Why is Health Insurance Necessary for Asthma Patients?

Asthma is among the most common respiratory diseases worldwide and it's estimated that over 10% of patients are in India. According to WHO, over 300 million people globally suffer from Asthma. Asthma is triggered by pollution and with worsening air quality over the years, it's becoming more prevalent. It leads to swelling of a person's respiratory tract, which affects constant airflow to the lungs. Whooping cough, difficulty in breathing and chest pain are some of the most common symptoms of asthma. Asthma patients can lead normal lives if they take medications regularly and stay away from polluted environments.  Asthma attack can occur at any time of the day and it's most severe after strenuous physical activity or at night.

With the rising cost of medical facilities, even treatment for normal diseases can take a toll on your finances. Also, the constant worry about arranging cash for treatment or selecting the right hospital in case of emergency hospitalization. A good health insurance for asthma takes care of your financial woes and provides an assurance that you will avail quality healthcare facilities.

Why Asthma Patients Need to Buy Health Insurance?

• Asthma is a common affliction today and due to increasing urban pollution, it's bound to affect your health.
• Asthma can worsen rapidly and may require immediate hospitalization. In order to save on the hospital expenses and doctors bill, a health insurance plan comes handy.
• After hospital discharge, the doctor may prescribe some rest, which would again hamper your productivity and may result in financial loss as well. Without asthma health insurance, there would be no choice but to spend the money that you would have saved otherwise.
• Various asthma related tests like chest X-ray, spirometry and pulmonary function test can get quite expensive. A health insurance plan covers such expenses as well.

What to Keep in Mind While Choosing a Health Insurance Plan?

Coverage Limit

Check for all the health insurance plans available in the market, compare them and then choose the one that you find most suitable for you. A good medical insurance plan should generally cover hospitalization expenses, doctor's fee and the treatment bill. If you have any other health conditions apart from asthma then check if the other condition is also included in the plan or not.

Terms & Conditions

It sounds cliched, but always check out the terms and conditions mentioned before buying a health insurance plan. In case you have severe complications, you can also consult with your doctor regarding the type of insurance that will be most suitable for you.

Policy Renewal

Usually, the policies have to be renewed every year, but it may vary according to the insurance provider. There are also asthma health insurance plans that come with a lifetime renewal option

Policy Exclusions

Before buying health insurance for asthma, it's equally important to check what's not covered as it's to figure what's covered, so that there is no confusion or misunderstanding later on. Every policy document contains a list of disorders or conditions that are not covered under the insurance plan. It's important to read that carefully.

Premium Amount

While everyone looks for an affordable health insurance plan with the most benefits, the premium amount varies based on different factors. Compare different policy offerings and the premium amount. Age is an important factor in health insurance. The premium amount increases with age. So, if you delay buying it now, it's obvious that you will have to pay more a few years later.

Claim Settlement Ratio

This is another important criterion that gives you a fair idea about the insurance company. With the help of a claim settlement ratio, you can make an estimate of the chances that your claim would be approved by the insurance provider. Claim Settlement Ratio is the number of claims approved against the number of claims submitted. Check the claim settlement ratio before buying health insurance for asthma.

How to Control Asthma?

Asthma can be controlled by following doctor's prescription, taking medications and avoiding pollution. Based on severity of symptoms, asthma is subdivided into three categories:

• Green Zone: When the patient has no visible symptoms and can breathe normally.
• Yellow Zone: Mild symptoms like coughing, difficulty in breathing, or wheezing.
• Red Zone:  Severe symptoms like heavy chest pain and inability to breathe. It affects the patient's ability to carry on with daily life.

How to Test for Asthma?

There are tests to determine the intensity of asthma.

Peak Flow Test: It measures breathing flow. Low peak flow ratings indicate respiratory problems. Based on it, the doctor will proceed with the treatment.

Spirometry: It checks the time taken to exhale air and based on it estimates bronchial tube volume.

There are also diagnosis tests that check whether or not a person has asthma.

Methacholine Challenge: During this test if there's any respiratory tract constriction, it indicates that the person suffers from asthma.

Imaging: Using chest x-ray and CT scan of nose cavity and lungs, the disorder can be spotted.

Nitric Oxide Test: As the name goes, it measures nitric oxide in the patient. In asthma patients the nitric oxide level is higher than normal due to respiratory tract inflammation.

Conclusion:

Due to increased air pollution and toxic fumes all around in urban areas, asthma is becoming a common lifestyle disease. Asthma symptoms can range from mild to severe. In mild cases, the patient experiences little difficulty in day-to-day tasks. Whereas in severe cases the patient finds it extremely difficult to breathe and may require immediate hospitalization. There’s no cure for asthma but through regular medication, it can be controlled. Opting for an asthma health insurance plan is crucial for patients as it covers the entire medical expenses and even has coverage for regular check-ups. Without health insurance, the medical bills can get quite expensive and deplete savings kept aside for future contingencies. That’s why it’s important to thoroughly check policy offerings and buy an affordable health insurance plan. Choose right health insurance plan based on your needs after going through all options available.