Is Black Fungus Treatment covered under Health Insurance

As India is battling the intense second wave of covid-19, a very rare but deadly form of fungal infection is engulfing the nation.Mucormycosis or black fungus has already been declared an epidemic in the states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Telengana and Delhi. So, what is it? Why is it affecting people, and how to prepare for any eventuality? Keep calm and read on the following points.

Yes, it does. Any regular health insurance plan , commonly known as Medi-Claim, automatically covers black fungus , provided that the initial waiting period on a new policy is over. Generally, the waiting period is 30 days from the date of buying a new health cover.Still, it is advisable to check with the insurer to know the waiting period. However, Covid-19 specific plans may or may not cover any other disease. The subscribers of Covid-19 specific plans need to check for any updates in this regard.

It is a fungal infection caused by a group of moulds called mucor, hence the name mucormycosis. Following is the most common path of the spread of the infection that has been observed in the affected patients.

• Once contracted, it infects the blood vessels.
• When the fungi reach a favourable environment, they hide inside the tissue.
• In the next phase, the spores start multiplying and, in the process, destroy the host tissues which come in contact with them.
• This causes damage to the nasal cavity, sinuses, cheekbones and skull bones.
• Once it enters the eye socket, it causes pain in the eyes, even blindness. At this stage, in most cases, the doctors have to remove the infected eye to stop the spread to the brain.
• If it spreads to the brain, it may result in a cerebral haemorrhage or bleeding.
• The spores can affect the lungs as well, which results in breathing trouble.
• It can spread to the other parts of the body through the respiratory system leading to possibly, death of the patient.

As a group of moulds causes it, there is no linear data on its origin. In 1855, Friedrich Küchenmeister was the first to describe the disease, which was possibly mucormycosis. In India, the fungus,SaksenaeaVasiformis , linked to this disease, was isolated from Indian soil back in 1953. It is not a new kind of disease. But it has acquired an epidemic proportion in post-recovery of Covid-19 patients.

Blocked nose, facial pain on one side, numbness and toothache are the common symptoms to watch for. It may be followed by or simultaneous occurrence of other symptoms such as pain around the eyes, headache, chest pain, trouble in breathing and disorientation.

Patients who have already recovered from Covid-19 and come under the following categories are at more risk of developing this infection .

• High diabetes
• Low immune system
• Prolonged usage of steroids
• Prolonged hospitalization or stay in ICU
• Use of medical oxygen
• Patients who have undergone stem-cell therapy
• Patients who have undergone organ transplantation
• Indiscriminate use of zinc and iron doses

It is known that Covid-19 reduces the immunity of the patient. Patients with high diabetes also have low immuno-responses. Due to this low immunity, the antibodies present in the body cannot combat the onslaught of black fungus, which in turn damages the body.

Prevention is better than cure, as always. Mentioned below are certain dos and don'ts that can be followed to prevent the spread.

• Proper and restrained administering of medicines to Covid-19 patients during the treatment and after recovery is needed.
• Constant monitoring of blood glucose level, especially among patients with comorbidity.
• Extra precautions are to be taken for patients with a history of malnutrition, burns or trauma.
• Wear a face shield, along with a surgical and disposable face mask while visiting dusty sites.
• Avoid damp environments.
• It is advisable to abstain from staying in AC or humid places.
• Wear shoes, full-sleeved shirts and trousers while gardening, moss or manure.
• Scrub bath after coming in contact with contaminated sources.
• Don’t self-prescribe steroids in case of COVID infection.
• If the patient experience one or many of the symptoms discussed above, a doctor's consultation should be sought immediately.
• Don't panic. If diagnosed early, it can be cured, and the patient fully recovers.

Unlike Covid-19, the medical fraternity in India has data and experience to tackle mucormycosis. However, mucormycosis treatment is expensive, with injections such as Amphotericin B costing thousands. If you already have a medical insurance policy, be rest assured that you will be covered for the treatment as per the terms of your policy.If you don’t have a policy yet, make sure you get one at the earliest. Also, make sure the coverage of your policy is enough to cover the high treatment costs. Consider adding riders such as top-ups to increase the coverage.

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.