Health Insurance To Manage Dialysis Costs

Utilising Health Insurance to Manage Dialysis Expenses

What is Dialysis?

Dialysis is an artificial treatment for kidney failure that helps to get rid of toxins and excess fluids by filtering the blood in your body. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 5.4 lakh people in India suffer from kidney failure and for a middle-class family, the monthly treatment expenses could be a financial burden overall.

Kidneys play a vital role in filtering toxic substances from the body. It also maintains blood pressure and monitors the water balance in the body. However, when kidneys fail to function properly, the need for kidney dialysis arises. When you have a kidney failure, your body will not be able to clean the toxic matter in your blood, which may result in instability.

Health Insurance for kidney patients is tailored to provide financial assistance to individuals suffering from kidney disease and other related problems.

Medical insurance for dialysis patients

Some health insurance policies may cover eligible dialysis expenses, subject to policy terms, waiting periods and exclusions. 

To buy health insurance for dialysis, consider some factors. Dialysis insurance cost depends on factors like:

• Income. 
• Plan type
• Treatment costs. 
• Other expenses
• Age. 
• Location:
• Type of dialysis
• Mode of transportation
• Mode of medical follow-up

Does health insurance cover dialysis?

The health insurance that covers dialysis depends on some factors. To choose an insurance for dialysis patients, one could consider such factors. Here are the things to be considered for choosing a health insurance for dialysis patients.

• Cost
• Kidney function
• Dialysis centers accessibility
• Daycare expenses
• Organ donor expenses. 
• Annual health check-ups

Health Insurance for Kidney Patients

Health insurance for kidney patients has been oriented to provide financial protection to people suffering from kidney disease, including kidney transplant patients, CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) patients or those with pre-existing kidney-related problems. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a developing condition distinguished by the gradual decline of kidney functionality as time passes. The health insurance for ckd patients can be helpful to reduce the financial burden. These policies provide adequate coverage for medical expenses incurred during dialysis, kidney transplant surgery and in casum insuredse of kidney failure. As kidney failure is considered a critical illness, an insurance provider like Star Health provides coverage for kidney-related disease. At the same time, key benefits of health insurance for CKD patients include a lump sum payout on the diagnosis of kidney failure.

Coverage for pre-existing kidney conditions varies by policy and may be subject to specific waiting periods, underwriting requirements and exclusions. In adverse, acquiring medical coverage for pre-existing medical conditions like kidney disease can be difficult and costly. Therefore, it is considered a wise financial decision to take health insurance for kidney patients in India for people who are pre-existing kidney patients.

Who needs Dialysis treatment? How does it work?

When a person has stage 5 kidney disease (also known as End-Stage Renal Disease), the kidneys cannot function to filter the blood naturally. As a result, unwanted toxins and waste will build up in the body. At this point, a Dialysis treatment would be suggested for overall well-being and prolonged life.

There are two types of Kidney Dialysis. They are:

• Hemodialysis– It is the most common type of dialysis method. Hemodialysis filters blood through a dialysis machine. Once you are connected to the machine, blood flows through the machine, gets filtered and returns to your body. This treatment can be done in the hospital.
• Peritoneal dialysis– This method uses the peritoneal catheter. It uses the blood vessels present in your abdomen along with a solution called dialysate to filter the blood in your body. This treatment can be performed at home or work or even while travelling.
   

Among these two, your doctor will prescribe the best treatment suitable for your body. However, it is advisable to check the plans that offer the best health insurance for kidney disease before finalising your decision to undergo treatment.

Kidney Dialysis Cost in India

 
The prices may vary depending on the hospitals in different cities.

In such a case, having health insurance coverage by your side during a medical emergency like an end-stage kidney failure can help you stay financially free and secure. You may not have to worry about gathering huge funds in the most critical situation. Through a good health insurance plan, you can cover the treatment expenses of dialysis or a kidney transplant. Health insurance for dialysis patients is offered by many insurers today. Make sure to choose a health insurance plan that covers a wide range of treatments for you and your family.

Why should you get a critical illness cover for Dialysis?

Having a critical illness cover can give you a lump sum payment on diagnosis of a listed critical illness in your health insurance policy. This lump sum can be used for treatment, care, and stability due to the critical illness you are suffering from. A major advantage of investing in a critical illness plan is that treatment expenses would be taken care of by the lump sum payment

Up to a certain extent, your existing health insurance might cover your medical expenses, but in this situation, your critical illness insurance would cover unfortunate medical emergency costs that your existing health insurance plan might not cover.

However, the plan will keep you and your family from experiencing financial burden and mental stress. You will also gain peace of mind by being prepared. The critical illness plan that would cover the diagnosis of kidney failure will also allow you to take advantage of tax benefits under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Star Criticare Plus Insurance Policy at Star Health

The Star Criticare Plus Insurance policy offers coverage for specified critical treatments. A premium discount is available for buying Critical illness cover for all members of the family. Here, the insured receives a lump sum amount on diagnosis of a critical illness. Additionally, by opting for critical illness cover, you can avail tax benefits for health insurance premiums paid under Section 80D.

Advantages of Criticare Plus Insurance policy

• Coverage for specified critical illness treatments
• No Third-Party Administrator
• Faster and hassle-free claim settlement
• Cashless hospitalisation
• Network of more than 16,000+ hospitals in India

Being diagnosed with sudden kidney failure causes major stress emotionally, physically and financially. However, dialysis treatment is not just a one-time session. The treatment may go up to a couple of months according to your medical condition. You can prevent such traumatising situations by choosing the right health insurance policy covering kidney failure treatment.

Health insurance is an essential Risk Mitigation Tool. Being healthy and buying health insurance for you and your family is beneficial at all times. If kidney disease is diagnosed during an active health insurance policy, coverage for dialysis expenses will depend on the policy's terms, conditions, exclusions and applicable limits. 

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Reader Information: The Section 80D tax benefits discussed are applicable only under the old tax regime, subject to prevailing tax laws and regulations.