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 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 contents from our body. It also maintains blood pressure and monitors the water balance in the body. However, when kidneys fail to function to process, the need for a kidney dialysis comes in. When you have a kidney failure, your body will not be able to clean the toxic matter in your blood that may result in instability.

Medical insurance for dialysis patients

Dialysis insurance coverage offered by some health insurance companies helps cover the costs of dialysis and other medical expenses related to kidney disease.

To buy health insurance 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 a 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 patient, CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) patient or having pre-existing kidney related problem. Moreover, it provides adequate coverage for medical expenses incurred during dialysis, kidney transplant surgery and in case of kidney failure. As kidney failure is considered as critical illness, insurance provider like Star Health provide coverage for kidney related disease. At the same time, key benefits of health insurance for CKD patients include lump sum pay out on the diagnosis of kidney failure.

A comprehensive medical insurance policy that particularly designed for CKD patient, dialysis, and kidney transplants, gives the coverage for pre-existing conditions kidney disease condition. In adverse, acquiring medical coverage for pre-existing medical conditions like kidney disease can be difficult and costly. Therefore, it is considered as wise financial decision to take health insurance for kidney patient in India for people who are pre-existing kidney patients.

Who needs Dialysis treatment? How does it work?

When a person has a stage 5 kidney disease (also known as End-Stage Renal Disease), the kidneys could not 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 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.

Kidney Dialysis cost in India 

 
The average cost of Dialysis Treatment in India is around Rs. 4000 to 15000 per month. The prices may vary depending upon the hospitals in different cities.

In such a case, having health insurance cover 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 a dialysis or a kidney transplant. Health insurance for dialysis patients is offered by many insurers today. Make sure to choose the right health insurance plan that would almost cover all kinds of treatments widely 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 listed critical illness in your health insurance policy. This lump sum can be used for treatment, care, and stability due to critical illness you are suffering. A major advantage of investing in a critical illness plan is that treatment expenses would be taken care 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 on 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. 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 11,000+ 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 a health insurance for you and your family is beneficial at all times. If kidney Disease is diagnosed for the first time during an active health insurance policy, then all our health policies pay for the medical expenses incurred for dialysis provided availability of sum insured & kidney disease claim is admissible.

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