Health Insurance for Heart & Cardiac Patients
Medical emergencies come unannounced. Thus having Health Insurance to avoid any financial burden at the time of a medical emergency has become a necessity.
Moreover, the prevailing sedentary lifestyle leads to deteriorated health conditions, which makes it even more important to be prepared with protection for unforeseen medical emergencies.
When it comes to heart-related diseases Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have now become the leading cause of mortality in India where Ischemic heart disease and stroke are the predominant causes and are responsible for >80% of CVD deaths.*
*World Health Organisation
Further to this, as per the Indian Heart Association, 50% of all heart attacks in Indian men occur under 50 years of age and 25% of all heart attacks in Indian men occur under 40 years of age.*
*Indian Heart Association
Another challenge that one may face while getting treated for any heart-related disease is the treatment costs. Over the years, Heart Care Treatment costs have increased exponentially and most of the treatments are not even affordable for the general public.
For example, the cost of an open heart surgery ranges from Rs 1.75 lakh to 4.25 lakh. Coronary angiography is likely to cost around Rs.10,000 to Rs. 15,000. Moreover, valve surgeries could easily cost you between Rs 2.5 lakh- 4 lakh. Hence having Health Insurance for Heart patients becomes the biggest support during any such emergency.
In order to safeguard yourself & your family against rising healthcare costs, Insurance designed specifically for Cardiac Care has become indispensable. Read more to find out more:
What is Cardiac Health Insurance?
If we go by the above figures, Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are one of the primary causes of mortality in India. Therefore, to help people cope up with the exorbitant heart treatment cost, General Insurers in India has introduced Health Insurance for cardiac patients. Such plans offer coverage against the expenses arising due to hospitalization and treatment procedures for the cardiac conditions of the Insured person.
Insurance Companies that offer Cardiac Health Insurance
Take a look at the below table where we have mentioned some of the Health Insurance companies that cover the expenses incurred due to cardiac ailments.
| Company Name | Plan Name | Sum Insured | Age Criteria |
| Aditya Birla Capital Health Insurance | Activ Secure Critical Illness plan | Up to 1 Crore | 5 years - 65 years |
| Bajaj Allianz Health Insurance | Criti Care Plan | Up to 50 Lakhs | 91 days-65 years |
| Care Health Insurance | Care Hearth Plan | Up to 10 Lakhs | 18 years to lifelong |
| Cholamandalam MS Health Insurance | Critical Illness Plan | Up to 10 Lakhs | 18 years-65 years |
| Future Generali Health Insurance | Future Criticare Plan | Up to 50 Lakhs | 18 years-65 years |
| HDFC ERGO Health Insurance | Critical Illness Plan | Up to 1 Crore | 5 years - 65 years |
| IFFCO Tokio Health Insurance | Critical Illness Plan | Up to 1 Crore | Up to 60 years |
| Kotak Mahindra Health Insurance | Secure Shield- Critical Illness Insurance | N/A | 18 years-65 years |
| Manipal Cigna Health Insurance | Lifestyle Protection - Critical Care Health Plan | Up to 25 Crore | 18 years-65 years |
| Max Bupa Health Insurance | Criti Care Plan | Up to 2 Crore | 18 years-65 years |
| National Health Insurance | Critical Illness Plan | Up to 75 Lakhs | 18 years-65 years |
| Reliance Health Insurance | Critical Illness Plan | Up to 10 Lakhs | 18 years-65 years |
| SBI Health Insurance | Critical Illness Insurance | Up to 50 Lakhs | Up to 65 years |
| Star Health Insurance | Cardiac Care Insurance Plan | Up to 4 Lakhs | 10 years-65 years |
Key Features of Cardiac Health Insurance
Take a look at the below table where we have mentioned some of the Health Insurance companies that cover the expenses incurred due to cardiac ailments.
Comprehensive Coverage
Having Cardiac Health Insurance will allow the policyholder to get treatment coverage for an extensive list of cardiac conditions and procedures.
Fixed Lump Sum Payout
The policyholder is eligible to avail of the fixed lump sum payment, irrespective of actual expenses incurred for diagnosis/procedure.
Coverage for Income Loss
Under this type of Health Insurance plan, you will be compensated for the loss of your income as the claim amount can be used to incur household expenses too.
Tax Benefit
Like all other Health Insurance plans, under Cardiac Health plans, you are eligible for Tax Deductions under Income Tax Act.
What is Covered under Cardiac Health Insurance?
- In-Hospitalisation ExpensesHaving specific Cardiac Health Insurance will cover all the expenses that will arise due to hospitalisation treatment for more than 24 hours.
- Pre & Post Hospitalisation ExpensesVarying from policy to policy, such plans also cover Pre-Hospitalisation (expenses incurred prior to admission) and Post-Hospitalisation (expenses incurred after admission) expenditure up to a specific time frame.
- Domiciliary HospitalisationIn case the patient is not in a state to move to the hospital for treatment or in situations when there is no vacant bed/ medical amenities in the healthcare centres or hospital, then he/she can opt for Domiciliary Hospitalisation.
- Ambulance ExpensesExpenses incurred by the Insured person for moving from the place of residence to the hospital are also covered under Health insurance for heart patients.
- Alternative TreatmentsAlternative medical treatments such as Ayush treatment, homoeopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Ayurveda treatment are also covered.
- Daycare TreatmentsTreatments that do not require 24 hours of hospitalisation are also covered under Cardiac Health Insurance.
- Myocardial Infarction (First Heart Attack) & Refractory Heart FailureSuch treatments are covered as per the diagnosis of the respective cardiologist or the policy document.
Treatments or Medical Procedures Covered
Following treatments are generally covered under a Cardiac health insurance plan:
- First Heart Attack - of Specified Severity
- Pericardiectomy
- Angioplasty
- Balloon Valvotomy or Valvuloplasty
- Open Chest Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
- Minimally Invasive Surgery of Aorta
- Surgery to place Ventricular Assist Devices
- Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
- Open Heart Replacement or Repair of Heart Valves
- Primary Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
- Heart Transplant
- Surgery for Cardiac Arrhythmia
- Insertion of Pacemaker
**Note: The above procedures may vary from Insurer to Insurer. Before buying a Cardiac Health plan, you must check with your Insurer about the coverage of these procedures.
What is Not Covered Under Cardiac Health Insurance?
Following treatments are not covered under a Cardiac health insurance plan:
- Self-inflicted injury and suicidal attempts
- Maternity Expenses such as treatments related to pregnancy and childbirth, abortion, miscarriage, and other complications
- Infertility and IVF treatments and related tests
- Congenital diseases
- Hospitalization is required due to any illness resulting from Drug or Alcohol consumption
- War, Riots, Strikes, Nuclear Weapons induced hospitalization are also excluded
How Is Cardiac Health Insurance Different from Regular Health Insurance?
Often people get confused about how their regular Health Insurance is different from specific Cardiac Health insurance. Well, though it's true that your regular Health Plan will cover all the Hospitalisation Expenses (Pre & Post). However, there is a certain sub-limit that comes when coverage is offered against any Critical Illness such as cardiac ailments or cancer.
Moreover, considering the rising incidences of Cardiac Diseases in India, it is better to be prepared in advance for any uncertainties. Having a Cardiac Health plan will ensure that you have a customized fixed benefit health plan that only caters to conditions related to the heart.
Who Should Buy Cardiac Health Insurance?
Earlier it was a notion that people above 40 or with obesity were at the risk of getting a cardiac attack. However, with the habits we have or the lifestyle we are leading, cardiac ailments can affect anyone in any age group.
Moreover, the treatment for heart-related ailments are on a constant rise and can cost one his life-long savings.
Thus it is recommended to have Cardiac Health Insurance if you have a sedentary lifestyle which makes you prone to lifestyle diseases including cardiovascular ailments such as heart attacks, heart failure, etc.
With adequate Cardiac cover, one can avail of the best treatment and lead a healthy life without worrying about the cost of the treatment.
Last Updated : October, 2021
Naval Goel is the CEO & founder of PolicyX.com. Naval has an expertise in the insurance sector and has professional experience of more than a decade in the Industry and has worked in companies like AIG, New York doing valuation of insurance subsidiaries. He is also an Associate Member of the Indian Institute of Insurance, Pune. He has been authorized by IRDAI to act as a Principal Officer of PolicyX.com Insurance Web Aggregator.
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