While health insurance is a must have, you cannot just do with a single policy: You will be better off with a portfolio of health insurance policies.
These days acute illness poses serious threat to one’s life and, not to forget finances. Heart and cancer related conditions are very common today. While advancement in healthcare has increased the chances of survival from these critical illnesses, the extremely high cost of treatment can be a huge burden on you and your family. Therefore, it is prudent for everyone to have adequate financial protection.
As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), by 2020, the number of cancer cases in India is likely to cross 17 lakh, of which around 9 lakh cases are expected to result in the death of the patient. Despite better awareness in the society regarding these terminal illnesses, at present compared to yesteryears, only 12.5 per cent patients seek treatment at the early stages of the disease. Add cardiac issies and the impact of hypertension on one’s life and you get the picture on how much risk one runs owing to poor health.
The cost of hospitalisation owing to a heart attack or angina could set you back by ₹3-5 lakh depending on the suggested treatment and where you get treated. The costs in case of cancer are much higher, making it every bit necessary to have health insurance of some kind or the other to tide over the medical emergencies. Thankfully, critical illness insurance for serious savings-draining illnesses is available and is affordable. Considering improvement in healthcare and rising longevity, it makes immense sense in going for such insurance policies.
A PLAN FOR EVERY NEED
This story is from the February 2017 edition of Outlook Money.
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This story is from the February 2017 edition of Outlook Money.
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