Health Insurance for Women in India
When it comes to health insurance, it has emerged as an absolute necessity in the recent times. Be it a child, an occupational man or a senior citizen, we have specified plans for everyone. But, if we speak of women, we somehow lie behind in having women-centric health insurance plans as compared to the other nations.
Playing the most important and versatile roles from taking care of their home and family to being a good performer at the workplace and so on, women tend to play each role with full dedication and zero complaints.
Apart from society and their family, Women in India neglect themselves and get caught in taking care of their family whether for financial reasons or being dependant on the husbands, whatever may be the reason, it is time that we sit and think about the well-being of the most important pillar of the society and our families, making them financially and physically strong.
Women's health insurance in India may be a concern but thankfully, more and more health insurance companies are coming up with amazing women-spending plans. These plans are designed with keeping women's health issues and needs in mind and mostly focus on pregnancy, childbirth, and related covers. These covers are made for illnesses that women are more prone to get after a certain age.
Importance of Woman's Health Insurance in India
According to the Insurance Awareness Survey Report released in 2012 by IRDA, fewer women opt for health policy in India. Even when the possibility of women being hospitalized is almost the same as men. Modern lifestyles and rising stress levels with dual responsibilities and physical stress, women are more prone to some diseases than men.
Whether you are single, married or retired, here some of the main reasons why being the leading lady, you must opt for a best health insurance policy.
Are you a homemaker? great! You are doing a full-time job that can cost your family if you were not doing all the stuff with full activeness. In an unfortunate event or medical emergency, your family will have to bear the added burden of taking care of the home, which means that your spouse or children may have to work harder for taking care of the house your health and so on. But if you are secured with a health insurance plan, they cannot only take good care of your but the stress of increased expenditure can be reduced.
As mentioned earlier, women need more preventive assistance than men due to the need for reproductive care and a higher possibility of chronic illness and disability. Moving further, women take major accountability for adjusting for a family member, annual health care expenses, and are more likely to encounter inconsistent insurance coverage as compared to men. Hence, having women-specific insurance can help them live a stress-free life.
Women who work may get a good financial future, but to make sure that they are stress-free in the most crucial years of their lives, either you as a child, spoke or women themselves should get medical insurance for availing health care benefits.
Health Insurance Companies
Things To Know Before Buying Health Insurance Plan Women?
There are so many customized health insurance plans for women that one may get confused while choosing among all. Though these policies are designed after considering women-specific diseases, and health issues that are common in women, you should only go for the suitable one.
Normally, you calculate the premium, policy limit tenure and benefit while purchasing a health plan, but when it comes to women's health insurance plan the needs and factors are a bit different. Following are the things to consider while choosing a health policy for a woman.
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Type of Plan
First of all, check if the plan is a woman-specific plan having all the benefits of you can be covered with a family floater plan with required health benefits for reproductive health care and maternity cover.
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Pre Existing Cover
Most of the plans do not cover pre-existing disease so it is important to find a plan that can offer pre-existing disease coverage.
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Maternity Cover
In case you planned for pregnancy, there are special plans which shield maternity for ladies. Few companies offer maternity coverage, but most of them come with a waiting period. Hence, it is advisable to buy a separate plan which includes only maternity.
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Claim Settlement
Find an insurance company that offers a good claim settlement ratio and an easy claim process. Both the factors surely give you peace of mind and speedy reimbursement when needed.
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Network Hospitals For Women Health Issues
Circumstances of medical emergencies can occur at any time. So, make sure you have chosen insurance with a wide range of network hospitals available nearby. This will help in saving time and energy in case the lady has no one to look after. It is also important to offer a hassle-free hospitalization and medical environment where the patient can get health treatment, especially for women.
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Waiting Period
Today, young girls at the age of 15 are having diseases like thyroid or other hormonal difficulties. And most of the insurance plans have a pre-existing disease waiting period of 2-5 years. Consequently, it is important to buy a health policy when you are young.
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Check Value-added services
In addition to other benefits included in the health policy for women, some insurers give free medical check-up and add-on covers which is beneficial for women who are likely to have illnesses after a certain age.
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Infertility and Maternity Cover
Competing against everything, women are battling for their spaces at work, home, and maternal space and leading a stressful life. Opting for health insurance can help them fight against maternity and infertility related illnesses and most of the plans cover.
- Anemia screening
- Gestational diabetes screening
- Gonorrhea screening for all women at higher risk
- Syphilis screening
- Urinary tract or other infection screening
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Other Benefits
- Breast cancer genetic test counseling (BRCA)
- Breast cancer chemoprevention counseling for women at higher risk
- Diabetes screening for women with a history of gestational diabetes
- HIV screening and counseling
Factors affecting Women’s Health Insurance Policy
There are multiple factors one needs to keep in mind before investing in good health insurance for women. Since women are prone to some critical illnesses and life-threatening diseases such as breast cancer, ovarian cysts, and other ailments specific to their bodies they must select health insurance for women keeping all these factors in mind.
- Plan variant to choose- family floater or individual plan.
- What is the waiting period for pre-existing conditions?
- How much waiting period is assigned to avail maternity benefits?
- What are the additional value-added services?
- Know about all the network hospitals the insurer offers.
- Limitation of room rent, age, and expense of treatment.
- OPD expenses/coverage.
Top Health Insurance Plans for Women in India 2022
A special plan designed for women, wherein women can avail multifold benefits along with the coverage to the whole family.
Unique Features
- Coverage for Modern Treatments
- Coverage during Pregnancy
- Preventive Health Check Up
Women-oriented health plan providing comprehensive medical insurance with major illnesses cover, and cancer cover all under a single plan but different variants.
Unique Features
- Pregnancy & newborn complications
- SI options from 3L - 1 Cr
- Free preventive health checkup
Benefits of Investing in Women’s Health Insurance
Women have taken charge of their welfare and growth in all aspects of life for all-around development. By investing in the best women’s health insurance plan women further solidify their financial well-being.
- Independence from healthcare expenses When a person is unable to work due to medical conditions it is a cause for distress which is why it is necessary for women to invest in the best women’s health insurance plan. It is so that they can gain financial independence and safeguard themselves from illness, avail aid and medical treatments without hiccups.
- Avail the best Maternity care To avail of the best maternity care an individual spends a multitude of their savings and it is an expensive affair in India. With multiple components like ultrasounds, check-ups, medicines, doctor fees, pre, and post-natal care the expense list keeps on increasing.
- Shield yourself from critical illnesses Some of the critical illnesses specifically affect women like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterus cancer, and more. Investing in the best health insurance for women will safeguard you from the heavy medical expenses incurred during the treatment of these diseases via a lump sum amount.
- Tax Benefits By investing in health insurance you subject yourself to a tax benefit under section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
How to Pick the Best Health Insurance Policy for Women?
While there are many incredible health care companies out there, how will you decide which one is the best option? Here are a few factors to lead you through the method of choosing the right health care policy for a woman.
1 Choose The Right Sum Assured
Health care expenses are rising day by day. So, you must go with a policy which offers the right sum assured. If you have difficulty in estimating how much sum assured on the health insurance you need, you can use multiple online tools which can suggest you the right health insurance cost.
2 Read Reviews
This is the best thing to get the right insights even for the best policy available in the market. You can read women's health plan reviews if they are satisfied with the plan and its benefits or not.
3 Compare Plan
If you are confused between two of the best health insurance, the best way is to compare both the plan and see which one is closer to your needs and budget. If you are looking for a reliable platform where you can get an honest and unbiased comparison of health plan for women. PolicyX can help you make the right decision just by filling your details and needs.
Whether you are a single mother looking for financial security for your health treatment or young professional planning your future on your own, it is very important to read and understand the policy document as deeply as you can. And if you find any problem or question you must ask the agent so that you don't regret your decision.
Though almost every health plan covers maternity benefits such as pre and post hospitalization, ambulance cover and a wide range of women related health issues and critical illnesses, it is better to revisit the website and see what are the exclusion of the policy, you are planning to sign up for.
Conclusion
Well-planned health insurance can shield you from any unfortunate turmoils of critical illness or disease specific to women. Investing in a good women’s health insurance plan is advantageous for yourself and any female member of your family. So, gift this health plan to your mother, sister, wife, or daughter and secure their healthcare needs.
