World Heart Day 2024: In financial planning, it is important to get the right health insurance policy, which can give you coverage for the treatment of heart-related diseases when needed.

World Heart Day 2024: World Heart Day is being celebrated on Sunday (September 29) all over the world. According to the data of the World Health Organization (WHO), about 17.9 million people die every year due to heart related diseases. Unbalanced diet, long sitting jobs and smoking or drinking habits are major causes of heart related diseases. Therefore, it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle to protect yourself from heart related diseases. At the same time, keep yourself safe from the heavy expenses of heart disease and its related treatment. Therefore, in financial planning, it is important to get the right health insurance policy, which can give you coverage for the treatment of heart related diseases when needed.

Siddharth Singhal, Head (Health Insurance), Policybazaar.com, says, the cost of treatment of cardiac diseases is constantly increasing, making it very difficult for many people to bear this cost. In India, bypass surgery costs up to Rs 3,50,000-4,00,000, while a heart valve transplant operation can cost up to ₹6,00,000. Heart angioplasty can cost up to ₹1,75,000-3,00,000 (especially in tier 1 cities).

With these rising costs, comprehensive health insurance becomes necessary for individuals and families. Heart disease treatment often includes pre and post hospitalization expenses as well as ambulance charges. Health insurance providers provide cardiac patients or critical illness insurance. These include coverage for critical illnesses like first heart attack (myocardial infarction), open chest CABG (surgery for coronary artery disease), stroke, among others.

Policy Features

A comprehensive health insurance policy provides coverage for the cost of cardiac treatment and related expenses in addition to the cost of hospitalisation. It also covers expenses such as travel expenses for second opinion and treatment, nursing at home and post consultation.

These plans offer a sum insured up to Rs 1 crore and above with lifetime renewal, health-checkups, riders for reduced waiting period for pre-existing diseases, day care treatment, inpatient care, ambulance care and alternative treatments.

These plans also offer optional benefits including OPD care, home care, international second opinion, etc. on payment of additional premium.

The policyholder can use the sum insured for treatment of the illness, lifestyle changes, donor expenses or planned treatment outside India, etc.

For the convenience of the people, the insurance companies are also providing the facility of paying the premium in monthly or quarterly mode instead of annual lump sum, so that the payment of premium does not have a huge impact on the pockets of the people.