Add OPD Coverage to Complete Your Health Insurance Plan

A health insurance plan helps you protect against the financial losses in case of a hospitalisation. However, what about times when you don’t need hospitalisation, but the treatment is yet extensive. Most health insurance plans only get activated if you are hospitalised for 24-hours or more. However, it does not cover the costs of treatment that don’t require hospitalisation.An OPD cover provides well-rounded protection from the rising medical costs, whether you need hospitalisation for your treatment or not.

• Rising OPD Costs The OPD costs in the Indian healthcare sector is increasing at an alarming rate. Right from doctor consultation charges to lab tests and medicines, your healthcare bills can inflate to a big sum even without getting hospitalised. An OPD cover ensures you get complete protection against medical expenses even when you don’t have to get admitted in a hospital.
• Rising Chronic Conditions 77 million Indians suffer from diabetes, making it the diabetes capital of the world. Chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis are increasing at an unstoppable rate in India. These conditions require frequent doctor visits, lab tests, support medicines to keep it under check. These don’t often require hospitalisation but lead to high medical costs, especially with the treatment lasting a lifetime, making OPD cover a saviour.
• Increasing Pharmacy Cost: As per a report, 52% of the out of pocket medical expenses goes towards paying for medicines out of which only about 5% is insured. This makes pharmacy cost a huge burden on anyone seeking medical help. OPD cover protects you against rising medicine bills even when you don’t need hospitalisation.
• Frequent Doctor Visits for People above 50: People above the age of 50 are prone to develop health conditions which could last them a lifetime. Besides, they require frequent doctor visits and diagnostic tests to ensure they remain fit and healthy. This makes OPD cover a must-have for someone in this age group.

While the inclusions of an OPD cover might differ based on the insurance provider and the extent of the add-on cover you chose, here are some common ones.

• Doctor Consultation Charges
• Diagnostic and Investigative Tests
• Minor Surgical Treatments
• Dental Treatments
• Daycare Procedures

Choosing an important add-on such as OPD coverage with health insurance ensures you are truly protected against a wider range of medical costs. Not every ailment requires hospitalisation. With the right OPD cover, you are safeguarded against the rising medical costs in the country while offering you the freedom to choose a treatment based on your needs.

The information contained herein is generic in nature and is meant for educational purposes only. Nothing here is to be construed as an investment or financial or taxation advice nor to be considered as an invitation or solicitation or advertisement for any financial product. Readers are advised to exercise discretion and should seek independent professional advice prior to making any investment decision in relation to any financial product. Aditya Birla Capital Group is not liable for any decision arising out of the use of this information.