The primary objective of preventive health check-ups is to identify potential health issues before they become severe or reach an advanced stage and become costly to treat. Ailments detected or diagnosed early increase the chances of timely as well as successful treatment and cure. Different types of preventive health check-ups include full-body health check-ups, tests related to the heart, diagnostic tests to check the blood sugar levels for diabetes, and health check-ups for children and women.
Section 80D of the Income Tax Act offers tax deductions on medical insurance premiums and healthcare expenses for individual taxpayers and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs).
What is a Preventive Health Check-up?
Preventive health care aims to detect problems early on when they're simpler and less pricey to cure. It allows doctors to identify potential health issues before they become severe and require costly treatments. The preventive health check-up tax exemption typically includes reviewing medical history, family history, risk factors for specific diseases, physical examination, and laboratory tests.
The Indian government introduced a preventive health check-up 80D tax deduction to urge citizens to be more upbeat about healthcare. Under Section 80D, you can claim a deduction of Rs 5,000 for any payments made for preventive health check-ups. An individual can make a claim for himself/herself, his/her spouse, dependent children, and parents.
The number of times one should undergo a preventive health check-up varies from person to person and age. Experts recommend that all adults undergo a preventive health check-up once a year. However, individuals who are at a higher risk of certain illnesses or have existing medical conditions may need to undergo screening more frequently. Senior citizens may also require more preventive health check-ups. These check-ups can help your doctor monitor your health and advise you on reducing your risk of chronic diseases.
What are Preventive Health Check-Up's Benefits and Important Factors?
Here are some benefits and importance of timely health check-ups:
- Regular check-ups help detect potential health problems before they become severe, increasing the chances of successful treatment and cure.
- Depending on one's age, family history, and lifestyle, doctors recommend the frequency of check-ups and medical assistance.
- By regularly seeing a doctor, one can monitor any changes in the body and detect health conditions early.
- Accessing the correct health services, screenings, and treatment ensures a healthier and longer life.
- Preventive check-up comes with various benefits, including a
- comprehensive health evaluation
- early detection of illnesses
- periodic monitoring
- lower medical expenses
- improvement in overall health
Who Requires Preventive Medical Check-Up?
Preventive health check-ups can be helpful for everyone as they help assess one’s overall health. Some groups that need them more urgently are:
- Elderly People: Age-related health issues such as heart conditions and bone diseases can be monitored in the older population.
- Working Professionals: Stress-related health conditions can be mitigated through a timely health checkup.
- People with Pre-existing Health Issues: Individuals with hypertension, asthma, and diabetes can manage their health better with the help of regular medical checkups.
- Children and Adolescents: Growth and development milestones can be better monitored through health checkups.
Lists of Preventive Healthcare Packages
The following packages are popular among groups who require frequent medical attention:
- Basic Health Checkup: Includes general tests to monitor blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol
- Comprehensive Health Checkup: Provides detailed test for major organs
- Women’s Health Package: Focused on gynaecological and hormonal health
- Senior Citizen Health Package: Tests for age-related health issues such as arthritis, bone density, heart functioning
- Corporate Wellness Programme: Curated for employees to maintain a healthy workplace
List of Tests Under Preventive Health Check-Up
- full-body health check-ups
- heart check-ups
- diabetes check-ups
- health check-ups for kids
- health check-ups for women
- Section 80D deduction preventive health check-ups for women include tests to evaluate general health and gynecological problems, such as
- pelvic exams
- pap smear tests
- cervix and breast cancer screening
- One can avail of tax benefits of up to Rs 5,000 per financial year towards preventive health check-ups as per Indian law.
Regular health check-ups help people lead healthier lives by detecting ailments early and taking necessary precautions to prevent the risk of developing chronic diseases.
Preventive Healthcare for Various Age Groups
Children and Adolescents
- Scheduled vaccination
- Assessment of nutritional requirement
- Tracking growth and development
Adults (20 to 40 years)
- Monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol
- Diabetes test
- Thyroid test
Middle Aged (40 to 60 years)
- Cardiac health
- Bone density screening
- Cancer test (e.g., Prostate gland examination)
Senior Citizens (60 years and above)
- Tests for chronic illness
- Vision and hearing assessment
- Tests for cognitive function
Tax Deduction under Section 80D
What is Section 80D Preventive Health Check-Up?
Section 80D of the Income Tax Act offers tax deductions on medical insurance premiums and healthcare expenses for individual taxpayers and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs). An individual can claim up to Rs 25,000 for his/her check-up, spouse's and dependent children's medical insurance premium, an additional deduction of Rs 25,000 for parents' insurance premium if they are below 60 years of age, and Rs 50,000 if the parents are above 60 years.
The preventive health check-up deduction can be claimed for medical expenses up to a maximum of Rs 5,000 if insurance does not cover them. If the individual/spouse and parents are above 60 years old and have medical insurance, they can claim a maximum deduction of Rs 1,00,000.
HUFs can claim a deduction of Rs 25,000 if the insured members are below 60 years and Rs 50,000 if any of the members are 60 years or above.
The cost of an 80D health check-up annually can be claimed for up to Rs 5,000 for individuals and Rs 50,000 for senior citizens.
The budget of 2018 introduced a new provision for claiming deductions on a single premium paid as a lump sum for health insurance policies, where a taxpayer can claim a deduction equivalent to the applicable fraction of the amount under Section 80D. The fraction gets calculated by the lump sum paid as a premium divided by the number of years the policy will be valid.
Things to Consider While Getting a Preventive Health Check-Up
- Choose a certified healthcare facility.
- Verify the tests included in the package that you have picked.
- Disclose your complete medical history to the healthcare provider.
- Schedule proper and regular checkups as per your need.
Does Your Health Insurance Cover Preventive Health Checkups?
Many health insurance policies in India now offer coverage for preventive health checkups as part of their benefits. However, the specifics of this coverage, such as the frequency of checkups, the tests included, and the reimbursement process, vary between insurers and plans. Reviewing your health insurance policy to understand the extent of coverage for preventive health checkups is important.
FAQs on Preventive Health Check-Ups And Tax Deductions
What is the Maximum Amount that You Can Claim for a Preventive Health Check?
Section 80D of the ITA permits individuals to claim a deduction on health insurance premiums paid for themselves, their spouse, and dependent children, with additional deductions available if the policy covers their parents' health insurance.
Can I claim a preventive health check-up in ITR?
Under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, individuals can claim a deduction on health insurance premiums as well as expenditures incurred on preventive health check-ups for themselves, their spouse, dependent children, and parents, subject to the terms and conditions specified.
What tests get covered under preventive health check-ups?
The medical tests conducted under preventive health check-ups include cancer/tumour markers, cardiac indicators, abdominal ultrasound, breast mammography (for women above 30 years), PSA (for men above 45 years), chest X-ray, ECG, 2D echocardiogram, coronary angiography, fasting and random blood sugar, and lipid profile.
Are preventive health checkups necessary for healthy individuals?
Yes, to avoid health risks and ensure long-term wellness, preventive health checkups are advisable for all.
What is the ideal age to start preventive health checkups?
20s can be a good time to start routine checkups, with detailed screenings starting as you enter your 40s.
Can I claim a tax deduction for health checkups for my parents?
Yes, Section 80D allows you to claim tax deductions for health checkups for your parents.
Are preventive health checkups expensive?
Preventive checkups are moderately costly but can be made affordable with a proper health insurance policy and planning.
Conclusion
Preventive health checkups are a simple and effective investment for your long-term health. You can also avail of tax benefits under Section 80D on the premium. You should start regular screenings with a good healthcare provider on time.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only. Please consult a medical or nutrition professional before making any significant changes in your daily diet. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any impact or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.