A Brief Diagnosis of Healthcare and Health Insurance in a Non-Metro City

How’s the Health of Healthcare in a Non-Metro

With more than 60% population living in non-metro or non-urban areas, one would expect the healthcare infrastructure in India to be robust and healthy. However, the ground reality suggests otherwise.

There is a dearth of private hospitals and doctors in these areas. As a result, people largely depend on state-run hospitals or public institutions for treatment.

Availability of specialists in non-metro cities is on a semi-regular basis and there’s little chance of them relocating there for good. Thus, all these factors lead to less than stellar health care facilities in non-metro cities.
 

Non-Metro Healthcare Statistics That Gives an Insight of the Core Problems:

• Talking about lack of proper healthcare. Let’s start with the basic facilities first. Did you know that in India, only one government allopathic doctor caters to every 10,189 people? Also, there is only one government hospital bed for every 2,046 people. What’s more? Only one state-run hospital is available for every 90,000+ people.

Do you think there is a guarantee that if you’ll fall sick you will have the access to proper and immediate healthcare? Probably no!

• According to the National Sample Survey Office’s last year survey, more than half of India’s rural population opt for private healthcare. Guess what? It’s four times more costly than public healthcare.

Due to lack of awareness, 20% of the most poverty-stricken Indians might end up spending more than 15 times their average monthly spends on treatment.

• While most of us in metro cities take overnight trips for recreation or meeting friends and family, 47% of the rural population travels overnight to seek medical treatment or advice from healthcare providers or specialists practicing nearby.

Working the Black Hole of Health Care

In light of rising healthcare costs, getting oneself medically insured becomes critical as medical emergencies can wreck your finances. As a result, insurers are providing services, as well as spreading awareness about health insurance and its benefits.

What You Need to Know about Health Insurance as a Non-Metro City Resident

You always thought that your age, health, and insurance sum are the main determinants of your premium. Guess what? Your address matters too! Your location has a direct impact on your health insurance premium. That’s because the hospitalization expenses in smaller cities are lesser as compared to metro and other major cities.

What About an Advanced Treatment?

Usually, a lot of people from non-metro cities and rural areas travel to metros in search of advanced medical treatment due to lack of quality healthcare in their city or town. However, it is important to check with your insurer about zone-based pricing. A number of insurers offer zone-based pricing where those residing in Zone 2 and Zone 3 cities need to pay lower premiums and hence have lower claim ratios as compared to their counterparts in Zone 1 cities. For example – If you got insured in Chandigarh (Zone 2 ) and fall ill in Delhi (Zone 1), you will be eligible for a lower claim because of zone-based pricing.

Niva Bupa Health Insurance has products that allow you to seek treatment in hospitals in metro cities regardless of whether you’re a Tier 2 or Tier 3 city resident. It’s not only easy on your pocket but has a host of unmatched benefits to offer you the finest healthcare anywhere in the country.

Buy Niva Bupa Health Pulse here or call us at 1860-500-8888 to know more.