What Is The Cost Of Open-heart Surgery In India?

Rajesh, a 45-year-old man, was diagnosed with a heart condition that required open-heart surgery. He was startled with the approximate cost of the procedure and wished to do a cross-check of the same. However, he still found that it was coming to around Rs. 4-5 lakh in his city. Rajesh realized that thankfully his health insurance policy would cover the entire cost of the procedure.

He would not have to dip in this savings. He went for his procedure with a relieved mind and came out successfully on the path toward recovery. The open-heart surgery cost is quite high in India across most hospitals. Hence, it is always advisable to plan carefully for the same in advance. This is possible only by taking health insurance.

What is Open Heart Surgery?

Open heart surgery is a specific type of surgery where doctors operate on the chest for accessing the heart and treating various issues. The process requires a cut going through the sternum while spreading the ribs at the same time. This procedure works to combat any issues, damaged zones, abnormal occurrences, insertion of implants or also for heart transplants with regard to restoration of the normal operations of the heart. While the procedure may be recommended by doctors in several scenarios, knowing about this heart surgery cost is always advisable in advance.

What is the Cost of Open-Heart Surgery in India?

The heart surgery cost in India is always on the higher side owing to the complexities involved in these surgeries. Open heart surgery can be of several types. Hence, you should check for the heart transplant cost or heart replacement cost in India or other surgery cost in India as well. Based on reports, average costs usually vary between Rs. 1.5 and Rs. 5.5 lakh depending on multiple aspects.

What Affects the Cost of Open-Heart Surgery? 

The open-heart surgery cost in India is influenced by diverse factors including the following: 

• Type of Hospital, i.e., charitable trust or private hospital. 
• City type, i.e., metro or Tier-1 city or Tier-2 city. 
• Technology and other treatments were chosen for the procedure. 
• Type of surgery and the surgeon’s reputation, expertise and qualifications. 
• Whether the customer is paying via health insurance or from his/her own pocket. 
• Diagnosis of the patient and the surgery scope. 
• Overall health conditions of the patient. 
• Type of room and the hospital’s reputation. 

Open heart surgeries cost lower in India in comparison to several other countries. However, it is still sizable for a majority of people. There are many associated components which are also costly. Consider coronary angiography for instance. This procedure requires more than Rs. 10,000 alone. The surgery is also costlier for children, varying between Rs. 1.5-2.5 lakh on average at leading hospitals. If you require heart surgery free of cost for children, then the only alternative is a health insurance policy. 

Lifestyle Tips to Combat Cardiovascular Ailments

There are some things that you can do to keep cardiovascular or heart ailments at bay. These include:

• Do not smoke or use tobacco since it severely impacts your heart and blood vessels. 
• Aim for 30-60 minutes of exercise on a regular basis. 
• Keep your weight in check since obesity always leads to higher risks of high blood pressure, cholesterol and even diabetes. 
• Consume a balanced and healthy diet every day, including legumes, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, healthy fats and lean meat. 
• Sleep for at least 7-8 hours each night. 

Your Take-Away 

The absence of proper contingency plans often leads to people having to liquidate assets or deplete their savings to meet the costs of open-heart surgeries. In this scenario, it is advisable that everyone has health insurance from an early age. It goes a long way towards ensuring financial security and peace of mind. 

Health Insurance is a Must in this Scenario 

As mentioned, without health insurance, it is very difficult to meet open heart surgery and other related costs comfortably. A health insurance plan will cover the surgery and hospitalization costs along with associated costs like ambulance transportation, room rent, medicines and so on. It will work as a savior for the entire family, keeping their savings intact, while preventing any compromises on the quality of treatment simultaneously.