Health Insurance Options for Infectious Disease Care

Does Health Insurance Cover Hansen’s Disease?

Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. It primarily affects the skin, upper respiratory tract, eyes, and peripheral nerves.

Significant symptoms include nerve damage, skin lesions, loss of sensation, and potential eye problems. This mainly spreads through droplets from an infected person if they are in close contact.

What are the Treatment methods for Leprosy?

Doctors use multi-drug therapy (MDT) to treat leprosy, which consists of dapsone, clofazimine, and rifampicin. MDT eventually kills the pathogen and permanently cures the patient. This treatment is available to everyone worldwide for free.

These drugs are administered for 6 months, which include:

• Rifampicin:10mg/kg of body weight. (Once time in a month)
• Clofazimine: 1mg/kg of body weight daily and 6mg/kg of body weight once a month.
• Dapsone: 2mg/ kg of the total body weight.

The treatment treats affected individuals based on clinical and bacteriological evidence.

How Does Health Insurance Help in Leprosy Treatments?

Most insurance companies in India offer coverage for leprosy treatment through critical illness riders or add-ons to ensure financial security for the patients. Here is a detailed explanation of leprosy treatment coverage:

1. Critical Illness Coverage

Leprosy treatment is usually covered under critical illness care coverage in health insurance policies, which generally acts as an add-on or rider based on the base health insurance plan. 

2. Policy Inclusions

Before choosing the correct plan, it is necessary to review the clauses of the health insurance policy. After that, it should be mandatory to ask the insurer about the extent of leprosy treatment coverage offered.  

3. Network Hospitals

You must choose a hospital that is in the insurance provider’s network. If you choose a network hospital, you will benefit from cashless treatment. This means insurance providers will directly settle the medical bills with hospitals.

4. Free Treatment

The National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), a centralised health scheme, ensures free treatment of leprosy patients. Health insurance covers this scheme for leprosy patients who belong to lower-income groups.

5. MDT Treatment

Multi-drug treatment (MDT) is a key form of treatment for leprosy patients. It aims to reduce the number of active cases in India. MDT is highly effective and has cured many patients over the years.  

6. Pre Authorisation

In some instances of medical emergencies for leprosy patients, hospitalisation requires pre-authorisation from insurance providers for verification. After getting permission, they must submit all the documents to the insurance company.

How to Apply for a Health Insurance Policy?   

Let us discuss the steps to apply for a health insurance policy:

1. Compare the Policies

Research different health insurance plans offered by various insurance companies properly. Consider factors like benefits, premiums, coverage, and claim settlement ratios. Then, determine your healthcare needs and budget to choose a suitable plan.  

2. Check the Hospital Networks

It is essential to consider the hospital network of these insurance providers. Policyholders must check the hospital network before buying insurance plans. The wider network suggests proper assurance of quality treatments to the policyholders.  

3. Gather Documents

Documents required for the application process include:

• Identity Proof: Aadhaar Card, Voter ID Card, driving license and passport.
• Income Proof: Salary slips, bank statements and Income Tax return forms.
• Medical Documents: Prescriptions and previous medical records.

You should collect all these documents before initiating the application process.   

4. Apply Online

Visit the company's official website and start the application process. After filling out the application form provided on that website, upload all the necessary documents.   

5. Premium Payment

You must pay the premium according to the guidelines provided by the insurance company. Many companies have different regulations for policyholders' premium payments.

An insurer will issue the policy document after receiving the premium and related documents. It is recommended that you keep this document for future official purposes.