Summary of this article
Hypertension among young Indians is increasing due to lifestyle-related health risks
Early health insurance purchase helps complete waiting periods before complications arise
Insurers may increase premiums for applicants with hypertension or related illnesses
Experts advise full medical disclosure and comprehensive health insurance coverage
May 17 was World Hypertension Day. While hypertension was earlier considered a disease of the aged, now it is also affecting the young, especially people in their 30s and 40s. In fact, we often hear news of fit individuals having heart attacks. So now, it makes more sense to put heart health as a priority and get properly insured.
Lifestyle Changes Are Driving Early Hypertension
A rise in the number of young Indians diagnosed with hypertension has taken place at an age when they could consider themselves healthy.
“Additionally, urbanisation, along with poor dietary habits and a sedentary lifestyle, increases the chances of life-threatening incidences of cardiac arrest. With all these factors contributing to the magnification of hospitalisation episodes. Everyone, especially the young adults, should protect their overall well-being by following a healthy lifestyle and safeguard themselves against financial contingency by opting for health insurance,” says Srinivasan Gopalan, MD and CEO, Galaxy Health Insurance.
If you have problems with hypertension, purchasing health insurance at a younger age will be very important. Hypertension increases your risk of future complications, including heart disease, strokes, kidney problems, and hospitalizations.
“You will also be able to maintain your current level of insurance coverage when you purchase a policy before the complications begin. An early purchase of an insurance policy allows young people to get through their applicable waiting periods sooner — very helpful if an individual's health deteriorates over time,” says Arun Ramamurthy, co-founder, Staywell.Health.
Why Early Insurance Purchase Matters
The goal of purchasing an insurance policy at an earlier age is not only to cover the immediate cost of hospitalisation, but it is also to build a financial safety net for the individual before hypertension becomes a chronic condition associated with greater medical costs.
High blood pressure may impact the health insurance underwriting process because if a health insurer has diagnosed or treated high blood pressure, the insurer treats that person as having a prior health condition.
Other things that can affect how an insurer underwrites someone include: the age of the applicant, the applicant's blood pressure, how long an applicant has had high blood pressure, what type of medication an applicant has taken for high blood pressure, whether an applicant has suffered from complications caused by high blood pressure, and the overall health of the applicant.
Younger policyholders who have controlled high blood pressure could still qualify for insurance; however, additional medical tests may be required due to having high blood pressure, premiums may be increased, loading may occur, exclusion from insurance will occur depending on the severity of the applicant's condition, and/or there may be waiting periods to receive coverage for related health issues.
“If an applicant has diabetes, is obese, has kidney problems, has symptoms associated with his/her heart, has unusual lab results, or other medical conditions that could lead to increased risk, the underwriter may more carefully examine the individual's overall health,” says Ramamurthy.
Full Disclosure And Comprehensive Cover Become Crucial
When completing a policy application, it is common practice for an insurer to review the applicant's pre-existing conditions, which may include, but are not limited to, high blood pressure. If the applicant fails to disclose a medical condition at the time of application or does so incompletely, subsequent claims resulting from complications related to that medical condition could be denied. “Therefore, to avoid such unfortunate ramifications, an applicant should be forthright about their previous medical conditions. An applicant who discloses all prior medical conditions will have a better chance to obtain coverage than an applicant who purchases a policy without fully disclosing his/her physician's evaluation of his/her health history,” says Ramamurthy.
Medically, along with the routine doctor consultations, this aspiring generation can undergo health checkups annually that focus on cardiac health, as early incidences of heart diseases are noted in people in their late 20's too, along with maintaining an ideal diet, comprehensive physical activity, and proper sleep.
“On insurance, focus should be on reduced waiting periods, comprehensive outpatient cover, coverage for non-payables (consumables), and a wider hospitalisation network with no capping on room rent, which can provide a hassle-free experience at a time of uncertainty,” says Gopalan.
FAQs
1. Why should young adults with hypertension buy health insurance early?
Buying health insurance early helps complete waiting periods sooner and ensures coverage before hypertension leads to serious complications like heart disease, stroke, or kidney problems.
2. Can people with high blood pressure face difficulties while buying health insurance?
Yes. Insurers may ask for additional medical tests, impose waiting periods, increase premiums, or apply exclusions depending on the severity of the condition and overall health profile.
3. Why is full disclosure of hypertension important while purchasing a policy?
Failing to disclose hypertension or related medical conditions can lead to claim rejection later. Honest disclosure improves the chances of getting appropriate and uninterrupted coverage.
