Does Your Health Insurance Provide Coverage for Asthma Treatment?

• Written by Sejal Singhania

  Reviewed by Munmi Sharma

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Imagine you're out for a gentle, refreshing walk when suddenly you notice some tightness in your chest and find it hard to breathe. For someone living with asthma, this isn't just a passing thought—it's something they might experience in real life.

Asthma impacts many individuals in India, requiring ongoing treatments like regular medications, inhalers, doctor visits, and emergency care, which can become costly. Health insurance can help cover these expenses, but the key question is: Does your insurance provide asthma treatment coverage? Let's explore this.

What are Asthma? More Than Just Breathing Trouble

Asthma is a lung condition where the airways that carry air to and from your lungs become inflamed or swollen. This makes the airways more sensitive and likely to react to allergies. Common triggers include dust, pollen, smoke, weather changes, and stress. Treatment typically involves long-term medications such as inhalers, regular check-ups, and sometimes hospital visits.

Fact: Did you know that approximately 30 to 35 million people in India are believed to have asthma? It's frightening, but it's the truth.

How Does Asthma Affect the Lungs?

During an asthma attack, the patient can struggle to breathe in and out due to excessively swollen and tightened airways. Such attacks are recurring as the airways remain narrow while producing extra mucus. Some of the early signs of asthma include:

• Rigorous coughing
• Wheezing or a whistle-like sound while coughing
• Pain and tightness in the chest
• Difficulty in breathing, and
• Unusual huffing and puffing during physical activities.

Although the asthmatic condition is incurable, a healthy lifestyle and environment can suppress the symptoms and causes.

What is the Asthma Treatment Cost in India?

The type of treatment for asthma depends on the severity of the condition. The frequency and intensity of asthma attacks determine the severity, leading to four treatment stages.

• Long-term medications for controlling everyday effects
• Quick-relief medications for relieving an asthma attack
• Allergy medications to suppress allergic reactions, and
• Bronchial thermoplasty for treating severe asthma.

The cost of asthma treatment in India varies widely based on severity, treatment type, and location. For mild cases, monthly expenses include inhalers, medications, and doctor visits, costing Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000. Severe attacks requiring emergency care or hospitalisation can cost Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000 or more, depending on the duration of stay and treatment. When intensive care or advanced treatments are necessary, medical bills can rise. Asthma is a long-term condition that requires continuous management, and these expenses can add up, emphasising the importance of health insurance for patients and their families.

Life Changing Fact: Regular yoga and breathing exercises can help control asthma symptoms.

Benefits of Health Insurance for Asthma Patients

Together with the day-to-day struggle, asthma patients face regular financial crunch while looking after their respiratory condition. Thus, it is essential to opt for the right asthma health insurance and its expenses, along with these benefits:

• Covers the Cost of Prolonged Treatment: Whether a pre-existing condition or recently developed asthma symptoms, you should opt for a health plan offering uncompromised coverage. The right plan helps you lower the expenses of regular doctor visits, inpatient care, daycare treatments, and other non-medical charges like ambulance costs.
• Offers Coverage for Advanced Technology Methods: When struggling with chronic asthma, patients need expensive bronchial surgeries costing over 10 lakh. The ideal asthma insurance coverage provides these modern surgical methods, lowering the cost and stress for policyholders.
• Instant Coverage Options for Asthma: For patients with a pre-existing condition of asthma, a waiting period of 2-3 years is required before they can claim treatment. The good news is, reliable health insurers like Care Health Insurance reduce the waiting time by offering optional covers. The ‘Instant Cover’ option can help you get a claim for multiple pre-existing conditions, including asthma, diabetes, hypertension, etc.

If you are wondering which health insurer offers the above-mentioned benefits against asthma treatment in India, enter Care Health Insurance.

Things to Check in Your Health Insurance Policy

Ensure you review your policy carefully before assuming that your health insurance covers asthma. Here are some important details to keep an eye on:

• Pre-existing condition clause - How many years do you need to wait for it to get covered?
• Medicines and inhalers coverage - Are they covered as well, or is it just hospitalisation?
• Cashless treatment network - Does your hospital belong to the insurer's cashless network?
• Co-payment clause - Will you need to share a portion of your total claim amount?

Did You Know? Children are more likely to have asthma if one or both parents have it.

How to Choose the Right Health Insurance for Asthma Patients?

If you or a family member has asthma, here's some helpful guidance to support you in making the right choice.

• Look for comprehensive coverage: Coverage for outpatient consultations and medicines makes plans really helpful and convenient.
• Check the waiting period: Having shorter waiting periods for coverage of pre-existing diseases is definitely more convenient and reassuring.
• Higher sum insured: Consider choosing a higher coverage amount to support your long-term care needs. This way, you can have more peace of mind knowing you're covered well into the future.
• Family floater health insurance plans: If several family members have asthma, considering a family plan could be particularly helpful. It’s a great way to ensure everyone receives the best possible support.

Which Health Insurance Policy Covers Asthma Treatment Expenses?

At Care Insurance, we offer a range of top health insurance plans for asthma, namely, Ultimate Care, Care Supreme, and Care Classic. These policies provide coverage for asthmatic treatment expenses and standard operation costs, along with the following features:

• The lowest waiting period is 30 days for a new case of asthma.
• Reduced the 2-3 year waiting period for pre-existing asthma condition with the ‘Instant Cover’ optional policy.
• Coverage for pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses, inpatient care, day care treatment, and AYUSH treatment up to the sum insured.
• Coverage for advanced technology methods like bronchial thermoplasty.
• Unlimited e-consultations
• Unlimited automatic recharge, and more.

With an in-house claim settlement team and a vast network of 21700 cashless hospitals, Care Insurance promises seamless financial and health insurance coverage for asthma patients across India.

Stay Protected, Stay Healthy!

Health insurance for asthma patients offers essential financial and medical support, ensuring thorough care for managing this ongoing condition. Selecting a plan suited to your needs and utilising its benefits can lower healthcare costs while helping you better control your asthma. It covers medications, diagnostic tests, and provides cashless emergency services, preventing asthma from becoming a financial strain. Investing in such insurance is a proactive move to protect your health and gain peace of mind.

Disclaimer: The above-mentioned policy details and treatment options are subject to policy terms and conditions and at the underwriter’s discretion.