All you need to know about Health Insurance for Vector-Borne Diseases
What is a vector-borne disease? Vectors are living organisms that can transmit infectious pathogens between humans or from animals to humans. Vector-borne diseases are caused by parasites, viruses, and bacteria transmitted by vectors. Annually there are more than 700,000 deaths from diseases like malaria, dengue, chikungunya, etc.
The prevalence of vector-borne diseases is higher in a tropical country like India, where factors like the burden of population, unplanned urbanization, unsanitary living conditions, etc., have led to the further spread of the disease.
Why do you need vector-borne disease insurance?
A large percentage of the Indian population is annually affected by vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, which spread due to the breeding of mosquitoes during the monsoon season.
Vector-borne diseases are often severe and life-threatening, requiring immediate attention and hospitalization, which is unaffordable for most people. Some of these can be treated simply by vaccines, but a disease like dengue cannot be treated simply via a vaccine and usually requires a set of complex treatments to aid in the recovery of the patient. A good insurance policy promises quality healthcare to the holders and simultaneously eliminates the hassle and worry of the cost of treatment. In addition, having a financial backup such as insurance can provide a smooth and hassle-free recovery for the policyholder.
Key facts about Vector-Borne Diseases
- Vector-borne diseases cause more than 700,000 deaths annually and account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases.
- Dengue is a prevalent viral infection transmitted by the Aedes mosquito.
- More than 3.9 billion people in over 129 countries are susceptible to dengue.
- Dengue deaths are estimated at 40,000 annually.
- Malaria, which is spread by the female anopheles mosquito, claims 400,000 lives annually worldwide.
- Most of the deaths occur in children under the age of 5 years.
- Vectors transmit chikungunya fever, Zika virus fever, etc.
- The spread of vector-borne diseases can be checked with the help of effective Community mobilization.
Health Insurance to combat vector-borne diseases
With the onset of monsoons, the number of cases of vector-borne diseases in our country increases by leaps and bounds. Stagnant water serves as an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The ever-increasing expense of availing medical treatment and treatments for dengue, malaria, chikungunya, kala-azar, etc., poses a serious financial challenge for ordinary citizens. Availing quality treatment results in draining hard-earned money. During such times, a good Health Insurance Cover comes to the rescue.
Features of a Vector-borne Health Insurance Policy
- The policy provides coverage for hospitalization costs, expenses of daycare procedures, ICU charges, ambulance costs, etc.
- Vector-borne health insurance policies offer the benefit of cashless treatments at a network of preferred hospitals of the insurer.
- A cashless treatment facility enables the policyholder to concentrate on getting treated only rather than worrying about costs.
- The insurer also arranges free Annual Health Checkups.
- The Health Insurance Company also provides cover for a pre-hospitalization period of 30 days and a post-hospitalization period of 60 days.
4 Best Health insurance plans for vector-borne diseases in India
Let’s know about the 4 best health insurance plans for vector-borne diseases in India, you can from one of them according to your needs as mentioned below:-
- ICICI Lombard Mashak Rakshak Health Plan
- M-Care Health Insurance Plan
- Future Vector Care Plan
- Mosquito Disease Protection Plan
1. ICICI Lombard Mashak Rakshak Health Plan
A standard vector-borne disease cover called Mashak Rakshak from ICICI Lombard is also available. A fixed benefit health insurance policy pays a lump sum equalling 100% of the sum insured when a claim is made for requiring hospitalization, which must be a minimum continuous period of 72 hours. The offerings come on both an individual and floater sum insured basis where the minimum is Rs 10,000, and the maximum is Rs 2 lakh. The tenure of the policy is fixed at a year and can be renewed every year.
2. M-Care Health Insurance Plan
This policy offered by Bajaj Allianz covers the treatment of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, kala-azar, lymphatic filariasis, etc. It offers a 100% lump sum payment for treatment to the policyholder. The sum insured ranges from Rs.10,000 to Rs.75,000. This policy doesn’t require premedical checking of individuals up to the age of 55 years.
3. Future Vector Care Plan
Future Generali Health Insurance offers this plan. The insured receives a 100% lump sum payment covering both hospitalization costs and diagnosis. The policy tenure ranges from around 1 to 3 years. The maximum entry age for the applicant is 65 years, and no pre-medical checkups are mandatory for purchasing this policy cover.
4. Mosquito Disease Protection Plan
An effective health insurance policy by the HDFC Ergo Health Insurance provides compensation for medical expenses incurred during cases of hospitalization or accidental death due to vector-borne diseases. The cover also offers optional avenues to offer comprehensive coverage, and the premium required can also be paid in installments.
Conclusion
While a comprehensive health insurance cover with adequate sum insured combined with a cost-effective top-up policy is ideal for covering almost every type of medical contingency one might face, a disease-specific cover like a vector-borne policy can be helpful in case one does not have a comprehensive cover with an adequate sum insured. Therefore, to keep yourself and your loved ones safe and secure from the sudden threat of vector-borne diseases, it is imperative to invest in a good health insurance policy that not only provides a fast and smooth transition to immediate medical attention but one which also covers all the relevant and widespread vector-borne diseases which arise during different times of the year.
