Health And Critical Illness Insurance: Covering Kidney Disease Expenses

There is a common joke about selling a kidney to buy an iPhone. But that aside, kidney diseases like kidney failure and the need for dialysis can cost a fortune. Your standard health insurance plan covers it. However, it might not be enough. So, you may need added protection. Here is how to ensure that you are adequately covered.

A kidney transplant may cost you anything between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh in a private hospital. In a private hospital, dialysis would cost you anything between Rs 2000 to Rs 5000.

Kidney patients can use a standard health plan to manage their routine expenses, such as dialysis costs, medication bills, hospitalization charges, and transplant surgery expenses. However, these may have a waiting period of three years, so getting insured early is key.

On the other hand, a critical illness plan can help in providing a lump sum amount on the diagnosis of kidney failure. This amount can cover medical expenses, post-hospitalization care, household expenses, EMIs, or even lifestyle adjustments.

A critical illness cover will also cover you against other critical illnesses like cancer, and so on.

“Combining both these covers ensures that day-to-day costs are covered and there’s some additional financial support in case of income loss or large one-time expenses,” says Sarita Joshi, head of health and life insurance, Probus.

“Regular health insurance pays for hospital bills, doctor consultations, diagnostic tests, and ongoing dialysis or surgery costs. Critical illness cover steps in at diagnosis, giving a lump sum that patients can freely use for treatment, recovery, household expenses, or even paying off loans,” says Joshi.

Patients should check what is covered and not under kidney conditions, evaluate the waiting period (if any), and compare the premium rates to ensure they get the best deal. Before opting for both covers, the policy seekers must have a clear understanding of the coverage limit to avoid any unpleasant surprises during the claim process. In fact, kidney diseases can be hereditary, so if you are at a higher risk, getting a critical illness cover can make more sense. A family history of diabetes or hypertension can increase the risk of kidney disease, even though the inheritance is not a clear cause.