Everything You Should Know About a Preventive Health Care Plan

Prevention is better than cure. We’ve probably heard this adage hundreds of times in our life. In it lies the secret to a healthier, happier, and more rewarding life. In simple words, it means that it is easier to stop something from happening in the first place than repairing the damage after it occurs.Especially at times like these when people as young as in their 20s and 30s are suffering from severe health problems, one should take every possible measure to protect themselves from life-threatening diseases and illnesses.Regular check-ups are one of the most effective ways to keep your health in check and detect such conditions in the early stage. To ensure that such regular check-ups don’t burden your finances, top insurers in the country now offer preventive health care plans. What are these preventive health plans? How do they work? What do they cover? Here’s everything you should know-

As the name suggests, a preventive health plan covers the care taken for preventing the onset of health conditions. In the past, health insurance plans covered such preventive care expenses at varying levels based on the policies of the insurer. Policyholders were required to pay an additional premium for preventive coverage.However, it is now mandatory for every insurer to cover such expenses without charging any extra premium. The coverage generally includes costs arising from preventive diagnostic tests and doctor visits.By enabling policyholders to detect severe medical conditions, such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, etc., at an early stage, the preventive health plans ensure that the required precaution can be taken before the illness or disease becomes severe or life-threatening.

The most significant reason to go through medical check-ups regularly is to detect the onset of severe medical conditions. The rising cost of health care in the country could put a huge dent in your savings if the condition is detected at a later stage and expensive treatment is required.But the high cost of such regular check-ups often discourages most people. With a preventive health plan, the cost of such preventive measures, counselling, immunization, and some medications is covered by the insurer. This ensures that people can take a more proactive approach towards their health without worrying about the expenses.

Insurers offer many different types of preventive health plans to ensure that they can effectively meet the preventive healthcare requirements of all the policyholders. Here are some of the most popular options-

1. Preventive Care for Adults

Doctors recommend that adults should regularly go through medical check-ups, especially after the age of 30-35, to detect the onset of severe medical conditions. The sedentary lifestyle with long hours of working can put immense stress on the physical and mental health of the individuals, making such preventive check-ups a must for everyone.A preventive care package for adults can cover-

• Medical Screenings- For blood pressure, autism, BMI (Body Mass Index), STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection), hypothyroidism, obesity, alcohol and drug use, oral health, hearing, vision, depression, etc.
• Immunizations- For tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, influenza, pertussis, human papillomavirus (HPV), etc.
• Medications- Supplements and other preventive medications such as aspirin for preventing cardiovascular diseases
• Counselling- For obesity, alcohol misuse, STI prevention, smoking, etc.

2. Preventive Care for Women

Women generally need additional preventive care to protect themselves from conditions that they are more prone to. The preventive care packages for women are exclusively designed to help women detect such conditions and take adequate measures for their treatment. A preventive package for women offers coverage for-

• Breast cancer mammography screening
• Cervical cancer screening
• HIV screening
• Domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counselling
• Gonorrhoea screening
• Breast cancer genetic test counselling
• Breast cancer chemoprevention counselling
• Osteoporosis screening
• STI counselling

3. Preventive Care for Pregnant Women

A pregnant woman is required to go through multiple check-ups regularly to ensure safe and timely delivery. The cost of such regular screenings and check-ups could easily strain your finances. A preventive care package for pregnant women can help eliminate such costs. The plan offers coverage for-

• UTI screening
• Anaemia screening
• Folic acid supplements
• FDA-approved contraceptive methods and sterilization procedures
• Tobacco intervention and counselling
• Breastfeeding supplies, support, and counselling
• Hepatitis B, syphilis, gestational diabetes screening, and more

4. Preventive Care for Children

There are also preventive plans personalized as per the health and development needs of growing children. These plans generally cover dental, paediatrics, ENT, ophthalmology, and general check-ups in children up to the age of thirteen years.

Yes, as preventive health care plans are also a form of health insurance, they come with tax benefits. Under Section 80D of the IT Act, policyholders can claim a deduction of up to Rs. 5,000 paid as a premium towards purchasing/renewing a preventive care plan in a financial year.But this deduction limit of Rs. 5,000 is incorporated in the overall limit of Rs. 25,000 or Rs. 50,000 under Section 80D for premiums paid towards individual or family floater policy.

Health is your only true wealth, and prevention is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from severe medical conditions and the emotional and financial turmoil they generally result in.If you plan to purchase a health insurance policy, ensure that you go through the preventive care coverage included in the plan to know what is included. You can also consider purchasing a preventive plan for your family so that all your family members can go through preventive check-ups regularly and live healthier and happier lives.

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.