Health Insurance Plans for Women

Snigdha Mukherjee (34) works in a pharmaceutical firm in Mumbai. She juggles many roles – both at home and work. A sales professional, her 9-hour workday starts at 6 am and includes a long commute in a crowded train. More often than not, weekends are not rest days.

In this routine, she ends up neglecting her health.

Snigdha is not alone.

Lack of adequate sleep and exercise, together with unhealthy food habits, may lead to illnesses amongst women like Snigdha. This trend is growing in urban India with rising instances of lifestyle-related and other diseases can strike at a young age. On an average, 48% of Indian women in the age-group of 20-50 years suffer from diseases such as breast cancer.

The Challenge

Yet the awareness about individual health insurance plans amongst women is low. Only less than 20 per cent of women buy them. Most women are covered as part of a family floater policy or as a dependant in the husband's health insurance plan. These may not cover diseases like Polycystic Ovarian Disorder (PCOD), cervical cancer, uterine fibroids, breast cancer, osteoporosis, Thyroid disorders, urinary tract problems, hormonal issues etc.

Don't worry

An individual health insurance plan for women can help you cover several diseases specific to women. Also, your health insurance plan can provide added benefits such as annual health check-ups and tax deductions.

Maternity Cover

Planning to go for a family is the most joyful decision that you can make. Plan it well so that you are covered for the hospitalisation for delivery. It will also cover pre-natal and post-natal care such as new-born baby care, doctor's fee, follow-ups, etc.

Cashless hospitalisation can make quality medical care highly convenient and affordable. It covers:

• Pre and post hospitalisation charges – Mostly, the expenses of 30 days before hospitalisation and 60 days after delivery (both natural and caesarean) are covered. The exact duration can depend on the terms of your insurer.
• New-born cover – In case of a new-born cover, your health insurance policy will take care of the baby from the day of birth up to ninety days.

Check the following points before you go for a Health Insurance Plan

1. Whether it is a family floater or individual health insurance. Your family floater cover may not be sufficient and may not provide certain specific diseases, as mentioned earlier.
2. Does it cover pre-existing diseases?
3. What is the specified waiting period for such diseases?
4. Does your health insurance plan offer any value-added services?
5. Does it offer maternity cover? What is the waiting period for it?
6. What is the coverage for OPD expenses?
7. Study if there are any age, room and treatment-related limits
8. Whether the network of hospitals is extensive, and there is a cashless treatment facility available with those hospitals.

The plan with the lowest premium need not be the best for you. As a woman, please keep in mind the above factors as well when you are purchasing a health insurance plan.

A daughter, a wife, a mother, colleague or entrepreneur - as a woman, you play many roles. Your medical needs keep changing at every stage of your life. Modern science is advancing to meet these growing needs; however, healthcare costs will also continue to rise.

Health Insurance will provide access to advanced medical care without affecting your savings. It will also provide you with financial independence.

Log on to our website today for a solution customised to your needs.

Statistic Link: https://www.cnbctv18.com/personal-finance/indian-women-and-health-insurance-why-they-must-be-friends-5556891.htm