Arthritis Health and Travel Insurance Coverage in India

Arthritis is a common health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterised by joint inflammation, pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. While arthritis is typically associated with old age, it can also affect people of all ages, including children.

While it is possible to manage the symptoms of arthritis with proper medical treatment and lifestyle changes, there may be times when unexpected health issues arise. This is why it is important to have health and travel insurance if you have arthritis.

Health Insurance for Arthritis:

1. Arthritis is considered a pre-existing condition, which means that it may not be covered by some health insurance plans or may be covered with specific restrictions or higher premiums.
2. Having health insurance can help cover the costs of medical treatment and therapy for arthritis, such as physical therapy or prescription medications.
3. Without health insurance, the cost of arthritis treatment can be prohibitively expensive and may cause financial strain.

Arthritis Travel Insurance:

1. Arthritis can make it more difficult to travel, as it may impact mobility and require special accommodations.
2. Travel insurance can cover trip cancellations or interruptions due to arthritis-related health issues, such as flare-ups or joint pain.
3. Travel insurance may also cover medical expenses incurred while travelling, including those related to arthritis treatment or complications.
4. Without travel insurance, unexpected health issues while travelling can result in significant expenses and may even require emergency medical evacuation.

There is a sizeable difference in the arthritis treatment cost in India compared to other countries. However, medical expenses are constantly rising in India as well. As a result, several people find it difficult to avail of quality treatment due to its huge costs.

The cost of arthritis treatment in India without insurance ranges between ₹ 50,000 to ₹ 4,50,000. Besides the surgical expenses, other costs include the following:

1. The average cost of medicines ranges between ₹ 923 to ₹ 1,075.
2. Laboratory tests cost between ₹ 1,500 to ₹ 5,000.
3. Post-surgery physiotherapy for two weeks costs about ₹ 20,000 to ₹ 25,000.

Several companies offer health insurance for arthritis but with different conditions. Since it is a pre-existing condition, coverage for the ailment is provided after a specified waiting period. Health insurance companies in India that cover arthritis include:

1. Aditya Birla Health Insurance
   1. Several plans under Aditya Birla Health Insurance include arthritis as a specified disease covered after 24 months of continuous coverage since the policy inception date.
   2. The plan covers treatment for non-infective arthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and non-specific arthritis.
   3. If the condition also falls under the waiting period specified for pre-existing diseases, the longer of the two periods shall apply. 
2. HDFC ERGO Health Insurance
   1. ​​​​​​​Multiple plans under HDFC ERGO Health Insurance, such as my:health Women Suraksha and my:health Critical Illness, offer coverage for rheumatoid arthritis.
   2. The sum insured under the plans can range from ₹ 1 lakh to ₹ 1 crore.
   3. The minimum and maximum entry age differs from one plan to another.  
3. Bajaj Allianz Health Insurance
   1. Health insurance plans under Bajaj Allianz cover arthritis, gout, and rheumatism when treatment is performed under domiciliary hospitalisation.
   2. The expenses are covered under the plan when the patient cannot be moved to a hospital or there are no available rooms.
   3. Bajaj Allianz’s My Health Care Plan is available for adults between 18 to 65 years.
   4. It also covers dependent children from 3 months to 30 years.
   5. Bajaj Allianz’s Silver Health Policy for arthritis covers patients aged 46 to 80 years.
4. Care Health Insurance
   1. ​​​​​​​It is one of the best health insurance for arthritis in India.
   2. The plans under Care Health Insurance include arthritis but under specified diseases.
   3. Policyholders can file a claim for arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis after a waiting period of 24 months.
   4. Care health insurance plans come with a wide range of sum insured, ranging from ₹ 3 lakhs to ₹ 6 crores. 
5. Niva Bupa Health Insurance
   1. ​​​​​​​Niva Bupa offers different types of health insurance plans for a sum insured, ranging from ₹ 50,000 to ₹ 10 crores.
   2. Policyholders can get cashless hospitalisation benefits at more than 7600 network hospitals.
   3. Arthritis mostly affects the elderly and requires expensive joint replacement surgery.
   4. The health insurance plans under Niva Bupa will protect you from surgery costs.
6. Star Health Insurance
   1. ​​​​​​​Star Health is another provider that offers insurance for rheumatoid arthritis in India.
   2. The company’s Star Group Criticare Platinum plan offers the sum insured stated in the schedule as a lump sum if the insured contracts severe rheumatoid arthritis as a first incidence.
7. ManipalCigna Health Insurance
   1. Health insurance plans under ManipalCigna offer coverage for arthritis under domiciliary treatment.
   2. The plans include arthritis, gout, and rheumatism when the treatment is taken at home on the advice of the attending medical practitioner.
   3. Furthermore, you can avail of the cost-sharing feature if you need to undergo joint replacement surgery due to arthritis.
   4. There are three options for the maximum payable amount per surgery, which include ₹ 40,000, ₹ 60,000, and ₹ 80,000. 
8. TATA AIG Health Insurance
   1. ​​​​​​​Health insurance plans under TATA AIG include arthritis as a specified disease covered after 24 months of continuous coverage from the policy inception date.
   2. It offers coverage for non-infective arthritis, gout, and rheumatism.

Currently, health insurance is one of the most needful insurance policies, given the increased health problems at an early age and the rising treatment costs.

With several health plans available in India, it is important to assess your healthcare requirements while purchasing a policy. Some tips for choosing health insurance for arthritis include:

1. Look for coverage that secures you against a wide range of diseases.
2. Initially, you should start with a plan with affordable premiums. You can later increase the coverage with increased income, family size, and medical requirements.
3. If you have a family to support, it is always advised to buy a family health plan instead of an individual plan. Purchasing a family plan will offer maximum benefits at a more affordable price.
4. Choose a plan with lifetime renewability as health insurance for arthritis will be most useful during later years of life.
5. Compare the features and quotes of various policies on line to buy a health plan that caters to your needs.
6. Check whether or not your preferred hospitals are included in the insurance provider’s network hospitals.
7. Look for an insurance provider with a straightforward claim process, so you do not have to worry much about it during a medical emergency. 
8. Always choose an insurer with a high claim settlement ratio (number of claims settled by the insurer over the total number of received claims).

Claims for arthritis health insurance may either be cashless or reimbursement, depending on the hospital where treatment was performed. You could file a cashless claim if you were hospitalised in a network hospital.

However, you need to file a reimbursement claim if you were hospitalised in a non-network hospital. 

The steps for filing a cashless claim include the following:

1. Inform the insurer three days before hospital admission. 
2. Complete the insurance claim application form provided by the network hospital’s insurance department. 
3. Submit the form, medical records, and required documents to the insurance provider. 
4. Once the insurance claim application is approved, the insurer will settle the bill directly with the hospital. 

The steps for filing a reimbursement claim include the following:

1. Inform the insurance provider about arthritis-related hospitalisation. 
2. After discharge, complete the insurance claim application form. 
3. Submit the bills, prescriptions, discharge summary, and other required documents. 
4. The insurer will examine the claim application form. 
5. Once the application is approved, the insurance provider will refund the amount to your registered bank account. 

In case you got coverage for severe rheumatoid arthritis under a critical illness plan, the insurer will offer a lump sum amount on the diagnosis of the condition.

Most travel insurance companies do not offer travel health coverage for pre-existing conditions unless purchased as an add-on cover. Since arthritis is a pre-existing condition, patients must buy an add-on cover for insurance benefits.

Travel insurance companies that offer arthritis coverage under the basic plan or as an add-on coverage after paying an additional premium include:

1. Aditya Birla Travel Insurance: The insurance guarantees assurance of financial support during unforeseen events while travelling.
   The plan covers hospitalisation expenses, medical emergency assistance, and repatriation expenses.
   Although pre-existing diseases like arthritis are not covered under the insurance, policyholders can pay an additional premium to get this add-on cover. 
2. Bajaj Allianz Travel Insurance: Bajaj Allianz offers one the best arthritis travel insurance to cover you against unforeseen adversities on a domestic or international trip. Different types of travel health insurance plans offer different benefits.
   The basic inclusions under the travel insurance plan from Bajaj Allianz include emergency medical expenses, personal accidents, medical evacuation, and repatriation of mortal remains.
   While the plan does not cover pre-existing diseases, you can get an add-on cover to avail of the benefits. 
3. Care Travel Insurance: Buying Care Travel Insurance will help you avoid financial loss during an unexpected medical emergency and cover your travel-related perils on an international trip. The minimum age to be included under the plan is one day, and the maximum is 70 years.
   Care Travel Insurance offers several features and benefits to the policyholders, such as hospitalisation coverage, outpatient care, and personal accident cover. Furthermore, the plan also covers pre-existing diseases without any additional costs.

Complications do not arrive with prior notice. Therefore, securing yourself and your loved ones is vital before setting foot in another country. If you are going on an international trip for the first time, you may be confused about which insurance plan to choose.

You should consider the following factors when choosing arthritis travel insurance. 

1. Travel Frequency: If you frequently travel, choosing a multi-trip insurance policy will be cheaper and save you the inconvenience of repeatedly buying a travel insurance plan.
   However, if you travel infrequently, buying a single-trip insurance plan that covers you for the entire journey is the best option. 
2. Trip Duration: The travel insurance policy is calculated and given as per the duration of the stay. People usually buy a policy with slightly exceeding trip duration to accommodate sudden changes without paying an extra premium. 
3. Travel Destination: The cost of the policy will differ for an international trip and a domestic trip. Several countries require mandatory travel health insurance before issuing a visa. Therefore, the sum insured will vary significantly in different countries. 
4. Inclusions and Exclusions: Since arthritis is a pre-existing condition, it is not covered under every travel health insurance policy. While some insurance companies may cover the condition, others may not.
   Some others may cover the condition as an add-on, requiring an additional premium payment. Therefore, you must check the inclusions and exclusions before buying a policy. 
5. Number of Travellers: You can buy individual travel insurance for a solo trip or a family travel plan if your family members are also going. It is important to inform the provider about the total number of travellers. 
6. Claim Process: Each travel insurance policy has a certain limit up to which it pays for your claims. Remember to read about the insurance provider, their claim-settlement ratio, and claim limits while buying a travel insurance policy. 

The claim procedure for arthritis travel insurance is similar to the claim process for health insurance. Follow the steps given below to file a claim under travel insurance:

1. Inform the insurance provider about the hospitalisation through phone or email.
2. Arrange the documents that need to be submitted in support of your claim.
3. Send all the required documents to the provider via email, post, or fax.
4. Once the claim is approved, the insurer will make the payment. 

Cashless claims can only be made if you or your loved ones get hospitalised in a network hospital of the insurance company.

Arthritis affects a vast population in India every year. The huge costs of arthritis treatment can become a financial burden without an appropriate health insurance plan. Furthermore, the condition can worsen while travelling, causing joint pain and discomfort. Getting treatment for arthritis abroad is not something you would enjoy on an already expensive trip. This is why getting arthritis travel insurance is a good option for arthritis patients. Travel and health insurance for arthritis offer the primary benefit of lowering your costs incurred on the treatment. 

Confused about which plan to buy? Talk to a HexaHealth expert to know the features and benefits of various plans for arthritis coverage. Our team will help you choose the plan that best caters to your need. Furthermore, we will connect you with the best network hospitals and doctors to help you benefit from cashless claims. So what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us TODAY!

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