Nearly 43% of people in India suffer from depression, a mood disorder that affects the way people think, feel, and act. A person suffering from4 depression suffers from feelings of sadness and starts to feel uninterested in day-to-day activities. But depression can be treated with the help of therapies, eating nutritious food, exercising regularly, getting adequate sound sleep, and other lifestyle changes along with medical intervention. This brings the question, "Is depression covered under insurance?" to the fore.
Here, we will understand does health insurance cover depression.
Is depression covered under insurance
The answer to the query, "Is depression covered under insurance?" is a resonating Yes.
The healthcare policies in India provide coverage for depression. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India makes it mandatory for all insurance providers to cover mental illnesses like depression under health insurance.
- Depression is regarded as a mental illness and is covered under mental health insurance plans.
- If a person is suffering from depression before purchasing a policy, he/she is required to produce medical proof and an underwriting about the illness for it to be considered a pre-existing disease.
- Before covering problems like depression in the policy, the insurance provider will impose restrictions with respect to a waiting period. This waiting period is usually 2-4 years but varies from insurer to insurer as well as the chosen plan.
Conclusion
Managing depression often involves adopting a healthy lifestyle, which can include maintaining a regular exercise regimen, getting sufficient sleep (typically 7-8 hours), managing stress, and enhancing one’s self-esteem. Although health insurance plans in India provide coverage for depression, easing your financial burden in times of medical crises, consulting a medical practitioner regularly makes it easy to deal with such mental health issues.