Don't Let a Critical Illness Derail Your Finances - Get Insured Today

“The groundwork of all happiness is health” - James Leigh Hunt. It is not just a quote but the reality of life. Attaining a work-life balance is impossible without being careful about the basic health regime. A healthy mind and soul remain happy from within and ensure the same for the society.

However, it has become challenging to ensure healthy living due to the environment being full of toxic food, air and water. This has degraded the mental as well as physical health of people, especially in urban areas. As a result, critical illnesses like cancer, stroke, paralysis, etc., have made space in the loopholes of daily life.

In this blog, we will talk about critical illness and ways to protect your finances on the treatment of such diseases.

What is Critical Illness?

Critical illnesses are severe and sometimes dangerous health problems which involve diseases like cancer, heart attack, stroke, organ transplant, etc. They are curable but involve expensive medical treatment. The common features in the treatment of such diseases include modern technology, qualified doctors, well-trained hospital staff, quality services, etc. The features, when combined, demand a good amount of money during the treatment. This expenditure can be shared by availing critical illness insurance for yourself and your loved ones.

What is Critical Illness Insurance?

Critical illness degrades health and also burns a hole in your pocket. Critical illness policy in India covers the insured against life-threatening diseases and provides a lump sum amount mentioned in the policy to curb medical expenses. Traditional insurance neither covers the treatment cost of these diseases nor covers the non-medical cost related to illness. Though the inclusion of critical diseases varies with the insurance company and plan you choose, here is the list of the most common critical diseases covered by the majority of insurance providers:

• Cancer
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Coma
• Paralysis
• Kidney failure
• Motor neuron diseases
• Organ transplant
• Terminal illness
• Parkinson’s disease

Why is it Important to Opt for Critical Illness Health Insurance?

Critical illness helps you cover expenses besides hospitalisation, like doctor consultation fees, the cost of medicines and many more. Here are various benefits you get from critical illness health insurance:

• Accidental Death Benefits: Unlike a normal health plan, critical healthcare insurance provides accidental death benefits. The nominee will be paid the sum assured benefit.
• Income Substitution: When a person is affected by a severe disease, along with a lump sum amount, the policyholder also gets a monetary benefit for household expenses.
• Foreign Treatment: The policyholder can also choose to get treatment from abroad with the best medical facility.
• Non-medical Expenses: Expenses incurred on transportation to and fro for treatment or installing lifts in homes for critically ill people and other expenditure related to treatment is covered under the plan.

What are the Factors to Keep in Mind Before Buying a Plan?

While choosing an insurance plan for your loved ones, you must consider some factors so that you make a wise decision. Here are a few factors:

• Sum Assured: Your plan must have adequate coverage in line with your requirements. You must have clarity on what the sum assured should be and how much critical illness insurance you need.
• Sub-limits: It is important to check the sub-limits so that you are aware of how much actual coverage you have for a specific head.
• Inclusions and Exclusions: Inclusions are the things covered and benefits your policy provides. Exclusions are the things not covered under your plan. You must check if important things are under the inclusions or not.
• Waiting Period: Waiting period implies the time till which you can not file claims. You should consider a policy with a minimum waiting period and maximum benefits.

With increasing health issues and rising medical expenses, buying critical health insurance has become the need of the hour. It not only protects your hard-earned income but also leverages the risk associated with a future medical emergency. With a fixed amount of premium, you can protect sudden drain of wealth in hard times. So, what are you waiting for? Search for a good plan for your family and protect them today.