By Ajay Shah
In today’s fast-paced world, ensuring the health and well-being of our loved ones, especially our aging parents, is paramount. Given the day’s context, as our father’s age, their healthcare needs become more pronounced. They become more susceptible to a variety of health issues. Recent studies have highlighted a significant gender imbalance in hypertension awareness, treatment and control. The hypertension cases have increased in men by 6.9% in the last 8 years. The scales usually tip towards women in these areas, a trend attributed to women’s frequent engagement with healthcare services, particularly during antenatal care where blood pressure measurement is routine.
Other chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis and cardiovascular conditions have also become more common. Additionally, the risk of sudden health emergencies like strokes or heart attacks has also increased. Hence, regular health monitoring with medical check-ups, close watch on fitness and pro-active means to make healthy lifestyle choices is paramount.
In all this, one significant aspect for ensuring wellbeing is buying a comprehensive health insurance. It not only keeps our finances secured against the unforeseen medical emergencies of the future, but also keeps our worries at bay. Some of the features that you should keep in mind before buying a Comprehensive Health Insurance for your father include:
Comprehensive Coverage: Ensure that your health insurance covers medical expenses incurred during hospitalization such as surgery, day-care procedures, tests etc. Some insurers also provide coverage for pre- and post-hospitalization medical costs.
Cashless Hospitalization: With features like cashless hospitalization, we can benefit with a treatment without having to pay form our pocket and seeking reimbursement thereafter. A wide network of empanelled healthcare providers by an insurer ensures access to quality healthcare and a hassle-free process to avail necessary medical treatments.
No Claim Bonus: Certain products in the market offer a no-claim bonus for every claim-free year. This enhances the sum insured without any additional premium. It is a great way to ensure that the coverage amount increases over time, providing a greater safety net as our father's healthcare needs evolve. It also acts as a safety cushion against the rising costs of medical expenses due to inflation.
Health Status: Selecting the right health insurance plan for our father involves considering important health factors as well. His current health status, medical history, specific healthcare needs are some of them. It is as imperative to disclose these conditions at the time of policy purchase as it is important to understand all the policy terms and condition. It reduces the chances of claim rejection to a great extent.
Buying the right health insurance policy is one of the most effective ways to safeguard our father’s financial security and continued access to quality healthcare. Comprehensive, senior- citizen friendly plans are designed to address the unique challenges of aging. By choosing a policy that aligns with their healthcare needs ensures that they receive the best possible care without the added stress of financial strain.
Take the proactive step today of strengthening your father's health safety net with the right health insurance, providing him peace of mind and a healthier future!
The author is the Head of Distribution at Care Health Insurance.
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