Parents with autistic children have something to cheer about with the launch of a health insurance plan for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Star Health and Allied Insurance has already insured about 240 children from Sankalp, a Chennai-based NGO through a group insurance policy where every autistic person in the 5-30-year category has Rs 1 lakh cover. The policy covers for in-patient management of medical and surgical complications associated with autism such as seizures, soft tissue and bone injuries, medical and surgical procedures for spasm of muscles, and all infectious diseases. The basic premium for this policy works out as Rs 2,987 in the first year. At the same time, the policy does not cover physiotherapy and rehabilitation cost. Where it scores is by way of doing away with any waiting period and exclusion clause for pre-existing diseases and for the treatment in the first two years of the policy.

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