Health

Should you go for comprehensive health insurance or disease-specific health insurance?

Healthcare in a country like India is costly. Hospitalization can burn a hole in your pocket, even for minor infections or ailments. Prolonged treatment for a disease can have drastic effects on your financial situation. It would help if you prepared against such unexpected medical emergencies. The smartest way is to cover yourself under a medical or health insurance plan.

Awareness about medical insurance in India is relatively low. For instance, while choosing a job, few people determine if the company provides medical insurance coverage for its employees. Let’s try to learn about India’s health insurance and whether you should choose a comprehensive health insurance plan or a disease-specific one.

Health insurance

What is covered by health insurance?

A health insurance plan protects you against hospitalization expenses and some day-care expenses. The insurer pays specified amounts to cover the costs incurred on the treatment. Per the health insurance policy agreement, you can acquire significant coverage by paying relatively small premiums. Usually, costs towards check-ups during illness, medical tests, hospitalization, emergency room services, surgery, ambulance charges, and even prescription medicines are covered in part or whole. These health insurance plans can be availed for individuals and an entire family in the form of family plans.

Options for Health Insurance Policies

As mentioned, one can opt for comprehensive or disease-specific health insurance in our country. Here are some differences between the two.

Comprehensive Health Plan

In layman’sperso terms, people usually mean this by health insurance. Based on your chosen policy, these policies cover many medical conditions, including some diseases. You get to choose the policy and decide the plan of action. All major health issues are covered under the scheme. By paying one premium, you cover several diseases. You can guess the amount you save from buying this plan.

Disease-Specific Health Plan

As the name suggests, a disease-specific medical insurance plan provides cover against one disease. You need not submit bills to avail of the benefits. The programs are usually available only for life-threatening conditions like heart ailments and cancer.

The advantage of such a health plan is that it’ll pay the benefits upon diagnosis without looking at the bills. This kind of policy provides cover during all stages of the illness. By paying one premium, you cover only one disease.

Disease-specific health plans usually offer better coverage for the illness than a comprehensive plan and at a lower price. Since life-threatening illnesses typically cost a lot to treat, these plans complement a comprehensive health plan instead of replacing them.

What should you choose?

Getting a comprehensive medical insurance plan over a disease-specific is advisable. Here’s why:

  • Generic

It provides cover against all major and minor health issues. Also, suppose you are looking for a floater plan for your family. In that case, a comprehensive health insurance policy is a perfect choice as it covers all your family members irrespective of whether they are high-risk or low-risk.

  • Riders

Most common illnesses are usually covered, but you can add riders to cover critical diseases under a single scheme. For example, suppose a family history of an ailment prevails, and the insurance does not cover it. In that case, you can add a rider and get coverage by paying an additional premium.

  • Top-up

Moreover, you can also top-up your comprehensive health insurance coverage during the policy term. The top-up would apply to all the diseases covered under your standard medical insurance plan. A top-up in case of a disease-specific insurance plan would apply to a specific illness.

  • Need

Diseases act unpredictably. Sometimes, a primary condition may offshoot and lead to secondary infections. If you avail of a disease-specific cover, it may not be helpful against secondary illnesses and leave you helpless. On the other hand, a comprehensive health insurance plan will be beneficial and take care of the secondary illness and is, therefore, much more practical.

Conclusion

Getting complete health insurance coverage for your entire family would be advisable. You should also consider disease-specific health insurance, especially if you have a family history of a life-threatening illness. However, your basic health care should be comprehensive to protect you against various diseases.

About author

I work for WideInfo and I love writing on my blog every day with huge new information to help my readers. Fashion is my hobby and eating food is my life. Social Media is my blood to connect my family and friends.
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