policy year once it exceeds the deductible and the sum assured of the base policy. It offers coverage not payable by your top-up or base plan. Such a plan can be availed from any insurer and is not limited to your base policy insurer.

While both top-ups kick in only after the claim amount exceeds the deductible and the sum assured of the base policy, the difference lies in its working. The illustration below will help you better understand how both these plans are beneficial.