Health Insurance for Rare Diseases
Have you seen the recent episodes of Shark Tank India? Then you might have seen the guy with the device that supports people who have Parkinson's disease to WALK. Great innovation, isn't it?
But do you know what is Parkinson's disease? It is a kind of rare disease. However, there are numerous other rare diseases as well that we might or might not know about. This article will give a brief idea about rare diseases and health insurance for rare diseases, let's have a look.
What are Rare Diseases?
Rare diseases are medical conditions that affect only a small number of people, maybe 1 in a lakh! Thousands of rare diseases have been recognised by doctors and thousands of diseases are not recognised. These diseases can affect any part of the body and occur at any age. Rare diseases can be congenital, or genetic. Some people are born with these diseases, and sometimes, they may develop it with time. For example, Down syndrome can be spotted from birth, while Parkinson's disease usually happens in old age. So, nobody knows when these diseases might happen. Let us have a look at some of its types.
What are Some Common Types of Rare Diseases?
There are over 10,000 rare diseases that exist today. Some of them are:
Cystic Fibrosis
Genetic disorder that affects the lungs and digestive system.Huntington's Disease
A neurological disorder that can affect behaviours, movement, and cognition.Muscular Dystrophy
A group of genetic diseases that can lead to weakness and loss of muscle mass.Hemophilia
The disorder that impairs the ability to control blood clotting in the body and leads to excessive bleeding.Sickle Cell Anemia
A blood disorder that can cause abnormal haemoglobin, leading to misshapen red blood cells.Marfan Syndrome
It affects the body's connective tissue, leading to abnormalities in the skeletal system, heart, and eyes.Tourette Syndrome
Disorder characterised by repetitive, involuntary movement, and vocalization called tics.Gaucher Disease
Some fatty substances accumulate in cells and certain organs, leading to several disorders.Narcolepsy
A neurological disorder that can lead to daytime sleepiness and sudden attack of sleep.Down Syndrome
This affects the formation of cells in the body and a person's intellect.Parkinson's Disease
A neurological condition that causes problems with the movement of a person.
And much more. There are more than these diseases that can affect a person.
Common Challenges
While every rare disease is unique, there are so many common challenges that are faced by people dealing with the disease. Below are some of these issues that we need to have an idea about for greater awareness:
Diagnosis
It is difficult to diagnose rare diseases because doctors might not be familiar with them. Thus, it can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment of the patients.Treatment
For most rare diseases, there is no effective treatment available because researchers are still studying & experimenting with better solutions.Support
People with rare diseases have to go through a lot. Most of them feel isolated and alone because we, normal people make them feel like that. But few others take care of these people, including family members, healthcare providers, and many others who are educated about the conditions and how to handle people suffering from them. To create a warm & healthy environment amongst us, attending to them both emotionally & physically is the need of the hour.
We celebrate Rare Disease Day on every last day of February to support the patients and generate awareness for rare diseases among the general public.
Does Health Insurance Cover Rare Diseases?
Yes, there are so many health insurance plans that cover the expense of treatment for rare diseases, like:
A unique healthcare plan offering extensive coverage to individuals and families under a single plan with affordable premiums.
Unique Features
- Unlimited E-consultations
- Unlimited Automatic Restoration
- Avail Up to 30% Discounts
- Day Care Treatments
- No Sub-Limits
- Emergency Ambulance
- No-Claim Bonus
- Organ Donor Cover
- Change of Gender Treatments
- Obesity Treatment Unavailable
- Hazardous Activity Not Covered
- HIV/AIDS not covered
- Cosmetic Surgery unavailable
Care Supreme Plan (Other Benefits)
- Unlimited Recharge
- 30% Renewal Discount
- Unlimited E - Consultation
- Wellness Benefits
- Nutrition and Fitness Coaching
Care Supreme Plan (Eligibility Criteria)
- Entry Age - 90 Days
- Max Entry Age - No age limit
- SI - 5 L to 15 L
- Waiting Period - 30 Days
Niva Bupa Reassure 2.0 provides insurance holders with a high sum insured through their platinum, titanium, and bronze variants along with a multitude of other features.
Unique Features
- Booster+ Benefit
- Lock premiums at entry age
- Health check-ups from day 1
Health ReAssure 2.0 Plan (Pros)
- Personal accidents covered
- Acute Care
- Emergency Ambulance
- Three Plan variants
- Home Care Treatments
Health ReAssure 2.0 Plan (Cons)
- No OPD Cover
- No Maternity Cover
- No Sleep Disorder Covered
- Pre-Existing Diseases after 3 yrs.
- Alcoholism not covered
Health ReAssure 2.0 Plan (Other Benefits)
- Air Ambulance
- Modern Treatments
- Second Opinion
- Booster Benefit
- Shared Accommodation Benefit
Health ReAssure 2.0 Plan (Eligibility Criteria)
- Entry Age - 18 Years
- Max Entry Age - No Age Limit
- SI - 5 L to 1 Cr
- Waiting Period - 30 Days
Created for young individuals under 40 years of age. It also offers various benefits such as discounts on renewals, incentive-led wellness programs, lowest waiting periods.
Unique Features
- No-claim bonus
- Hospital daily cash
- Automatic restoration of SI
Star Young Star Policy (Pros)
- Mid-term inclusion
- 10% discount on early purchase
- Star Wellness Program
- Flexible-Premium Payment
- 2 Plan variants
Star Young Star Policy (Cons)
- PED waiting period
- Obesity Treatment Unavailable
- Hazardous Activity not covered
- HIV/AIDS not covered
- Cosmetic Surgery unavailable
Star Young Star Policy (Other Benefits)
- Hospital Cash Benefit
- Lifelong Renewal
- E-opinion
- No-claim bonus
- Automatic Restoration
Star Young Star Policy (Eligibility Criteria)
- Entry Age - 18 Years
- Max Entry Age - 40 Years
- SI - 3 L to 1 Cr
- Waiting Period - 30 Days
Bottom Line
Rare diseases are not prevalent and can be fatal. And we all know that life is very uncertain. Although 74% of rare diseases are genetic, they can also happen due to environmental structure. The treatment for these diseases can be very costly. So, it is highly beneficial to get a health insurance plan for rare diseases to get high-quality treatment. But, all health insurance does not cover all kinds of rare diseases. You need to check the policy very well to understand whether your disease will be covered or not.
In case of any query, you can call our experts at PolicyX.