A FRIEND IN NEED FOR DIABETICS

Diabetes-specific plans are customised for the needs of diabetic patients and some of them have less waiting period, subject to the severity of the disease. Know your options before buying one

- Meghna Maiti

Numbers don’t lie, and certain numbers can be scary. According to a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research–India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB), published in medical journal The Lancet in June 2023, 101 million Indians are diabetic and 136 million are pre-diabetic. The numbers, the study says, are much higher than earlier reported figures. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 77 million Indians above 18 years are diabetic and nearly 25 million are pre-diabetic.

“India is consistently retaining its position as the global capital for diabetes. It is a lifestyle disease with long-term multisystemic complications which requires a holistic treatment. Managing and treating diabetes-related complications can be expensive, especially during hospitalisation and it can put a strain on one’s finances,” says Madhumathi Ramakrishnan, senior vice-president, Star Health and Allied Insurance.

Given the rising incidence of diabetes in India and the steep associated costs, buying a health insurance to cover hospitalisation is advisable, especially if you have a family history of diabetes. But which policy should you buy? Should you go for diabetes-specific plans or settle for a regular policy? We have tried to answer these questions by exploring diabetes-specific plans and comparing them with regular health insurance plans to help you decide.

What Makes Them Different?

Diabetic-specific plans are customised to provide specialised benefits and services that cater to the unique requirements of diabetics. Diabetes patients need regular blood glucose monitoring and medical prescriptions. They are also susceptible to high risk for diabetic neuropathy, vision loss, stroke, cardiovascular diseases, and other health ailments.